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GATE Pattern : About GATE, Duration of GATE Examination, Pattern of GATE Question Papers, Allotment of Marks to Different Questions/ Sections, Marking Scheme.
About GATE :
The GATE Examination is conducted for 23 Subjects (Papers). A candidate can appear only in ANY ONE Paper of the GATE examination. The examination for some of the Papers in GATE may be held in multiple sessions. However, a candidate can appear for the examination in One Session ONLY.
The examination for all the Papers is conducted in an ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, where the candidates are shown the questions on a computer screen. A Virtual Scientific Calculator is made available on the computer screen during the examination. The Scribble pads are provided to the candidates for any rough work. The candidate has to write his/ her name and registration number on the scribble pad before he/ she starts using it. The scribble pad has to be returned to the invigilator at the end of the examination.
The Physical calculators, mobile phones, wrist watches or any other electronic devices are strictly prohibited and candidates possessing these in the examination hall (even if not using) are disqualified. The candidates should not bring any charts/ tables/ papers into the examination hall.
Since the examination is an ONLINE computer based test, at the end of the stipulated time, the computer automatically closes the screen inhibiting any further action.
Duration of GATE Examination :
All the Papers of the GATE examination are of 3 hours duration.
The candidates are permitted to occupy their allotted seats 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the examination. The candidates can login and start reading the instructions 20 minutes before the start of examination. The candidate are NOT permitted to enter the examination hall after 09:30 hours in the forenoon session and after 14:30 hours in the afternoon session. The candidates are not permitted to leave the examination hall before the end of the examination.
Pattern of GATE Question Papers :
The GATE examination contains 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 question has 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 a MCQ, there is negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark is 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 (keyboard of the computer is disabled). No choices are shown for these type 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 are mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to make an answer. Also, an appropriate range is 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 answer up to a maximum of three decimal places.
Note: There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions.
Allotment of Marks to Different Questions/ Sections :
In all the Papers, there is a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks are 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 carries around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude Section carries 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 carries 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks is devoted to the Subject of the Paper.
Marking Scheme :
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 (sub-total 10 marks).
Question Papers other than GG, XE and XL:
These Papers contain 25 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 60 marks). The Papers consist of both the MCQ and NAT Question.
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). The candidates 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 –
(i) GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
(ii) 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.
(iii) 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 –
(i) GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
(ii) 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.
(iii) 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.
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