GATE Mechanical Subject Wise Weightage 2026 - Important Topics and Chapters

GATE Mechanical Subject Wise Weightage 2026 - Important Topics and Chapters

Ongoing Event

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

Team Careers360Updated on 12 Aug 2025, 12:18 PM IST

GATE Mechanical Subject Wise Weightage 2026 : Learning the weightage of subjects in GATE ME 2026 is crucial for efficient preparation and smart study planning. By analyzing the marks distribution from previous years, aspirants can focus more on high-weightage subjects, ensuring that their time and resources are invested where they can achieve the most significant score improvements. Concentrating on high-priority topics also improves time management during the exam, allowing candidates to attempt maximum questions accurately.

GATE Mechanical Subject Wise Weightage 2026 - Important Topics and Chapters
GATE Mechanical Subject Wise Weightage 2026 - Important Topics and Chapters

The GATE 2026 exam is going to be held on February 7,8, 14, and 15, 2026, with the official dates and admit card release schedule to be announced by the IIT Guwahati. Preparing with a clear understanding of subject-wise weightage not only boosts scoring potential but also enhances confidence and performance on exam day.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage- Previous Year

Knowing the subject-wise weightage of GATE ME from previous years plays a vital role in shaping an effective preparation plan. Since our focus here is on GATE ME, we have compiled a weightage table for the 2026 exam, based on an in-depth analysis of past trends. This reference will help you identify the most important subjects and plan your study approach strategically. Check the detailed breakdown below:

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Chapter Name

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

Total of 5 year

Weightage

Applied Mechanics and Design

10

15

20

16

14

75

23.81%

Aptitude

10

10

10

10

10

50

15.87%

Engineering Mathematics

43

9

10

8

17

87

27.62%

Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences

2

15

15

15

9

56

17.78%

Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering

16

10

16

5

47

14.92%


Detailed distribution of weightage is given below. You can check it:

1754980961368

GATE Mechanical Engineering 2026 Subject Wise Weightage

To excel in GATE ME 2026, it’s essential to have a solid grasp of the subject-wise weightage from the 2025 exam. This insight helps you identify and rank topics based on their impact in the paper. Although the syllabus does not change much each year, the marks allocation for different subjects can vary slightly. By reviewing past trends, aspirants can direct more effort toward high-scoring topics.

Chapter Name

Number of Questions Asked

Applied Mechanics and Design

15

Aptitude

10

Engineering Mathematics

9

Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences

15

Materials, Manufacturing, and Industrial Engineering

16

Grand Total

65


Also Read :How to Prepare for Mechanical Engineering

1754980961237

Which Topic Has the Highest Weightage in GATE Mechanical Engineering?

An analysis of the past five years shows that the GATE ME paper, accounting Applied Mechanics and Design with 23.81%, followed by Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences at 17.78%. Combined, these three areas form the majority of the exam, making them critical for scoring high. General Aptitude holds a steady 15.87%, offering a consistent scoring advantage, while Materials, Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering contributes 14.92%. Prioritizing these subjects during preparation can greatly enhance accuracy, speed, and overall exam performance.

Key benefits of GATE Mechanical Engineering Weightage

1. Efficient Study Planning
Weightage data helps you decide where to invest most of your preparation time. For example, focusing more on Engineering Mathematics, Applied Mechanics, and Fluid Mechanics ensures better returns on your study hours.

2. Smart Revision Scheduling
By knowing which subjects carry the most marks, you can design a revision plan that revisits high-weightage topics multiple times while still covering lower-weightage ones for complete preparation.

3. Maximizing Score Potential
Subjects like Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude are relatively straightforward but contribute significantly to marks. Prioritizing them can give you a quick score boost.

4. Identifying Consistent Scoring Areas
Analyzing past papers shows which subjects maintain steady weightage over the years, allowing you to focus on areas that are almost certain to appear prominently in the exam.

5. Reducing Exam Pressure
When you know exactly which topics are worth the most marks, you can prepare with a clear roadmap. This reduces uncertainty, builds confidence, and improves accuracy on exam day.

Also Read : How to Prepare for GATE

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is there any age limit for GATE 2026?
A:

No, GATE has no age limit, so anyone meeting the educational criteria can apply.

Q: Which subject has the highest weightage for 2026?
A:

Applied Mechanics and Design has the highest weightage with 23.81%.

Q: What is the eligibility for GATE 2026?
A:

Candidates in the 3rd year or above of an undergraduate degree in engineering, technology, science, architecture, or humanities, as well as graduates, are eligible.

Q: Is the subject wise weightage consistent every year?
A:

It may vary slightly, but subjects like Manufacturing and Mathematics consistently have high weightage.

Q: How should I prioritize subjects?
A:

Focus on high-weightage subjects like Manufacturing, Thermal, and Mathematics, then move to lower-weightage topics like Industrial Engineering.

Q: How important is General Aptitude?
A:

It contributes 15% of the total marks with 10 questions and can significantly boost your score with regular practice.

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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

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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.