GATE exam pattern 2025 will be released by the conducting body for all 30 papers at gate2025.iisc.ac.in. The paper pattern of GATE 2025 consists of MCQs, MSQ, and NAT questions and GATE exam duration is of 3 hours (180 minutes). Distribution of marks in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL will be for General Aptitude, which is 15 marks, and for subject questions, it is 85 marks.
The test will consist of 65 questions. Total marks in GATE is 100. General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics will account for approximately 28% of the full marks in the papers. There is a GATE negative marking for wrong MCQ answers. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted, and for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Practice Now: GATE Previous Year Question Paper
Refer Now: GATE Negative Marking
Table of Contents
- GATE Exam Pattern 2025 Highlights
- GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Paper-Wise
- GATE Exam Format 2025 - Paper Codes
- GATE Exam Pattern Marks 2025
- GATE Marking Scheme 2025
- GATE Question Paper Pattern 2025
- GATE Exam Subjects and Code
- GATE Exam Foramt 2025: Types of Questions
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 Highlights
The GATE exam pattern 2025 will be available at gate2025.iisc.ac.in by IIT Roorkee. GATE exam time 2025 will last for 3 hours, according to the most recent paper pattern. GATE paper total marks is 100 for 30 papers.
The questions will be separated into General Aptitude and core courses. Candidates must check on the GATE exam pattern 2025 details shared below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | Online - Computer-Based Test |
| Number of Questions | 65 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Number of Subjects (Papers) | 30 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and NAT (Numerical Answer Type) |
| Language | English |
| Number of Sections | General Aptitude+ Candidates selected Subjects |
| Name of the Sections | General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics* and Subject Specification Section* In place of Engineering Mathematics, Chemistry will be compulsory for Life Science (XL) Paper |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks |
| Negative Marking |
For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be a negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For 2-mark MCQ, the 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. NO negative marking for MSQ & NAT. |
Must Read: What is a Good GATE Score?
GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Paper-Wise
It is very important that all candidates aspiring to appear for the exam have a clear understanding of the GATE paper pattern. Candidates should look at the detailed GATE exam pattern 2025 marks for all 30 subjects.
GATE General Aptitude Exam Pattern
General aptitude will account for 15% of the total marks on papers with the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL, while the subject paper will account for the remaining 85% of the total marks. General Aptitude questions carry a total of 15 marks throughout all papers.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Total |
| General Aptitude | 5 for 1 mark | 5 |
| 5 for 2 marks | 10 | |
| Total | 10 + 5 | 15 |
GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Engineering Mathematics
There are three engineering mathematics for GATE sections in the question paper for paper codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST. The marks weightage for the same is shared below.
| Sections | Marks Weightage |
| General Aptitude | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13% |
| Core Discipline | 72% |
Quick Link: GATE 2025 Registration
GATE Exam Total Marks for Engineering Mathematics
There will be 55 questions from core subjects and engineering mathematics in addition to the 10 questions in the section on GA. GATE maximum marks are 100. The first 25 questions will be for 1 mark, while the latter 30 will be worth 2 each.
| Subjects |
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST |
Total |
| Number of Questions | 25 for 1 mark | 55 |
| Total Marks | 25 +60 | 85 |
GATE 2025 Pattern for CY, EY, MA, and PH
General Aptitude and Core Discipline are the two portions found in the GATE papers with the codes CY, EY, MA, and PH.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Weightage |
| General Aptitude | 15 | 15% |
| Core Discipline | 55 | 85% |
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Below is a summary of the detailed marking criteria for the GATE AR, CY, EY, MA, and PH papers:
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|
AR, CY, EY, MA, PH
|
25 - 1 mark | 25 |
| 30 - 2 mark | 60 | |
| Total | 55 | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 for Architecture and Planning (AR)
GATE AR exam pattern will include three sections: GA (General Aptitude), Part A, and Part B. All applicants must complete Part A of the exam, while Part B is further separated into Sections B1 (Architecture) and B2 of the exam (Planning).
| Sections | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA | 10 = (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 |
| Part A (mandatory) | 39 = (18 x 1) + (21 x 2) | 60 |
| Part B: Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning) | 16 = (7 x 1) + (9 x 2) | 25 |
| Total | 55 | 100 |
Practice Year-Wise Papers:
GATE Exam 2025 Pattern for Geomatics Engineering (GE)
IIT Roorkee is introducing a brand-new paper for the GATE exam pattern 2025 called Geomatics Engineering. The question paper for geomatics engineering has three sections: GA, Part A, and Part B.
