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GATE Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern 2026 - Check Type of Questions, Exam Duration, Marking Scheme

GATE Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern 2026 - Check Type of Questions, Exam Duration, Marking Scheme

#GATE
RanjeetaUpdated on 19 Nov 2025, 06:27 PM IST

GATE 2026 Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern: IIT Guwahati has uploaded the GATE Architecture & Planning 2026 exam pattern on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE 2026 architecture & planning exam pattern is updated on this page. The GATE exam pattern includes details such as the types of questions, total marks, exam mode, marking scheme, and the number of questions asked. Candidates must also be aware of the GATE 2026 A&P syllabus along with the exam pattern. The authority will conduct GATE 2026 exam will be conducted on February 15, 2026.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning Exam Pattern
  2. GATE Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern 2026 - Key Points
  3. GATE Architecture & Planning 2026 Syllabus
  4. GATE 2026 Architecture & Planning Best Books
GATE Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern 2026 - Check Type of Questions, Exam Duration, Marking Scheme
GATE 2026 Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern

In addition to understanding the exam pattern for GATE 2026, candidates must also be aware of the GATE 2026 syllabus for Architecture & Planning, as it plays a crucial role in their preparation strategy. The authority will conduct the GATE entrance exam as a computer-based test.

GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning Exam Pattern

The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati has released the GATE Architecture and Planning exam pattern on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. According to the GATE 2026 architecture & planning paper pattern, the question paper will consist of three sections: General Aptitude, a compulsory section (Part A), and the core subject (Part B). The question pattern may include the following types of questions: (i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), (ii) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and/or (iii) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.

The General Aptitude section will hold 15 marks, the compulsory section will hold 60 marks, and the optional subject section will hold 25 marks in total. The paper will be prepared based on the GATE 2026 syllabus. Read the full article to know more about the key points related to the GATE architecture & planning exam pattern 2026. Candidates before appearing for the exam are advised to check the exam pattern of GATE 2026 architecture and planning.

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GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning Exam Pattern

Particulars

Details

Mode of Examination

Computer-Based Test

Sections

There will be three sections-

Section 1- General Aptitude

Section 2- Compulsory Section

Section 3- Architecture/Planning

Duration of Exam

180 minutes

Type of Questions

Multiple Choice Questions, MSQs, and NATs

Total number of Questions

65

General Aptitude Section

  • 5 questions of 1 mark each

  • 5 questions of 2 marks each


Part A- 39 Questions

  • 18 questions of 1 mark
  • 21 questions of 2 marks

Part B- 16 questions

  • Part B1 (For Architecture Only)-

    • 7 questions of 1 mark each

    • 9 questions of 2 marks each

  • Part B2: For Planning Only-

    • 7 questions of 1 mark each

    • 9 questions of 2 marks each

Total Marks

100 marks

Language of Examination

English

Marking Scheme

For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQs, there will be a negative marking as follows:

For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

There will be no negative marking for MSQs & NATs.


GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning Marking Scheme

Candidates must check the marking scheme of GATE Architecture & planning 2026 as an important step while preparing for the entrance exam. Being aware of the GATE architecture & planning marking scheme 2026 will help candidates to know the exam pattern and analyse which questions to attempt, how much time to devote to which questions, and how many questions should be attempted.

Subject

Total No. of Questions

Marks Allotted

General Aptitude

10

15

Compulsory Subject (Part A)

39

60

Optional Subject (Part B)

16

25

Total

65

100

Difficulty Level of GATE Architecture & Planning 2026

GATE is one of the toughest postgraduate engineering exams. The competition for GATE is high. Every year, lakhs of students apply for the examination. Looking at the GATE paper analysis, the difficulty level of the GATE 2026 architecture and planning paper is expected to be tough this year.

Topics Asked in the Previous Year GATE Architecture & Planning Paper

Candidates can check the list of topics that have been asked by the examination conducting body previously.

S.No.

Topics

1

Architectural Graphics

2

Building Byelaws

3

Principles and design of disaster-resistant structures

4

Housing typologies

5

World History of Architecture

6

Alternative building materials

7

Principles of electrification of buildings

8

National Housing Policies

9

Land Acquisition Act

10

Traffic flow Analysis

GATE Architecture & Planning Exam Pattern 2026 - Key Points

  • GATE Architecture and Planning Exam 2026 will be conducted as a computer-based exam of 3 hours.

  • The GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning paper will have three sections- General Aptitude, compulsory part, and core subject part.

  • The GATE AR question paper will be divided into 3 types of questions. The question paper will have multiple choice questions (MCQ), multiple select questions (MSQ), and numerical answer types (NATs).

  • There is no negative marking in the GATE Architecture & Planning for MSQs and NATs questions, while for MCQ,s there will be negative marking.

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
Download GATE previous year question papers to understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Practice with these papers to boost your preparation and improve your score.
Check Now

GATE Architecture & Planning 2026 Syllabus

IIT Guwahati will release the GATE Architecture and Planning syllabus 2026 on the official website. The question paper for architecture will be based on the syllabus of GATE 2026 Architecture and Planning. Candidates who will be appearing for the exam must go through the GATE syllabus PDF 2026 beforehand. Apart from this candidates should also practice the GATE question paper to analyse their strengths and weaknesses and thus prepare accordingly.

