IIT Madras has released the GATE Exam Pattern 2027 at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. GATE 2027 will include 30 test papers, and candidates can choose to appear for up to two papers from the permitted combinations.

  • The GATE 2027 exam will be conducted in CBT mode for 3 hours (180 minutes).
  • GATE Exam Pattern has 65 questions for 100 marks. The 65 questions are split into two parts: 10 questions from general aptitude and 55 subject-specific questions.
  • The General Aptitude (GA) section is common across all papers and accounts for 15 marks, while the remaining 85 marks are based on the selected test paper.
  • GATE paper pattern includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
  • According to GATE marking scheme, a question may carry either 1 mark or 2 marks.
  • There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in MSQ and NAT. For an incorrect answer in MCQ, there is negative marking of 1/3 for a 1-mark question and 2/3 marks for a 2-mark question.
  • In GATE CSE, Engineering Mathematics contains 8- 10 questions (13%), and Programming & Data Structures contains 6-8 questions (10- 12%).
  • In GATE ECE, Signals & Systems has 10- 14% weightage (6- 8 questions), and Analogue Circuits has 9- 12%( 5- 7 questions).

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Latest Updates

The GATE 2027 Exam Pattern has a few updates, including the introduction of the new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper and changes to the sectional codes for XE, XH, and XL.

  • GATE 2027 introduces Robotics & Automation as a new test paper.
  • The sectional paper codes have been revised for Engineering Sciences (XE), Humanities & Social Sciences (XH), and Life Sciences (XL).
  • Textile Engineering & Fibre Science (TF) has been moved into the XE paper as XE9.
  • The syllabus for GATE 2027 test papers has been revised, so candidates should refer to the latest paper-wise syllabus when preparing.

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GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Subject-wise Pattern, Marking Scheme, Total Marks and Exam Duration

Key Summary

  • GATE 2027 will be conducted on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027.
  • The mode of GATE 2027 exam is in English only.
  • In MCQs, only one out of four options is correct. In MSQs, one or more than one out of four options is/are correct. For NAT questions, the numerical answer is entered using a virtual keypad.
  • The GATE exam pattern tests candidates' recall, application and analysis abilities.
  • The syllabus of the GATE 2027 has been revised. So you are advised to follow the new syllabus prescribed on the official website.
  • GATE 2027 will have a new test paper on Robotics and Automation (RA). Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) paper will be a part of the XE sectional paper.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Key Highlights

A brief overview of GATE 2027 exam pattern is tabulated below. Follow it to prepare accordingly.

Particulars Details
Medium English
Mode of Exam Online
GATE Exam Duration 3 Hours
Number of Test Papers 30
Distribution of Marks in all Papers Except AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, and XL Total: 100 marks
  • General Aptitude: 15 marks
  • Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks
  • Subject Questions: 72 marks
GATE 2027 Marks Distribution in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, and XL Total: 100 marks
  • General Aptitude: 15 marks
  • Subject Questions: 85 marks
Total Questions 65 (10 questions from GA + 55 Subject Question)
Question Types MCQ, MSQ and NAT
GATE Marking Scheme Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks
Negative Marking Applicable only to MCQs
  • For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
  • For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer.
Number of Papers a Candidate Can Attempt 1 or 2, subject to permitted combinations

Also Read:

Ques. What are the differences between MCQ, MSQ, and NAT?

Ans. For MCQ, one correct option out of four and negative marking applies. For MSQ: one or more correct options out of four. For NAT, enter a numerical value using the virtual keypad. No negative marking is there for MSQ and NAT as per GATE marking scheme.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Subject-wise Paper Pattern

The subject-wise GATE exam pattern 2027 is discussed below. Check it out based on your subject preference.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Major Papers

CSE, CE, ME, ECE and EE are the most popular choices among GATE aspirants. Along with these, the GATE paper pattern for AE, AG, BM, BT, ES, IN, MN, MT, NM, PE, and PI is the same. Check out the detailed GATE 2027 exam pattern for these papers.

