Exam Analysis

GATE 2021 examination will be conducted in 27 subjects. A candidate can appear in One or Two paper.

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Exam Duration – 3 hrs

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Mode of Examination – Computer Based Test (CBT)

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Pattern of Questions – Total 65 question for a total of 100 marks for all the papers. Questions will be of three different types:

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(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select the correct answer. For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be one third negative marking (-1/3 for 1 mark question and -2/3 for 2 mark question).

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(ii) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. For these questions, the answer is a signed real number, which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor. There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions.

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(iii) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which one or more option may be correct. Marks will be allotted only if all the correct answers are chosen but there will be no negative marking for these questions.

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External scientific calculators are not allowed but there will be a virtual scientific calculator on the screen during the exam.

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Distribution of Questions and Marks

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For AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI and TF papers

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks)

Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks and Subject: 70 Marks approx. (25x 1 Marks + 30 x 2 Marks = 85 Marks)

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For AR, CY, EY, MA, PH and ST papers

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks)

Subject: 85% Marks (25x 1 Marks + 30 x 2 Marks)

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For GG paper

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks)

Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper consists of two parts:

Part A - compulsory for all the candidates: 25 Questions – 25 Marks (25 x 1 Marks)

Part B - contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). Choice of the section to be attempted has to be filled in application form and can not be changed at the time of examination. Each section consists of 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (30 x 2 Marks = 60 Marks)

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For XE paper

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks)

Section A Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory):  11 Questions – 15 Marks (7 x 1 Mark + 4 x 2 Marks)

Any two of XE Sections B to H (35 Marks x 2 = 70 Marks)

Section B Fluid Mechanics

Section C Materials Science

Section D Solid Mechanics

Section E Thermodynamics

Section F Polymer Science and Engineering

Section G Food Technology

Section H Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

The choice of two sections from B to H can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only TWO optional sections can be answered at a time. Each of the optional section 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 (sub-total 26 marks).

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For XL paper

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks = 15 Marks)

Section P Chemistry (Compulsory): 15 Questions - 25 Marks (5 x 1 Mark + 10 Questions x 2 Marks)

Any two of XL Sections Q to U (30 Marks x 2 = 60 Marks)

Section Q Biochemistry

Section R Botany

Section S Microbiology

Section T Zoology

Section U Food Technology

The choice of two sections from Q to U can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only TWO optional sections can be answered at a time. Each of the optional section contains 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 10 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks).

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For XH paper

General Aptitude: 10 Questions – 15 Marks ( 5x 1 Marks + 5 x 2 Marks = 15 Marks)

Section B1 Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory): 15 Questions - 25 Marks (5 x 1 Mark + 10 Questions x 2 Marks)

Any one of XH Sections C1 to C6 (60 Marks x 1 = 60 Marks)

Section C1 Economics

Section C2 English

Section C3 Linguistics

Section C4 Philosophy

Section C5 Psychology

Section C6 Sociology

The choice of the section from C1 to C6 has to be filled while filling the online form and can not be changed at the time of examination. Each section will contain 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 10 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks).

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Primary and Secondary Options

If a candidate wants, he can choose a Secondary paper from the allowed options along with the Primary paper.

Civil Engineering (CE) - secondary options are i) Architecture & Planning (AR) and ii) Environmental Science & Engineering (ES)

Computer Science and Information Technology (CS): secondary options is Mathematics (MA)

Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC): secondary options are i) Instrumentation Engineering (IN) and ii) Physics (PH)

Electrical Engineering: secondary options is Instrumentation Engineering (IN)

Mechanical Engineering: secondary options is Engineering Sciences (XE)