If you want to appear for GATE 2021, check GATE exam patterns, including all the essential details.
Highlights of GATE Exam Pattern 2021
| Exam Mode | Online – Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Subjects (Papers) | 27 |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Number of Questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Type of Questions | (A) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) (B) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) (C) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Questions for testing these abilities | Recall Comprehension Application Analysis and Synthesis |
| Marks Distribution in all Papers EXCEPT AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 Marks + Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks+ Subject Questions: 72 Marks Total: 100 Marks |
| Marks Distribution in papers AR, CY, GG, EY, MA, PH, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 Marks + Subject Questions: 85 Marks Total: 100 Marks |
Type of Questions
(A) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ):
- Each question will carry one or two marks
- Each question will have the choice of four answers, but out of which, ONLY-ONE choice is correct.
- Negative Marking for Wrong Answers:
- For 1 mark questions, 1-mark will be deducted for 3 wrong answers (1/3 mark)
- For 2-mark questions, 2-marks will be deducted for 3 wrong answers (2/3 mark)
(B) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
- Each question will carry one or two marks
- Each question will have the choice of four answers, but out of which ONE or MORE than ONE choice(s) is/are correct.
- Negative Marking for Wrong Answers: No Negative Marking
(C) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
- Each question will carry one or two marks
- No choices will be given for these type of questions
- Candidates have to enter the answer by using a virtual numeric keypad on the monitor
- Negative Marking for Wrong Answers: No Negative Marking
Detailed Marking Scheme
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Subject Marks | Total Marks | Total Time (Minutes) |
| AE, AR, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, CY, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, PE, PH, PI, TF, ST and BM | 15 | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| GG [Part-A + Part-B (Section 1 Geology OR Section 2 Geophysics)] | 15 | 25 + 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XE (Section-A + Any TWO Sections) | 15 | 15 + (2 x 35) | 100 | 180 |
| XH (Section-B1 + Any ONE Section) | 15 | 25 + (1 x 60) | 100 | 180 |
| XL (Section-P + Any TWO Sections) | 15 | 25 + (2 x 30) | 100 | 180 |
- AE – Aerospace Engineering
- AG – Agricultural Engineering
- AR – Architecture and Planning
- BM – Bio-medical Engineering
- BT – Biotechnology
- CE – Civil Engineering
- CH – Chemical Engineering
- CS – Computer Science and Information Technology
- CY – Chemistry
- EC – Electronics and Communication Engineering
- EE – Electrical Engineering
- ES – Environmental Science & Engineering
- EY – Ecology and Evolution
- GG – Geology and Geophysics
- IN – Instrumentation Engineering
- MA – Mathematics
- ME – Mechanical Engineering
- MN – Mining Engineering
- MT – Metallurgical Engineering
- PE – Petroleum Engineering
- PH – Physics
- PI – Production and Industrial Engineering
- ST – Statistics
- TF – Textile Engineering and Fibre Science
- XE* – Engineering Sciences
- XH** – Humanities & Social Sciences
- XL*** – Life Sciences
| XE* Papers |
| XE-A: Engineering Mathematics |
| XE-B: Fluid Mechanics |
| XE-C: Materials Science |
| XE-D: Solid Mechanics |
| XE-E: Thermodynamics |
| XE-F: Polymer Science and Engineering |
| XE-G: Food Technology |
| XE-H: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences |
| XH** Papers |
| XH-B1: Reasoning and Comprehension |
| XH-C1: Economics |
| XH-C2: English |
| XH-C3: Linguistics |
| XH-C4: Philosophy |
| XH-C5: Psychology |
| XH-C6: Sociology |
| XL*** Papers |
| XL-P: Chemistry |
| XL-Q: Biochemistry |
| XL-R: Botany |
| XL-S: Microbiology |
| XL-T: Zoology |
| XL-U: Food Technology |
General Information:
- Candidates should enter the before starting the examination. For Delayed entry: Candidates are allowed to enter the examination center 30 minutes from the starting time.
- Candidates are not allowed to use a physical calculator during the examination. For any calculation, candidates will have to use a virtual scientific calculator.
