What's new in the GATE 2026 exam pattern?
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2 Answers
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All the main new elements and changes of the GATE 2026 pattern of the test are:
Quantity of Papers and Length
There will be 30 and 30 test papers in the exam and it will be conducted on various days (Feb 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026).
These papers are 3 hours each, computer based tests which are performed online.
Question Types
A combination of Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Question will be there in the question paper.
Wrong answer in MCQs will be negatively marked whereas there will be no negative marking in MSQs and NATs.
Marks Distribution
There are 100 marks per paper normally...more -
IIT Guwahati is organising GATE 2026. A new section paper, Energy Science (XE-I), has been introduced under the Engineering Sciences category, alongside the standard 30 papers. Apart from that, there are no changes in the GATE exam pattern 2026. For more details, candidates can check the GATE's official website- gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
Similar Questions for you
Yes, IIT Guwahati has extended the GATE 2026 registration date with late fees. The new GATE 2026 registration date is October 13.
The factors that determine the GATE cutoff are -
- Availability of seats (the total seat intake varies every year for NITs, IIITs, and IIT admission)
- Number of registered applicants
- The difficulty level of the examination - (GATE is conducted on multiple days, however, the paper difficulty varies for every session)
- Previous year cutoff trends
Based on the previous year's trends, the GATE 2026 expected cutoff for computer Science and engineering can be checked below-
- For General category it might go around 30 to 31.0
However, the GATE cutoff varies every year, depending on the difficulty level, number of applicants appearing for the exam, etc.
No, a duplicate GATE 2026 admit card will not be provided at the test center. Candidates must carry their own admit card along with the mentioned documents and items to the GATE exam center. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE admit card on January 2.
Candidates will get only one scribble pad at a time. They must write their name and registration number before using it. If the rough sheet gets filled, then they can ask for another one scribble pad after returning the previous one to the invigilator. After the exam concludes, candidates must return the scribble pad to the invigilator.
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