| Updated On - Nov 8, 2024
GATE Mathematics (MA) 2025 Preparation guide for General Aptitude Section with Previous Years’ Papers, Recommended Books and Mock Test Strategy
General Aptitude section of GATE 2025 Mathematics carries 15% of the entire 100 marks. Thereby, the performance would greatly influence the outcome at the entire level. The questions given under this section are 10 in number. Among which 5 questions carry one mark each and 5 carry 2 marks each and together comprise 15 marks.
Numerical ability topics had an average weightage of 6-8 marks and basic arithmetic stood at 30%. Data shows that getting hold of verbal and numerical abilities would form an equal way of approaching the scoring, as they both hold equal weightages towards the total marks in GA.
Scoring trends further reveal that 38% candidates scored more than 60% in the GA section in 2022, which was at 42% in 2023 and at 48% in 2024. Regular practice has a direct proportional relationship with performance; full mock tests done in a week increased scores by 18% and topic-wise practice done daily gave a 15% increase in scores. Strategic preparation in the GA section is definitely the key to better scores and rank advancement.
Here is the detailed preparation guide on the General Aptitude Section in GATE Mathematics 2025 with Previous Years’ Papers, Recommended Books and Mock Test Strategy.
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GATE 2025 Mathematics Previous Years’ Statistics
The GA section accounts for 15 marks out of the total 100 marks in GATE Mathematics. Statistics from past years highlight the scoring potential:
|
Year |
Average GA Score of Top 100 Candidates |
Contribution to Overall Score (%) |
|
2024 |
13.7/15 |
91% |
|
2023 |
13.2/15 |
88% |
|
2022 |
12.5/15 |
83% |
Key Insight: Candidates scoring above 85% in GA improved their overall rank by an average of 15-20%.
GATE 2025 Mathematics General Aptitude Syllabus
The GA section is divided into two main parts:
-
Verbal Ability
-
Numerical Ability
GATE 2025 Mathematics General Aptitude (GA) Syllabus Breakdown
|
Section |
Topics Included |
Weightage (%) |
|
Verbal Ability |
Synonyms, Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension, Word Analogies, Critical Reasoning |
50% |
|
Numerical Ability |
Basic Algebra, Percentages, Ratios, Data Interpretation, Number Series, Time and Work, Time and Distance |
50% |
Each part contains 5 questions worth 1 mark each and 5 questions worth 2 marks each.
GATE 2025 Mathematics General Aptitude (GA) Question Distribution
|
Marks per Question |
Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
|
1 mark |
5 |
5 |
|
2 marks |
5 |
10 |
|
Topic |
Average Weightage (Marks) |
Difficulty Level |
|
Verbal Ability |
7-8 |
Moderate |
|
Numerical Ability |
6-8 |
Easy to Moderate |
|
Data Interpretation |
2-3 |
Moderate |
|
Critical Reasoning |
2-3 |
Moderate to Tough |
|
Word Analogies |
1-2 |
Moderate |
|
Sentence Completion |
1-2 |
Easy |
Insight: In GATE 2024, candidates who emphasized sentence completion scored 10% higher in the verbal section.
Also check: GATE 2025 Mathematics Key topics analysis
GATE 2025 Mathematics General Aptitude Preparation Strategy
Verbal Ability Preparation: Focus on grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
|
Focus Area |
Expected Weightage (%) |
Preparation Tips |
|
English Grammar |
30% |
Practice error detection and correction. |
|
Vocabulary |
25% |
Build a word list; use flashcards. |
|
Reading Comprehension |
25% |
Summarize short articles daily. |
|
Sentence Completion |
20% |
Use previous year papers for practice. |
Numerical Ability Preparation: Prepare for basic arithmetic, algebra, and data interpretation.
|
Focus Area |
Expected Weightage (%) |
Preparation Tips |
|
Basic Arithmetic |
30% |
Master operations like percentages, ratios. |
|
Algebra |
25% |
Solve linear, quadratic equations. |
|
Geometry |
25% |
Memorize essential formulas. |
|
Data Interpretation |
20% |
Practice with varied data sets. |
GATE 2025 Mathematics Statistical Insights for GA scores
Impact of Regular Practice on GA Scores (2024)
|
Preparation Time (Hours/Week) |
Average GA Score |
% Improvement Over Baseline |
|
< 5 |
8.5/15 |
0% |
|
5-10 |
10.3/15 |
0.21 |
|
10-15 |
12.1/15 |
0.42 |
Observation: Candidates investing 10-15 hours per week in GA preparation improved scores by an average of 42%.
GATE 2025 Mathematics 90-day Preparation Strategy
The General Aptitude (GA) is an important 15% in GATE Mathematics 2025. It consists of 10 questions with five 1 marks and five 2 marks to a sum of 15 marks. Statistics of 2022-2024 show improvements in the scores obtained by the top scorers, yet that score increased from 12.5/15 from 2022 or, which amounted to 83 percent of the total 13.7/15 from 2024 or, it had 91 percent. Significantly, those candidates spending 10-15 hours/week on preparation for GA reported an average increase in scores of 42%, thus implying a role for rank improvement.
