Updated on Dec 18, 2024
Amrita Das
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering ()
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE is a national-level entrance examination for admission to MTech, and PhD across IITs, NITs, IIITs.
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GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: The GATE 2025 exam has already started on February 1st. This year IIT Roorkee is conducting the exam. The exam will conclude on February 16, 2025. This computer-based test is held in two shifts: Morning (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) and Afternoon (2:30 PM - 5:30 PM) on February 1, 2, 15, and 16, 2025. Candidates should be familiar with the exam pattern, which can be accessed on the official website—gate2025.iitr.ac.in. The pattern includes details such as the marking scheme, difficulty level, exam mode, and duration.
The GATE 2025 registration window is closed. The GATE 2025 admit card link is active on the GOAPS portal, where candidates can download their hall tickets using their enrollment ID and password. Additionally, GATE 2025 mock tests are available online to help candidates understand the exam structure.
IIT Roorkee has introduced a new two-paper combination list, offering more subject choices. The exam pattern is crucial for preparation, covering essential aspects like question format, number of questions, syllabus, test paper codes, marking scheme, and difficulty level. GATE 2025 is conducted for 30 different subjects, each assigned a unique code. The official website now displays the exam dates for various test papers.
The GATE question paper consists of 65 questions worth 100 marks, including 10 General Aptitude (GA) questions carrying 15 marks.
GATE Paper Pattern 2025:Highlight
GATE 2025 is a Computer-Based Test that lasts for 3 hours (180 minutes). It covers 30 different subjects. A total of 65 questions are asked, consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. The marking scheme includes both 1-mark and 2-mark questions. However, the negative marking is only applicable only to MCQs.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Total Papers | 30 |
| Sections Included | - Candidate’s Selected Subject - General Aptitude (GA) |
| Types of Questions | - Numerical Answer Type (NAT) - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) - Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) |
| Skills Assessed | - Comprehension - Recall - Analysis & Synthesis - Application |
| Total Questions | 65 (10 from GA + 55 from the subject) |
| Marking Scheme | - 1-mark and 2-mark questions |
| Negative Marking | - MCQ Only: 1/3 mark deducted for 1-mark question - 2/3 mark deducted for 2-mark question - No negative marking for MSQ & NAT |
| Marks Allocation (for all except AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, XL) | - General Aptitude: 15 Marks - Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks - Subject-specific Questions: 72 Marks - Total: 100 Marks |
| Marks Allocation (for AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, XL) | - General Aptitude: 15 Marks - Subject-specific Questions: 85 Marks - Total: 100 Marks |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025: Type of Questions
As per the GATE Exam Pattern 2025, it consists of 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks. The exam includes three types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. The detailed breakdown of GATE Exam Pattern 2025 is described below:
Detailed Break-Down of GATE Questions Type
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Each MCQ carries either 1 mark or 2 marks across all GATE papers. Every question presents four answer choices, from which candidates must select the correct one. Incorrect answers result in negative markings, where 1/3rd of the allotted marks are deducted for each incorrect response.
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): Similar to MCQs, MSQs also carry 1 mark or 2 marks per question. Each question comes with four answer choices, but multiple options may be correct. There is no negative marking for MSQs. Partial marks are awarded based on the correctness of selected options.
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions. These questions carry either 1 or 2 marks. Unlike MCQs and MSQs, NATs do not provide answer choices. No negative marking applies to NAT questions.
GATE Exam Pattern: Mark Distribution
Each GATE 2025 question paper carries a total of 100 marks and has a duration of 180 minutes. Every test paper includes two mandatory sections:
- General Aptitude (GA) – 15 marks
- Subject-Specific Section – 85 marks
The distribution of marks across different paper codes is detailed below:
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Subject-Specific Marks | Total Marks | Total Time (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF | 15 | 13: Engineering Mathematics + 72: Subject-Specific | 100 | 180 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| AR (Part A + Part B1 or B2) | 15 | 60: Part A + 25: Part B1/B2 | 100 | 180 |
| GE (Part A + Part B1 or B2) | 15 | 55: Compulsory Part A + 30: Part B1/B2 | 100 | 180 |
| GG (Part A + Part B1 or B2) | 15 | 25: Compulsory Part A + 60: Part B1/B2 | 100 | 180 |
| XE (Section A + Any Two Sections) | 15 | 15: Compulsory Section A + 35: Additional Section 1 + 35: Additional Section 2 | 100 | 180 |
| XH (Section B1 + Any One Section) | 15 | 25: Compulsory Section B1 + 60: Additional Section | 100 | 180 |
| XL (Section P + Any Two Sections) | 15 | 25: Compulsory Section A + 30: Additional Section 1 + 30: Additional Section 2 | 100 | 180 |
GATE Exam Pattern for CSE
NAT section will hold maximum weightage in the GATE 2025 Exam. For GATE 2025 CSE Exam Pattern candidates can check the table below:
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering | 25 (MCQ/NAT) | 1 | 25 |
| 30 (MSQ/NAT) | 2 | 60 | |
| General Aptitude | 10 (NAT/MCQ/MCQ) | 1 or 2 | 15 |
| Total | 65 | - | 100 |
GATE XL Paper Pattern 2025
Section P (Chemistry) in GATE XL Paper Pattern contains 15 questions. In this section there are 5 one-mark questions and 10 two marks questions. Additionally, candidates must select any two sections from Q to U, which together include 40 questions. In this section, each selected subject contributes 10 one-mark questions and 10 two-mark questions.
