GATE CE 2025 : Exam Pattern

According to GATE Civil Engineering Exam Pattern 2025, the paper is divided into three different sections namely, General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Civil Engineering. The civil engineering section/ core syllabus carries the maximum weightage of 70% of the total marks. The rest of the weightage is given to general aptitude and engineering mathematics each carrying about 15% weightage of the total exam.

GATE 2025 Civil Engineering paper comprises MCQs, MSQs, and NAT questions. There is no negative marking for NAT questions. The students can send their GATE 2025 scores to various IITs, NITs, and PSUs for admissions.

Exam Format

The GATE CE 2025 exam will have two main types of questions:

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs): You’ll pick the correct answer from four choices. Each MCQ can be worth either 1 mark or 2 marks.

Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions: For these questions, you’ll calculate the answer and type it in using a virtual keypad. These questions also carry either 1 or 2 marks.

Total Marks and Duration

The total score for the exam will be 100 marks. There will be 65 questions to answer, and you will have 3 hours to complete the exam. It’s important to manage your time well during this period.

Negative Marking

If you answer an MCQ incorrectly, there will be negative marking. For a 1-mark question, you will lose 1/3 of a mark for a wrong answer. For a 2-mark question, you will lose 2/3 of a mark. There is no negative marking for NAT questions.

GATE Exam Pattern 2025

Particulars	Details
GATE 2025 exam mode	Computer Based Test (CBT) [will be conducted at select centers in select cities]
GATE 2025 exam duration	3 Hours*
Number of Subjects (Papers)	30
Sections	General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate’s Selected Subject(s)
Type of Questions	(a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or (c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Questions for testing these abilities	(a) Recall (b) Comprehension (c) Application (d) Analysis & Synthesis
Number of Questions	10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions
Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL	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)
Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL	General Aptitude: 15 Marks + Subject Questions: 85 Marks = Total: 100 Marks
Marking Scheme	Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks
Negative Marking	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 answer(s) to MSQ or NAT question.

GATE 2025: Number of questions

Paper Code	General Aptitude (GA) Marks	Subject Marks	Total Marks	Total Time (Minutes)
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, ST, TF	15	85	100	180
AR [Part A + Part B1 or B2 (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] B1 or B2 can be selected during Exam.	15	60 + 25	100	180
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.	15	55 + 30	100	180
GG [Part A + Part B] (Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)	15	25 + 60	100	180
XE (Section A + Any TWO Sections) Sections can be selected during Exam.	15	15 + (2 x 35)	100	180
XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section)	15	25 + 60	100	180
XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections) Sections can be selected during Exam.	15	25 + (2 x 30)	100	180
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST	15	85	100	180