GATE EXAMINATION STRUCTURE

The GATE examination consists of a single paper of 3 hours duration, which contains 60 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The question paper will consist of only multiple choice objective questions. Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice will be correct. Candidates have to mark the correct choice on an Optical Response Sheet (ORS) by darkening the appropriate bubble against each question. There will be negative marking for wrong answers, as given in question paper pattern.

A candidate can choose any one of the papers listed below.

PAPER CODE Aerospace Engineering AE Agricultural Engineering AG Architecture and Planning AR Civil Engineering CE Chemical Engineering CH Computer Science and Information Technology CS Chemistry CY Electronics and  Communication Engineering EC Electrical Engineering EE Geology and Geophysics GG#

PAPER CODE  Instrumentation Engineering IN  Mathematics MA  Mechanical Engineering ME  Mining Engineering MN  Metallurgical Engineering MT  Physics PH  Production and Industrial Engineering PI  Pharmaceutical Sciences PY  Textile Engineering and Fibre Science TF  Engineering Sciences XE*  Life Sciences XL*

^#GG (Geology & Geophysics) paper will consist of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A will be common to both Geology and Geophysics candidates. Part B will contain two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). Geology candidates will attempt questions in Section 1 only. Geophysics candidates will attempt questions in Section 2 only.

^*Papers XE and XL are of general nature and will comprise the following sections:

XE paper sections (Engineering Sciences) 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

XL paper sections (Life Sciences) SECTIONS CODE Chemistry (Compulsory) H Biochemistry I Biotechnology J Botany K Microbiology L Zoology M

 A candidate appearing in XE or XL paper will be required to answer three sections. Sections (A) and (H) are compulsory in XE and XL papers, respectively. The candidate can choose any two out of the remaining sections listed against the respective papers.

The choice of the appropriate paper is the responsibility of the candidate. Some guidelines in this respect are suggested below:

1. 
   
   Candidate is expected to appear in one of the papers,  listed above appropriate to the discipline of his/her qualifying degree.
2. 
   
   Candidate is, however, free to choose any paper according to his/her admission plan, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria of the institutions in which he/she wishes to seek admission.