GATE exam pattern 2023 was released by IIT Kanpur for all 29 papers, along with the Information Bulletin. GATE 2023 exam pattern is different for each paper. Candidates must answer 65 questions with the scheduled exam timing, 3 hours (180 minutes).
Candidates are advised to check the GATE exam pattern 2023 to understand the mode of examination, the number of questions in the exam paper, the marking scheme, etc. GATE exam Pattern 2023 will eventually help the candidates to score well in their GATE 2023. To get detailed information about the GATE exam pattern 2023, read the below article.
GATE Syllabus 2023 | GATE Mock Test 2023 |
Latest Updates on GATE 2023
- Jan 30, 2023: GATE 2023 exam begins on Feb 4, 2023. IIT Kanpur has released important exam instructions on the official website. Read More
Table of Contents
- GATE Exam Pattern 2023 Highlights
- GATE Exam Pattern 2023: Paper-wise detailed Exam Pattern
- GATE Exam Pattern 2023 - Paper Code Wise Subject Weightage
- GATE 2023 Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme
- GATE 2023 Question Paper Pattern
- GATE Exam Subjects and Code
- GATE 2023 Question Paper Design?
- Guide to Attempt Online GATE Entrance Exam
- Negative Marking in GATE 2023
- GATE Exam Pattern 2023: Types of Questions
- GATE Exam Pattern 2023 Points to Remember
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 Highlights
The GATE exam pattern 2023 has been made available on the official IIT Kanpur website. Candidates may learn many crucial data about the GATE exam, such as the types of questions that will be asked in the exam, the overall amount of questions, exam length, and much more, with the aid of the GATE exam pattern 2023.
Particulars | Details |
Exam Mode | Online - Computer-Based Test |
Number of Questions | 65 |
Total Marks | 100 |
Number of Subjects (Papers) | 29 |
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. |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023: Paper-wise Detailed Exam Pattern
It is very important that all candidates aspiring to appear for GATE 2023 have a clear understanding of the paper pattern specific to the papers that they plan to appear for. To have a better look at the GATE Exam Pattern for CSE 2023 and others in a detailed format, candidates can refer to the below-listed points.
Each paper's GATE Exam Pattern 2023 is different depending on the parts and the allocation of the marks.
- All GATE exams include a portion on general aptitude. 15% of the total scores are weighted in this section. The verbal, numerical, and quantitative abilities form the foundation of the questions in GA. There are a total of 10 questions, 5 of which are worth 1 point and 5 of which are for 2 points.
- For the papers 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 given 15% of the marks, engineering mathematics will be given 13% of the points, and the remaining 72% of the marks will go to the subject paper.
- 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.
Subject |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
General Aptitude |
5 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Total |
10 |
- |
15 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST
There are three 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. Which are:
Sections |
Marks Weightage |
General Aptitude |
15% |
Engineering Mathematics |
13% |
Core Discipline |
72% |
There will be 55 questions from core subjects and engineering mathematics in addition to the 10 questions in the section on general aptitude. Apiece of the first 25 questions will be for one mark, while the latter 30 will be worth two each.
Subjects |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST |
25 |
1 |
25 |
30 |
2 |
60 |
|
Total |
55 |
- |
85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for CY, EY, MA, and PH
General Aptitude and Core Discipline are the two portions found in each of 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% |
Below is a summary of the detailed marking criteria for the GATE AR, CY, EY, MA, and PH papers:
Subjects |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
AR, CY, EY, MA, PH |
25 |
1 |
25 |
30 |
2 |
60 |
|
Total |
55 |
- |
85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Architecture and Planning (AR)
This year's GATE Exam Pattern for the paper on architecture and planning has been updated. The updated exam format specifies that the paper 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). During the exam, students must select one of the sections.
Sections |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
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 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Geomatics Engineering (GE)
IIT Kharagpur is introducing a brand-new paper for GATE 2022 called Geomatics Engineering. The question paper for geomatics engineering has three sections: GA, Part A, and Part B. This is in accordance with the test structure.
Sections |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
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 2023 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
The GATE GG paper is broken into three sections: 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 are required to be completed, and applicants must select either Section 1 or Section 2 from Part B.
