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    GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics (Released) - Marking Scheme, Best Books, Study Tips
    • GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics (Released) - Marking Scheme, Best Books, Study Tips

    GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics (Released) - Marking Scheme, Best Books, Study Tips

    Team Careers360Updated on 14 Jan 2026, 11:08 AM IST

    GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics: IIT Guwahati has uploaded the GATE Physics 2026 exam pattern on the official website. gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The paper contains nine core sections: Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, and more. The GATE 2026 exam pattern includes details like exam mode, total number of questions, different sections in the paper etc. It also includes details on the marking scheme and other important guidelines related to the structure of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. The GATE 2026 exam will be held on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. The GATE PH exam will be conducted on February 7, 2026.

    This Story also Contains

    1. GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics- Highlights
    2. GATE Syllabus For Physics 2026
    3. Best Books for GATE 2026 Physics
    4. GATE Physics CutOff 2026
    GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics (Released) - Marking Scheme, Best Books, Study Tips
    GATE Exam Pattern for Physics

    The GATE exam pattern 2026 for Physics has 85 per cent of the weightage of core physics subjects, while 15 per cent for general aptitude. There will be a total of 55 questions from Physics and 10 questions will be asked from the General Aptitude section. Read the complete article to learn more about the GATE exam pattern for Physics, the marking scheme, and more.

    GATE 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics- Highlights

    Here are a few important highlights of the GATE Physics exam pattern 2026 for candidates:

    • The GATE exam is conducted in online mode only. This will be a Computer Based Test (CBT) exam.

    • The total time for the exam will be 3 Hours (180 minutes). 1 hour of compensatory time will be given to the PWD category candidate.

    • The GATE PH question pattern 2026 will be divided into 3 types of questions. The question paper will have multiple choice questions (MCQ), multiple select questions (MSQ), and numerical answer types.

    • The GATE physics question paper 2026 will have General aptitude and core subject Physics questions.

    • GATE 2026 question paper will have a total of 65 questions including 10 questions from general Aptitude, and 55 questions of Physics.

    • There will be 1 and 2 marks questions in the physics question paper.

    • There will be a negative marking for each wrong answer. For 1 mark questions, 1/3 mark will be deducted and for each 2 mark MCQ, 2/3 marks will be deducted. No marks will be deducted for MSQ and NAT questions.

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    GATE Physics Exam Pattern 2026- Marking Scheme

    Subject Code/NameNo. of QuestionsMarks DistributionMarks per cent weightageNegative MarkingTotal time

    General Aptitude

    10

    5 x 1

    5 x 2


    15

    1/3 for 1 mark Question in MCQ

    2/3 for 2 marks question in MCQ

    No Negative marking in MSQ and NAT






    Physics


    55

    (25 x 1)

    (30 x 2)

    85

    Total

    65


    100


    180 Minutes

    Also Read: GATE all subjects syllabus 2026

    GATE Syllabus For Physics 2026

    The authority has uploaded the GATE 2026 Physics syllabus online. Candidates can check the GATE Physics syllabus pdf 2026 to know the important topics for preparation for the exam. Check the table for the GATE 2026 Physics syllabus.

    GATE 2026 Syllabus For Physics

    Physics Sections

    Important Topics



    General Aptitude


    • Verbal Aptitude

    • Quantitative Aptitude

    • Analytical Aptitude

    • Spatial Aptitude

    Mathematical Physics

    • Vector calculus

    Classical Mechanics

    • Lagrangian formulation

    • The special theory of relativity

    Electromagnetic Theory

    • Solutions to electrostatic and magnetostatic problems

    • Maxwell's equations

    • Coulomb and Lorentz gauges

    • polarization of electromagnetic waves

    Quantum Mechanics

    • Postulates of quantum mechanics

    • two and three-dimensional systems

    • variational method and WKB approximation,

    • time-independent perturbation theory

    Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

    • Laws of thermodynamics

    • black body radiation and Planck's distribution law

    • Bose-Einstein condensation

    Atomic and Molecular Physics

    • Spectra of one-and many-electron atoms

    • Zeeman and Stark effects

    • Raman effect

    • Einstein coefficients

    Solid State Physics

    • Elements of crystallography

    • Kramer's-Kronig relation, intra- and inter-band transitions;

    • superconductivity: Type-I and Type II superconductors

    Electronics

    Semiconductors in equilibrium

    Nuclear and Particle Physics

    • Nuclear radii and charge distributions

    • Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation laws

    • conservation laws, isospin symmetry, charge conjugation, parity, and time-reversal invariance

    Best Books for GATE 2026 Physics

    Here are some best books that candidates can read to cover the GATE 2026 Physics syllabus.

