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GATE 2027 Exam Pattern for Physics: IIT Madras has uploaded the GATE Physics 2027 exam pattern on the official website. gate2027.iitm.ac.in. This year, the Physics paper contains 11 core sections: Measurements and Error Analysis (new), Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, and more. The GATE exam pattern 2027 for Physics is 85 per cent for core physics subjects, while 15 per cent is for general aptitude. 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 2027 exam will be held on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2027.
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Further, the GATE 2027 exam pattern also has details like exam mode, total number of questions, different sections in the paper, etc. 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.
Here are a few important highlights of the GATE Physics exam pattern 2027 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 2027 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 2027 will have General aptitude and core subject Physics questions.
GATE 2027 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-mark 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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Subject Code/Name | No. of Questions | Marks Distribution | Marks per cent weightage | Negative Marking | Total time |
General Aptitude | 10 | 5 x 1 5 x 2 | 15 | 1/3 for 1-mark question in MCQ 2/3 for 2-mark questions 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 2027
The authority has uploaded the GATE 2027 Physics syllabus online. Candidates can check the GATE Physics syllabus pdf 2027 to know the important topics for preparation for the exam. Check the table for the GATE 2027 Physics syllabus.
Physics Sections | Important Topics |
General Aptitude |
|
| Measurements and Error Analysis (New section) | Units and dimensions, dimensional analysis; least count, significant figures; Methods of measurement and
error analysis for physical quantities associated with various measurements; 2-probe and 4-probe methods for
resistance measurement; Grounding for electrical circuits, Ground loops; Design of DC power supply, Signal
processing through lock-in amplifiers. |
Mathematical Physics | Linear vector spaces: basis, orthogonality and completeness; matrices: similarity transformations,
diagonalization, eigenvalues and eigen vectors; linear differential equations: simple applications of first and
second order linear differential equations and solutions; complex analysis: Cauchy-Riemann conditions,
Cauchy's theorem, singularities, residue theorem and applications; Fourier analysis; tensors: tensor
transformations, covariant and contravariant tensors. |
Classical Mechanics | D'Alembert's principle, Euler-Lagrange equation, Hamilton's principle, calculus of variations; symmetry and conservation laws; central force motion: Kepler problem; small oscillations: coupled oscillations and normal modes; rigid body dynamics: inertia tensor, orthogonal transformations, Euler angles, torque free motion of a symmetric top; Hamiltonian and Hamilton's equations of motion; canonical transformations: Poisson bracket. Special theory of relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass-energy equivalence. |
| Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates and microstates; phase space; ensembles; partition function, free
energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities; classical and quantum statistics; degenerate Fermi gas;
black body radiation and Planck's distribution law; Bose-Einstein condensation; first and second order phase
transitions, phase equilibria, critical phenomena. |
Electromagnetic Theory | Solutions of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems including boundary value problems; method of images; separation of variables; dielectrics and conductors; magnetic materials; multipole expansion; Maxwell's equations; scalar and vector potentials; Coulomb and Lorentz gauges; electromagnetic waves in free space, non-conducting and conducting media; reflection and transmission at normal and oblique incidences; polarization of electromagnetic waves; Poynting vector, Poynting theorem, energy and momentum of electromagnetic waves |
| Optical Physics | Wave equation: plane and spherical waves, superposition of waves, standing waves, phase and group
velocities; Interference: spatial and temporal coherence, dielectric films, Newton’s ring, multiple-beam
interference, Michelson interferometer, Fabry-Perot interferometer and etalon; diffraction: Fresnel and
Fraunhofer diffraction, rectangular and circular aperture, Rayleigh criterion of resolution, diffraction from
double slit and many slits. dispersion by a grating; polarization: Jones vectors and matrices for linear, circular
and elliptical polarization, birefringence, ray-transfer matrix for mirrors and lenses; lasers: Einstein
coefficients, population inversion, two and three level laser systems. |
Quantum Mechanics | Basic ideas of quantum mechanics; uncertainty principle; linear vectors and operators in Hilbert space; time independent Schrodinger equation; one dimensional potentials: step potential, finite rectangular well, tunnelling from a potential barrier, particle in 1,2,3-dimensional box, particle in single and double delta function potentials, 1,2,3 dimensional harmonic oscillator: concept of degeneracy; central potentials; hydrogen-like atoms; orbital and spin angular momenta; addition of angular momenta; variational method, time independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory, Born approximation. |
| Atomic and Molecular Physics | Spectra of one-and many-electron atoms; spin-orbit interaction: L-S and j-j coupling schemes; fine and
hyperfine structures; Zeeman, Paschen-Back and Stark effects; electric dipole transitions and selection rules;
rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transitions in diatomic molecules, Franck-Condon principle; Raman effect and basics of Raman spectroscopy; NMR, ESR, X-ray and Mossbauer
spectroscopies. |
Solid State Physics | Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for structure determination; bonding in solids; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free electron theory; band theory of solids: nearly free electron model; metals, semiconductors and insulators; conductivity, electron and hole statistics in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, mobility and effective mass; metal-semiconductor junctions; ohmic and rectifying contacts; dielectric properties of solids; polarizability, ferroelectricity; magnetic properties of solids; dia, para, ferro, antiferro and ferri magnetism, ferromagnetic domains; superconductivity: type-I and type II superconductors, Meissner effect, London equation, BCS theory, flux quantization. |
Nuclear and Particle Physics | Nuclear binding energy, electric and magnetic moments; semi-empirical mass formula; nuclear models; liquid drop model, nuclear shell model; nuclear force and two nucleon problem; alpha decay, beta-decay, electromagnetic transitions in nuclei; Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation laws; fission and fusion; particle accelerators and detectors; elementary particles; photons, baryons, mesons and leptons; quark model; conservation laws, isospin symmetry, charge conjugation, parity and time-reversal invariance. |
| Electronics | p-n diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors; negative and positive feedback circuits;
oscillators, operational amplifiers and their applications, active filters; wave form generators: sine wave,
square wave and triangular wave; basics of digital logic circuits, combinational and sequential circuits, flipflops, timers, counters, registers, A/D and D/A conversion. |
Here are some best books that candidates can read to cover the GATE 2027 Physics syllabus.
Book Name | Author |
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 2027 preparation
Follow these important tips to prepare for the GATE exam pattern for Physics 2027:
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.
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 2027 Physics exam.
Also, Read Download Free All subjects GATE Previous Year Papers
As this year's GATE cutoff 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.
Year | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
Physics Cutoff 2026 | 26 to 32 | 23-29 | 17-21 |
Physics Cutoff 2025 | 26.8 | 24.1 | 17.8 |
Physics Cutoff 2024 | 32 | 28.8 | 21.3 |
Physics Cutoff 2023 | 31.1 | 27.9 | 20.7 |
Physics Cutoff 2022 | 26.5 | 23.8 | – |
Physics Cutoff 2021 | 32.80 | 29.5 | 21.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The GATE syllabus for Physics consists of 11 core sections including Measurements and Error Analysis, Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, and more.
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.
The GATE Physics exam pattern allocates 15 percent weightage to General Aptitude and 85 percent weightage to the core syllabus of Physics.
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).
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.
Candidates can check the GATE 2027 Physics syllabus on the official website.
Yes, GATE 2027 will be held for 30 test papers.
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