The Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted in online mode, and it consists of one paper with different sections. It has a total of 65 questions. The question paper consists of general aptitude questions and core subject questions. The exam pattern includes questions like multiple choice questions (MCQ) of different marks, numerical answer type (NAT) questions and multiple select questions (MSQ). The marking varies with different marks assigned to different questions, with some having negative marking.
The GATE 2026 exam is structured to test candidates' technical knowledge and aptitude. It was a three-hour computer-based test (CBT) with 65 questions, making it a total of 100 marks. There are three different types of questions in the exam: multiple-choice (MCQ), multiple-select (MSQ), and numerical answer type (NAT) questions. The paper is broken up into sections. General aptitude consists of 15 marks, while subject-specific questions consist of the remaining marks. Multiple Select Question (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions do not have negative marking, but Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) do have negative marking, with a 1/3 mark being subtracted for incorrect 1-mark questions and a 2/3 mark for incorrect 2-mark questions.
The GATE 2026 marking scheme includes one paper. The paper includes MCQ, MSQ, and NAT from subjects like general aptitude, engineering mathematics, and main subject of the candidate. The marking scheme includes full, zero, and negative marking, depending on the type of questions.
Here is a table given below to demonstrate the marking scheme of GATE 2026:
Frequently Asked Questions
The GATE 2026 exam consists of 65 questions and has a total duration of 3 hours.
The exam includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Yes, there is negative marking for MCQs. For 1-mark MCQs, 1/3 mark is deducted for incorrect answers. While for 2-mark MCQs, 2/3 marks are deducted for incorrect answers. There is no negative marking for MSQs or NAT questions.
The GATE 2026 exam is conducted in online mode as a Computer-Based Test (CBT).