# GATE XE Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Subject Areas and Question Types

> GATE XE exam pattern, syllabus areas and the question-type mix of every official XE paper hosted here, 2016–2026.

Source: https://previousyearquestions.app/gate/xe/syllabus-pattern/

GATE XE is conducted by IISc Bangalore or one of the IITs, in rotation, and covers General Aptitude, XE-A Engineering Mathematics and two optional sections. This page summarises the GATE XE 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.

Explore: <a href="/gate/xe/">GATE XE hub</a> · <a href="/gate/xe/2026/">GATE XE 2026</a> · <a href="/gate/syllabus-pattern/">GATE syllabus & pattern</a>

GATE XE (Engineering Sciences) has General Aptitude plus the compulsory XE-A mathematics section and optional engineering-science sections. This page gives the exam pattern, the subject areas of the syllabus, and the mix of question types in every official XE paper hosted on this site.

<Callout type="warning" title="GATE 2027: syllabus revised" icon="lucide:triangle-alert">
IIT Madras, which runs GATE 2027, has revised the syllabus for the papers. The exam is scheduled for 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027. Check the official XE syllabus PDF on [gate2027.iitm.ac.in](https://gate2027.iitm.ac.in/) for the exact topic list. The subject areas below are from the pre-revision syllabus used in the papers on this site.
</Callout>

## GATE XE exam pattern

| | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 65 per candidate: 10 General Aptitude, 11 in XE-A and 22 in each of two optional sections |
| Marks | 100: 15 General Aptitude, 15 XE-A, 35 for each optional section |
| Duration | 3 hours, one sitting, online |
| Question types | MCQ (one correct option), MSQ (one or more correct; from 2021) and NAT (type a number) |
| Negative marking | MCQ only: −1/3 for a 1-mark question, −2/3 for a 2-mark question. None for NAT or MSQ |
| Calculator | On-screen virtual scientific calculator; your own is not allowed |

The 65-question, 100-mark format is the same in every XE paper hosted here. General Aptitude is always 10 questions: five worth 1 mark and five worth 2 marks.

## Subject areas in the syllabus

| Subject area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Verbal ability (grammar, sentence completion, reasoning) and numerical ability (arithmetic, data interpretation, spatial reasoning). 10 questions, 15 marks. |
| XE-A Engineering Mathematics | Compulsory for every candidate: linear algebra, calculus, vector calculus, differential equations, complex variables, probability and statistics, numerical methods. |
| XE-B Fluid Mechanics | Fluid properties, statics, integral and differential analysis, potential flow, viscous and boundary-layer flow, turbulence. |
| XE-C Materials Science | Structure of materials, defects, phase diagrams, diffusion, mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. |
| XE-D Solid Mechanics | Stress and strain, beams, torsion, columns, energy methods, plasticity and failure theories. |
| XE-E Thermodynamics | Laws of thermodynamics, properties of pure substances, cycles, mixtures, equilibrium. |
| XE-F Polymer Science and Engineering | Polymer chemistry and synthesis, characterisation, properties, processing, polymer blends and composites. |
| XE-G Food Technology | Food chemistry and nutrition, food microbiology, food process engineering, preservation, quality and packaging. |
| XE-H Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | Atmospheric structure and thermodynamics, dynamics, ocean circulation, waves, climate basics. |

## Question types by paper

Counts come from the official answer keys hosted on this site, one row per year.

XE keys list every section, so the table below counts questions per section instead of per paper.

| Year | Section | Questions | MCQ | NAT | MSQ |
|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| 2016 | XE-A | 11 | 7 | 4 | – |
| 2016 | XE-B | 22 | 8 | 14 | – |
| 2016 | XE-C | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2016 | XE-D | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2016 | XE-E | 22 | 13 | 9 | – |
| 2016 | XE-F | 22 | 15 | 7 | – |
| 2016 | XE-G | 22 | 16 | 6 | – |
| 2016 | XE-GA | 10 | 8 | 2 | – |
| 2017 | XE-A | 11 | 5 | 6 | – |
| 2017 | XE-B | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2017 | XE-C | 22 | 15 | 7 | – |
| 2017 | XE-D | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2017 | XE-E | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2018 | XE-A | 11 | 4 | 7 | – |
| 2018 | XE-B | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2018 | XE-C | 22 | 10 | 12 | – |
| 2018 | XE-D | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2018 | XE-E | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2018 | XE-F | 22 | 15 | 7 | – |
| 2018 | XE-G | 22 | 13 | 9 | – |
| 2018 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | XE-H | 22 | 13 | 9 | – |
| 2019 | XE-A | 11 | 6 | 5 | – |
| 2019 | XE-B | 22 | 13 | 9 | – |
| 2019 | XE-C | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2019 | XE-D | 22 | 14 | 8 | – |
| 2019 | XE-E | 22 | 12 | 10 | – |
| 2019 | XE-F | 22 | 15 | 7 | – |
| 2019 | XE-G | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2019 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | – |
| 2019 | XE-H | 22 | 11 | 11 | – |
| 2022 | XE-A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | XE-B | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| 2022 | XE-C | 22 | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| 2022 | XE-D | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | XE-E | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | XE-A | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | XE-B | 22 | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023 | XE-C | 22 | 9 | 9 | 4 |
| 2023 | XE-D | 22 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 2023 | XE-E | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | XE-A | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | XE-B | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | XE-C | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 |
| 2024 | XE-D | 22 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | XE-E | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | XE-A | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | XE-B | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | XE-C | 22 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | XE-D | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| 2025 | XE-E | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | XE-A | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 2026 | XE-B | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 |
| 2026 | XE-C | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| 2026 | XE-D | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| 2026 | XE-E | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 2026 | XE-GA | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |

## How to use this page

1. Study the subject areas in the order of your own paper tally, not the order of the syllabus.
2. Do not drop a low-weight subject completely. Small subjects are usually 1-mark questions that take a minute once you know the basics.
3. Sit full papers from the [GATE XE hub](/gate/xe/) under the 3-hour limit and count the marks each subject gave you.
4. Check the revised GATE 2027 syllabus PDF before you finish a subject, in case a topic was added.

Subject-wise mark weightage is not tabulated here, because questions have not been tagged by subject for XE. Tally it yourself from each paper you attempt.

## FAQ

### What is the GATE XE exam pattern?
65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours: 10 General Aptitude questions (15 marks), the compulsory XE-A section (15 marks) and two optional sections of your choice (35 marks each). Only wrong MCQ answers lose marks (1/3 or 2/3).

### Has the GATE XE syllabus changed for GATE 2027?
IIT Madras, which runs GATE 2027, has revised the syllabus for the papers. Check the official XE syllabus PDF on gate2027.iitm.ac.in before you plan; the subject list on this page is from the pre-revision syllabus.

## Related

- [GATE XE hub](/gate/xe/)
- [GATE syllabus & pattern](/gate/syllabus-pattern/)
- [GATE PYQ strategy](/guides/gate-pyq-strategy/)