GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - Topic-Wise Marks Distribution

GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - Topic-Wise Marks Distribution

Ongoing Event

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

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 22 Aug 2025, 02:47 PM IST

Gate CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 is a national-level exam that is conducted for admission to post-graduate programs and for recruitment in top PSUs in India. It will be organized by IIT Guwahati in 2026 and will be conducted on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. Among all the branches, the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) paper is one of the most popular and is chosen by thousands of candidates every year. Therefore, knowing the gate CSE chapter wise weightage 2026 will help you to understand which subjects are asked more in the exam. This way, you can plan your preparation smartly and also give more time to high-weightage topics to increase your overall score in GATE exam 2026.

GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - Topic-Wise Marks Distribution
GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026

Gate CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026

Now that you have seen the standard GATE paper pattern, let’s look at the GATE CSE chapter wise weightage 2026. As per the table below you will be able to see the chapter-wise distribution of the different chapters in CSE for the last 5 years.

Chapter

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

Total (5 Years)

Weightage

Engineering Mathematics

16

23

11

12

11

73

16.40%

Aptitude

20

20

10

10

10

70

15.73%

Computer Networks

10

12

6

9

7

44

9.89%

Programming and Data Structures

17

11

9

4

3

44

9.89%

Computer Organization & Architecture

13

13

5

6

5

42

9.44%

Operating System

10

10

7

7

4

38

8.54%

Databases

9

12

3

8

7

39

8.76%

Theory of Computation

9

9

6

4

4

32

7.19%

Digital Logic

9

5

4

2

2

22

4.94%

Compiler Design

9

8

1

2

1

21

4.72%

Algorithms

8

7

3

1

1

20

4.49%

Grand Total

130

130

65

65

55

445

100.00%

As seen, EM (Engineering Mathematics) has the highest weightage with 16.4% average marks obtained in the last 5 years. While the lowest goes to algorithms, however this is an important topic and can not be ignored. The following chart will help you visualize the subject wise weightage for GATE CSE 2026 better:

Chart: GATE CSE Subject Wise Weightage 2026

Related links:

Preparation Resources According to Subject Wise Weightage For GATE CSE 2026

The following books are in accordance with the high weighted chapters, with the subject name and the main topics, and the recommended books. You can use these resources to ace your preparation for GATE 2026.

Subject

Top Chapter

Main Topics

Recommended Book

Aptitude (16.40%)

Numerical Ability

Percentages, Ratios, Averages, Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Profit & Loss, Number Series, Simple & Compound Interest

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal

Engineering Mathematics (15.73%)

Linear Algebra

Matrices, Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors, Systems of Linear Equations, Vector Spaces

Higher Engineering Mathematics by B.S. Grewal

Programming & Data Structures (9.89%)

Trees and Graphs

Binary Trees, AVL Trees, Binary Search Trees, Graph Traversals (DFS, BFS), Spanning Trees, Graph Representations

Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C by Mark Allen Weiss

Computer Networks (9.89%)

TCP/IP and OSI Models

OSI Layers, TCP/IP Stack, IP Addressing, Routing Protocols, UDP vs TCP, Application Layer Protocols (HTTP, DNS)

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James Kurose and Keith Ross

Computer Organization & Architecture (9.44%)

Memory Hierarchy and Cache

Cache Mapping Techniques, Memory Access Time, Virtual Memory, RAM & ROM, Instruction Cycles, Pipeline Architecture

Computer Organization and Design by David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy

So, now you don't only know the GATE CSE chapter wise weightage 2026 but also got a clear idea about the number of questions asked in each year along with the main topics and the books to refer to while preparing for them. For the main resource, you can use the past years question paper. This will definitely help you in scoring better marks and you will be able to understand the important topics through Gate CSE chapter wise weightage 2026 pdf question papers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the rank for 70 marks in GATE CSE?
A:

The rank for 70 marks varies every year depending on difficulty. In recent trends, 70 marks usually fall in the range of Rank 150–300 (approx.).

Q: Is 2 years enough for GATE CSE?
A:

Two years is more than enough if you plan your preparation properly. The first year can be used to complete the syllabus and strengthen concepts, and the second year for solving mock tests, revising, and improving speed and accuracy.

Q: Is GATE tough for CSE?
A:

GATE CSE is considered moderately tough. The syllabus is vast and covers multiple subjects like Programming, Algorithms, Operating Systems, DBMS, and Mathematics. With regular study, concept clarity, and practice of previous papers, it becomes manageable.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello,

Yes, you can change your category from General to OBC during the GATE 2026 correction window.

GATE always allows candidates to correct details like category. You will need to pay a small correction fee for this change. Make sure you upload a valid OBC certificate as per the format and date mentioned by GATE.

So, wait for the correction window, log in to your application, and update your category to OBC.

Hope it helps !

Hello! If you are preparing for GATE, there are plenty of free resources available online that can boost your preparation. You can easily access e-books, handwritten notes, subject wise PYQs, and test series shared by toppers on different platforms. Along with that, free PDFs and study material are available through various websites and Telegram channels. To make it easier, I will be attaching the link where you can find preparation tips, a study timetable, free study materials, and previous year question papers all in one place.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-timetable
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-gate
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-material
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-mock-test
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-question-papers

Hello, with an AIR of 25070 and a score of 499 in NEET PG 2025 under the General category, getting a government seat in West Bengal for highly demanded branches like General Surgery or Orthopedics may be difficult, as these usually close at much higher ranks. However, you still stand a chance for other clinical or para-clinical branches through the state quota counselling. I suggest using the NEET PG college predictor link I’m sharing here, which will give you a clearer idea of the colleges and branches you may get based on your rank and category.

NEET PG College Predictor- https://medicine.careers360.com/neet-pg-college-predictor


Hello,

You can download GATE Previous Year Question Papers either from the official website of GATE 2026, or from Careers360. Here are the links for both :

Official Website : Download GATE Previous Papers (https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/download.html)

Careers360 : GATE Question Papers with Solutions

Hope it helps !

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.