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GATE Exam Analysis & Exam Pattern 2025 – Complete Guide

Komal Jain Jun 23, 2025 1K Reads

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.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The GATE exam is a computer-based exam with 65 questions of 100 marks. The paper is divided into two sections. In the first section, you will get General Aptitude of 15 marks, and the second section will be subject-specific questions of 85 marks. There will be a negative marking for the wrong answer.

No, the GATE exam is not fully MCQ-based; there will be numerical-type questions as well. The paper will be conducted as a computer-based test.

The GATE exam is a total of 100 marks. The test will contain 65 questions and will also be divided into two sections.

Yes, the GATE exam has a negative marking. For one wrong answer, your ⅓ will be reduced, and for two incorrect answers, ⅔ will be reduced.

The GATE exam is for students who want to pursue a postgraduate program in engineering and science fields at the Government University. It is basically a gateway for the students who want to pursue higher studies in top universities like IITs or NITs.

There is no limit to reattempting the GATE exam. The students can attempt this exam as many times as they want until they pass it.

No, the GATE exam is only for students who want to pursue their postgraduate studies in the field of engineering or technology from institutes like IITs or NITs.

By 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.