The GATE syllabus for the current cycle covers 30 test papers, each worth 100 marks: 15 marks of General Aptitude common to every paper and 85 marks from the subject you choose, in a 3 hour computer based test. IIT Madras is the organising institute for this cycle, and it has revised the syllabi of the papers, added a new Robotics and Automation paper and changed the section codes of XE, XH and XL.
Read on for the paper list, the marks pattern, the aptitude topics and how to use the official syllabus file for your own paper. Branch level detail sits on our separate pages for CSE, mechanical, civil, ECE and data science.
Exam at a glance
Conducted by
IISc and seven older IITs for the National Coordination Board, Ministry of EducationOrganising institute
IIT Madras for the current cyclePapers
30, including the new Robotics and Automation (RA) paperQuestions and marks
65 questions, 100 marksTime
3 hoursQuestion types
MCQ, MSQ and numerical answer type (NAT)Score validity
3 yearsOfficial website
What the GATE exam tests and who sets it
GATE, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, checks undergraduate level knowledge in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts and humanities. Scores are used for MTech and PhD admissions, and several public sector undertakings use them for recruitment. The exam is held over several days in February, with each paper in a set shift, and papers are in English only.
You may write one paper or two papers from the allowed two paper combinations. If you want the gate exam eligibility and syllabus side by side, the rules on year of study and degrees are on our GATE eligibility page.
GATE exam paper pattern and marks
| Part | Questions | Marks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | 15 | Common to all 30 papers |
| Engineering Mathematics | 55 | About 13 | Only in papers that include it |
| Core subject | About 72 (85 where there is no maths section) | Your discipline | |
| Total | 65 | 100 | 3 hours |
Papers such as Chemistry, Data Science, Ecology and Evolution, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics have no separate engineering maths section, so all 85 subject marks come from the core syllabus.
GATE marking scheme and negative marking
Every question carries either 1 or 2 marks. Negative marking applies only to multiple choice questions with one correct option: a wrong 1 mark MCQ costs 1/3 mark and a wrong 2 mark MCQ costs 2/3 mark. Multiple select questions (more than one correct option) and numerical answer questions have no negative marking, but MSQs also give no partial credit, so you must pick every correct option.
A virtual on screen calculator is provided for numerical work. Because NAT and MSQ carry no penalty, never leave them blank if you have any working at all.
List of the 30 GATE papers
Aerospace (AE), Agricultural (AG), Architecture and Planning (AR), Biomedical (BM), Biotechnology (BT), Civil (CE), Chemical (CH), Computer Science and IT (CS), Chemistry (CY), Data Science (DA), Electronics and Communication (EC), Electrical (EE), Environmental Science (ES), Ecology and Evolution (EY), Geomatics (GE), Geology and Geophysics (GG), Instrumentation (IN), Mathematics (MA), Mechanical (ME), Mining (MN), Metallurgical (MT), Naval Architecture (NM), Petroleum (PE), Physics (PH), Production and Industrial (PI), Robotics and Automation (RA, new), Statistics (ST), Engineering Sciences (XE), Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) and Life Sciences (XL).
Section papers XE, XH and XL
- XE: compulsory Engineering Mathematics (XE0, 15 marks) plus any two sections of 35 marks each from fluid mechanics, materials science, solid mechanics, thermodynamics, polymer science, food technology, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, energy science, and textile engineering and fibre science.
- XH: compulsory Reasoning and Comprehension (XH0, 25 marks) plus one 60 mark section from economics, English, linguistics, philosophy, psychology or sociology.
- XL: compulsory Chemistry (XL0, 25 marks) plus any two 30 mark sections from biochemistry, botany, microbiology, zoology and food technology.
GATE syllabus for General Aptitude, common to every paper
- Verbal aptitude: basic grammar, vocabulary, reading and comprehension, narrative sequencing.
- Quantitative aptitude: reading data from charts and tables, numerical computation and estimation, ratios and percentages, mensuration and geometry, elementary statistics and probability.
- Analytical aptitude: logic through deduction and induction, analogy, numerical relations and reasoning.
- Spatial aptitude: transforming shapes by rotation, mirroring and scaling, paper folding and cutting, and patterns in two and three dimensions.
These 15 marks are the easiest to secure, which is why our GATE aptitude syllabus page breaks them down further.
Branch syllabus pages and what to focus on
Each paper has its own syllabus PDF on the official site, and the organising institute says the syllabi have been revised for this cycle, so download the current file for your code before you plan. The syllabus of GATE exam papers is long, so print only your own paper and the GA file. For the most popular papers, see:
- GATE CSE syllabus for computer science and IT
- GATE DA syllabus for the data science paper
- GATE mechanical engineering syllabus
- GATE civil engineering syllabus
- GATE ECE syllabus
Compare the new syllabus PDF line by line with any older notes or books you use, and drop or add topics to match the current file.
A study plan that matches the marks
With GA at 15 marks and engineering maths at about 13 in most papers, nearly 28 marks come from topics that are not your core subject. Plan for them deliberately.
- Months 1 to 4: core subjects in order of weight in your branch, with short notes and formula sheets.
- Month 5: engineering maths, solved through numerical problems rather than theory.
- Month 6: GA practice three times a week, plus subject wise tests.
- Last 6 to 8 weeks: full papers in the official virtual calculator setup, using our GATE previous year question paper guide.
Neha, a final year electrical engineering student, has about eight months. She keeps weekdays for core subjects like machines and power systems, and gives Sundays to one GA set and one maths topic. By the last two months she switches to a full paper every five days.
For textbooks, the standard undergraduate books from your degree course are enough. Treat the official syllabus for GATE exam preparation as your checklist and tick off every line.
Frequently asked questions
Has the syllabus of GATE changed for the current cycle?
Yes. The organising institute states that the syllabi for the test papers have been revised, a Robotics and Automation paper has been added, and the section codes of XE, XH and XL have changed. Download the current PDF for your paper.
What is the GATE exam marking scheme for MSQ?
MSQs carry 1 or 2 marks, with no negative marking and no partial marking. You get the marks only if you select all the correct options and no wrong one.
Is General Aptitude the same in all GATE papers?
Yes. The 15 mark GA section is common to all 30 papers and follows one syllabus of verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial aptitude.
Can I take two GATE papers?
Yes, but only from the list of approved two paper combinations published by the organising institute. The second paper is added to the same application.
What is the gate ka syllabus for engineering maths?
It varies by paper. Linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and numerical methods are common themes, but each paper's PDF lists exactly which ones apply.
How long is a GATE score valid?
A GATE score stays usable for three years after results are declared. Each PSU or institute applies its own rules on which year's score it accepts.