GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 (Released) - Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Exam Duration, Type of Questions

GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 (Released) - Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Exam Duration, Type of Questions

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Team Careers360Updated on 10 Oct 2025, 04:24 PM IST

GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 - The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has published the GATE 2026 Mathematics exam pattern on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Detailed information about the GATE 2026 Mathematics exam pattern is available on this page. The exam pattern for GATE Mathematics 2026 includes various aspects such as the types of questions, total marks, exam mode, marking scheme, number of questions, and more. In addition to understanding the exam pattern of GATE 2026, candidates must also be aware of the exam syllabus as it will help them in the preparation. The GATE 2026 exam will be held on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2025.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026
  2. GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 - Key Points
  3. GATE Mathematics 2026 Syllabus
  4. GATE Mathematics 2026 Best Books
GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 (Released) - Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Exam Duration, Type of Questions
gate mathematics exam pattern

According to the GATE Mathematics paper pattern 2026, the question paper will have two sections: General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics. The General Aptitude section will be worth 15 marks, while the Engineering Mathematics section will be worth 85 marks. The paper will be based on the GATE 2026 syllabus for Mathematics. Read the full article to learn more about the key points related to the GATE Mathematics exam pattern 2026.

GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026

IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 Mathematics exam pattern on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates can check the exam pattern of GATE Mathematics 2026 from the table given below.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Mathematics

Particulars

Details

Mode of Examination

Computer Based Test

Sections

There will be two sections-

Section 1- General Aptitude

Section 2- Engineering Mathematics

Duration of Exam

180 minutes

Type of Questions

Multiple Choice Questions, MSQs, and NATs

Total number of Questions

65 questions in total

General Aptitude Section

  • 5 questions of 1 mark each

  • 5 questions of 2 marks each

Subject Specific

  • 85 questions

Total Marks

100 marks

Language of Examination

English

Marking Scheme

For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQs, there will be negative marking as follows:

For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

There will be no negative marking for MSQs & NATs.

GATE 2026 Mathematics Marking Scheme

Candidates must check the marking scheme of GATE Mathematics 2026 before appearing for the exam. Being aware of the GATE Mathematics marking scheme 2026 will help candidates understand the GATE 2026 Mathematics exam pattern, analyse which questions to attempt, how much time to devote to which questions, and how many questions should be attempted.

Subject

Total No. of Questions

Marks Allotted

General Aptitude

10

15

Subject Specific

55

85

Total

65

100

Difficulty Level of GATE Mathematics 2026

GATE is considered to be one of the toughest engineering exams at postgraduate level. Looking at the GATE paper analysis, the difficulty level of questions that will be asked is expected to be moderately tough this year as well.

Topics Asked in Previous Year GATE Mathematics Paper:

Here we have listed a few topics that were asked in the previous year GATE Mathematics question paper:

S.No.

Topics

1

Real Analysis and Calculus

2

Topology

3

Green’s Theorem

4

Complex Analysis

5

Numerical Analysis

6

ODE & PDE

GATE Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026 - Key Points

  • GATE Mathematics paper 2026 will be conducted as a computer based test (CBT) exam of 3 hours.

  • The GATE 2026 Mathematics paper will have two sections- General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics.

  • The GATE MA question paper 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.

  • There is no negative marking in the GATE Mathematics exam for MSQs and NATs while for MCQs there will be negative marking.

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GATE Mathematics 2026 Syllabus

IIT Guwahati has released the GATE Mathematics syllabus 2026 on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The question paper will be based on the syllabus of GATE 2026 Mathematics. Candidates who will be appearing for the upcoming exam must understand the syllabus PDF beforehand to study the right topics for the exam and practice the GATE question papers. Going through the GATE Mathematics syllabus 2026 will help candidates to know what to read and what to avoid so that they can perform well in the exam.

Related links:

GATE Mathematics 2026 Best Books

Candidates preparing for the upcoming exam can follow the GATE Maths books to give their best shot at the exam. These books for GATE Mathematics 2026 will be beneficial for the students preparing for the upcoming exam.

Books

Author/Publisher

Chapterwise Solved Papers Mathematics GATE

Suraj Singh, Arihant Publication

GATE Engineering Mathematics for All Streams

Abhinav Goel, Arihant Publication

GATE: Engineering Mathematics

ME Team, Made Easy Publications

Wiley Acing the Gate: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude

Anil K. Maini, Wiley

Higher Engineering Mathematics

B.S. Grewal, Khanna Publishers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many sections will GATE 2026 have?
A:

GATE 2026 question paper will consist of two sections - Mathematics and General Aptitude.

Q: What is the marking scheme of GATE 2026?
A:

For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQs, there will be negative marking as follows:

  • For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
  • For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
  • While, there will be no negative marking for MSQs & NATs.
Q: Where can I download GATE question papers?
A:

Candidates can download the GATE question papers on the official website.

Q: What will be the total duration of GATE 2026?
A:

The total time duration of GATE will be 180 minutes.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello,

No,For Mtech you are not eligible to give GATE examination in 2nd year diploma and after completing your diploma degree

Only bachelor's degree holders can give GATE examination

Thank you

Hello

If you're in 2nd year right now, you can’t register for GATE 2026 just yet.
The exam is only open to students in the 3rd year or beyond in their degree.
It’s mainly because the GATE tests subjects that are usually taught later in your course.
But don’t worry, you are in a great position to start preparing early!
Focus on your basics, practice problem-solving, and build strong concepts now.
By the time you reach 3rd year, you’ll be well ahead of the game.

Hello,

If your GATE 2026 application shows "under scrutiny," continue to monitor your applicant portal and registered email for updates, as this is a routine process where officials verify your details.  An "under scrutiny" status does not mean your application is rejected; you may be notified of discrepancies and given a chance to correct them during the application correction window, which opens later. Keep your application details accurate and prepare for the exam while waiting for the correction window to open.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,

In the GATE application form , you should enter your name exactly as it appears in your official ID proof , even if the order is different.

For example:

  • If your ID proof shows Surname + First Name , enter it in the same way in the form.

  • Do not change the order to First Name + Surname.

This is important because your GATE admit card and scorecard will match your ID proof.

Keep it exactly the same to avoid any issues later.

Hope it helps !

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!!