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

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

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 29 Oct 2025, 04:34 AM IST

Gate CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - 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. If you scroll down, you will find the GATE CSE chapter-wise weightage for the past 5 years provided in this article, along with preparation resources. We have included the chapters with the highest weightage, their key topics, the recommended books for each, as well as previous year papers to support your preparation.

This Story also Contains

  1. Gate CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026
  2. Preparation Resources For GATE CSE 2026
  3. GATE CSE Previous Year Question Papers
GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026 - Topic-Wise Marks Distribution
GATE CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026

Gate CSE Chapter Wise Weightage 2026

Let’s look at the GATE CSE chapter-wise weightage 2026. As per the table given below, you will be able to see the chapter-wise distribution of the different chapters in CSE for the last 5 years.

Chapter

Weightage

Engineering Mathematics

16.40%

Aptitude

15.73%

Computer Networks

9.89%

Programming and Data Structures

9.89%

Computer Organization & Architecture

9.44%

Operating System

8.54%

Databases

8.76%

Theory of Computation

7.19%

Digital Logic

4.94%

Compiler Design

4.72%

Algorithms

4.49%

Grand Total

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, Engineering Mathematics is an important topic and can not be ignored.

Related links:

Preparation Resources For GATE CSE 2026

The following books are in accordance with the high-weightage 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

High-weightage Chapter

Main Topics

Recommended Book

Aptitude (15.73%)

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 (16.40%)

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 not only know the GATE CSE chapter-wise weightage 2026 but also got a clear idea about the main topics and the books to refer to while preparing for them. For the main resource, you can use the GATE past 10 year's question paper. This will definitely help you in scoring better marks.

Also Read:

UPES M.Tech Admissions 2026

Ranked #45 Among Universities in India by NIRF | 1950+ Students Placed 91% Placement, 800+ Recruiters

GMAC GMAT™ Exam

Study in India with GMAT | Apply to 150+ Top Indian B-Schools using GMAT Scores | Multiple Attempts | Scores valid for 5 Years


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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.

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: 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 100–200 (approx.).

Articles
|
Upcoming Engineering Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Basic Programming using Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Fundamental Concepts of Electricity
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Artificial Intelligence
Via Columbia University, New York
Computer Fundamentals
Via Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
B.Sc in Programming and Data Science
Via Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Udemy
 1525 courses
Swayam
 817 courses
NPTEL
 773 courses
Coursera
 697 courses
Edx
 608 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

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!!

Hello

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-da-data-science-and-artificial-intelligence-question-papers

Just visit the link I am attaching below, so that it will help you to download and practice the papers, so that you can practice well and score well.

Hope it will help you!!!

Hello dear candidate,

You will not receive another rectification mail unless and until there is still an error in your reuploaded signature. if everything is okay your status will change to accepted on the GATE portal.

My advice is that you should keep checking your application status on the official website of GATE 2026.

Thank you.

Hello,

Visit the below website to download the previous 15 years question paper of GATE exam.

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/last-15-years-gate-papers-solutions

You'll also get the solutions from it. These question papers will help you a lot in your preparation.

All the best.

This is likely a temporary portal or validation issue, not something you did wrong. When candidates try to change category from GEN to OBC-NCL during the GATE correction window, the system checks required fields and sometimes a supporting certificate or fee is needed. If any required data or document is missing, or the server is busy, the portal can show Something went wrong, please try again. Explain to them that first they should log into the GATE portal, open the Correction tab and confirm which fields are editable and whether a payment or document upload is required for category change. Tell them to clear browser cache or try a different browser/device and retry. If the error persists, advise contacting GATE support or the zonal office with a screenshot and timing of the error so officials can check server logs.