| Sections | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA | 10 = (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 |
| Part A (mandatory) | 36 = (17 x 1) + (19 x 2) | 55 |
| Part B: Section I or Section II | 16 = (8 x 1) + (11 x 2) | 30 |
| Total | 55 | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
GATE exam pattern 2025 for Geology and Geophysics (GG) papers involves General Aptitude, Part A, and Part B, with Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 within Part B (Geophysics). Part A and the General Aptitude part must be completed, and applicants must select either Section 1 or Section 2 from Part B.
| Sections | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA | 10 = 1/2 marks | 15 |
| Part A | 25 = 1 mark | 25 |
| Part B (Geology and Geophysics) | 30 = 2 marks | 60 |
Must Read: Benefits of Writing GATE Exam 2025
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
IIT Roorkee has also added the papers of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering to GATE 2025. There will be two sections in the paper: GA and Main Subject.
| Sections | GA | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering |
| Number of Questions | 10 | 55 |
| Marks per Question | (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | (25 x 1) + (30 x 2) |
| Total Marks | 15 | 85 |
GATE Engineering Sciences XE Pattern 2025
The following table lists the specific marking criteria for the XE paper:
| Section | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA |
5 (1 mark) 5 (2 marks) Total Questions: 10 |
15 |
| Section A (Engineering Sciences) |
7 (1 mark) 4 (2 marks) Total Questions: 11 |
15 |
| Section B (Any two of these) |
9+9 (1 mark) 13+13 (2 marks) Total Questions: 44
|
35+35 = 70 |
| Total |
Total Marks = 30 (1 mark) Total Marks = 70 (2 marks) Total Questions: 65 |
100 |
Also Read: Is GATE Exam Tough?
GATE Humanities and Social Sciences XH Pattern 2025
The portions of General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are required, and candidates must select 1 out of C1 through C6. Below is a summary of the detailed GATE XH marks distribution:
| Section | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA |
5 (1 mark) 5 (2 marks) Total Questions: 10 |
15 |
| B1* (Reasoning and Comprehension) |
5 (1 mark) 10 (2 marks) Total Questions: 25 |
25 |
| C1-C6 (Any one of these) |
20 (1 mark) 20 (2 marks) Total Questions: 40
|
60 |
| Total |
Total Marks = 30 (1 mark) Total Marks = 70 (2 marks) Total Questions: 65 |
100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 for Life Sciences (XL)
There are three sections on the GATE XL paper. Candidates must attempt Section P (Chemistry) and General Aptitude, and they must select TWO questions from Sections Q through U. Below is a summary of the detailed GATE XL marks distribution:
| Section | Type of Questions and Marks | GATE Total Marks |
| GA |
5 (1 mark) 5 (2 marks) Total Questions: 10 |
15 |
| Section P (Chemistry) |
5 (1 mark) 10 (2 marks) Total Questions: 25 |
25 |
| Section Q-U (Any two of these) |
20 (1 mark) 20 (2 marks) Total Questions: 40
|
60 |
| Total Questions |
Total Marks = 30 (1 mark) Total Marks = 70 (2 marks) Total Questions: 65 |
100 |
Also Read: Opportunities After GATE Exam
GATE Exam Format 2025 - Paper Codes
GATE paper codes with the codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE, General Aptitude will be weighted at 15%, Engineering Mathematics at 13%, and subject paper at 72%.
| Paper Code | GATE Subject Weightage |
| CE, CS, EC, AE, AG, BT, CH, ME, MN, MT, EE, IN, TF, XE, PE, ST, and PI |
GA (General Aptitude): 15 Engineering Mathematics: 13 question Subject of the Paper: 72 question |
| AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL |
GA (General Aptitude): 15 Subject of the Paper: 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern Marks 2025
To understand the GATE exam pattern 2025 marks distribution and marking scheme more easily, candidates can take a look at the table below:
| GATE Paper Code | Subject Marks |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, TF, ST | 85 |
| AR [Part A + Part B (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] | 60 + 25 |
| GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II) | 55 + 30 |
| GG [Part A + Part B (Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)] | 25 + 60 |
| XE (Section A + Any TWO Sections) | 15 + (2 x 35) |
| XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section) | 25 + 60 |
| XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections) | 25 + (2 x 30) |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 85 |
GATE Marking Scheme 2025
The GATE exam paper pattern has 65 questions with a total weightage of 100 marks for each of the 30 disciplines. GATE full marks are 100 for all subjects. The GATE exam time duration is 3 hours.
