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GATE Exam Pattern 2024

The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam pattern for the year 2024 will be released by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
Knowing the GATE exam pattern can help you prepare effectively for the test. It gives you an understanding of the structure of the exam, the types of questions that will be asked, the number of questions, the duration, and the distribution of marks. This information allows you to identify the areas where you need to focus your study efforts and to allocate your time more efficiently.
Additionally, understanding the GATE exam pattern can also help you manage your time effectively during the exam. Knowing the number of questions, the duration of the exam, and the distribution of marks allows you to plan your approach to the exam, prioritize the questions, and manage your time efficiently.
Furthermore, by understanding the GATE exam pattern, you can also become familiar with the types of questions that are typically asked, allowing you to prepare for the exam more effectively. Knowing what to expect can help you feel more confident and less anxious on the day of the exam, which can improve your performance.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024: Highlights

GATE Exam Pattern 2024: Paper Code Wise Subject Weightage

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 Marking Scheme

Official GATE Exam 2024 Marking Scheme will be released by IISc Bangalore.

• In GATE 2024, General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics will be compulsory sections for papers with codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE.
• The General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics sections will carry 15% weightage each in the total marks for the above-mentioned papers.
• The remaining 70% weightage for the above-mentioned papers will be given to the subject selected by the student.
• In the case of GATE 2024 question papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, and XL there will be a compulsory section of General Aptitude (15% of the total marks).
• The remaining 85% weightage for the above-mentioned papers will be given to the selected subject.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024: Get Familiar with the Question Paper Format

GATE 2024 Exam Pattern for Geomatics Engineering (GE) Paper

• The GATE 2024 GE Paper includes a General Aptitude (GA) section with 15 marks weightage, applicable for all papers of GATE 2024.
• The remaining part of the GATE GE Paper is divided into two parts: Part A (55 marks) and Part B (30 marks).
• Part A is compulsory for all candidates.
• Part B contains two optional sections: Section I and Section II. Candidates have to choose one of them during the examination.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) Paper

• The GATE 2024 NM Paper includes a General Aptitude (GA) section with 15 marks weightage, which is applicable for all papers of GATE 2024.
• The remaining part of the GATE NM Paper will cover the syllabus and will be 85 marks weightage.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 Architecture and Planning (AR) Pape

• The GATE 2024 Paper includes a General Aptitude (GA) section with 15 marks weightage, which is applicable for all papers of GATE 2024.
• The Paper is divided into two parts: Part A (60 marks) and Part B (25 marks) covering the GATE 2024 syllabus.
• Part A is compulsory for all candidates.
• Part B contains two optional sections: Part B1 (Architecture) and Part B2 (Planning).
• Candidates have to choose one of them during the examination.

GATE 2024 Exam Pattern for CSE

GATE 2024 Paper Pattern (Except GG, XE, XL) 

• GATE 2024 papers will have a total of 45 questions.
• 15 questions will carry 1 mark each.
• 30 questions will carry 2 marks each.
• The paper will consist of both multiple-choice questions and numerical answer-type questions.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 for ECE

• The total marks for GATE 2024 ECE question paper will be 100 marks, covering topics in electronics and communication engineering.
• The exam will be conducted in an online mode CBT (computer-based test).
• The GATE question pattern for ECE will contain 3 types of questions: MCQs, MSQs, and NAT.
• The exam will include both 1-mark and 2-mark questions.
• The GATE 2024 ECE question paper will contain a total of 65 questions, with 10 questions on general aptitude and 55 questions on electronics and communication engineering.
• The total duration of the GATE exam will be 3 hours (180 minutes).
• The GATE exam has negative marking for objective-type questions only, with 1/3 mark for 1 mark questions and 2/3 mark for 2 marks questions.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 Geology and Geophysics Paper (GG)

• The GATE Geology and Geophysics Paper will be divided into two parts: Part A and Part B.
• Part A is mandatory, while Part B comprises two sections: Geology (Section I) and Geophysics (Section II). Candidates can choose which section to opt for.
• Part A contains 25 questions, each carrying 1 mark. The section includes numerical answer-type questions.
• Part B (Sections I and II) contains 30 questions, each carrying 2 marks.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024 Engineering Sciences (XE)

• The GATE paper has one mandatory section that all candidates have to attempt: Engineering Mathematics.
• Another compulsory section is General aptitude, which consists of 15 marks.
• Section A contains 11 questions with a total of 15 marks. The section may also include numerical answer-type questions.
• Candidates have the option to choose any one of the sections from Section B to H.
• The sections (B to H) consist of 22 questions each and carry a total of 35 marks.

