GATE 2026 Marking Scheme Explained - Negative Marking & Total Marks

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme Explained - Negative Marking & Total Marks

Ongoing Event

GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Sep 2025, 01:11 PM IST

GATE Marking Scheme 2026 - IIT Guwahati released the GATE 2026 marking scheme on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The marking scheme for GATE 2026 consists of a total number of questions, section wise question and marks distribution. There will be a total of 65 questions in the GATE exam; 10 questions of General Aptitude(GA) and 55 subject specific questions. Each question will either carry 1 or 2 marks.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - Highlights
  2. GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - Question Distribution
  3. GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme Explained - Negative Marking & Total Marks
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme Explained - Negative Marking & Total Marks

Candidates can check the comprehensive marking scheme and GATE marks distribution for on this page as well. There will be three types of questions in the GATE 2026; MCQ, MSQ and NAT. Negative marking will be applicable only on MCQs, no negative marking for Multiple Select Questions(MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type(NAT). Read this article carefully to better understand the GATE 2026 marking scheme.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - Highlights

Below is the marking scheme for GATE 2026, check the number of questions and their mark distribution:

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme

Particulars

Details

Total Numbers of Questions

65

Exam Sections

General Aptitude : 10 Ques

Subject Component : 55 Ques

Marks Carry

1 or 2

Type of Questions

MCQ : Multiple Select Questions

MSQ : Multiple Choice Questions

NAT : Numerical Answer Type

Negative Marking

1 Mark MCQ : 1 for correct attempt and -⅓ for wrong attempt.

2 Mark MCQ : 2 for correct attempt and -⅔ for wrong attempt.

In test papers AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, and TF

  • 15 marks for GA

  • 85 marks for Subject Questions.

  • Including 13 marks for Engineering Mathematics.

In test papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL

  • 15 marks for GA

  • 85 marks for Subject Questions.

  • No mathematics questions.

XE has a common compulsory section

XE-A(Engineering mathematics) carry 15 marks

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme - Question Distribution

Below is the section wise question distribution for all GATE 2026 papers. There will be a total of 30 papers, which will be conducted on February 7,8,14,15 2025.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme

GATE Paper Code

General Aptitude(GA)

Subject Questions

Total Marks

AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, and TF


15

85

100

AR [Part A + Part B (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)]

15

60 + 25

100

GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II)

15

55 + 30

100

GG [Part A + Part B (Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)]

15

25 + 60

100

XE (Section A + Any TWO Sections)

15

15 + (2 x 35)

100

XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section)

15

25 + 60

100

XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections)

15

25 + (2 x 30)

100

CY, DA, EY, MA, PH

15

85

100

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates must understand the GATE exam pattern and GATE 2026 syllabus before starting the GATE exam preparation. Check the below latest exam pattern as well.

GATE Exam Pattern

Particulars

Details

Examination Mode

Computer based Exam(CBT)

Language

English

Exam Duration

3 Hours (180 minutes)

Numbers of Questions

65

Exam Sections

General Aptitude : 10 Ques

Subject Component : 55 Ques

Marks Carry

1 or 2

Type of Questions

MCQ : Multiple Select Questions

MSQ : Multiple Choice Questions

NAT : Numerical Answer Type

Negative Marking

1 Mark MCQ : 1 for correct attempt and -⅓ for wrong attempt.

2 Mark MCQ : 2 for correct attempt and -⅔ for wrong attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the total marks and duration of GATE 2026?
A:

GATE 2026 will be for 100 marks with a duration of 3 hours.

Q: How much is the negative marking in GATE 2026?
A:

For 1-mark MCQs, ⅓ mark is deducted; for 2-mark MCQs, ⅔ mark is deducted. No negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions.

Q: What is the marking scheme in GATE 2026?
A:

Most 1-mark questions carry 1 mark each, and 2-mark questions carry 2 marks each. Wrong attempts will  have negative marking.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

To take GATE mock tests, first choose a reliable source like GATE official portal, NPTEL, Made Easy, or ACE Engineering. Sign up or register online to access the full-length tests. Simulate the actual 3-hour exam with proper timing and no distractions. Attempt complete tests to practice time management and exam strategy. After each test, analyze your performance to identify weak areas and revise. Regularly taking 1–2 mocks per week helps improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.



For GATE Life Sciences question banks, you can go for GATE past year's papers to understand the exam style, and you can buy online test series from a coaching site for lots of new practice questions.

you can get question book one from publishers like IFAS or GKP. Also use free online resources like NPTEL and EasyBiologyClass for extra practice and study materials. Good luck!

Here are GATE exam aptitude topics from high to low weightage:

1. English Comprehension & Vocabulary

2.Numerical Ability and Arithmetic

3.Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability

4.Data Interpretation

5.Geometry & Mensuration basic

6.Algebra basic

7.Probability and Statistics

8.General Knowledge and Miscellaneous Verbal like  odd one out, analogy, word usage.


If you are needed to prepare for gate exam from ece batch there 65 questions in exam pattern total marks is 100 here 15% is aptitude general questions then 15% mathematics engineering questions , 70% core subjects you need to concentrate on more core related subject like controls system , signals and system , digital circut these topics covers most of the basics but you need to prepare more topics in core subjects and create a structure plan for yourself dialy attend mock test with time duration these steps will help to prepare very easily.