GATE 2026 February 8 Paper Analysis Shift 1, 2 (Out): Difficulty Level, Subject-wise Review

GATE 2026 February 8 Exam Schedule and Subjects

As per the official schedule released by IIT Guwahati, the GATE 2026 exam on 8 February was held in forenoon and afternoon sessions, with different subject papers conducted in each session. Refer to the table below for a detailed schedule.

GATE 8th February 2026 Overall Paper Analysis

The GATE 8th February 2026 exam was conducted smoothly across all scheduled papers in both sessions. The question paper was designed to test conceptual and problem-solving skills.

• Overall difficulty level of the papers was moderate to difficult
• Questions focused more on concepts and logic
• Time management was important due to lengthy papers

GATE 2026 February 8 Paper Analysis: Forenoon Session

A detailed GATE 2026 February 8 paper analysis for the forenoon session question paper has been provided here for subjects such as CS-1 and ST. The analysis covers important aspects like overall difficulty level, type of questions asked, weightage of topic, and important trends followed. Watch this section to get the details about the GATE 2026 question paper. This GATE 2026 February 8 paper review will help students understand how the question paper was designed and what level of preparation was required to attempt the exam easily and score good marks.

• Paper was overall moderate for both CS and ST
• The general aptitude question seems to be easily doable.
• CS 1 was on the difficult side, where tricky questions from the compiler and algorithm were asked
• OS and TOC questions were on the moderate to difficult side.
• In the ST section, questions were asked from Probability Theory, Statistical Inference and Design of Experiments
• CS section was lengthy and logic-intensive
• In the ST section, questions based on interpretation rather than straight calculations are asked.

GATE 2026 February 8 Paper Analysis: Afternoon Session

GATE 2026 February 8 Afternoon Session paper analysis has been provided here for subjects like CS-2, Environmental Science and Engineering (EY), Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM), and Petroleum Engineering (PE). Check this section for the latest updates. The analysis covers important aspects like overall difficulty level, type of questions asked, weightage of topics, and important trends followed. The GATE 2026 Feb 8 exam analysis focuses on the overall difficulty level of question papers, the types of questions asked, and the important topics from which questions were asked repeatedly.

• GATE 2026 February 8 Afternoon Session paper was moderate to tough.
• Lengthy due to tricky MSQs that tested students' time management skills.
• In CS2, there were 4 Questions from Algorithm, 5 questions from Operating System, 8 questions from Programming & Data Structure
• Eng. Mathematics section had moderate questions from Linear algebra, Probability: concept based question and Discrete mathematics: Graph theory and combinatorics, some tricky questions
• Questions from Database, Computer network, COA, Discrete mathematics, Compiler design, and TOC were also asked in the CS-2 session.
• General Aptitude difficulty level was Easy to moderate, where questions from Basic Arithmetic, Verbal ability and Logical reasoning were asked.
• EY was moderate, and questions from Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and Evolutionary Processes were asked.
• NM was easy to moderate, questions were asked from Hydrostatics, Ship Stability and Resistance and Propulsion.

GATE 2026 Feb 8 GA Question Paper Analysis Shift 1 vs Shift 2: Comparison

The subjects conducted in the two sessions were different, but the General Aptitude section is common in all subjects; it follows the same syllabus and marks. Given below is the comparison table between the two sessions:

GATE 2026 February 8 Question Paper Analysis: Subject-wise Overview

Both forenoon and afternoon sessions cover different subjects; an overview of the difficulty level and important topics is given below in the form of a table. The GATE 2026 Feb 8 paper review focuses on a subject-wise evaluation.

GATE Forenoon Paper Analysis

GATE Afternoon Session Analysis

How to Balance Core Subjects and General Aptitude in GATE

In the GATE exam, core subjects account for the majority of the total marks, while the General Aptitude section carries 15 marks across all subjects. Balance between the two is important. Given below are some points on how to maintain a balance between these two:

1. Core Subjects should be given preference as the majority of the exam portion comes from them.

2. Refer to the GATE Syllabus thoroughly, then cover the core subjects, as conceptual clarity is a must for scoring good marks.

3. Along with Core Subjects, try to solve some general aptitude questions every day, as the General Aptitude portion is rank deciding.

4. Make a time limit for General Aptitude practice, as it helps to maintain consistency and practice.

5. Also, observe the GATE 2026 Feb 8 exam analysis, which will help in balancing preparation and prevent candidates from losing comparatively easier marks in the General Aptitude section.