- GATE subject-wise weightage for General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics will be mandatory sections, with each 15% of the total marks.
- This exam section will be applied to codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE.
- The remaining 70% of the weightage will be assigned to the student's chosen subject.
- In the case of the question papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, and XL, a compulsory portion of GA (15% of total GATE marks) would be included.
- The picked subject will receive the remaining 85% weightage.
GATE 2025 Negative Marking
The GATE marking system of all GATE exam structures is shared below. Candidates must have a look at the table shared.
- NAT and MSQ questions have NO negative marking.
- However, there will be a mark reduction for each wrong MCQ response. The following table lists the standards for negative marking on multiple-choice questions in the GATE 2025 exam:
| Type of Question | 1 Mark Questions | 2 Marks Questions |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | 1/3 mark | 2/3 mark |
|
Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) Numerical Answer Type (NATs) |
No negative marking | No negative marking |
Read More: GATE Negative Marking
GATE Question Paper Pattern 2025
The following are a few crucial details concerning the GATE exams for 2025 that candidates should be aware of:
GATE GE Exam Pattern 2025
The GATE exam question pattern details of all the papers are listed below for the candidates.
- The General Aptitude (GA) part, relevant to all GATE 2025 examinations, is included in the GE Paper and carries 15 marks.
- The remaining two sections of the GATE GE Paper, Part A (55 marks) and Part B, cover the syllabus (30 marks).
- All candidates must complete Part A.
- Section I and Section II are two optional parts of Part B. During the exam, candidates must select one of these options.
GATE NM Test Pattern 2025
GATE test pattern details for the NM paper for the year 2025 are listed below as pointers for the candidates.
- The General Aptitude (GA) portion, which is 15 marks in length for all GATE 2025 exams, is included in the NM Paper.
- The remaining 85 marks on the GATE NM Paper will cover the syllabus.
GATE AR Exam Pattern 2025
The GATE exam pattern 2025 includes the General Aptitude (GA) portion (15 marks), which is expected for all GATE 2025 papers.
- Part A (60 marks) and Part B (25 marks) of the GATE pattern cover the GATE 2025 syllabus.
- Part A is required for all candidates.
- Part B includes two optional sections: B1 (Architecture) and B2 (Planning).
- During the examination, candidates must select one of these options.
GATE XL Paper Pattern 2025
The GATE exam pattern for the XL paper is listed below for the candidates for the year 2025.
- Chemistry (Section P) is required with 15 questions for 25 marks.
- The paper also includes a General Aptitude part worth 15 marks.
- Aside from Chemistry, candidates must select one more section from Q through U. Each part, from Q to U, contains 20 questions worth 30 marks.
GATE 2025 Paper Pattern for Life Sciences
Below listed are details regarding the GATE exam pattern 2025 for Life Science paper. Candidates must check on the GATE paper pattern details.
- XL-Q: Biochemistry
- XL-R: Botany
- XL-S: Microbiology
- XL-T: Zoology
- XL-U: Food Technology
GATE 2025 Papers (Except GG, XE, XL)
GATE 2025 papers will contain 45 questions, 15 of which will be worth one mark and 30 of which will be for two. The GATE paper will have multiple-choice questions as well as numerical answer-type questions.
GATE GG Pattern 2025
The GATE Geology and Geophysics Paper will be divided into A and B halves.
- Part A is required, while Part B is divided into geology (Section I) and geophysics (Section II).
- Part A has 25 questions, each worth one mark. This section will also include numerical response questions.
- Part B (Sections I and II) contains 30 questions for two marks each.
GATE 2025 Engineering Sciences (XE)
This GATE paper will include one essential section all candidates must complete: Engineering Mathematics.
- Another mandatory subject is General aptitude, which is worth 15 marks.
- Section A contains 11 questions worth a total of 15 effects. The paper may also include some numerical response questions.
- Candidates can select any of the sections from B through H.
- The sections (B through H) contain 22 questions, each worth 35 marks.
