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GATE Exam Analysis & Exam Pattern 2025 – Complete Guide

Updated on Jun 23, 2025
27 min read
1K+ views
Table of Contents
  • GATE Exam Pattern
  • Tips for Preparing for the GATE Exam
  • GATE Exam’s Alternative Option for a Better Future

The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Examination is a national examination for those to wish to pursue postgraduate.

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The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Examination is a national examination for those to wish to pursue postgraduate or PhD-level studies from government universities. The test is designed to measure the knowledge of candidates across various disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, etc. Prior to giving this exam, the students should check eligibility and the pattern.

The pattern of GATE exam is that it will be English and Computer Based that will be held in the centers of the cities that are selected by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE). The exam will be for three hours, and you will get multiple-choice questions, multiple-select questions, and Numerical answer-type questions that are compulsory to attempt. There will be a negative marking as well for the incorrect answers.  If you fail the GATE exam, then you need to reattempt it.

However, if you are someone who wants to grow in their career and wants to grab the position of CEO or CXO, then the DBA(Doctor of Business Administration) program will be the perfect fit for you. One of the main advantages of this program is that you do not need to give any entrance exam, and also you will get a chance to learn this course from foreign universities just by sitting at home, and the degree will be valid in India as well. To enroll in this program, you must have completed your bachelor's degree and also have work experience of at least 2 to 3 years. If you have completed your master’s degree, then if you do not have any work experience then you can also opt for DBA.

GATE Exam Pattern

GATE exam is a computer-based test with two sections, in which one section will be General Aptitude of 15 marks and the other section will be a subject-specific paper of 85 marks. The total number of questions will be 65. If the candidate fills in the incorrect answer, then there will be a negative marking.

Here is the detailed information about the GATE exam pattern:

Particulars 

Details

Examination Mode 

  • Computer-Based Test

Exam Duration 

  • 3 Hours

Number of Subjects (Papers)

          30

Exam Date

      February 2026

Sections

  • General Aptitude 
  • Candidates Selected Subjects

Types of Questions

  • Multiple Choice Questions
  • Multiple Selected Questions 
  • Numerical Answer Type 

Questions for Testing These Abilities 

  • Recall
  • Comperhension
  • Applicaton 
  • Analysis and Synthesis 

Number of Questions 

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

GATE exam pattern

GATE exam pattern

Distribution of Marks in all Papers except papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL

Total: 100 Marks

General Aptitude:15 Marks

Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks

Subject Questions:72 Marks

Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL

Total: 100 Marks

General Aptitude: 15 Marks

Subject Questions: 85 Marks

Exam Conducting Language 

English

Marketing Scheme

  • Each Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks
  • For a wrong answer in an MCQ, ⅓ marks will be deducted. 
  • For 2 wrong MCQs, ⅔ marks will be deducted. 

Tips for Preparing for the GATE Exam

The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is for students who want to take admission in a Government University to pursue a Master's or Phd in the engineering or technical field. Before giving the exam, some tips will help you in preparing for the test. Here are the preparation tips for GATE

  • The candidate must start preparing for the exam as early as possible so that they have enough time to solve the mock test papers and previous year papers that will boost their confidence.
  • You must prepare a timetable and study schedule as per your preference. It will help you in covering each subject and topic. Set a target daily so that you will not overwhelm yourself, and get a time for revision.
  • One of the best ways to prepare for the GATE exam is by solving the previous year's question papers, which will boost your confidence, and you will also know what the pattern is and what type of questions will come in the exam.
  • Knowing the exam pattern will help you in preparing for the GATE exam quite well. You must check the exam pattern on the official website. 

GATE Exam’s Alternative Option for a Better Future

The student who wants to build a better career and wants to take the highest salary and position, then for them, DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) is the best choice, and there is no entrance exam for this course. After this program, the student will get Dr title in their name. One of the best parts of this course is that you will get a chance to learn from a highly qualified professor from a top-ranked foreign university, just by using the internet. The degree will be valid in India. While doing this course, you will interact with industry experts who will help you improve your skills and knowledge. 

Here is the list of the Universities that are approved and offering DBA:

University

Program

Fees (INR)

Birchwood Online University

DBA Online

₹6,00,000

Golden Gate University

DBA Online

₹8,14,000

Rushford Business School

DBA Online

₹8,12,500

ESGCI International School of Management Paris

DBA Online

₹8,14,000

EIMT

DBA Online

₹5,50,000

Swiss School of Business Management

DBA Online

₹7,50,000

Edgewood College

DBA Online

₹7,00,000

Note: The fees may vary; it is recommended to check the official website of the University.

Frequently Asked Questions

Komal Jain

Komal Jain

5 Years of Experience / Storyteller / Research-driven Writer

Passionate about digital marketing with a creative flair for content creation.Experienced Always eager to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact in the digital space.

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