GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks Explained - Check Paper-wise Marking Scheme

GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks Explained - Check Paper-wise Marking Scheme

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

Team Careers360Updated on 30 Jul 2025, 05:42 PM IST

GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks - The IIT Guwahati will release the details of GATE 2026 total marks. According to last year’s details, GATE exam total marks will be 100. The total marks for GATE 2026 are divided in two major sections; 15 marks for General Aptitude (Common for all) and the remaining 85 marks are allotted for subject specific questions. The maximus marks that can be obtained in GATE 2026 is hundred (100). The total marks are distributed among the three types of questions, Multiple choice questions(MCQs), Multiple select questions(MSQs) and Numerical answer type(NAT) questions.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks - Highlights
  2. GATE 2026 Paper Wise Marks Distribution
  3. GATE 2026: Why Total Marks Matter?
  4. GATE 2026 Question Types Explained
  5. GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks Explained - Check Paper-wise Marking Scheme
GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks

According to the GATE marking scheme, there will be a total of 65 questions; each question either will be of 1 or 2 marks depending upon the type of questions. Read the complete article to know more about GATE exam 2026 total marks .

Also check : GATE 2026 Exam Pattern | GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026 | GATE 2026 Syllabus

GATE Exam 2026 Total Marks - Highlights

Perticulars

Detail

Total GATE Marks

100

Section wise marks distribution

  • General Aptitude : 15

  • Subject Specific questions : 85

Questions Type

  • Multiple choice questions(MCQs)

  • Multiple select questions(MSQs)

  • Numerical answer type(NAT) questions

Marks per questions

1 or 2 marks.

Negative Marking

  • MCQ : 1 mark of each correct attempt and 1/3 will be deducted for wrong attempt.

  • MSQ : 2 marks of each correct attempt and 2/3 will be deducted for wrong attempt.

  • NAT : Zero marks for wrong attempt

GATE 2026 Paper Wise Marks Distribution

Paper

Marks Distribution Section Wise

EC, AE, AG, BT, CH, CE, CS, EE, IN, TF, XE, PE, ST, ME and PI

General Aptitude : 15

Engineering Mathematics : 13

Subject Specific Questions : 72

EY, GG, MA, PH, AR, CY and XL

General Aptitude : 15

Subject Specific Questions : 85

GATE 2026: Why Total Marks Matter?

Understanding the total marks and their distribution helps candidates:

  • Strategize better during preparation

  • Allocate time based on section weightage

  • Focus more on high-scoring areas

  • Avoid negative marking in MCQs

  • Target score goals for qualifying cutoffs and admissions

GATE 2026 Question Types Explained

Below are the major three types of questions being asked in GATE examination each type has its own marks distribution and negative marking.

  1. MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions): These have four options, out of which only one is correct. These questions carry 1 mark. Negative marking is applicable.

  2. MSQs (Multiple Select Questions): More than one option can be correct. These carry 2 marks, Negative marking is applicable.

  3. NAT (Numerical Answer Type): Answers must be entered as a numerical value. No choices are provided, and there is no negative marking.

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GATE 2026 Marking Scheme

Here is the marking scheme for GATE examination, candidates are advised to carefully understand the questions types and their respective negative marking.

  • 1-mark MCQs: 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

  • 2-mark MCQs: 2/3 mark will be deducted for every incorrect attempt.

  • NATs: No 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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does every GATE paper include Engineering Mathematics?
A:

No, Engineering Mathematics is included only in some papers like CE, CS, ME, EE, etc. Papers like CY, PH, MA, EY, XL, and others do not have Engineering Mathematics, and the entire 85 marks are based on the subject.

Q: Is there negative marking in GATE 2026?
A:

Yes, negative marking is applicable only for MCQs. For 1-mark MCQs, 1/3 mark is deducted for wrong answers, and for 2-mark MCQs, 2/3 mark is deducted. MSQs and NATs do not have negative marking.

Q: How many total marks are there in the GATE 2026 exam?
A:

The GATE 2026 exam is conducted for a total of 100 marks, including 15 marks for General Aptitude and 85 marks for subject-specific questions.

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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

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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.