Sections |
Sub-section |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
GA |
- |
10 |
1 or 2 |
15 |
Part A |
- |
25 |
1 |
25 |
Part B (either one based on candidates selection) |
Geology |
30 |
2 |
60 |
Geophysics |
30 |
2 |
60 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
IIT Kharagpur has also added the papers of Naval Architecture and Maine Engineering to GATE 2022. There will be two sections in the paper: GA and Main Subject.
Sections |
Number of questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
GA |
10 |
(5 x 1) + (5 x 2) |
15 |
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering |
55 |
(25 x 1) + (30 x 2) |
85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Engineering Sciences (XE)
The following table lists the specific marking criteria for the XE paper:
- 10 general aptitude questions totalling 15 marks.
- 11 questions totalling 15 marks are included in Section A of the engineering mathematics section.
- There are 22 questions in Sections B-H, each worth 35 points. These sections cover a range of topics, including:
- Fluid mechanics, material science, solid mechanics, thermodynamics, and polymer science and engineering are all covered in XE-B.
- XE-H - Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences XE-G - Food Technology
Section |
Total Number of 1-mark questions |
Total Number of 2 mark questions |
Total Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
GA |
5 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
Section A (Engineering Sciences) |
7 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
Section B (Any two of these) |
9+9 |
13+13 |
22+22= 44 |
35+35= 70 |
Total |
30 |
70 |
65 |
100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
Students with a background in the humanities can now apply for GATE thanks to the GATE XH paper, which was launched in 2021. The essay is divided into three pieces. The portions of General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are required, and candidates must select ONE out of C1 through C6. The topics listed under C1-C6 consist of:
- XH-C1: Economics
- XH-C2: English
- XH-C3: Linguistics
- XH-C4: Philosophy
- XH-C5: Psychology
- XH-C6: Sociology
Below is a summary of the detailed GATE XH marks distribution:
Section |
Total Number of 1-mark questions |
Total Number of 2 mark questions |
Total Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
GA |
5 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
B1* (Reasoning and Comprehension) |
5 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
C1-C6(Any one of these) |
20 |
20 |
40 |
60 |
Total |
30 |
70 |
65 |
100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 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.
- XL-Q: Biochemistry
- XL-R: Botany
- XL-S: Microbiology
- XL-T: Zoology
- XL-U: Food Technology
Below is a summary of the detailed GATE XL marks distribution:
Section |
Total Number of 1-mark questions |
Total Number of 2 mark questions |
Total Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
GA |
5 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
Section P(Chemistry) |
5 |
10 |
15 |
25 |
Section Q-U(Any two of these) |
10+10 |
10+10 |
20+20= 40 |
30+30= 60 |
Total |
30 |
70 |
65 |
100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 - Paper Code Wise Subject Weightage
To understand the GATE marks distribution and marking scheme more straightforwardly, candidates can take a look at the below table:
GATE 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, TF, ST |
15 |
85 |
100 |
180 |
AR [Part A + Part B (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] |
15 |
60 + 25 |
100 |
180 |
GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II) |
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) |
15 |
15 + (2 x 35) |
100 |
180 |
XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section) |
15 |
25 + 60 |
100 |
180 |
XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections) |
15 |
25 + (2 x 30) |
100 |
180 |
GATE 2023 Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme
General aptitude and engineering mathematics will be required sections in GATE 2023 and will each have a 15% weighting in the final score on GATE papers with the following codes: AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE. The student's chosen subject will receive the remaining 70% of the weight.
General aptitude will be a required part of the GATE 2023 question papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, and XL (15 per cent of the total marks). The chosen subject will receive the remaining 85% of the weight.
- GATE Question Paper has a total of 65 questions with a total weightage of 100 points for each of the 29 disciplines. A marking scheme is established using the subsection divisions of each paper.
- There will be 10 questions totalling 15 marks from a total of 100 marks that cover the full General Aptitude area (Language and Analytical Skills).
- Five general aptitude questions worth two points each and five questions worth one point each.
- Engineering For the papers with the codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE, mathematics will make up about 13% of the total marks.
GATE 2023 Question Paper Pattern
The following are a few crucial details concerning the GATE exams for 2023 that candidates should be aware of:
GATE 2023 Geomatics Engineering (GE) Paper
- The General Aptitude (GA) part, which is relevant to all GATE 2023 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 2023 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) Paper
- The General Aptitude (GA) portion, which is 15 marks in length for all GATE 2023 exams, is included in the NM Paper.