GATE Exam Subjects and Code
Different subjects have a different pattern of GATE exams for the year 2025. The GATE topic paper codes for each of the 30 GATE subject papers are listed below.
| Paper | Code |
| Architecture and Planning | AR |
| Biotechnology | BT |
| Aerospace Engineering | AE |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG |
| Chemical Engineering | CH |
| Civil Engineering | CE |
| Computer Science and Information Technology | CS |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | EC |
| Electrical Engineering | EE |
| Chemistry | CY |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY |
| Statistics | ST |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | ES |
| Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering | NM |
| Geology and Geophysics | GG |
| Mathematics | MA |
| Physics | PE |
| Engineering Sciences | XE* |
| Life Sciences | XL** |
| Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
| Mining Engineering | MN |
| Mechanical Engineering | ME |
| Textile Engineering and Fiber Science | TF |
| Production and Industrial Engineering | PI |
| Petroleum Engineering | PE |
| Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | XH |
| Geomatics Engineering | GE |
GATE 2025 Paper Codes for XH
The topics listed under Humanities and Social Sciences Exam consist of the following papers which are listed below:
| XH Paper Sections | Code |
| Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory) 25 marks | B1 |
| Any of the following Optional Subjects (60 marks) | |
| Economics | C1 |
| English | C2 |
| Linguistics | C3 |
| Philosophy | C4 |
| Psychology | C5 |
| Sociology | C6 |
GATE 2025 Paper Codes for XE and XL
The topics listed under Engineering Science and Life Science consist of:
| XE Paper Sections | Code |
| Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) | A |
| Fluid Mechanics | B |
| Materials Science | C |
| Solid Mechanics | D |
| Thermodynamics | E |
| Polymer Science and Engineering | F |
| Food Technology | G |
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | H |
| XL Paper Sections | Code |
| Chemistry (Compulsory) | P |
| Biochemistry | Q |
| Botany | R |
| Microbiology | S |
| Zoology | T |
| Food Technology | U |
GATE Exam Format 2025: Types of Questions
The three main types of GATE 2025 questions are as follows:
Questions with Multiple Choices (MCQs)
GATE questions pattern details for MCQ questions are listed below.
- Candidates are given 4 options for MCQs, only one of which is the right response.
- A candidate must select the appropriate option by clicking the button next to it.
Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs)
Candidates must check on the GATE MSQ question pattern details shared below.
- Each of these GATE question patterns is objective in character and offers 4 possible responses, one or more of which is/are accurate.
- In GATE MSQ marking, there is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
- However, there is no partial credit for making a single incorrect option or combinations of half-accurate choices.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
The candidate must enter answers to NAT questions using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor.
- These questions won't have any options.
- The solution could be a decimal integer.
- The questions will specify how many decimal places the applicants must round their answers to.
- An acceptable range will be taken into consideration as the right response for NATs to prevent round-off penalties.
Also Read: GATE Exam Attempt Limit 2025
FAQs
How many questions are asked in the GATE exam pattern 2025?
Based on the GATE 2025 exam pattern, the paper entails a total of 65 questions for 100 marks. Candidates will have 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the exam.
What are the types of questions asked in the GATE 2025 exam pattern?
GATE 2025 paper will contain 3 types of questions - Multiple-Choice Questions, Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
What is the standard time limit GATE 2025 pattern?
GATE 2025 exam is conducted for a duration of 3 hours (180 minutes). Candidates must also note that there is no section time limit, hence, candidates can attempt the question from any section.
Is there negative marking in GATE 2025?
Yes, there is a GATE exam negative marking for every incorrect MCQ question. However, negative marking is not applicable for MSQ's and NATs. The GATE negative marking system involves 1/3 mark deduction for 1-marks MCQ questions, and 2/3 mark marks deduction for 2-mark MCQ questions.
How many questions in GATE exam are asked?
There are 30 subjects, the paper comprises a total of 65 questions and the total marks of GATE exam is 100.
How many papers are in GATE exam 2025?
GATE 2025 is conducted for 30 papers and one can attempt any one or two of these papers. The detailed explanation about the exam pattern of all the papers are shared in the page.
How many marks are there for the GATE exam?
The GATE exam marking scheme involves a total score of 100. The GATE exam questions will be relevant to the GATE exam syllabus. The GATE 2023-24 exam format calls for two sorts of questions: multiple choice questions and numerical answer type questions.
What are GATE 2025 paper codes for XE and XL?
GATE XL stands for Life Science and GATE XE stands for Engineering Science. GATE paper codes for XL are P,Q,R,S,T and U. GATE paper codes for XE are A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H.
