The seven IITs and IISc Bangalore jointly organise the GATE Exam every year. IIT Kanpur will conduct GATE 2023 and will soon release the GATE notification along with the brochure, which contains all vital information about the exam. The information brochure provides the GATE exam pattern, which comprises the marking scheme, the mode of examination, question paper, subject code, and more.
GATE exam patterns can be beneficial for applicants preparing for the GATE exam. Applicants can also go through the previous years’ question papers to get an overview of the GATE paper pattern, marking scheme, and exam pattern as well.
Knowing the question’s type and format will help candidates easily understand the exam mode and pattern. The questions for the GATE exam 2022 are divided into three main segments.
1. Multiple choice question (MCQ): All students know this category. For multiple-choice questions, applicants have four choices, from which they must choose the correct one. Multiple choice questions have negative marks.
2. Multiple Select Question (MSQ): These are objective questions. Each question contains four options, one or more of which are correct. There is no negative mark.
3. Numerical Answer Type (NAT): You must also enter a number or specify the correct number of important values. The nature of the expected answer must be clear from the question. There is no negative mark.
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 Highlights
We have provided these highlights to uncover some vital pointers related to the GATE exam pattern:
| Feature | Description |
| Examination Mode | Online (Computer-based Test) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Sectional Time Duration | None |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Number of Questions | 65 |
| Number of Subjects (Papers) | 29 |
| Number of Sections | It depends on the subjects.2-3 (GA and Core Discipline or GA, Engineering Mathematics and Core Subject) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Marking Scheme | 1 or 2 marks for each right answer |
| Negative Marking Scheme | For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be a negative marking.For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.NO negative marking for MSQ & NAT. |
GATE Exam Pattern Marking Scheme 2023
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Core Subject Marks | Total Marks | Total Time |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, TF, ST | 15 | 85 | 100 | 3 Hours |
| AR [Part A + Part B (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] | 15 | 60+25 | 100 | 3 Hours |
| GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II) | 15 | 55+30 | 100 | 3 Hours |
| GG [Part A + Part B (Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)] | 15 | 25 + 60 | 100 | 3 Hours |
| XE (Section A + Any 2 Sections) | 15 | 15 + (2 x 35) | 100 | 3 Hours |
| XH (Section B1 +Any 1 Section) | 15 | 25 + 60 | 100 | 3 Hours |
| XL (Section P+Any 2 Sections) | 15 | 25 + (2 x 30) | 100 | 3 Hours |
GATE CSE Previous Year Question Paper
Candidates can always refer to the GATE CSE previous year question paper to practise their concepts and thoroughly understand them. The GATE CSE previous year question paper has three sections. They are General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Core Subjects. Also, about 15% of marks weightage is contributed by the GA section, while the Engineering Maths and Core Subject, each attributed to about 13% and 72% of marks weightage of the GATE CS previous year papers, respectively. The benefits of solving the GATE CSE previous year question paper are mainly:
- Getting an idea about the exam pattern and marking scheme of the GATE exam
- You can self-assess the overall exam preparation by solving question papers as much as possible
- When candidates solve question papers, it will increase their confidence to face the GATE exam
- Enhance the candidate’s accuracy and speed in writing the answers and helps in improving time management skills
