GATE 2026: paper pattern, marks and negative marking
Each GATE 2026 paper is a 3-hour computer-based test worth 100 marks, of which 15 marks are General Aptitude; a wrong answer to a multiple-choice question costs 1/3 mark on a 1-mark question and 2/3 mark on a 2-mark question.
Paper pattern
| Item | GATE 2026 |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT), in English |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Number of papers | 30 test papers |
| Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + the candidate's selected subject(s) |
| Question types | Multiple Choice (MCQ), Multiple Select (MSQ), Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
| Marks per question | 1 mark or 2 marks |
| Total | 100 marks |
Distribution of marks
| Papers | General Aptitude | Subject | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF | 15 | 85 (Engineering Mathematics 13 + subject questions 72) | 100 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | 85 | 100 |
| AR, GE, GG, XE, XH, XL | 15 | 85 (compulsory + optional sections) | 100 |
Marking scheme
- MCQ: 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer to a 1-mark question and 2/3 mark for a wrong answer to a 2-mark question.
- MSQ and NAT: there is no negative marking for a wrong answer.
- MSQ: there is no partial marking.
- These figures are from the GATE 2026 question paper pattern published by the organising institute, IIT Guwahati; check the organising institute's site for the year you sit.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the GATE 2026 exam and how many marks is it?
- Each paper lasts 3 hours and carries 100 marks, including 15 marks of General Aptitude.
- Is there negative marking in GATE?
- Yes, for MCQs only: 1/3 mark for a wrong 1-mark MCQ and 2/3 mark for a wrong 2-mark MCQ. MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking.
- What types of questions does GATE have?
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions, each worth 1 or 2 marks.
- How many papers does GATE 2026 offer?
- 30 test papers, each with General Aptitude plus the selected subject.
Practise on this site
- Exam list
- Concept book contents
- GATE CS · Computer Science and Information Technology
- GATE EC · Electronics and Communication Engineering
- GATE CE · Civil Engineering
- GATE ME · Mechanical Engineering
- GATE EE · Electrical Engineering
- GATE DA · Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- GATE IN · Instrumentation Engineering
- GATE CH · Chemical Engineering
- GATE XE · Engineering Sciences
- GATE BT · Biotechnology
- GATE PI · Production and Industrial Engineering
- GATE CY · Chemistry
- GATE PH · Physics
- GATE MA · Mathematics
- GATE XL · Life Sciences
- GATE ST · Statistics
- GATE AE · Aerospace Engineering
- GATE MT · Metallurgical Engineering
- GATE ES · Environmental Science and Engineering
- GATE AR · Architecture and Planning
- GATE GG · Geology and Geophysics
- GATE BM · Biomedical Engineering
- GATE EY · Ecology and Evolution
- GATE MN · Mining Engineering
- GATE AG · Agricultural Engineering
- GATE PE · Petroleum Engineering
- GATE XH · Humanities and Social Sciences
- GATE TF · Textile Engineering and Fibre Science
- GATE GE · Geomatics Engineering
- GATE NM · Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering