GATE 2027 conducted by IIT Madras: no specific IIT sets toughest paper
In short
- IIT Madras is organizing GATE 2027, with registrations currently ongoing following the exam notification.
- The GATE 2027 examination will span six days and includes changes to the syllabus and implementation of DigiLocker for applications.
- The GATE exam maintains a consistent difficulty level across all 30 subjects, with no specific IIT responsible for setting tougher papers.
- The computer-based test is 3 hours long, features 65 questions, and includes negative marking for Multiple Choice Questions.
- GATE facilitates MTech admissions and recruitment for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is conducting the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027. Registrations for the examination are currently ongoing, following the release of the GATE 2027 exam notification. This national-level entrance test, held across India, is crucial for students seeking MTech admissions in highly reputed institutions and jobs in premier public sector organizations.
GATE 2027 will be held over six days, and significant changes have been implemented, including revisions to the GATE syllabus and the integration of DigiLocker into the application process. The examination is known for its consistent difficulty level, which has been maintained for the past 10 to 15 years.
GATE Exam Structure and Difficulty Level
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is jointly organized by seven IITs and IISc Bangalore on a rotational basis, with IIT Madras taking the lead for the 2027 edition. Despite typical perceptions, there is no specific IIT doing setting tougher papers for the GATE examination. Professors and senior faculty members from all IITs and IISc Bangalore contribute questions to a secure database, ensuring a standardized and consistent level of difficulty across all 30 subjects.
The primary role of the organizing IIT for GATE is to manage the official website, coordinate exam centers, and calculate results. This collaborative approach ensures that the exam maintains its reputation as one of the toughest examinations in India while upholding fairness and consistency in its question papers. Previous editions, such as GATE 2025 conducted by IIT Roorkee and GATE 2024 by IISc Bangalore, reported overall moderate to slightly difficult levels.
Examination Pattern and Marking Scheme
GATE 2027 will be a Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted in English, with a duration of 3 hours. The exam comprises 30 test papers (subjects) and is divided into sections for General Aptitude (GA) and the candidate’s selected subject(s). There are 65 questions in total: 10 for General Aptitude and 55 for the Subject section.
Question types include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT), testing abilities such as Recall, Comprehension, Application, and Analysis & Synthesis. Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks. Negative marking applies only to MCQs: 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer to a 1-mark MCQ, and 2/3 mark for a 2-mark MCQ. There is no negative marking for MSQ or NAT questions, and no partial marking in MSQ.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Language of examination | English |
| Duration | 3 Hours* |
| Number of papers (Subjects) | 30 test papers |
| Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate’s Selected Subject(s) |
| Type of Questions | (a) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Question (MSQ) (c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
| Testing of abilities | (a) Recall (b) Comprehension (c) Application (d) Analysis & Synthesis |
| Number of questions | 10(General Aptitude) + 55(Subject) = 65 Questions |
| Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 marks Engineering Mathematics**: 13 marks Subject Questions: 72 marks Total: 100 marks (**XE includes Engineering Mathematics section XE0 of 15 marks) |
| Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 marks Subject Questions: 85 marks Total: 100 marks |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking. For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. There is no negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions. There is no partial marking in MSQ. |
Compensatory Time for PWD Candidates
Provisions for compensatory time are available for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates. A PwD candidate in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arms only), and cerebral palsy can request one hour of compensatory time. This requires the production of a valid disability certificate or UDID card. For other specified disabilities, compensatory time is allowed upon production of a certificate stating functional limitation to write caused by the disability.
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) | Common Section | Optional Section(s) | Total | Total Time* (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific. | 15 | 85 | — | 100 | 180 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | 85 | — | 100 | 180 |
| AR: Part A is Common. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 – Architecture or B2 – Planning | 15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| GE: Part A is Common. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 – Surveying and Mapping or B2 – Image Processing and Analysis | 15 | 55 | 30 | 100 | 180 |
| GG: Part A is Common. Part B1/B2 must be chosen at the time of application. B1 – Geology or B2 – Geophysics | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| RA: Part A is Common. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 – Electrical or B2 – Mechanical | 15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| XE0 (Engineering Mathematics) is Common. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. | 15 | 15 | 2 x 35 | 100 | 180 |
| XH0 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common. Applicants must select any ONE of the other sections at the time of application. | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XL0 (Chemistry) is Common. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. | 15 | 25 | 2 x 30 | 100 | 180 |
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