GATE 2027 Two Paper Combination has been released. This year, new paper has been added as well as syllabus has been revised. Students must check complete pattern to make themselves aware about the exam mode, marking & other details. Exam is scheduled on 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th & 21st February 2027 via CBT mode.
Official GATE 2027 Exam Pattern is uploaded on the website >>
GATE 2027 Exam Pattern – Paper Combination Updated
GATE 2027 Two Paper Combination has been updated. Click here to view paper combination.
In GATE 2027, A new paper of Robotics and Automation (RA) has been added. Check below for complete pattern details.
GATE 2027 exam is going to be organised by IIT Madras. The exam is conducted for 30 papers/ subjects. Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) paper has been removed as an independent standalone test paper and now added into sectional paper under Engineering Sciences (XE).
The exam pattern of GATE 2027 also discusses about the number of questions, its type, number of sections, papers, time duration, etc.
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Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is conducted for admission to M.E./ M.Tech/ Direct Ph.D programmes in IITs, NITs, CFTI and various private institutions. Students can check below complete & updated GATE Exam Pattern 2027 details.
GATE 2027 Paper Pattern Overview:
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Examination | The test papers are provided in English. Computer Based Test (CBT) is conducted at select- centres in selected cities. |
| Duration | 3 Hours* |
| Number of Subjects (Papers) | 30 |
| Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate’s Selected Subjects |
| Type of Questions | Candidate’s Selected Subject (s)
|
*Note: Compensatory time provided to PWD candidates.
GATE 2027 Exam Pattern
Students can check here information related to GATE 2027 exam pattern:
- Exam paper & mode: The examination of GATE is conducted for 30 papers. It is conducted via online mode only (Computer Based Test).
- Exam Duration: Paper will be of 3 hours.
- The exam tests candidates various abilities – Recall, Application, Comprehension, Analysis & Synthesis.
- GATE 2027 is scheduled on 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th & 21st February 2027.
- Question Type: The question paper of GATE 2027 consist of both Multiple – Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
- For multiple choice questions, there will be multiple options available out of which students have to choose only the right answer.
- For multiple select questions, one or more than one options out of four will be correct.
- For numerical answer type questions, candidates have to enter a number using the virtual keyword available on the computer screen during the examination.
- Number of Questions: The question paper of GATE contains 65 questions – 10 questions in GA and 55 questions in Core Subject / Engineering Mathematics.
- No of Sections: The questions are divided in two sections – Common General Aptitude – GA (for all subjects/ papers) & Core subjects. The core subjects have two types of questions – Compulsory & Optional.
- GATE will be conducted in International centres and the session timings at as per their local time.
Also Check: What are the Best Books for GATE 2027 Preparation?
Changes In GATE Exam Pattern
We have discussed various changes which have been introduced in GATE exam in the past years:
- This year, In GATE 2027 new paper of Robotics and Automation (RA) has been added. Moreover, changes have been introduced in XE, XH, XL sectional paper codes.
- In GATE 2026, IIT Guwahati announced addition of new sectional paper on Energy Science (XE-I) in Engineering Science (XE) paper.
- Last year, GATE 2025 saw no new addition of paper. For creating an opportunity in the inter- disciplinary areas, candidates were provided with the option of appearing for more than one subject. Students appeared for ONE or TWO subjects in the GATE exam. However, the option of two subjects was applicable only for a prescribed set of combinations.
- In 2024, authority added one paper – Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA).
- In the year 2022, two subjects were added – Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering (NM), and Geomatics Engineering (GE) were added.
- GATE 2021 saw addition of two subjects – Environmental Science & Engineering (ES) and Humanities & Social Sciences (XH).
- In GATE 2020, Bio-medical Engineering (BM) subject was added in the syllabus of GATE.