    Book NameAuthor

    Mathematical Physics

    H. K. Dass, B D Gupta

    Introduction To Classical Mechanics

    P Puranik, R Takwale

    Electromagnetic Field Theory

    S P Ghosh

    Principles Of Quantum Mechanics

    R. Shankar

    Elementary Solid State Physics: Principal and Applications

    M. Ali Omar

    Also read: Best books for GATE 2026 preparation

    Best Study Tips To Prepare for GATE 2026 Physics Exam

    Follow these important tips to prepare for the GATE exam pattern for Physics 2026:

    • Don’t wait for anyone to let your preparation start. The GATE 202 Physics syllabus is vast and students are required to cover each topic in detail.

    • Know the syllabus and GATE exam pattern thoroughly. This will let you know what time you have to spend on a specific topic.

    • Make a study plan and schedule. Try to give more time to difficult topics and topics with high weight.

    • Practice is the key. Practice as much as you can. Solve GATE Physics solved papers to know your improvement and progress.

    • Make a scheduled time to revise the important topics every day. This will help you to keep topics remembered for a long time.

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    Download Free GATE 2026 Physics Solved Papers PDF

    Candidates can download free GATE Physics question papers with solutions PDF from careers360. Solved previous years' papers are available Aspirants must download these sample papers to prepare for the GATE 2026 Physics exam.

    Also, Read Download Free All subjects GATE Previous Year Papers

    GATE Physics CutOff 2026

    As this year's cutoff of GATE will be released later, candidates can check the previous year cutoff to get a rough idea of the expected cutoff. Candidates can check GATE previous year's Cutoff here.

    GATE Physics Cutoff (Category Wise)

    YearGeneralOBC-NCL/EWSSC/ST/PwD
    Physics Cutoff 202526.824.117.8

    Physics Cutoff 2024

    3228.821.3

    Physics Cutoff 2023

    31.127.920.7

    Physics Cutoff 2022

    26.5

    23.8

    Physics Cutoff 2021

    32.8029.521.8

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the GATE Physics Exam Pattern 2026?
    A:

    The GATE syllabus for Physics consists of 9 core sections including Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Solid State Physics, Electronics, and Nuclear and Particle Physics.

    Q: How to clear the GATE exam in Physics?
    A:
    • Make a study plan 4-5 months before the GATE Physics (PH) exam.

    • Cover every topic and subtopic from the syllabus.

    • Make a list of the best books for GATE 2026.

    • Don't forget to divide your time for each topic.

    • Regularly practice the previous year's GATE sample papers.

    Q: What is the topic-wise weightage of the GATE exam pattern for Physics?
    A:

    The GATE Physics exam pattern allocates 15 percent weightage to General Aptitude and 85 percent weightage to the core syllabus of Physics.

    Q: What is the paper pattern for GATE exam 2026 for Physics?
    A:

    There will be a total of 65 questions, which are divided into 2 sections. Section 1 will have 10 questions of general aptitude, section 2 will have 55 questions on the core subject (Physics).

    Q: What percent of negative marking is there in the GATE 2026 Physics Exam?
    A:

    There will be negative marking of 1/3 for 1 mark MCQ questions and 2/3 for 2 mark MCQ questions. However, there will be no negative marking in MSQ and NAT questions.

    Q: What is the physics course in GATE 2026?
    A:

    Candidates can check the GATE 2026 Physics syllabus on the official website. 

    Q: Is GATE 2026 held for 30 test papers?
    A:

    Yes, GATE 2026 will be held for 30 test papers.

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