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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.
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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.
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:
Year |
Download GATE Previous Year Paper |
2025 | |
2025 | |
2024 |
GATE 2024 CS Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (Shift 1 & 2) |
2023 | |
2022 | |
2021 | |
2020 | |
2019 | |
2016 - 2018 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.).
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.
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.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Yes, you as a Bachelor of Science graduate in home science can appear for the GATE 2026 exam, as the eligibility criteria include graduates from "Science" and other fields, as well as those in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate program.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hey! The GATE exam (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is very important for long-term career growth. It opens opportunities for postgraduate studies (M.Tech, MS, PhD) in top institutes like IITs and NITs and is also used by many public sector companies (PSUs) for recruitment, often with higher salary packages. In the long run, qualifying GATE can enhance your technical knowledge, career prospects, and credibility in the engineering field.
If your GATE application shows failed status even after a successful payment, don’t worry, this usually happens due to server or transaction update delays. First, wait for 24–48 hours as sometimes the status gets updated automatically. If it still shows failed, you should raise a query through the GATE application portal by providing your enrollment ID and payment receipt or transaction details. You can also contact the GATE zonal office via email or helpline with proof of payment. Keeping a screenshot of the payment success message will also help in resolving the issue quickly.
Hi dear candidate,
You can refer to the online E Books for GATE examination available on our official website that you can download anytime.
Kindly refer to the link attached below to access them for practice.
Link: GATE E-books and Sample Papers
BEST REGARDS
Hey! The qualifying cutoff for GATE CSE in 2025 was around 29.2 marks for General, 26.2 for OBC/EWS, and 19.4 for SC/ST/PwD. For GATE 2026, the official cutoff is not declared yet, but if we look at the past trends, it usually stays around 30–32 marks for General category. So, if you are preparing, it’s better to target a score well above this range to be on the safer side.
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