| Section | Total Questions | 1-Mark Questions | 2-Mark Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude (GA) | 10 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| Section P (Chemistry) | 15 | 5 | 10 | 25 |
| Any Two Sections (Q-U) | 40 | 10 + 10 | 10 + 10 | 60 |
| Total | 65 | 30 | 70 | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025: Subject-Wise Detailed Break-Down
The GATE 2025 exam pattern varies depending on the paper chosen by the candidate. However, each paper consists of a General Aptitude (GA) section along with subject-specific sections. The number of questions and marks distribution vary across different papers. Below is a structured breakdown of the exam pattern:
Engineering & Science-Based Papers
For AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST, the paper consists of three sections:
- General Aptitude (GA) – 15 marks
- Engineering Mathematics – 13% weightage
- Core Subject – 72% weightage
The total number of questions is 55, out of which 25 questions carry 1 mark each and 30 questions carry 2 marks each, contributing to a total of 85 marks.
Science and Mathematical Papers (CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST)
For candidates appearing for CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, and ST, the paper is divided into:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Core Subject – 85 marks
A total of 55 questions are asked, following the same marking pattern as engineering-based papers, leading to a total of 100 marks.
Architecture and Planning (AR)
The GATE AR paper is revised, now containing:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Part A (Mandatory) – 60 marks
- Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning) – 25 marks
Candidates must answer 55 questions, with varying mark distribution across the sections.
Geomatics Engineering (GE)
Introduced in GATE 2022, the GE paper includes:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Part A (Mandatory) – 55 marks
- Part B1 or Part B2 – 30 marks
The total number of questions remains 55, with a structured marking scheme.
Geology and Geophysics (GG)
The GG paper is divided into:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Part A (Mandatory) – 25 marks
- Part B1 (Geology) or Part B2 (Geophysics) – 60 marks
A total of 55 questions are asked, contributing to 100 marks.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
The NM paper is a recent addition to GATE and consists of:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Core Subject – 85 marks
Similar to other technical papers, it contains 55 questions with 1-mark and 2-mark questions.
Engineering Sciences (XE)
The XE paper is divided into three parts:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- Section A (Engineering Mathematics) – 15 marks
- Two optional sections from B to H – 70 marks
Candidates must answer 65 questions, with each optional section carrying a total of 35 marks.
Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
Introduced in 2021, the XH paper consists of:
- General Aptitude – 15 marks
- B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) – 15 marks
- One optional section from C1-C6 – 60 marks
Candidates must attempt 65 questions, making a total of 100 marks.
A detailed breakdown of GATE Paper-wise 2025 exam pattern has been described below:
| GATE Paper | Sections | Total Number of 1 Mark Questions | Total Number of 2 Mark Questions | Total Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, ST | General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Core Discipline | 25 | 30 | 55 | 85 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | General Aptitude, Core Discipline | 25 | 30 | 55 | 85 |
| Architecture and Planning (AR) | General Aptitude, Part A (Mandatory), Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning) | 18+7 | 21+9 | 55 | 100 |
| Geomatics Engineering (GE) | General Aptitude, Part A (Mandatory), Part B1 or Part B2 | 17+8 | 19+11 | 55 | 100 |
| Geology and Geophysics (GG) | General Aptitude, Part A (Mandatory), Part B1 (Geology) or Part B2 (Geophysics) | 25 | 30 | 55 | 100 |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) | General Aptitude, Core Subject | 25 | 30 | 55 | 100 |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | General Aptitude, Section A (Engineering Mathematics), Section B-H (Any Two) | 7+9+9 | 4+13+13 | 65 | 100 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) | General Aptitude, B1 (Reasoning & Comprehension), C1-C6 (Any One) | 5+20 | 10+20 | 65 | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025: Two Paper Combination (Revised)
For new GATE 2025 Two Paper Combination, candidates can refer to the table below:
| First Paper Code | Second Paper Code |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | Biomedical Engineering (BM) | Life Sciences (XL) | Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | Civil Engineering (CE) |
| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | Engineering Sciences (XE) | Biotechnology (BT) | Electrical Engineering (EE) | Mechanical Engineering (ME) |
| Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) | Metallurgical Engineering (MT) |
| Physics (PH) | Life Sciences (XL) |
| Architecture and Planning (AR) | Geology and Geophysics (GG) | Engineering Sciences (XE) |
| Mathematics (MA) | Ecology and Evolution (EY) |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) | Electrical Engineering (EE) |
| Biotechnology (BT) | Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) | Ecology and Evolution (EY) | Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
| Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) | Engineering Sciences (XE) | Civil Engineering (CE) |
| Ecology and Evolution (EY) | Biotechnology (BT) | Mathematics (MA) | Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | Biomedical Engineering (BM) | Civil Engineering (CE) | Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | Chemical Engineering (CH) | Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | Biotechnology (BT) | Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) | Geomatics Engineering (GE) |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
| Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
| Electronics and Communication (EC) | Life Sciences (XL) |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) |
| Life Sciences (XL) | Chemical Engineering (CH) | Electrical Engineering (EE) | Physics (PH) | Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) |
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) | Geomatics Engineering (GE) |
| Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) | Biotechnology (BT) | Ecology and Evolution (EY) |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | Chemistry (CY) | Life Sciences (XL) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | Chemistry (CY) |
| Geomatics Engineering (GE) | Mining Engineering (MN) | Engineering Sciences (XE) | Aerospace Engineering (AE) | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | Agricultural Engineering (AG) | Architecture and Planning (AR) | Biomedical Engineering (BM) | Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | Geomatics Engineering (GE) | Geology and Geophysics (GG) | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) | Petroleum Engineering (PE) | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) |
| Biomedical Engineering (BM) | - |
| Petroleum Engineering (PE) | Engineering Sciences (XE) |
| Geology and Geophysics (GG) | Architecture and Planning (AR) | Mining Engineering (MN) | Engineering Sciences (XE) |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) | Engineering Sciences (XE) |
| Mining Engineering (MN) | Geomatics Engineering (GE) | Geology and Geophysics (GG) |
| Chemistry (CY) | Chemical Engineering (CH) | Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) |
| Agricultural Engineering (AG) | Engineering Sciences (XE) |
GATE Syllabus 2025: At a Glance
IIT Roorkee has published the syllabus and information brochure for GATE 2025. The exam consists of three main sections: General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and the Core subject chosen by the candidate. The General Aptitude syllabus is common across all 30 subject papers.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | - Quantitative Aptitude - Analytical Aptitude - Spatial Aptitude |
| Engineering Mathematics | - Calculus and Differential Equations - Complex Analysis and Numerical Methods - Probability and Statistics - Discrete Mathematics |
| Specific Subjects | Different For Each subject |
GATE 2025 Preparation Tips
To clear the GATE 2025 exam on the first attempt, a strong foundation and a well-organized study plan are essential. Here are some effective preparation tips to help candidates succeed and pursue a career in PSUs or MTech at IITs:
- Understand the GATE exam pattern and syllabus.
- Create a structured study plan.
- Collect relevant study materials and reference books.
- Regularly practice and revise the topics.
- Take daily mock tests.
- Solve previous year’s questions.
- Follow last-minute tips to boost confidence and improve performance.
GATE 2025 Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the structure of the GATE 2025 exam?
The GATE 2025 exam is a computer-based test (CBT) lasting 3 hours. It comprises 65 questions totaling 100 marks, divided into General Aptitude (GA) and the candidate's selected subject.
How are the 65 questions in GATE 2025 distributed?
The 65 questions include 10 General Aptitude questions worth 15 marks and 55 subject-specific questions accounting for 85 marks.
What types of questions are included in GATE 2025?
GATE 2025 features Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Is there negative marking in GATE 2025?
Yes, negative marking applies to MCQs: 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong 1-mark MCQ, and 2/3 mark for a wrong 2-mark MCQ. There is no negative marking for MSQs and NAT questions.
How is the marking scheme structured in GATE 2025?
Questions carry either 1 or 2 marks. Incorrect answers in MCQs incur negative marking, while MSQs and NAT questions do not have negative marking.
What is the significance of the General Aptitude section in GATE 2025?
The General Aptitude section is common across all papers and contributes 15 marks to the total score.
Are there any changes in the GATE 2025 exam pattern compared to previous years?
GATE 2025 maintains a similar structure to previous years, with a focus on assessing candidates' understanding through various question types and a consistent marking scheme.
How can I effectively prepare for the different question types in GATE 2025?
Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern, practice various question types, and utilize available resources like mock tests to enhance your preparation.
Where can I find official information about the GATE 2025 exam pattern?
Detailed information about the GATE 2025 exam pattern is available on the official website:
What resources are available to help me understand the GATE 2025 exam structure?
The official GATE 2025 website provides comprehensive details on the exam pattern, including question types, marking schemes, and subject-wise distributions.
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