GATE Mathematics 90-Day Preparation Strategy for Week (1-4)
|
Week |
Focus Areas |
Daily Tasks |
Questions/Day |
Hours/Day |
|
1 |
Numerical Ability Basics |
Study percentages, ratios, and basic algebra. |
30 practice questions + 5 past paper questions |
3-4 |
|
2 |
Numerical Ability Basics |
Continue with arithmetic and algebra topics. |
30 questions + revision |
3-4 |
|
3 |
Verbal Ability Basics |
Build vocabulary (10 new words/day), grammar practice. |
20 grammar questions + 1 comprehension passage |
3-4 |
|
4 |
Verbal Ability Basics |
Practice sentence completion and reading comprehension. |
20 sentence completion questions + analysis |
3-4 |
GATE Mathematics 90-Day Preparation Strategy for Week (5-8)
|
Week |
Focus Areas |
Daily Tasks |
Questions/Day |
Hours/Day |
|
5 |
Data Interpretation |
Solve sets involving charts and tables. |
15 DI questions |
4-5 |
|
6 |
Word Analogies & Sentence Completion |
Practice analogies and revise past material. |
10 analogies + 20 revision questions |
4-5 |
|
7 |
Integrated Practice |
Mix numerical and verbal questions in sets. |
20 mixed questions |
4-5 |
|
8 |
Mini Mock Tests |
Attempt mini-mocks focusing on 1-mark and 2-mark questions. |
1 mini mock test + 15 review questions |
4-5 |
GATE Mathematics 90-Day Preparation Strategy for Week (9-12)
|
Week |
Focus Areas |
Daily Tasks |
Mock Tests/Week |
Hours/Day |
|
9 |
Full-Length Mock Tests |
Take mock tests and review errors. |
2 full-length tests |
6-7 |
|
10 |
Review & Targeted Practice |
Revise weak areas identified in mock tests. |
50-60 mixed practice questions |
5-6 |
|
11 |
Advanced Mock Test Strategy |
Continue full-length mock tests and analysis. |
1 final mock test/week |
6-7 |
|
12 |
Comprehensive Review |
Final revision of all GA topics and timed practice. |
1 final mock test + error review |
6-7 |
GATE 2025 Mathematics Mock Test Strategy
The final review emphasizes testing, mock exams, and focused revision based on previous weeks’ performances.
|
Days |
Focus Area |
Daily Tasks |
Total Hours |
|
Day 1-2 |
Calculus & Linear Algebra |
Review key exercises on integrals, derivatives, eigenvalues Mock Test: Calculus |
6 hours each |
|
Day 3-4 |
Real & Complex Analysis |
Practice mixed questions on convergence, residue theorem Mock Test: Complex Analysis |
6 hours each |
|
Day 5-6 |
Differential Equations & Algebra |
Focused revision on ODEs, group theory Mock Test: Differential Equations |
6 hours each |
|
Day 7-8 |
Functional & Numerical Analysis |
Mixed exercises on Banach spaces, iterative methods Mock Test: Numerical Analysis |
6 hours each |
|
Day 9-10 |
Full-Length Mock Exams |
Two full-length mock tests, focusing on time management and revision of weak areas |
8 hours each |
GATE 2025 Mathematics Recommended Books
Students’ preferences for study materials and books play a significant role in exam success. Here’s a comparison of popular resources based on user ratings and effectiveness:
|
Book Title |
Author |
Avg. Rating (out of 5) |
Recommended for |
|
Higher Engineering Mathematics |
B.S. Grewal |
4.7 |
Calculus, Algebra |
|
Advanced Engineering Mathematics |
Erwin Kreyszig |
4.6 |
Differential Equations |
|
Linear Algebra and Its Applications |
Gilbert Strang |
4.8 |
Linear Algebra |
|
Real Analysis |
Royden & Fitzpatrick |
4.5 |
Real Analysis |
|
Introductory Functional Analysis with Applications |
Erwin Kreyszig |
4.6 |
Functional Analysis |
Also check: GATE 2025 Mathematics Recommended Books
GATE 2025 Mathematics Previous Years’ Papers with answer keys
Preparing for GATE 2025 Mathematics becomes so much more effective if someone utilizes the question papers for past years.
This gives an aspirant an opportunity to get familiar with an exam pattern, types of questions asked, and the problem of difficulty level. The section includes all the GATE Mathematics papers from 2014 to 2024 along with answer keys to provide all kinds of practice. Use the table below to easily download PDFs by year along with session details and incorporate such useful material into your studies.
|
Exam DATE |
Session |
Question Paper PDF |
|
2024 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2023 |
Forenoon Session |
|
|
2022 |
Forenoon Session |
|
|
2021 |
Forenoon Session |
|
|
2020 |
Forenoon Session |
|
|
2019 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2018 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2017 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2016 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2015 |
Afternoon Session |
|
|
2014 |
Forenoon Session |
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