GATE Papers

The GATE exam consists of a single paper of 3-hour that contains 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks. The questions have both MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) and numerical answer type questions. The test will be held online (CBT – Computer Based Test) where the candidates are shown questions in a random sequence on a computer screen. GATE aspirants need to either select the answer for MCQ or enter the answer for numerical answer type question using a virtual mouse (Keyboard of the computer will be disabled). For calculation, candidates will be provided bank sheet which will be returned back after the exam. After the end of 3-hour window, the computer will automatically close the screen from further actions.

Each of the 22 papers will have 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks, out of which there will be 10 questions in General Aptitude (GA) carrying 15 marks.

Papers bearing the codes – AG, AE, BT, CH, CE, CS, EE, EC, IN, MN, ME, MT, PI, TF and XE, Engineering Mathematics will carry around 15% of the total marks, the GA (General Aptitude) section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% is devoted to the subject of the paper.

Papers bearing the codes – AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the GA (General Aptitude) section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.

There will be two different types of questions in 2015 GATE papers:

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. Questions are objective type and each question will have a choice of four answers. Candidates has to select one correct answer out of the four answer options.

Numerical Answer Questions of 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. Here no answer options will be given to the candidate, he/she has to enter the answer (a real number) using a virtual keyboard.

Design of Questions:

The questions are designed to test the following abilities:

Recall: Questions are based on facts, principles, formulae or laws of the discipline of the paper. Candidates should get the answer either from his/her memory of the subject or at most from a one-line computation.

Comprehension: Questions are designed to test a candidate’s ability to understand the basics of his/her field. He/she has to draw simple conclusions from fundamental ideas.

Application: Candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either by logical reasoning or computation.

Analysis and Synthesis: Here candidates need to analyze data, diagrams, images etc. to answer a question. Candidates might require to compare two or more pieces of information to answer a Synthesis question.

General Aptitude (GA) Questions

The GA questions carries a total of 15 marks. There are 5 GA questions which carries 1 mark each (total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each (total 10 marks).

Question Papers other than GG, XE and XL

There are a total of 65 questions, out of which 25 questions (total 25 marks) carries 1 mark each and 30 questions (total 60 marks) carries 2 marks for each question. The Multiple choice type questions will have four answer options from which a candidate has to select the correct answer. Whereas in the Numerical Answer type questions, candidates need to give a real number as answer using the virtual keyboard. While evaluating the numerical answer type, an appropriate range will be considered so that candidates are not penalized due to usual round-offs errors.

GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper                                              

The GG paper consists of two parts – A and B, in addition to the GA section. Part A is common for all candidates. Whereas Part II consists of two sections – Section 1 and Section 2, consisting of 30 multiple choice questions carrying 2 marks each (total 60 marks) and some of these may be numerical answer type.

XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)

Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) is compulsory, in XE paper. There are 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1 mark each (total 7 marks), and 4 questions carrying 2 marks each (total 8 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type questions.

Each of the other sections of the XE paper (Sections B through G) contains 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks: 9 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 9 marks) and 13 questions carrying 2 marks each (total 26 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

XL Paper (Life Sciences)

Chemistry section (Section H) is compulsory, in XL paper. A total of 15 questions, carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (total 5 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

Each of the other sections of the XL paper (Sections I through M) contains 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 10 questions carrying 1 mark each (total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2 marks each (total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

Negative Marking for Wrong Answers:

Multiple Choice Questions

Candidates will be deducted 1/3 for 1-Mark questions. For 2 mark questions, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

Numerical Answer Type

Negative marking system is not applicable in numerical answer type questions.