Recommended eBooks

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State M.Tech Admissions Through GATE

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GATE 2026 Architecture & Planning Best Books

Studying from any random book will not fetch you a good rank in the GATE exam. If you want to get into the institute of your choice to pursue post-graduation, then you should leave no stone unturned. And therefore GATE Architecture & planning 2026 best books come into the picture. Candidates can follow the below-mentioned best books for GATE Architecture and Planning 2026.

Subject

Name of Books

Author/Publication

General Aptitude

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

R S Aggarwal

Quantitative Aptitude

R S Agarwal

AR

GATE Architecture/ Planning (6 Edition)

B. K. Das

GATE NUMERICALS TOPIC WISE for Architecture & Planning

Faculty of Architecture GATE

Building Construction

Sushil Kumar

The Great Ages of World Architecture

G. K. Hiraskar

Integrated Environment Planning

James K. Lein

History of Architecture

Sir Banister Fletcher

Fundamentals of Town Planning

G K Hiraskar

Theory of Structures and Strength of Materials

Henry Taylor

Urban Planning: Theory & Planning

M. Pratap Rao

Dictionary of Urban and Regional Planning

S. K. Kulshreshtha

Manual of Tropical Housing and Building

Alan Mayhew, S. V. Szokolay, T. G Ingersoll, O. H Koenigsberger

Urban Transportation Planning and Management

Pratibha Deshmuh

Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach

John L. Hennessey and David A. Patterson

Building Services and Equipment Volume I and Volume II

Fred Hall

Building Material

P C Varghese

Becoming a Landscape Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design

Kelleann Foster


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many sections will GATE 2026 architecture exam have?
A:

GATE 2026 architecture question paper will consist of three sections - General Aptitude, Compulsory subject, and core subject.

Q: What will be the total duration of GATE 2026?
A:

The total time duration of GATE will be 180 minutes.

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

For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQs, there will be negative marking as follows:

  • For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
  • For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
  • There will be no negative marking for MSQs & NATs.
Q: Will I be required to appear for both the architecture & planning section in the question paper?
A:

No, candidates will have to choose any one section in the question paper.

Q: How many questions will be there from the Compulsory section?
A:

There will be 39 questions in Part A (compulsory section) of the paper.

Q: The GATE architecture and planning question paper will be of how much marks?
A:

The GATE paper will be of 100 marks for architecture and planning.

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Have a question related to GATE ?
i didnt do my corrections in gate 2026 please tell me what to do i have to change my surname

Hello aspirant,

If you missed the correction window for GATE 2026, the portal will not allow changes right now. Usually, IIT opens a correction period only once. Since you need to change your surname, the best option is to contact the GATE organizing institute through their official support email or helpline and explain your issue with valid proof like your Aadhaar or school documents. They sometimes allow corrections in genuine cases, but it depends on their approval. Make sure to keep all documents ready when you contact them.

FOR REFERENCE : https://engineering. careers360.com/articles/gate-application-form-correction

THANK YOU

Read Complete Answer
S
Sachin Saravanan
9 Dec'25
I am 2nd year engineering student so how study I confused . how manage time for semester and gate exam preparation both

Hi Aanchal,

Balancing Engineering semester exams with competitive exam preparation can feel confusing but with right and realistic routine makes it very achievable.

Start by dividing your day into two parts: use college hours and afternoons for semester prep and keep early mornings or late evenings for GATE prep.

Make weekly targets instead of daily pressure, revise class notes on the same day.

Use weekends for mock tests, previous year papers and deeper revision.

Try to limit social media, study in 40 to 50 mins focused blocks and take short breaks.

Most importantly stay consistent and give yourself patience.

With consistent timetable and steady effort you can manage both in smooth. All the best Aanchal!

Read Complete Answer
A
ABINAYA VARSHINI A D
4 Dec'25
hi sir I am BCA student but i did not pass i did have some backlog still have one I am preparing for GATE XH C6 paper i like sociology and i want study development studies i can clear before February exam 2026 my cgp is 6.9 what you think

If you are interested in Development Studies and planning to appear for GATE XH C6 (Sociology), then you are already moving in the right direction. Having a backlog does not disqualify you from pursuing higher studies, as long as you clear it before the admission process begins. Since you mentioned that you can clear the backlog before February 2026, it should not affect your eligibility for PG admissions. Most universities require a completed bachelor’s degree with no active backlog at the time of admission.

Your CGPA of 6.9 is acceptable for many institutes, although some top institutes may have higher cutoffs. Your interest in sociology and Development Studies will be helpful because the GATE XH paper tests conceptual understanding. If you prepare consistently and score well in GATE, you can apply to reputed institutes offering Development Studies such as IITs, TISS, JNU, Azim Premji University, and others.

Focus on clearing your remaining backlog and continue your GATE preparation strongly. If you balance both, you can build a good academic profile for admission into Development Studies. All the best.


Read Complete Answer
A
Ayshwarya Mahadevan
4 Dec'25
How to change my category in gate application

Hello,

You can change your category in the GATE application by logging into the GOAPS portal during the correction window and using the "Edit GATE Application Form" option to make the change. You will likely need to pay an additional fee for the change and may need to provide a valid category certificate.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Read Complete Answer
R
Rahul Mandal
27 Nov'25
admissions for 2026 for mtech in data science/artificial intelligence enquire what all exams are there other than gate including private colleges exam

Hello,

Other than the GATE exam, admission to MTech programs in Data Science/AI for 2026 includes university-specific entrance tests like VITMEE, BITS HD Entrance Test, and SRMJEEE PG, as well as state-level common entrance tests such as Karnataka PGCET and TS PGECET.

I hope it will clear your query!!

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