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

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

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GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 06 Oct' 25

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 01 Oct 2025, 03:55 PM 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.

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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:

GATE: How to Prepare for CSE GATE 2026 Syllabus for Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT)
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GATE CSE Previous Year 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 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.