GATE 2023 Exam Pattern: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has released the GATE exam pattern for the year 2023. The exam was conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode on February 4, 5, 11, & 12, 2023. The GATE admit card has already been released by IIT Kanpur. Aspirants appearing for the exam this year must be aware of the GATE exam pattern and changes made by the conducting authority (if any).
According to the exam pattern for GATE 2023 exam released by IIT Kanpur, the question paper will have a total of 65 questions. These 65 questions will be divided into two sections: General Aptitude (GA) and Core Subjects. The General Aptitude section will have 10 questions, while the Core Subject section will have 55 questions.
The GATE question paper includes three types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Also Read: GATE Preparation 2023
According to the GATE Marking Scheme, the Multiple Select Questions and Numerical Answer Type questions will carry no negative marking. Each question asked in the GATE paper will be either 1 or 2 marks with total marks being 100. Also Read: GATE 2023 Syllabus
GATE Exam Pattern 2023
Understanding exam pattern is crucial to cover the GATE syllabus comprehensively. Recall, Comprehension, Application, and Analysis & Synthesis are abilities that would be tested through GATE exam 2023.
Below are the highlights of the GATE exam pattern 2023 released by IIT Kanpur:
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Particulars
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Details
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Mode of Exam
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Computer Based Test
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Duration of Exam
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3 Hours*
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Number of Subjects
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29
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Sections
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General Aptitude (GA) +
Candidate’s Selected Subject(s) (Core Subject)
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Question Types
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- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
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Questions for testing these abilities
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- Recall
- Comprehension
- Application
- Analysis & Synthesis
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Number of Questions
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10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions
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Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL
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General Aptitude: 15 Marks +
Engineering Mathematics**: 13 Marks +
Subject Questions: 72 Marks =
Total: 100 Marks
(**XE includes Engineering Mathematics section XE-A of 15 Marks)
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Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL
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General Aptitude: 15 Marks +
Subject Questions: 85 Marks =
Total: 100 Marks
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Marking Scheme
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Questions carry 1 or 2 marks
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Negative Marking
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For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking.
For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
Likewise, For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
No negative marking for Incorrect answers to MSQ or NAT questions.
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GATE Marking Scheme: Paper-Wise
Interested candidates can check the paper-wise marking scheme of GATE exam:
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Paper Code
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General Aptitude (GA) Marks
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Subject Marks
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Total Marks
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Total Time (Minutes)
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AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, ST, TF
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15
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85
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100
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180
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AR [Part A + Part B1 or B2 (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)]
B1 or B2 can be selected during Exam.
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15
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60 + 25
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100
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180
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GE [Part A + Part B1 or B2 (B1 - Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis)] B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam.
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15
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55 + 30
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100
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180
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GG [Part A + Part B]
(Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)
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15
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25 + 60
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100
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180
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XE (Section A + Any TWO Sections)
Sections can be selected during Exam.
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15
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15 + (2 x 35)
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100
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180
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XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section)
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15
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25 + 60
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100
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180
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XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections)
Sections can be selected during Exam.
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15
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25 + (2 x 30)
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100
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180
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GATE Paper Codes
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GATE Paper
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Code
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GATE Paper
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Code
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Aerospace Engineering
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AE
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Instrumentation Engineering
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IN
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Agricultural Engineering
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AG
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Mathematics
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MA
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Architecture and Planning
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AR
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Mechanical Engineering
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ME
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Biomedical Engineering
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BM
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Mining Engineering
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MN
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Biotechnology
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BT
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Metallurgical Engineering
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MT
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Civil Engineering
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CE
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Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
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NM
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Chemical Engineering
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CH
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Petroleum Engineering
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PE
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Computer Science and Information Technology
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CS
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Physics
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PH
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Chemistry
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CY
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Production and Industrial Engineering
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PI
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Electronics and Communication Engineering
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EC
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Statistics
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ST
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Electrical Engineering
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EE
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Textile Engineering and Fibre Science
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TF
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Environmental Science & Engineering
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ES
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Engineering Sciences
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XE
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Ecology and Evolution
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EY
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Humanities & Social Sciences
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XH
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Geomatics Engineering
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GE
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Life Sciences
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XL
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Geology and Geophysics
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GG
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GATE Exam Pattern for XE
There are three components of the GATE XE exam. Sections A (Engineering Mathematics) and General Aptitude are mandatory, and aspirants must select TWO sections from Sections B-H of the GATE XE paper.
