The Gate exam is conducted for three hours with the question paper containing 65 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The questions paper will have only objective type questions with each question having four choices. Online examination is conducted for Textile Engineering and Fiber Science and Mining Engineering papers and for this paper the candidate will have to check the correct answer with the help of mouse. For all other papers, optical Response Sheet (ORS) will be provided to the candidates and the candidates will be required to darken the correct answer in the bubble provided against each question. Negative marks will be provided for wrong answers.
GATE exam is conducted in 21 different streams and the question paper pattern for some of the group is given below:
Geology and Geophysics paper:
Geology and Geophysics paper will have two parts. Questions in part A will be common for all the students and in part B there will be two sections Geology and Geophysics. The candidate will have to attempt questions with from section 1 (i.e.) Geology or Section 2 (Geophysics). Part A will have 25 questions with one mark for each question; under this section there will be deduction of 1/3rd of the mark for every wrong answer. In section B question number 26 to 55 will have two mark questions and there will be deduction of 2/3rd of the marks for every wrong answer. Question numbers 56-60 will have one mark questions and 61-65 will have two mark questions.
Engineering Sciences:
The question paper for Engineering Science group will have three sections of which Engineering Mathematics is compulsory and the other two sections is left to the choice of the candidate. The candidate can select any of the two sections from six other sections.
Life Sciences:
The question paper for Engineering Science group will have three sections of which chemistry is compulsory and the other two sections is left to the choice of the candidate. The candidate can select any of the two sections from four other sections.
For all other groups the same question paper pattern is followed. For a detailed question paper pattern for the other groups the students can visit the website – http://gateonline.gateiisc.in/gate2010/question.php