Know About: GATE Examination Day Guidelines
GATE 2027 Paper Section Distribution (XE, XH, XL)
This year, changes in paper code is seen in various subjects. Below students can check GATE paper code changes section wise for XE, XH, XL:
For XE Paper:
| GATE 2026 Code | GATE 2027 Code | XE Paper Sections |
| A | XE0 | Engineering Mathematics (Common – 15 marks) |
| Any two optional sections (2X35= 70 marks) | ||
| B | XE1 | Fluid Mechanics |
| C | XE2 | Materials Science |
| D | XE3 | Solid Mechanics |
| E | XE4 | Thermodynamics |
| F | XE5 | Polymer Science & Engineering |
| G | XE6 | Food Technology |
| H | XE7 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences |
| I | XE8 | Energy Science |
| TF | XE9 | Textile Engineering & Fibre Science |
XH Paper:
| GATE 2026 Code | GATE 2027 Code | XH Paper Sections |
| B1 | XH0 | Reasoning & Comprehension (Common – 25 marks) |
| Any one optional section (60 marks) | ||
| C1 | XH1 | Economics |
| C2 | XH2 | English |
| C3 | XH3 | Linguistics |
| C4 | XH4 | Philosophy |
| C5 | XH5 | Psychology |
| C6 | XH6 | Sociology |
For XL Paper:
| GATE 2026 Code | GATE 2027 Code | XL Paper Sections |
| P | XL0 | Chemistry (Common – 25 marks) |
| Any two optional sections (2X30 = 60 marks) | ||
| Q | XL1 | Biochemistry |
| R | XL2 | Botany |
| S | XL3 | Microbiology |
| T | XL4 | Zoology |
| U | XL5 | Food Technology |
GATE 2027 Paper Wise Codes
Check the GATE paper and paper codes from the below table. Know about the newly added papers & their paper codes:
| Paper | Paper Code | Paper | Paper Code |
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | Geology and Geophysics | GG |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
| Architecture and Planning | AR | Mathematics | MA |
| Biotechnology | BT | Mechanical Engineering | ME |
| Bio-medical Engineering | BM | Mining Engineering | MN |
| Civil Engineering | CE | Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | Petroleum Engineering | PE |
| Computer Science and Information Technology | CS | Physics | PH |
| Chemistry | CY | Production and Industrial Engineering | PI |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | EC | Robotics and Automation (Newly Added) | RA |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | Engineering Sciences | XE |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | ES | Humanities & Social Sciences | XH |
| Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering | NM | Geomatics Engineering | GE |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY | Life Sciences | XL |
| Statistics | ST | Data Science & Artificial Intelligence | DA |
What Is Two Paper Combination In GATE ?
Two paper combination scheme was introduced in the year 2025. Under this, students are able to choose a primary and secondary paper in same exam cycle. A list is provided among which students are allowed to make choice of two different subjects.
Click here to view GATE 2027 paper combination list
Marks Distribution In Papers
- Distribution of marks in all the papers EXCEPT CY, AR, DA, GE, EY, GG, MA, RA, PH, XH, ST and XL, Engineering Mathematics – 13 marks, General Aptitude – 15 marks, subject questions – 72 marks, making it total 100 marks (XE includes Engineering mathematics section XE0 of 15 marks).
- In the papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, and XL, General Aptitude section carries 15 marks and subject questions will carry 85 marks, making it total 100 marks.
- The General Aptitude section 5 questions of 1 Mark and 5 questions of 2 marks.
- Question paper other than GG, XE and XL contain 25 questions of 1 mark and 30 questions of 2 marks.
Paper Wise Marks Distribution:
Check below table for paper wise marks distribution for various sections, total marks & timing:
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Subject (Optional section) | Subject (Compulsory section) | Total Marks | Time |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI
Subjects marks in these papers include questions in Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper specific |
15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 minutes |
| CY, EY, DA, MA, ST, PH | 15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 minutes |
| GE: (Part A is common & compulsory
B1 & B2 can be selected during exam B1 – Surveying & mapping or |
15 | 30 | 55 | 100 | 180 |
| AR (Part A is common & compulsory
B1 & B2 can be selected during exam B1 – Architecture or |
15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 minutes |
| RA: Part A is common.
Part B1/B2 can be selected during exam. B1- Electrical or B2 – Mechanical |
15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| GG: (Part A is common & compulsory
Part B1/ B2 must be chosen at the time of application Part B1 – Geology (B1) or |
15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| XE0: (Engineering Mathematics) is Common. Candidates must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. | 15 | (2×35) | 15 | 100 | 180 minutes |
| XH0: (Reasoning & Comprehension) is Common. Candidates must select any ONE of the other sections during the application. | 15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| XL0: Chemistry is common.
Applicants must select any two of the other sections during exam. |
15 | (2×30) | 25 | 100 | 180 minutes |
Also Check:
| GATE Preparation Tips 2027 | GATE 2027 Syllabus |
GATE Marking Scheme 2027
There is negative marking in GATE for multiple choice questions. For Numerical answer type questions, no negative marking is there. Questions carry 1 or 2 mark.
- For 1 mark question, 1/3 mark is deducted for wrong answers.
- For 2 marks question, 2/3 marks is deducted. Also, there is no partial marking in MSQ.
Also Check: GATE 2027 Virtual Calculator
In conclusion, complete details about the GATE 2027 Exam Pattern is mentioned in the article as per the details furnished by authority. The details about the number of papers/ subjects, their paper codes, number of sections & their types, time duration, marking scheme, etc. is also updated in our article.
If candidates have any query regarding GATE 2027 Exam Pattern, you can leave your comments below.