Particulars Details
Total number of questions 65
GATE Total Marks 100
GATE Section-wise Weightage
  • General Aptitude: 15 marks
  • Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks
  • Subject Questions: 72 marks
Question types MCQs, MSQs, and NATs

Check: GATE Exam Pattern for EE: Total Marks, No. of Questions, Negative Marking, Weightage

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: AR Paper

Check out the GATE exam pattern 2027 for Architecture and Planning (AR) Test Paper below.

  • Part A is common for all candidates.
  • Part B contains two parts: Part B1 (Architecture) and Part B2 (Planning).
  • The choice of Part B1 or Part B2 can be made during the examination
Particulars Details
Total number of questions 65
GATE Total Marks 100
GATE total marks in Part A 60 marks
GATE total marks in Part B
  • 16 questions, each carrying a total of 25 marks
  • 7 questions carrying 1 mark each
  • 9 questions carrying 2 marks each
Question types MCQs, MSQs, and NATs

Check:

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: XE Paper

The GATE exam pattern 2027 for the Engineering Science paper is discussed below.

  • General Aptitude section is compulsory and carries a total of 15 marks.
  • Engineering Mathematics section is common, and it carries 11 questions for 15 marks.
Particulars Details
Total number of questions 65
GATE Total Marks 100
GATE total marks for XE GA- 15 marksEngineering Mathematics- 15 marksAny Two Optional XE Sections- 35 marks x 2
Question types MCQs, MSQs, and NATs

Watch the YouTube video by “Dr. Gajendra Purohit” to learn about the complete GATE Exam pattern 2027 and syllabus.

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Ques. Is 37 a good score in GATE?

Ans. A score or mark of 37 in the GATE exam is generally considered average or just above the basic qualifying cutoff, making it insufficient for top-tier IITs or PSUs.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Subject-wise Weightage

GATE 2027 will conduct tests for 30 papers. But among all the test papers, CSE, CE, ME, ECE and EE are the most popular choices.

  • Each paper carries 100 marks, including 15 marks for General Aptitude (GA).
  • For most engineering papers, the remaining 85 marks include 13 marks for Engineering Mathematics and 72 marks for subject-specific questions.
GATE 2027 Papers General Aptitude Marks Engineering Mathematics / Common Section Marks Subject Sections Marks Total Marks
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI 15 13 72 100
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST 15 - 85 100
AR 15 60 (Part A) 25 (Part B: Architecture/Planning) 100
GE 15 55 (Part A) 30 (Part B: Surveying & Mapping/Image Processing) 100
GG 15 25 (Part A) 60 (Part B: Geology/Geophysics) 100
RA 15 60 (Part A) 25 (Part B: Electrical/Mechanical) 100
XE 15 15 (XE0) 70 (Any 2 of XE1- XE9) 100
XH 15 25 (XH0) 60 (Any 1 of XH1- XH6) 100
XL 15 25 (XL0) 60 (Any 2 of XL1- XL5) 100

Check:

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Subject-wise Weightage

Source: gate2027.iitm.ac.in

GATE 2027 Two-Paper Combination List

Candidates applying for GATE 2027 must choose the two-paper combination from the following list. Any combination other than the given two-paper combination is not allowed.

Code of the Primary Paper Codes of Papers Allowed as the Secondary Paper
AE CE, ME, XE
AG CE
AR CE, GE
BM BT, IN
BT BM, ES, EY, XL
CE AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE
CH ES, PE, XE
CS DA, EC, GE, MA, ME, PH, RA, ST
CY XE, XL
DA CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, RA, ST, XE
EC CS, DA, EE, IN, PH, RA
EE DA, EC, IN, PH, RA
ES BT, CE, CH, GE
EY BT, XL
GE AR, CE, CS, ES, GG
GG GE
IN BM, EC, EE, ME, RA
MA CS, DA, PH, ST
ME AE, CS, DA, IN, NM, PI, RA, XE
MT XE
MN -
NM CE, ME, XE
PE CH
PH CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE
PI ME, XE
RA CS, DA, EC, EE, IN, ME
ST CS, DA, MA, XH
XE AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, NM, PH, PI
XH ST
XL BT, CY, EY

Source: gate2027.iitm.ac.in

Also Read:

Ques. Is 70 a good score in GATE?