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XE Paper Sections
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Code
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Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)
(15 marks)
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A
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Any TWO optional Sections
(2x35 = 70 marks)
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Fluid Mechanics
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B
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Materials Science
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C
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Solid Mechanics
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D
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Thermodynamics
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E
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Polymer Science and Engineering
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F
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Food Technology
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G
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Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
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H
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- General Aptitude will have 10 questions carrying 15 marks.
- Engineering Mathematics will have 11 questions carrying 15 marks.
- Two sections from B-H will have 44 questions (22 questions each) carrying 70 marks in total (35 marks each).
GATE Exam Pattern for XH
Students with a background in the humanities can now apply for GATE due to the GATE XH paper, which was introduced in 2021. The paper is divided into three segments. The portions of General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are mandatory, and candidates must select ONE out of C1-C6. The subjects listed under C1-C6 are:
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XH Paper Sections
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Code
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Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory)
(25 marks)
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B1
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Any ONE optional Section
(60 marks)
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Economics
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C1
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English
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C2
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Linguistics
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C3
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Philosophy
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C4
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Psychology
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C5
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Sociology
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C6
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- The General Aptitude section will have 10 questions of total 15 marks
- The B1 Section (Reasoning & Comprehension) will have 15 questions of a total 25 marks.
- The optional section will have 40 questions of a total 60 marks.
GATE Exam Pattern for XL
There are three sections in the GATE XL paper. Candidates must attempt Section P (Chemistry) and General Aptitude, and they must select TWO sections from Sections Q-U.
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XL Paper Sections
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Code
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Chemistry (Compulsory)
(25 marks)
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P
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Any TWO optional Sections
(2x30 = 60 marks)
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Biochemistry
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Q
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Botany
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R
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Microbiology
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S
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Zoology
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T
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Food Technology
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U
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- The General Aptitude section will have 10 questions (Total Marks: 15)
- The Chemistry Section will have 15 questions (Total Marks: 25).
- The TWO optional sections will have 40 questions (20 questions each) worth 60 marks (30 marks each).
GATE Combination of Two Papers
The combination of two Papers is Acceptable for GATE 2023 (subject to availability of infrastructure and schedule)
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Code of the First (Primary) Paper
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Codes of Papers Allowed as The Second Paper
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Code of the First (Primary) Paper
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Codes of Papers Allowed as The Second Paper
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AE
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CE, ME, XE
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GG
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GE
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AG
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CE
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IN
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BM, EC, EE, ME
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AR
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CE, GE
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MA
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CS, PH, ST
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BM
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BT, IN
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ME
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AE, IN, NM, PI, XE
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BT
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BM, XL
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MT
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XE
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CE
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AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE
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NM
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CE, ME
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CH
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ES, PE, XE
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PE
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CH
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CS
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EC, GE, MA, PH, ST
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PH
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CS, EC, EE, MA, XE
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CY
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XE, XL
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PI
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ME, XE
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EC
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CS, EE, IN, PH
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ST
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CS, MA, XH
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EE
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EC, IN, PH
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XE
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AE, CE, CH, CY, ME, MT, PH, PI
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ES
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CE, CH, GE
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XH
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ST
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EY
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XL
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XL
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BT, CY, EY
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GE
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AR, CE, CS, ES, GG
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Note: Candidates who want to take TWO subject exams are required to have a default choice of paper which is their first option. The second option must be selected from the list of permissible combinations in the table above. Combinations not included on the list ARE NOT acceptable.
