GATE Exam Pattern 2024 – Type Of Questions, Marks Weightage & Paper Model

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 – Changes in GATE Syllabus are explained here. GATE Exam Structure has not changed this year. Before going to apply for GATE 2022, first know what is the pattern of the GATE 2022 Exam. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is one of the popular entrance tests in the country. Candidates who are willing to study MTech/ME/Ph.D from different institutions in India should write the entrance test. Students planning for this test have to know the exam pattern that is the duration of the exam, maximum marks obtained, syllabus and topics to be covered then the gaining of marks is easy while knowing the pattern of the exam. So, below are the details about the GATE entrance exam. In this exam, the questions will be based on aptitude and on core subjects.

Important Articles :

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 – Changes in GATE Exam Structure

GATE 2018 will be conducted on 27 subjects (papers). Given table shows the list of papers and paper codes for GATE 2022. A candidate is allowed to appear in ONLY ONE paper in any ONE SESSION.

The syllabus for each of the papers is given on the GATE website www.gate.iitg.ac.in. Making a choice of the appropriate paper in the GATE application is the responsibility of the candidate.

Some guidelines in this respect are suggested below.

Candidates are expected to appear in a paper appropriate to the discipline of their qualifying degree. However, candidates are free to choose any one of the GATE 2022 papers as per their admission or employment plan, while keeping in mind the eligibility criteria for the institutions in which they wish to seek admission/employment. For more details regarding the admission criteria in any particular institute, the candidate is advised to refer to the website of that institute.

Candidates must learn about the paper code of their choice, as this information is essential during making the application, as well as, during the examination. As the candidates are permitted to appear in ONLY ONE of the 27 papers of the GATE 2022, they should make their choice (of the paper), with due care.

After submission of application, any change of paper is NOT permitted.

Pattern of Questions

GATE 2021 would contain questions of two different types in all the papers:

(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 (mark) the correct answer.

Negative Marking for Wrong Answers

For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

(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 (the keyboard of the computer will be disabled). No choices will be shown for these types of questions. The answer can be a number such as 10 or -10 (an integer only). The answer may be in decimals as well, for example, 10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or -10.001 (three decimals). These questions will be mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to make an answer. Also, an appropriate range will be considered while evaluating the numerical answer type questions so that the candidate is not penalized due to the usual round-off errors. Wherever required and possible, it is better to give NAT answers up to a maximum of three decimal places.

There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions.

Marks Weightage in GATE Paper

In all the papers, there will be a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks will be on General Aptitude (GA), which is intended to test the Language and Analytical Skills.

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

In the papers bearing the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, and XL, the 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.

Design of Questions

The questions in a paper may be designed to test the following abilities:

(i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles, formulae, or laws in the discipline of the paper. The candidate is expected to be able to obtain the answer either from his/her memory of the subject or at most from a one-line computation.

Example:
Q. During machining, maximum heat is produced
(A) in flank face
(B) in rake face
(C) in shear zone
(D) due to friction between chip and tool

(ii) Comprehension: These questions will test the candidate’s understanding of the basics of his/her field, by requiring him/her to draw simple conclusions from fundamental ideas.

Example
Q. A DC motor requires a starter in order to

(A) develop a starting torque
(B) compensate for auxiliary field ampere turns
(C) limit armature current at starting
(D) provide regenerative braking

(iii) Application: In these questions, the candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either through computation or by logical reasoning.

Example

The sequent depth ratio of a hydraulic jump in a rectangular channel is 16.48. The Froude number at the beginning of the jump is:

(A) 5.0 (B) 8.0 (C) 10.0 (D) 12.0

The questions based on the above logics may be a mix of single standalone statement/phrase/data type questions, a combination of option codes type questions, or match items type questions.

(iv) Analysis and Synthesis

In these questions, the candidate is presented with data, diagrams, images, etc. that require analysis before a question can be answered. A Synthesis question might require the candidate to compare two or more pieces of information. Questions in this category could, for example, involve candidates in recognizing unstated assumptions or separating useful information from irrelevant information.

Marking Scheme – Marks and Questions Distribution

General Aptitude (GA) Questions

In all papers, GA questions carry a total of 15 marks. The GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2-marks each (subtotal 10 marks).

Question Papers other than GG, XE and XL

These papers would contain 25 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks) consisting of both the MCQ and NAT Questions.

GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper

Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is compulsory for all the candidates. Part B contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and questions in either Section 1 or Section 2 of Part B.

Part A consists of 25 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions). Either section of Part B (Section 1 and Section 2) consists of 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions).

XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)

A candidate appearing in the XE paper has to answer the following:

• GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
• Section A – Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory): This section contains 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 7 marks), and 4 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 8 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
• Any two of XE Sections B to H: 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. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to H). Each of the optional sections of the XE paper (Sections B through H) 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). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

XL Paper (Life Sciences)

A candidate appearing in the XL paper has to answer the following:

• GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
• Section P– Chemistry (Compulsory): This section contains 15 questions carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
• Any two of XL Sections Q to U: 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. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (Q to U). Each of the optional sections of the XL paper (Sections Q through U) 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). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

Types of questions given in GATE 2022:

In this test, there are two types of questions

1. Multiple choice questions(MCQs):

• These questions carry 1 or 2 marks
• These are objective-type questions and each question has four options.

2.  Numerical answer type questions(NAT):

• These types of questions should not have options.
• Each question carries either 1 or 2 marks.
• The answer to these questions should be a real number. So, the candidate should enter the real value.
• The answer can be either in decimal value, integer, or numerical number.
• 25 to 40 marks are awarded to NAT questions.

Exam Pattern of GATE 2022:

• The duration of the exam is 3 hours.
• The number of questions asked is 65.
• Total marks are 100.
• For 1 mark MCQs, if the answer is incorrect then 1/3 mark will be reduced.
• While in 2 marks MCQs, the reduction of a mark is 2/3 for incorrect answers.
• In NAT there is no negative marking.
• Zero marking is given for the questions that are not attempted.
• Each question paper consists of General Aptitude(GA), Engineering Mathematics(it is chemistry for XL papers), and subject-specific questions.
• The candidate should do rough work on the scribble pad given during the exam.

Marking scheme:

• For subject-specific questions, the total marks are 85, and the remaining 15 marks for general aptitude questions.
• The candidate should attempt both sections.
• The engineering mathematics section will carry 15% of marks in total marks for the Papers with the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE. The remaining 70% of marks are for the subject of the paper.
•  85% of the total marks will be given to the subject of the paper for the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, and XL.
• Question papers excluding GG, XE, and XL should have 25 questions carrying 1 mark and 30 questions of each carrying 2 marks.
• 1 to 10 questions of general aptitude are given and marks carrying for each question is 1.5 then the total marks are 15.
• 25 questions are given in the technical section and 1 mark for each question then the total marks are 25.
• 30 questions based on engineering mathematics and marks per each question is 2 marks then the total marks are 60.

Modified section in GATE 2022:

In section H, the Oceanic and atmospheric unit is added. With the new section, the Engineering paper has eight sections as A to H.

This article gives detailed information about the Exam pattern of the GATE 2022 for all the branches. GATE Exam Pattern, Type of Questions, Marks Weightage  Additional information like Reference books for GATE, GATE previous question papers, GATE Answer keys links are also given. Share this article with other GATE aspirants also. You can ask your queries via the comment box.