GATE Question Paper Pattern

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Each paper contains 65 questions carrying 100 marks

Question Paper Pattern in papers bearing the codes AE, AG, AR, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY,
EC, EE, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, PH, PI and TF

Question Paper Pattern in paper bearing the code GG

Question Paper Pattern in SECTION A of paper bearing the code XE

Question Paper Pattern in SECTIONS B to G of paper bearing the code XE

Question Paper Pattern in SECTION H of paper bearing the code XL

Question Paper Pattern in SECTIONS I to L of paper bearing the code XL

(Refer Exam Structure for GATE papers, codes and Syllabi)

Question Papers bearing the codes : AE, AG, AR, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE,
IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, PH, PI and TF
Negative Marks for wrong
Paper Code Patterns of Question papers
Answer
AE, AG, AR, Q.1 to Q.25: Will carry one 1
/3 mark will be deducted for each
BT, CE, CH, mark each (sub-total 25
wrong answer.
CS, CY, EC, marks).
EE, IN, MA, Q.26 to Q.55: Will carry two
2
ME, MN, MT, marks each (sub-total 60 /3 mark will be deducted for each
PH, PI, TF marks) wrong answer.

Q.48 through Q.51 (2 pairs) will

2
be common data questions. /3 mark will be deducted for each
Each question will carry two wrong answer.
marks
Question pairs (Q.52, Q.53) There will be negative marks only
and (Q.54, Q.55) will be linked for wrong answer to the first
answer questions. question of the linked answer
The answer to the second question pair i.e. for Q.52 and Q.54,
2
question of the last two pairs /3 mark will be deducted for each
will depend on the answer to wrong answer. There is no negative
the first question of the pair. marking for Q.53 and Q.55.
If the first question in the
linked pair is wrongly answered
or is un-attempted, then the
answer to the second question
in the pair will not be
evaluated. Each question will
carry two marks
 Q.56 to Q.60 : From General 1
/3 mark will be deducted for each
Aptitude (GA) will carry one
wrong answer.
mark each (sub-total 5 marks).
Q.61 to Q.65 : From GA will 2
/3 mark will be deducted for each
carry two marks each (sub-total
wrong answer.
10 marks)
All the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PI and TF will contain few questions on Engineering
Mathematics carrying 15 marks.

GG Paper : (Geology & Geophysics) Paper

Part A common for all candidates
PART A (Q.1 to Q.25) carrying one mark each 1
/3 mark will be deducted for
(sub-total 25 marks). each wrong answer.
Part B will contain two sections :Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2
(Geophysics). Candidates will have to attempt questions either Section 1
or Section 2.
In this section, 2
/3 mark will be deducted for
Q.26 to Q.55 (30 questions) will carry
each wrong answer.
two marks each(sub-total 60 marks).
Q.48 to Q.51 (2 pairs) will be common 2
Sections /3 mark will be deducted for
data questions. Each question will carry
1 &2 each wrong answer.
two marks.
in
Question pairs (Q.52, Q.53) and (Q.54,
PART B There will be negative marks
Q.55) will be linked answer questions.
only for wrong answer to the
The answer to the second question in
first question of the linked
these two pairs will depend on the
answer question pair i.e. for
answer to the first question of the pair.
Q.52 and Q.54, 2/3mark will be
If the first question in the linked pair is
deducted for each wrong
wrongly answered or is un-attempted,
answer. There is no negative
then the answer to the second question
marking for Q.53 and Q.55.
in the pair will not be evaluated
1
Q.56 to Q.60: Will carry one mark each /3 mark will be deducted for
General (sub-total 5 marks). each wrong answer.
Aptitude
(GA) Q.61 to Q.65: Will carry two marks each 2/3 mark will be deducted for
(sub-total 10 marks) each wrong answer.
XE Paper - Section A (Engineering Mathematics)
There will be 11 questions carrying 15 marks in XE Section A (Engineering
Section Mathematics) paper
1
A Q.1 to Q.7 (4 questions) will carry one /3 mark will be deducted for
in XE mark each (sub-total 7 marks). each wrong answer.
paper Q.8 to Q.11 (4 questions) will carry two 2
/3 mark will be deducted for
marks each (sub-total 8 marks) each wrong answer.

XE section papers (Sections B through G) will contain 22 questions carrying

 35 marks
1
/3 mark will be
Q.1 to Q.9 (9 questions) will carry one mark each
deducted for each
(sub-total 9 marks)
wrong answer.
2
/3 mark will be
Q.10 to Q.22 (13 questions) will carry two marks
deducted for each
Sections each(sub-total 26 marks).
wrong answer.
2
B, C, D, Q.17 through Q.20 (2 pairs) will be common data /3 mark will be
E, F & G based questions. Each will carry two marks deducted for each
wrong answer.
in XE Q.21, Q.22 will be linked answer questions
papers The answer to the second question of the pair of For Q.21, 2/3 mark
linked question will depend on the answer to the will be deducted for
first question of the pair. If the first question in the wrong answer. There
linked pair is wrongly answered or is un-attempted, will be no negative
then the answer to the second question in the pair mark for Q.22.
will not be evaluated. Each will carry two marks
XE Paper - General Aptitude (GA)
There will be 10 questions carrying 15 marks in General Aptitude
1
Q.1 to Q.5 (5 questions) will carry one /3 mark will be deducted for
General
mark each (sub-total 5 marks). each wrong answer.
Aptitude
Q.6 to Q.10 (5 questions) will carry two 2/3 mark will be deducted for
marks each (sub-total 10 marks) each wrong answer.

XL Paper Section H (Chemistry)

There will be 15 questions carrying 25 marks in XL Section H paper
1
/3 mark will be
Q.1 to Q.5 (5 questions) will carry one mark each
deducted for each wrong
(sub-total 5 marks).
answer.
2
/3 mark will be
Q.6 to Q.15 (10 questions) will carry two marks
Section deducted for each wrong
each (sub-total 20 marks)
H answer.
2
/3 mark will be
in XL (Q.12, Q.13) will be common data questions Each
deducted for each wrong
paper question will carry two marks each
answer.
Question pair (Q.14, Q.15) will have linked
For Q.14, ⅔ mark will be
answer questionEach question will carry two
deducted for wrong
marks each There will be negative marks only for
answer. There is no
wrong answer to the first question of the linked
negative mark for Q.15.
answer question pair.

XL Paper Sections (Sections I through M)

Sections XL section papers (Sections I through L) will contain 20 questions
carrying 30 marks
I, J, K and Q.1 to Q.10 (10 questions) will carry one 1
/3 mark will be deducted for
 mark each (sub-total 10 marks). each wrong answer.

Q.11 to Q.20 (10 questions) will carry two 2/3 mark will be deducted for
marks each (sub-total 20 marks). each wrong answer.
L

in XL XL Paper - General Aptitude (GA)

paper There will be 10 questions carrying 15 marks in General Aptitude
1
Q.1 to Q.5 (5 questions) will carry one /3 mark will be deducted for
General
mark each (sub-total 5 marks). each wrong answer.
Aptitude
Q.6 to Q.10 (5 questions) will carry two 2/3 mark will be deducted for
marks each (sub-total 10 marks) each wrong answer