- The remaining 85 points on the GATE NM Paper will cover the syllabus.
GATE 2023 Architecture and Planning (AR) New Pattern
- The General Aptitude (GA) part, which is worth 15 marks on all GATE 2023 examinations, is included in the paper.
- The Paper is divided into Part A (60 marks) and Part B (60 marks), both of which cover the GATE 2023 syllabus (25 marks).
- All candidates must complete Part A.
- Architecture and Part B2 are the two optional sections in Part B. (Planning).
- During the exam, candidates must select one of these options.
GATE 2023 Papers (Except GG, XE, XL)
- Of the 45 questions that make up the GATE 2023 examinations, 15 of the questions are for one mark and the remaining 30 are worth two.
- The GATE exam will include both multiple-choice questions and questions with numerical answers.
GATE 2023 Geology and Geophysics Paper (GG)
- The GATE's Geology and Geophysics Paper will be broken up into two halves, A and B.
- Part A must be completed, whereas Part B has two sections: Section I on geology, and Section II on geophysics (Section II). The candidates will choose whatever section they want to take.
- There are 25 questions in Part A, each worth one mark. This section will include questions with numerical answers.
- There are 30 questions in Part B (Sections I and II), each worth two points.
GATE 2023 Engineering Sciences (XE)
- All applicants will be required to attempt the Engineering Mathematics component of this GATE exam.
- General aptitude is another required element and is worth 15 points.
- There are 11 questions in Section A, and there are a total of 15 marks. The test may also include some questions with numerical answers.
- Candidates may select any of the sections, ranging from Section B to Section H.
- There are 22 questions in each of the sections (B to H), totalling 35 marks.
GATE Exam Pattern for Engineering Sciences
There are three components of the GATE XE exam. Sections A (Engineering Mathematics) and General Aptitude are required, and applicants must select TWO sections from Sections B through H of the GATE XE test.
Section |
Type of Question |
Number of Question |
Sub-total (Marks) |
Section A (Compulsory) |
1 Mark Question |
7 |
7 |
2 Marks Question |
4 |
8 |
|
Section B to H |
1 Mark Question |
9 |
9 |
2 Marks Question |
13 |
26 |
GATE Life Sciences (XL)
- Section P, Chemistry, is a required section that consists of 15 questions worth a total of 25 marks. There are a few questions with numerical answers in this section as well.
- A general aptitude section worth a total of 15 marks is also included in the exam.
- The candidates must select one more section from Q through U in addition to Chemistry. There are 20 questions in each of the sections from Q to U, totalling a possible 30 marks.
GATE 2023 Paper Pattern for Life Sciences
Section |
Type of Questions |
Number of Questions |
Sub-Total (Marks) |
Chemistry Section or Section P (Compulsory) |
1 mark questions |
5 |
5 |
2 mark questions |
10 |
20 |
|
Sections Q to U |
1 mark questions |
10 |
10 |
2 mark questions |
10 |
20 |
GATE Exam Subjects and Code
Different subjects have a different GATE exam pattern for 2023. The GATE topic paper codes for each of the 29 GATE subject papers are listed below.
GATE 2023 Paper Codes
Paper |
Code |
Paper |
Code |
Architecture and Planning |
AR |
Geology and Geophysics |
GG |
Biotechnology |
BT |
Mathematics |
MA |
Aerospace Engineering |
AE |
Physics |
PE |
Agricultural Engineering |
AG |
Engineering Sciences |
XE* |
Chemical Engineering |
CH |
Life Sciences |
XL** |
Civil Engineering |
CE |
Instrumentation Engineering |
IN |
Computer Science and Information Technology |
CS |
Mining Engineering |
MN |
Electronics and Communication Engineering |
EC |
Mechanical Engineering |
ME |
Electrical Engineering |
EE |
Textile Engineering and Fiber Science |
TF |
Chemistry |
CY |
Production and Industrial Engineering |
PI |
Ecology and Evolution |
EY |
Petroleum Engineering |
PE |
Statistics |
ST |
Metallurgical Engineering |
MT |
Environmental Science and Engineering |
ES |
Humanities and Social Sciences |
XH |
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering |
NM |
Geomatics Engineering |
GE |
GATE 2023 Paper Codes for XH
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 2023 Paper Codes for XE and XL
XE Paper Sections |
Code |
XL Paper Sections |
Code |
Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) |
A |
Chemistry (Compulsory) |
P |
Fluid Mechanics |
B |
Biochemistry |
Q |
Materials Science |
C |
Botany |
R |
Solid Mechanics |
D |
Microbiology |
S |
Thermodynamics |
E |
Zoology |
T |
Polymer Science and Engineering |
F |
Food Technology |
U |
Food Technology |
G |
- | - |
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences |
H |
- | - |
GATE 2023 Question Paper Design?
