GATE Marking Scheme 2026 - Negative Marking, Total Marks, Pattern

GATE Marking Scheme will be released officially by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati on the official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates can check the GATE exam marking scheme released by IITG. Candidates who are appearing for the GATE exam must know the marking scheme as it helps them to calculate their marks once the GATE Answer Key 2026 is released. IIT Guwahati is likely to release the GATE 2026 answer key in February 2026. Once released, the GATE marking scheme can be used to calculate marks scored by candidates. For correct answers, candidates have to allot 1 & 2 marks, respectively. Similarly, for incorrect answers, one-third of the maximum marks must be deducted. Therefore, according to the GATE marking scheme, there is a negative marking of (-⅓) and (-⅔) for different questions, respectively.

Read More: GATE Exam Pattern 2026 

GATE negative marking does not apply to incorrect answers to Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). There is no partial marking in the Multiple Select Questions section.

GATE Marking Scheme 2026

The marking scheme of the GATE exam 2026 will differ according to the subject. Students can check the subject-wise GATE marking scheme in the table given below: 

GATE Paper Pattern 2026

Aspirants will be able to check the GATE exam paper pattern released by IIT Guwahati officially in the information brochure, once released: 

GATE Marking Scheme 2026 - Negative Marking

There will be a negative marking in GATE exam 2026 for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). MCQ questions are of two types which carry 1 mark and 2 marks, respectively. For incorrect answers, there is a one-third negative marking. Hence, for 1 mark question, there is a negative marking of ⅓ white it is ⅔ for 2-mark questions.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - Partial Marking

Many students are often confused about the concept of partial marking in Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. According to the official GATE information brochure, partial marking is not applicable to MCQs, MSQs, or NAT questions.

GATE Marking Scheme 2026

The marking scheme and question distribution for GATE 2026 will vary depending on the test paper. This document provides a clear breakdown for each test paper category, highlighting the General Aptitude (GA) section and subject-specific sections.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - General Aptitude (GA) Section

The General Aptitude section is common across all test papers and carries a total of 15 marks:

• 5 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 5 marks).
• 5 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 10 marks).

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme (Excluding AR, GE, GG, XE, XH, XL)

• 25 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 25 marks).
• 30 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 60 marks).
• Questions may include MCQs, MSQs, and/or NATs.

GATE Marking Scheme for Architecture and Planning (AR) Test Paper

This paper includes three parts:

Part A (Compulsory for all candidates)

• 18 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 18 marks).
• 21 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 42 marks).

Part B (Choice between B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)

• 7 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 7 marks).
• 9 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 18 marks).

Questions in Part A and Part B include MCQs, MSQs, and/or NATs.

GATE Marking Scheme for Geomatics Engineering (GE) Test Paper

This paper consists of:

Part A: Engineering Mathematics and Basic Geomatics (Compulsory)

• 17 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 17 marks).
• 19 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 38 marks).

Part B: Choose between Section I (Surveying and Mapping) or Section II (Image Processing and Analysis)

• 8 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 8 marks).
• 11 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 22 marks).

Questions in both parts include MCQs, MSQs, and/or NATs.

GATE Marking Scheme for Geology and Geophysics (GG) Test Paper

This paper includes:

Part A (Compulsory)

• 7 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 7 marks).
• 9 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 18 marks).

Part B: Choose between Section 1 (Geology) or Section 2 (Geophysics)

• 18 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 18 marks).
• 21 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 42 marks).

Questions in both parts include MCQs, MSQs, and/or NATs.

GATE Marking Scheme for Engineering Sciences (XE) Test Paper

This paper includes:

General Aptitude (GA)

• Carries a total of 15 marks.

Section A: Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)

• 7 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 7 marks).
• 4 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 8 marks).

Optional Sections: Choose Two from B to H

• Each section has 9 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 9 marks) and 13 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 26 marks).

Candidates can switch between sections during the examination but must deselect one section before selecting another. Answers for the deselected section will be cleared.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) Test Paper

This paper includes:

General Aptitude (GA)

• Carries a total of 15 marks.

Section B1: Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory)

• 7 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 7 marks).
• 9 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 18 marks).

Optional Sections: Choose One from C1 to C6

• Each section has 18 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 18 marks) and 21 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 42 marks).

The choice of the optional section must be made at the time of application and cannot be changed later.

GATE Marking Scheme for Life Sciences (XL) Test Paper

This paper includes:

General Aptitude (GA)

• Carries a total of 15 marks

Section P: Chemistry (Compulsory)

• 9 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 9 marks).
• 8 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 16 marks).

Optional Sections: Choose Two from Q to U

• Each section has 8 questions of 1 mark each (Total: 8 marks) and 11 questions of 2 marks each (Total: 22 marks).

Candidates can switch between sections during the examination but must deselect one section before selecting another. Answers for the deselected section will be cleared.

GATE 2026 Question Types

• MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions): Questions with multiple options, where only one is correct.
• MSQ (Multiple Select Questions): Questions with multiple options, where one or more may be correct.
• NAT (Numerical Answer Type): Questions requiring a numerical value as an answer.

GATE Marking Scheme 2026 - Conclusion