Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an online examination conducted by the Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. It is a national-level examination that tests the aptitude and subject knowledge of engineering graduates in various fields of science and technology. The GATE score is used for admissions to postgraduate programs (M.Tech, M.E., MS) and Ph.D. programs in top institutes in India and abroad. The GATE Exam Syllabus is the foundation of exam preparation and covers a wide range of topics.
GATE 2026 will be conducted for 30 test papers. The following table shows the list of papers with codes. Please click the Paper/Code to download the syllabus. A candidate is allowed to appear either in ONE or UP TO TWO test papers. Please see the page Two-Paper Combination for more details.
GATE Syllabus
The table shows the list of papers with codes. Please click the link in Paper/Code to download the syllabus. A candidate is allowed to appear either in ONE or UP TO TWO test papers. Please see the page Two-Paper Combination for more details.
The test papers will be in English. Each GATE 2026 paper is for a total of 100 marks, General Aptitude (GA) is common for all papers (15 marks), and the rest of the paper covers the respective test paper syllabus (85 marks). Click here for detailed pattern of the question papers.
| XE Paper Sections | Code | XH Paper Sections | Code | XL Paper Sections | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) (15 marks) | A | Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory) (25 marks) | B1 | Chemistry (Compulsory) (25 marks) | P |
| Any TWO optional Sections (2×35 = 70 marks) | Any ONE optional Section (60 marks) | Any TWO optional Sections (2×30 = 60 marks) | |||
| Fluid Mechanics | B | Economics | C1 | Biochemistry | Q |
| Materials Science | C | English | C2 | Botany | R |
| Solid Mechanics | D | Linguistics | C3 | Microbiology | S |
| Thermodynamics | E | Philosophy | C4 | Zoology | T |
| Polymer Science and Engineering | F | Psychology | C5 | Food Technology | U |
| Food Technology | G | Sociology | C6 | ||
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | H | ||||
| Energy Science | I |
Candidates must familiarize themselves with the paper code as it is required both during application and examination.
Each candidate should fill only one application. If they wish to appear in second paper (from the two-paper combination), they can add respective paper in their original application. In case of multiple applications, only one will be accepted and remaining applications will be rejected without any refund for the paid fee.
GATE
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level examination conducted in India that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and technology. The exam is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.
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GATE An Overview
| Aspects | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of Exam | GATE |
| Full Name of Exam | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering |
| Exam Conducting Body | IISc Bengaluru |
| Full Name of Body | Indian Institute of Science |
| Scale of Exam | National Level |
| Event Here | Login For gate.iisc.ac.in |
| Official Website for Login | gate.iisc.ac.in |
| Exam Is For Admission to Courses | Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts; and Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Arts and Science |
| Exam Is For Admission to Colleges | IITs and Other Colleges that Accept GATE Score |
| Similar Exams | Engineering Entrance Exams |
FAQs
The GATE syllabus is a list of topics that are covered in the GATE exam. It is divided into two sections: General Aptitude and the subject-specific section. The General Aptitude section covers topics such as quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and data interpretation. The subject-specific section covers topics that are relevant to the engineering discipline that you are applying for.
The GATE syllabus is divided into different engineering streams and subjects, including core subjects and general aptitude.
The General Aptitude section evaluates candidates’ language and numerical skills, which are essential in various professional fields.
The important topics in the GATE syllabus vary depending on the engineering discipline that you are applying for. However, some of the most important topics in the General Aptitude section include: Quantitative aptitude, Logical reasoning and Data interpretation
The best way to prepare for the GATE syllabus is to start studying early. You should create a study plan and stick to it. You should also make sure to practice with past year GATE papers.
The GATE syllabus is available on the official website of the GATE exam. You can also find it on the websites of many coaching institutes that offer GATE preparation courses.