GATE is conducted by IISc Bangalore or one of the IITs, in rotation, and covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and the subject paper for your branch. This page summarises the GATE exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus as a study snapshot for previous year question practice. Confirm eligibility, dates and marking in the latest official notification on gate2027.iitm.ac.in.
Official brochure wins
Pattern and syllabus notes below are a study snapshot for PYQ practice. Always cross-check the latest notification and information bulletin on the organising institute’s site (IIT Madras for GATE 2027: gate2027.iitm.ac.in) before you finalise eligibility, fees, or marking assumptions.
Pattern snapshot
Single paper CBT, typically three hours. Question types include MCQ, MSQ, and NAT. Exact marks distribution depends on the paper code.
| Section | Duration | Questions (typical) | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Within 3-hour paper | 10 (typical) | 1-/2-mark; MCQ negatives as notified |
| Engineering Mathematics | Within paper (many codes) | Varies by paper | 1-/2-mark mix |
| Core subject | Bulk of paper | Majority | MCQ/MSQ/NAT as per paper |
Always download your paper’s official syllabus PDF for the year you are targeting. Paper codes differ.
Marking scheme (study snapshot)
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | +1 or +2 | Negative (often 1/3) | Confirm year brochure |
| MSQ | Full marks if all correct | Often 0 negative | Partial rules vary - verify |
| NAT | +1 or +2 | Usually 0 negative | Precision and units matter |
Numbers above are typical of recent cycles. Confirm exact marks, negatives, and sectional rules in the current brochure.
Detailed syllabus bullets (for mapping PYQ misses)
General Aptitude
- Verbal aptitude
- Quantitative aptitude
- Analytical aptitude
- Spatial aptitude as tested
Engineering Mathematics
- Linear algebra
- Calculus
- Differential equations
- Probability and statistics
- Numerical methods (as per paper)
Core paper topics
- Official core syllabus topics for your paper code
- Theory + numerical application as mixed in PYQs
- Interdisciplinary overlap topics listed in the brochure
Eligibility snapshot
- Degree requirements as per GATE brochure (B.E./B.Tech and other listed qualifications)
- Third-year eligible candidates as per current rules when applicable
- No limit on number of attempts in typical recent brochures - confirm
Eligibility can change by year (age, attempts, degree, category rules). Treat this as orientation only.
Who runs it and how often
- Exam: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
- Conducted by: IISc / IITs (rotating)
- Typical frequency: Once a year (February window)
- Category: Engineering & Tech
- Official site: gate2027.iitm.ac.in (IIT Madras organises GATE 2027; the site moves to the next organising institute each cycle)
Link PYQs to syllabus
- Take one recent full paper under realistic timing.
- Map every miss to a syllabus bullet above.
- Study that bullet from your primary resource (notes/textbook).
- Re-solve only those PYQs before the next full paper.
- Update your error log with the syllabus tag so weak areas compound correctly.
Brochure caution
Do not rely on undated coaching PDFs for duration, number of questions, or negative marking. Screenshot or bookmark the current information bulletin. If a PYQ set disagrees with the latest pattern, still use it for skill practice, but do not treat its structure as the live exam.