GATE 2025 Exam Pattern : Check Subject-Wise Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme

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IIT Roorkee has released the official GATE 2025 exam pattern on the GATE 2025 website. It is very important for candidates preparing for the GATE 2025 exam to understand this pattern. The exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and will last for 3 hours.

It consists of 30 different papers, each of which has a specific code. The GATE exam has 65 questions of a total of 100 marks, including 10 questions of 15 marks for General Aptitude (GA). Candidates should review the detailed exam pattern before filling the GATE 2025 application form.

The GATE 2025 exam pattern varies by paper. For paper codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF, and XE, General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics will carry 28 marks, while the remaining 72 marks are for the subject component. While in paper codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15 marks and the remaining 85 marks will be devoted to the subject component.

Candidates must choose their subjects carefully. It's essential to read the GATE 2025 syllabus thoroughly for the chosen subject. Candidates can appear for two papers in the GATE 2025 exam using the new two-paper combination option. For the two chosen test papers, one must be the primary choice, and the second must be selected from the allowed combinations.

Detailed information about the two-paper combinations is available on this page. While selecting the papers, candidates should consider the GATE 2025 eligibility criteria and amend their choices if necessary within the time allowed in the GOAPS 2025 portal.

Candidates can check the detailed GATE 2025 exam pattern, including the number of questions, types of questions, marking scheme, and more, on this page.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern

Particulars	Details
Examination Mode	The test papers will be in English. Computer Based Test (CBT) [will be conducted at select centers in select cities].
Duration	3 Hours*
Number of Subjects (Papers)	30
Sections	General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subjects
Type of Questions	Candidate’s Selected Subject(s) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Questions for testing these abilities	Recall Comprehension Application Analysis & Synthesis
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, DA, 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 or 2 marks
Negative Marking	For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking. For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. There is no negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions. There is no partial marking in MSQ.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme

Paper Code	General Aptitude (GA) Marks	Compulsory Section	Subject Marks	Total Marks	*Total Time (Minutes)**
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific.	15	--	85	100	180
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST	15	--	85	100	180
AR [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or Part B2 can be selected during Exam. B1: Architecture or B2: Planning]	15	60	25	100	180
GE [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam. B1 - Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis.]	15	55	30	100	180
GG [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B can either be Geology (B1) or Geophysics (B2) -- which must be chosen at the time of Application.]	15	25	60	100	180
XE [Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam]	15	15	2 x 35	100	180
XH [Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any ONE additional Section at the time of Application]	15	25	60	100	180
XL [Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam]	15	25	2 x 30	100	180

*PwD candidates with benchmark disability greater than 40% are eligible for compensatory time of one hour. PwD candidates with less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing are eligible for compensatory time subject to production of a certificate as stated.

How will be the GATE Question Exam Pattern 2025?

The GATE 2025 exam will test candidates on various grounds. The question papers will follow the GATE 2025 question paper pattern.

Recall: Questions will be directly linked to principles, facts, formulas, or laws of the chosen paper. Candidates' memory and computation skills will be tested.
Comprehension: Questions will test candidates' basic understanding in their fields of study. Candidates need to focus on fundamental ideas to draw simple conclusions.
Application: Candidates must apply their computational and logical reasoning skills.
Analysis and Synthesis: Questions will include a mix of data, diagrams, and images. Candidates must analyze the information to solve the questions.

GATE 2025 Negative Marking Scheme

Candidates should understand the negative marking scheme in the GATE exam to improve their results and scorecard. Here's the GATE 2025 negative marking scheme:

No negative marking: MSQ and NAT questions.
Negative marking: MCQ questions. Marks will be deducted for incorrect answers.

Negative Marking Scheme in GATE 2025:

MCQ – 1 mark question: 1/3 mark deducted.
MCQ – 2 marks question: 2/3 mark deducted.

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Types of Questions

Candidates preparing for the GATE exam should know the types of questions to understand the exam mode and pattern.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Four options provided; select the right option.
- Negative marking applies.
Multiple Select Questions (MSQs):
- Four options provided; select one or more options.
- No negative marking.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT):
- Enter answers in digits.
- No negative marking.

FAQs for GATE 2025 Exam Pattern

Q1. What is the mode and duration of the GATE 2025 exam?

Ans. The GATE 2025 exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and will last for 3 hours.

Q2. How many papers are there in GATE 2025, and how many questions will each paper have?

Ans. There are 30 different papers in GATE 2025. Each paper consists of 65 questions, totaling 100 marks.

Q3. What sections are included in the GATE 2025 exam, and how are the marks distributed?

Ans. The exam includes a General Aptitude (GA) section and subject-specific questions. The GA section carries 15 marks, and the remaining marks vary by paper. For most papers, Engineering Mathematics and subject questions carry 85 marks in total, while for some papers, the subject questions alone carry 85 marks.

Q4. Is there negative marking in the GATE 2025 exam?

Ans. Yes, there is negative marking for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). For a wrong answer in a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted. For a wrong answer in a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted. There is no negative marking for Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.

Q5. Can candidates appear for more than one paper in GATE 2025?

Ans. Yes, candidates can appear for two papers in GATE 2025 using the new two-paper combination option. One must be the primary choice, and the second must be selected from the allowed combinations available on the GATE 2025 website.