GATE Exam Pattern 2024: Life Sciences (XL)

• Chemistry (Section P) is a mandatory section, consisting of 15 questions for a total of 25 marks. This section also includes numerical answer-type questions.
• The paper also has a General Aptitude section, carrying a total of 15 marks.
• In addition to the mandatory Chemistry section, candidates must also choose one more section from Q to U.
• Each of the sections from Q to U consists of 20 questions and carries a total of 30 marks.

GATE Exam Subjects and Paper Codes

GATE 2024 Paper Codes for XH

GATE 2024 Paper Codes for XE and XL

Negative Marking in GATE 2024

Negative marking can have an impact on the candidate's results, so it's important for them to pay attention while taking the exam. Before preparing for the exam, candidates should familiarize themselves with the GATE negative marking scheme.

• There is no negative marking for questions under MSQ (Multiple Select Questions) and NAT (Numerical Answer Type)
• There is negative marking for MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions). Any incorrect answer to MCQ will result in a deduction of marks.

Types of Questions in GATE 2024

GATE may contain questions of THREE different types in all the papers:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carry 1 or 2 marks each, in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which ONLY ONE choice is correct.
• Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which ONE or MORE than ONE choice(s) is / are correct.

Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

•  carry 1 or 2 marks each in most of the papers and sections. For these questions, the answer is a signed real number, which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor (keyboard of the computer will be disabled).
• No choices will be shown for these types of questions. 
• The answer can be a number such as10 or-10 (an integer only). 
• The answer may be in decimals as well, 
• For example,
• 10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or -10.001 (three decimals).
• These questions will be mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to present the answer.
•  Also, for some NAT type problems an appropriate range will be considered while evaluating these questions so that the candidate is not unduly penalised due to the usual round-off errors. 
• Candidates are advised to do the rounding off at the end of the calculation (not in between steps). Wherever required and possible, it is better to give NAT answers up to a maximum of three decimal places.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to GATE Exam Pattern 2024

Can I use a physical calculator in the examination?

No, during the GATE examination, the use of a physical calculator is not allowed. Instead, the GATE exam provides an on-screen virtual calculator for the candidate to use during the exam. This virtual calculator is embedded in the software of the computer-based test and can be used to perform basic calculations during the exam.

Does GATE pattern change every year?

The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam pattern can change from year to year. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) jointly conduct the GATE exam every year and they have the authority to make changes to the exam pattern as they see fit.

Some examples of changes that have been made to the GATE exam pattern in the past include changes to the number of questions, the distribution of marks, the types of questions that are asked, and the duration of the exam.

However, it's worth noting that the changes in the pattern are usually minor and the overall structure of the exam remains similar from year to year. The core objective of the exam remains the same i.e. to test the understanding of the candidate in the specific engineering/science subject.

How many questions are in total asked in GATE exam? 

The number of questions asked in the GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam varies depending on the paper you are taking. It can range between 65 to 85 questions.

The number of questions, as well as the weightage of marks, can change from year to year based on the decision of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) who conduct the GATE exam.

May I carry a copy for rough work in GATE Exam?

During the GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) examination, candidates are not allowed to bring any physical materials, including copies for rough work. This is to prevent candidates from cheating or bringing in unauthorized materials.

Candidates are provided with a rough sheet of paper by the invigilator for rough work during the exam, which will be collected back before the end of the exam.

Where can I find the official GATE exam pattern 2024?

You can find the official GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam pattern for 2024 on the official website of GATE, which will be operated by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.