Ans. Scoring 70 marks in GATE is a very good performance. You can expect your rank to be between 500 and 1000, making admission to an MTech at top institutes possible.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Types of Questions

The GATE 2027 Exam Pattern includes three types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). Each paper contains a mix of 1-mark and 2-mark questions. The question type may vary across different sections of the paper.

GATE 2027 exam will consist of 65 questions for 100 marks. 65 questions are split into two parts: 10 questions from general aptitude and 55 subject-specific questions.

Question Type How You Answer
MCQ Select one correct option
MSQ Select one or more correct options
NAT Enter a numerical value using the virtual keyboard

Also Read:

Ques. Can I appear for two papers in GATE 2027?

Ans. Yes, you can appear for one or up to two papers from the officially allowed two-paper combinations. Each paper is independent (separate 3-hour CBT). You pay the fee for each paper separately.

GATE Marking Scheme 2027

According to GATE Marking scheme, questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks. But there is no negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions. So you are advised to attempt all the questions of these types.

Check out the GATE Marking Scheme for MCQ-type questions in the table below:

Question Type Marks per answer GATE Negative Marking
MCQ 1-mark MCQ 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
2- mark MCQ 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer
GATE Marking Scheme 2027

Source: gate2027.iitm.ac.in

Also Read: GATE 2027 Marking Scheme: Negative Marking, NAT Questions and Section-Wise Weightage

Ques. Is GATE exam difficult?

Ans. The GATE exam is challenging and highly competitive, but it is manageable with clear conceptual understanding and consistent practice. The GATE syllabus comprises all topics of UG along with Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude. The exam tests how well you apply theoretical concepts to solve numerical problems.

GATE Exam Pattern 2027: Syllabus

The GATE Exam Pattern 2027 is based on the syllabus prescribed for each of the 30 GATE test papers. IIT Madras has revised the syllabi for GATE 2027, so candidates should refer to the latest paper-wise syllabus while preparing.

GATE question types will test your ability to recall, comprehend, apply, analyse, and synthesise.

Component GATE 2027 Details
General Aptitude (GA) Common to all papers; 15 marks
Engineering Mathematics Included in most engineering papers; generally 13 marks
Core Subject Paper-specific topics; generally 72 marks in standard engineering papers
XE GA + Engineering Mathematics + any 2 optional sections
XH GA + Reasoning & Comprehension + any 1 optional section
XL GA + Chemistry + any 2 optional sections
RA New Robotics & Automation paper with a separate syllabus
Total Papers 30
Total Marks 100 per paper

GATE 2027 Major Papers: Important Topics Based on Trends

The GATE topic-wise weightage varies from year to year, and it is not officially released by the conducting IITs. The following table is based on previous years' GATE papers.

GATE CSE Important Topics: Based on Trends

The table below shows the number of questions in GATE CSE from past years' trend analysis of various sections:

Section Number of Questions Asked
General Aptitude 15
Engineering Maths 13- 16
Computer Networks 8- 9
Programming and Data Structure 9- 10
Algorithm 6- 8
Operating System 8- 10
Digital Logic 5- 6
Computer Organisation and Architecture 8- 10
DBMS 7- 8
TOC 5- 7
Compiler Design 5- 6
GATE CSE Important Topics: Based on Trends

GATE ECE Topic-wise Weightage 2027

The table below gives the topic-wise GATE EC weightage based on trends.

Section Marks Covered from Topics
General Aptitude 15
Engineering Mathematics 11 to 15
Communication Systems 10 to 13
Network Theory 8 to 12
Signals and Systems 9 to 12
Analog Circuits 8 to 11
Electromagnetics 8 to 11
Digital Circuits 8 to 10
Electronic Devices 6 to 9
Control Systems 5 to 8
GATE ECE Topic-wise Weightage 2027

GATE ME Topic-wise Weightage 2027

The table below gives the topic-wise GATE ME weightage based on trends.

Section Marks Covered from Topics
General Aptitude 15
Engineering Mathematics 13 to 15
Manufacturing Engineering 14- 19
Thermodynamics / Thermal Engineering (including Power Plant, IC Engines, RAC) 8- 13
Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machines 7- 12
Heat Transfer 5- 10
Strength of Materials (Mechanics of Materials) 5- 9
Theory of Machines & Vibrations 5- 9
Industrial Engineering 4- 8
Machine Design 3- 6
Engineering Mechanics 2- 6
GATE ME Topic-wise Weightage 2027

GATE CE Topic-wise Weightage 2027

The table below gives the topic-wise GATE CE weightage based on trends.