The GATE exam evaluates the skills of applicants who have registered for it for a variety of reasons. The test questions are created using the GATE 2023 exam format.
- Recall: The principles, facts, formulas, or laws of the paper that the candidate has chosen will be explicitly referenced in the GATE question paper. As a result, this exercise tested the candidates' computational and memory abilities.
- Understanding: The candidates' fundamental knowledge of their specialised subjects of study will be tested through a series of questions. Therefore, in order to reach straightforward conclusions, applicants must emphasise essential concepts.
- Application: Candidates must use their computational and logical thinking abilities.
- Analysis and Synthesis: There are data, diagrams, and images mixed in with the questions. By examining the information provided, candidates will be able to answer the questions.
GATE 2023 Exam Key Guidelines
The following advice should be kept in mind when taking the GATE 2023 exam:
- It is definitely forbidden to use physical calculators, wristwatches, or cell phones inside the JEE Main testing facilities.
- A virtual calculator will be available on the candidates' screens for their comfort and ease.
Guide to Attempt Online GATE Entrance Exam
How can I find a question?
- Candidates can locate a list of questions organised by serial number on the right side of the screen.
- By selecting the GATE question number, candidates can go directly to a question.
- When the question button is hit, the answer will be shown on the screen.
How do you respond to a question?
- For MCQs, applicants must click on the specific choice to choose it.
- Click on the option once more to deselect it. Candidates have the option of deselecting any choice by choosing the clear response option.
- Enter the response using the on-screen virtual keyboard for questions that require numbers.
How can I save my answers?
- Candidates must select the "Save and Next" button that appears on the screen.
- By choosing the "Flag for Review and Next" option, applicants can mark the question for review if they are unsure of their response.
- All of the responses will be automatically submitted once the time limit has passed.
Negative Marking in GATE 2023
- 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 2023 exam:
Type of Question |
GATE 2023 Negative Marking |
|
1 Mark Questions |
2 Marks Questions |
|
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
1/3 mark |
2/3 mark |
Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) |
No negative marking |
No negative marking |
Numerical Answer Type (NATs) |
No negative marking |
No negative marking |
GATE Exam Pattern 2023: Types of Questions
The three main types of GATE 2023 questions are as follows:
Questions with Multiple Choices (MCQs)
- Candidates are given four 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)
- Each of these questions is objective in character and offers four possible responses, one or more of which is/are accurate.
- In MSQs, there is no derogatory 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 may have a value of a signed real number.
- 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.
GATE Exam Pattern 2023 Points to Remember
GATE 2023 will only be offered online (Computer Based Test mode).
- Three hours will be allotted for the exam.
- The GATE 2023 syllabus will be referenced in all of the exam questions.
- There will be two different sorts of questions in the GATE 2023 exam: multiple-choice questions and questions with numerical answers.
- In MCQs, candidates must choose one of the four possible answers, while NAT questions require students to input the correct response using a virtual keyboard.
- A scribble pad will be given to the candidates for the preliminary work.
FAQs
How many questions are asked in GATE 2023 examination
Based on the GATE 2023 exam pattern, the paper entails a total of 65 questions for 100 marks. Canddiates will have 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the exam.
What are the types of questions asked in GATE 2023?
GATE 2023 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 2023?
GATE 2023 exam is conducted for a duration of 3 hours (180 minutes). Candidates must also note that there are no section time limit, hence, candidates can attempt the question from any section.
Is there a negative marking for GATE 2023?
Yes, candidates will get a negative marking for every incorrect MCQ's. However, negative marking is not applicable for MSQ's and NATs.