- To appear for GATE, there are certain basis that determines your eligibility. The parameters are – those having either a B. Tech or B.E, B. Arch, or B. Pharma degree (4 years), those in final or pre-final year can also apply.
- Master's degree in any branch of Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Applications, or equivalent; those in 2nd or higher year of 4 year Integrated Master's degree program in Engineering or Technology, or in 3rd or higher year of 5-year Integrated Master's degree program and Dual Degree program in Engineering or Technology; or those who have qualifications through examinations recognized by UPSC or AICTE, which are equivalent to B.E. or B. Tech.
- From the year 2010, GATE has been converted to a computer based test (CBT) from a paper test for two papers – Textile Engineering and Fiber Science, and Mining Engineering. Rest of the papers are paper based.
- GATE offers candidates 21 options to choose from. You have to select one paper to appear in; typically your bachelor's subject, but you can also choose any other branch as per the subject you want to pursue at master's level.
- The examination consists of a single paper, which contains 65 questions. The total marks is 100, and the allotted time to complete it is 3 hours. The question paper has a '4-multiple choice questions' format. And is objective type.
- There will be an additional section in the paper (for all subjects) – the General Aptitude section, which will consist of 10 questions, of 15 marks.
- Q.1 to Q.25 (25 questions) carry one mark each (subtotal 25 marks). Q.26 to Q.55 (30 questions) carry two marks each (sub-total 60 marks). Questions Q.56 – Q.65 belong to General Aptitude (GA). Questions Q.56 – Q.60 (5 questions) carry 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and questions Q.61 – Q.65 (5 questions) carry 2-marks each (sub-total 10 marks).Questions Q.48 – Q.51 (2 pairs) are common data questions. Question pairs (Q.52, Q.53) and (Q.54, Q.55) are linked answer questions. The answer to the second question of the linked answer questions depends on the answer to the first question of the pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is unattempted, then the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated.
- NEGATIVE MARKING: For Q.1 – Q.25 and Q.56 – Q.60, 1/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. For Q.26 – Q.51 and Q.61 – Q.65, 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- The question pairs (Q.52, Q.53), and (Q.54, Q.55) are questions with linked answers. There will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question of the linked answer question pair i.e. for Q.52 and Q.54, 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for Q.53 and Q.55.
- Questions on Engineering Mathematics will carry about 15% of the total marks (excluding General Aptitude section) in all the papers bearing the codes AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT and PI.
- GATE has relative marking scheme. That means that an applicant's rank is dependent on how others have performed. It is a relative score. So you can never be sure, even if you have answered most questions correctly. Also there is negative marking – one third of marks deducted for every wrong answer.
- In AE and TF papers, the question paper will consist of 60 questions of multiple choice type and 5 questions of numerical answer type. For multiple choice type questions, each question will have four choices for the answer. For numerical answer type questions, each question will have a number as the answer.