Section Marks Covered from Topics
General Aptitude 15
Engineering Mathematics 11- 14
Structural Engineering (SOM, Structural Analysis, RCC, Steel Design, etc.) 15- 20
Geotechnical Engineering 13- 16
Water Resources Engineering (Fluid Mechanics, Hydraulics, Hydrology, Irrigation 11- 14
Environmental Engineering 10- 14
Transportation Engineering 6- 10
Geomatics Engineering (Surveying) 4- 5
GATE CE Topic-wise Weightage 2027

Also Check:

Ques. What is the best way to manage time according to the GATE exam pattern?

Ans. Start with GATE questions you can solve confidently. Avoid spending too long on a single problem, and reserve time for reviewing marked questions. Regular timed mock tests can help develop an effective time-management strategy.

How to Prepare Based on the GATE Exam Pattern 2027?

  • Understand the exam structure: Familiarise yourself with the number of questions, total marks, duration, question types, and marking scheme for GATE 2027.
  • Prioritise core subjects: Give more preparation time to high-weightage and concept-heavy subjects in your GATE paper.
  • Balance theory and practice: Study concepts thoroughly and solve numerical problems regularly to improve accuracy.
  • Practise MCQs and NATs: Solve both objective and numerical answer-type questions to become comfortable with different question formats.
  • Use previous year papers: Analyse GATE question papers to understand recurring topics, difficulty level, and question trends.
  • Take timed mock tests: Practise full-length tests according to the GATE exam pattern to improve speed and time management.
  • Revise Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude: Include these sections in your weekly preparation schedule.
  • Focus on accuracy: Since GATE has negative marking for certain MCQs, avoid random guessing.
  • Analyse your performance: After every mock or practice test, identify conceptual mistakes, calculation errors, and time-consuming topics to know your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Revise consistently: Prepare short notes, formulas, and important concepts for quick revision during the final weeks.

On discussion forums such as Reddit, a user shared some preparation tips for candidates appearing for GATE 2027.

  • Finish 80% of the GATE 2027 syllabus by mid-November.
  • Spend the remaining time on mocks, PYQs, revision, and error analysis
  • Maintain an error book
  • Revise the topics regularly while studying new concepts
  • Alongside theory, keep solving PYQs topic-wise as you complete topics
reddit

Source: Reddit

GATE Previous Year Question Paper: Download PDF

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GATE Exam Pattern 2027 FAQs

Ques. How many questions are there in GATE 2027?

Ans. GATE question papers generally contain 65 questions. The exact paper-wise distribution should be checked in the official GATE 2027 notification.

Ques. What is the total marks in GATE 2027?

Ans. The GATE exam is conducted for a total of 100 marks. The General Aptitude (GA) section is common across all papers and accounts for 15 marks, while the remaining 85 marks are based on the selected test paper.

Ques. Is there negative marking in GATE 2027?

Ans. Yes, GATE has negative marking that applies to incorrect MCQs. There is no negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions. The negative marks vary according to the marks assigned to the question.

Ques. How many marks are allotted to Engineering Mathematics in GATE?

Ans. For papers where Engineering Mathematics is included, it generally carries 13 marks, while the remaining marks are allocated to the subject-specific section. The distribution can vary for certain papers.

Ques. Can I attempt GATE questions in any order?

Ans. Yes, candidates appearing for GATE can generally navigate between questions during the computer-based test and answer them in an order that suits their strategy.

Ques. What is the marking scheme for GATE 2027?

Ans. GATE papers generally include 1-mark and 2-mark questions. Incorrect MCQs has negative marks, while MSQ and NAT questions do not have negative marking.

Ques. How should I prepare according to the GATE Exam Pattern 2027?

Ans. Candidates should divide their preparation between General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics where applicable, and core subject topics. Regular practice of MCQs, MSQs, NAT questions, previous-year papers, and mock tests can help improve speed and accuracy.