GATE

GATE Exam Pattern 2025 (Released) - Subject-wise Paper Pattern, Negative Marking

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

Examination Start Date
1st Feb 2025

exam date

Ranjan Kumar
Ranjan Kumar Ranjan Kumar

Table of Content

The GATE is conducted every year for engineering students to get admission in M.E./ M.Tech/ PhD in IITs, NITs, IIITs and CFTIs or to get a high profile job in a PSU. This year IIT Roorkee is going to conduct the GATE 2025 Exam on 1st, 2nd, 15th and 16th February 2025. Candidates who are going to appear for the GATE exam must be aware of the GATE Exam Pattern to plan better for the exam. GATE is conducted in computer based mode for 30 papers and one can attempt any one of these papers.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights

The duration of the GATE exam is 3 hours and the maximum marks are 100. The exam is divided into three sections one contains General Aptitude ( MCQ ), Engineering and Mathematics. Candidates have to choose one of the 30 subjects.

Examination Mode

Computer Based Test (Online)

Duration

3 Hours

Number of Subjects (Papers)

30

Section

General Aptitude (GA) and

Candidate Selected Subject 

Type of Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs),

Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and

Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

Design of Questions

Application

Analysis and synthesis

Comprehension

Recall

Exam Date 

1st, 2nd, 15th, and 16th February 2025

Number of Questions

10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions

Total Marks

100 Marks

Marking Scheme

Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks

GATE Negative Marking

For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer;

For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer;

No negative marking for MSQs and NATs

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern Paper Codes

This year onwards, the GATE Exam will have 30 disciplines/ subjects. A candidate can appear only in any one paper of the following disciplines.

GATE Paper

Code

GATE Paper

Code

Aerospace Engineering

AE

Geology & Geophysics

GG

Agricultural Engineering

AG

Instrumentation Engineering

IN

Architecture and Planning

AR

Mathematics

MA

Biomedical Engineering

BM

Mechanical Engineering

ME

Biotechnology

BT

Mining Engineering

MN

Civil Engineering

CE

Metallurgical Engineering

MT

Chemical Engineering

CH

Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

NM

Computer Science & Information Technology

CS

Petroleum Engineering

PE

Chemistry

CY

Physics

PH

Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (NEW)

DA

Production & Industrial Engineering

PI

Electronics & Communication Engineering

EC

Statistics

ST

Electrical Engineering

EE

Textile Engineering & Fibre Science

TF

Environmental Science & Engineering

ES

Engineering Sciences

XE

Ecology and Evolution

EY

Humanities & Social Sciences

XH

Geomatics Engineering

GE

Life Sciences

XL  

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Two Paper Combination

Candidates can choose two subjects in GATE 2025. You have to choose both the subjects from the allowed subject combination in GATE 2025 exam. You can check the tentative subject combinations for GATE exam below:: 

First Paper code (Primary paper) 

Second paper code (secondary paper)  

First paper code (primary paper) 

Second paper code (secondary paper) 

AE  

CE, ME, XE 

GE  

AR, CE, CS, ES, GG 

AG  

CE 

GG  

GE 

AR  

CE, GE 

IN  

BM, EC, EE, ME 

BM  

BT, IN 

MA  

CS, DA, PH, ST 

BT 

BM, XL 

ME  

AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE 

CE  

AE, AG AR, ES, GE, NM, XE 

MT

XE

CH  

ES, PE, XE 

NM  

CE, ME

CS 

DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST 

PE

CH

CY 

XE, XL 

PH

CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE

DA 

CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE  

PI

ME, XE

EC 

CS, DA, EE, IN, PH 

ST

CS, DA, MA, XH

EE 

DA, EC, IN, PH 

XE

AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI

ES 

CE, CH, GE 

XH

ST

EY 

XL 

XL

BT, CY, EY

Points to remember while choosing both the subjects:

  • If a new paper combination is added later (correction window), you can also choose any combination, including new and original paper combinations, during the correction window and can add a new subject with payment of the required fee.

  • If any paper combination is removed later (correction window), the fee for the second paper will be refunded to you. 

GATE Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme

There is a different marking scheme depending on the paper you are attempting. Check the marking scheme of the different papers in the table below.

Paper Code

General Aptitude (GA) Marks

Subject Marks

Total Marks

Total Time (Minutes)

AE, AR, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, PE, PH, PI, TF, ST, and BM

15

85

100

180

CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST 

15 

85 

100

180

AR [Part A + Part B1 or B2 

(B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] 

15 

60 + 25

 

100 

180 

GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II) 

15 

55 + 30 

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

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Type of Questions

The GATE exam has 65 questions for 100 marks. Three types of questions are asked in the GATE exam: MCQs, MSQs & NAT. Candidate must check question types with respective marking scheme given below:

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - carries 1 or 2 marks. 4 options will be there for each MCQ. 1/3 of the marks will be deducted for each wrong answer for MCQs.

  • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) - carries 1 or 2 marks in all the GATE question papers. 4 options will be there for each MSQ. No negative marking for MSQs. Marks will be given on proportional correctness basis with respect to other options.

  • Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions - carries 1 or 2 marks in all the GATE question papers. No options will be there for each NAT Question. Candidates must write the answer in terms of real numbers using the virtual keyboard provided during the GATE exam. No negative marking for NAT questions in GATE exam. 

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern Subject Wise

The GATE Exam Pattern 2025 differs for each paper, considering the sections and marks distribution. Every GATE paper includes a General Aptitude section, which accounts for 15% of the total marks. This section evaluates verbal, numerical, and quantitative abilities. It consists of 10 questions, with 5 questions worth 1 mark each and 5 questions worth 2 marks each.

GATE Exam Pattern 2025 Subject Wise

Subject

Number of questions

Marks per Question

Total Marks

General Aptitude

5

1

5

5

2

10

Total

10

15

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST Papers

For the papers with codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE, The marks will be divided or distributed as follows: 15% will be allocated to General Aptitude, 13% to Engineering Mathematics, and the remaining 72% to the subject paper.

The Exam Pattern for the Codes are given below:

Subjects

Number of questions

Marks per Question

Total Marks

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

25

1

25

30

2

60

Total

55

85

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for AR (Architecture and Planning)

Architecture and Planning (AR) Test Paper Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the test paper consists of two parts: Part A (60 marks) and Part B (25 marks).

 

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 39 questions carrying a total of 60 marks

18 questions carrying one mark each and 21 questions carrying 2 marks each

Part B

Consist of 16 questions carrying a total of 25 marks

7 questions carry 1 mark each and 9 questions carry 2 marks each.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for GE (Geomatics Engineering)

Geomatics Engineering (GE) Test Paper Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the question paper consists of two parts: Part A (55 marks) and Part B (30 marks).

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 36 questions carrying a total of 55 marks

17 questions carry one mark each and 19 questions carry 2 marks each.

Part B

Consist of 19 questions carrying a total of 30 marks.

8 questions carrying 1 mark each and 11 questions carrying 2 marks each.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for GG (Geology and Geophysics) 

Geology and Geophysics (GG) Test Paper Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper consists of two parts: Part A (25 marks) and Part B (60 marks).  

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 16 questions carrying a total of 25 marks

7 questions carry 1 mark each and 9 questions carry 2 marks each. 

Part B

Consist of 39 questions carrying a total of 60 marks.

18 questions carrying 1 mark each and 11 questions carrying 21 marks each.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for XE (Engineering Sciences) 

Engineering Sciences (XE) Test Paper apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the XE question paper consists of three parts: Section A (15 marks) and any two sections from Section B to H (2×35= 70 marks). 

 

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks

7 questions carry one mark each and 4 questions carry 2 marks each.

Part B

Consist of 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks.

9 questions carrying 1 mark each and 13 questions carrying 2 marks each.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for XH (Humanities and Social Sciences) 

Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) Test Paper apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the XH question paper consists of three parts: Section A (15 marks), Section B1 (25 marks) and anyone section from Section C1 to C6 (2×30= 60 marks). 

 

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 16 questions carrying a total of 25 marks

7 questions carry one mark each and 9 questions carry 2 marks each.

Part B

Consist of 39 questions carrying a total of 60 marks.

18 questions carrying 1 mark each and 21 questions carrying 2 marks each.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for XL Paper (Life Sciences) 

Life Sciences (XL) Test Paper apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the XL question paper consists of three parts: Section P (25 marks), and any two sections from Section Q to U (2×30= 60 marks). 

Part A

Compulsory for all the candidates

Consists of 17 questions carrying a total of 25 marks

9 questions carry one mark each and 8 questions carry 2 marks each.

Part B

Consist of 19 questions carrying a total of 30 marks.

8 questions carrying 1 mark each and 11 questions carrying 2 marks each.

GATE Exam Pattern 2025: Points to Remember

  • The GATE 2025 exam will be conducted only in online mode (Computer Based Test mode).

  • The Gate exam time duration will be 3 hours.

  • The total mark for the GATE exam is 100.

  • The GATE exam will consist of 65 questions.

  • All of the questions that are asked in GATE will be related to the GATE exam 2025 syllabus.

  • According to the GATE question paper pattern 2025, there will be two types of questions - Multiple Choice Questions and Numerical Answer Type Questions.

  • In the case of MCQs, candidates have to select one answer from the 4 options given and in NAT questions students have to enter the correct answer through the virtual keyboard.

  • Candidates will be provided with a scribble pad for the rough work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the GATE 2025 exam??

The GATE 2025 exam is conducted for engineering students seeking admission to M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D. programs in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs or aiming for high-profile jobs in PSUs.

What are the sections included in the GATE 2025 exam pattern??

The GATE 2025 exam consists of three sections: General Aptitude (GA), Engineering Mathematics, and the subject selected by the candidate.

What are the sections included in the GATE 2025 exam pattern??

The GATE 2025 exam includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.

Is there negative marking in the GATE 2025 exam??

Yes, there is negative marking for MCQs. For 1-mark MCQs, 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer, and for 2-mark MCQs, 2/3 mark is deducted. There is no negative marking for MSQs and NATs.

Can candidates choose two papers in GATE 2025??

Yes, candidates can choose two subjects/papers, but they must be from the allowed subject combinations.

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