GATE 2027 exam pattern: questions, marks and negative marking
65 questions, 100 marks, 3 hours, and three question types with different rules. Here is how every GATE 2027 paper is put together.
GATE 2027 is a 3-hour computer-based test in English. Every paper has the same outer shape: 65 questions, 100 marks, and a common General Aptitude section. What changes from paper to paper is how the remaining marks are divided.
What is the GATE 2027 exam pattern?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), in English |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes); compensatory time for eligible PwD candidates |
| Questions | 65: 10 General Aptitude + 55 subject |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Question types | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Calculator | Virtual on-screen scientific calculator only |
| Sessions | Multiple sessions over six days; you are assigned one session per paper |
What are MCQ, MSQ and NAT questions?
- MCQ (Multiple Choice Question): pick the one correct option.
- MSQ (Multiple Select Question): one or more options are correct, and you must select the right set.
- NAT (Numerical Answer Type): there are no options. You type a numerical answer.
Is there negative marking in GATE 2027?
Only on MCQs.
| Question type | Marks per question | Wrong answer |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ, 1 mark | +1 | −1/3 |
| MCQ, 2 marks | +2 | −2/3 |
| MSQ | 1 or 2 | No negative marking; no partial marks |
| NAT | 1 or 2 | No negative marking |
The practical result: an unanswered NAT or MSQ can never score more than an attempted one. The preparation strategy page explains how to use that.
How are the 100 marks split in each paper?
General Aptitude (15 marks) is common to every paper. The other 85 marks are divided in one of three ways.
Most engineering papers
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE and PI:
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 |
| Subject | 72 |
Papers with no separate maths section
AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH and XL:
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Subject | 85 |
Papers with sections you choose
| Paper | How it is built |
|---|---|
| XE Engineering Sciences | GA 15 + XE0 Engineering Mathematics 15 (compulsory) + any two sections × 35 |
| XH Humanities and Social Sciences | GA 15 + XH0 Reasoning and Comprehension 25 (compulsory) + one section 60 |
| XL Life Sciences | GA 15 + XL0 Chemistry 25 (compulsory) + any two sections × 30 |
| AR, GE, GG, RA | A common Part A plus a choice of Part B1 or B2 |
The section names for XE, XH and XL are listed on the syllabus page.
Can I take two GATE papers?
Yes, but only from the allowed two-paper combinations published by IIT Madras. Taking two papers also costs more; see the fee table on the eligibility page.
What is new in the 2027 pattern?
The question format and marking are unchanged in shape, but the paper list has changed. Robotics and Automation (RA) is a new paper, and Textile Engineering and Fibre Science has moved into Engineering Sciences as section XE9. The XE, XH and XL section codes have also been renamed.
Where TestGuru fits
TestGuru’s GATE mock tests are not open yet. When they are, they will follow this pattern, and the report will show where you lose marks on each question type, not just your total.