PG Research · Entrance Exams

GATE 2027 Registration, Exam Date, Syllabus and Exam Pattern Changes, Fee, Eligibility, Cut-off and Free GATE Mock Tests

GATE tests comprehensive understanding of undergraduate engineering and science subjects. It was designed as a postgraduate admission test, and it still is one — but for a great many candidates its more consequential use is public sector recruitment, since a large number of PSUs shortlist for engineering posts on GATE score.

That dual purpose matters for how you prepare. Postgraduate admission and PSU recruitment can call for different score targets and different paper choices, and a candidate who has not decided which they are pursuing tends to prepare for neither well.

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GATE · checked 19 September 2026

GATE at a glance, from the official notices

The dates, vacancies and rules below are read on the conducting body’s own site and rewritten as each notice appears. The guide beneath carries the full pattern, syllabus, cut-offs and free mock tests.

Free GATE mock testGATE syllabusToday’s current affairs
27Sep 2026

Next deadline

GATE: the facts that matter now

  1. 01

    GOAPS opened 2 September 2026 (rescheduled from 14 and 27 August); regular registration closes 27 September and the extended window with late fee…

    2027 cycle

  2. 02

    Examinations 7–8 and 14–15 February 2026, result 19 March 2026; cut-offs (General / OBC-EWS / SC-ST-PwD) CS 30 / 27 / 20 with 2,59,922 registered…

    GATE 2026 (IIT Guwahati)

  3. 03

    IIT Madras for GATE 2027, on behalf of the National Coordination Board of the Ministry of Education, jointly with IISc and the other IITs…

    Conducted by

  4. 04

    30 test papers, including the new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper; up to two papers from the approved combinations; DigiLocker registration…

    Papers

Notification

GATE notification and key dates

Checked 15 September 2026 on gate2027.iitm.ac.in and gate2026.iitg.ac.in. IIT Madras launched the GATE 2027 site on 20 July 2026 with the brochure, a revised syllabus, a new Robotics and Automation paper, changes to the TF paper and the XE, XH and XL section codes, and mandatory DigiLocker registration. The GOAPS portal, after two reschedules, went live on 2 September 2026; regular registration closes on 27 September and the late-fee window on 5 October 2026.

GATE 2027 — the cycle.
EventDate
Website, brochure and poster20 July 2026; brochure v1.1 on 23 July and v1.2 on 10 August
GOAPS opens2 September 2026 (originally 14 August, then 27 August)
Regular registration closesSunday 27 September 2026
Extended registration with late fee closesMonday 5 October 2026
Application rectification14 – 21 October 2026
City allotment4 January 2027; admit-card date to be announced
Examinations6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 February 2027 (Saturdays and Sundays)
ResultsFriday 19 March 2027
GATE 2026 — the reference cycle, by IIT Guwahati.
ItemDetail
Examinations7–8 and 14–15 February 2026
Result19 March 2026
Largest papers (registered / appeared)CS 2,59,922 / 2,11,020; EC 1,15,448 / 95,752; CE 97,486 / 76,385; DA 91,764 / 69,242; EE 81,947 / 65,801; ME 76,823 / 59,612; XL 50,732 / 40,035
Cut-offs (Gen / OBC-EWS / SC-ST-PwD)CS 30 / 27 / 20; EC 26.4 / 23.7 / 17.5; EE 27.7 / 24.9 / 18.4; ME 25.2 / 22.6 / 16.7; CE 28.7 / 25.8 / 19.1; DA 26.4 / 23.7 / 17.5; CH 25 / 22.5 / 16.6; IN 39.8 / 35.8 / 26.5; MA 34.7 / 31.2 / 23.1; PH 25.5 / 22.9 / 17; CY 25 / 22.5 / 16.6; XL 36.3 / 32.6 / 24.1; XE 35.2 / 31.6 / 23.4; AR 40 / 36 / 26.6

What is new in 2027

A Robotics and Automation (RA) paper with a common Part A and a choice of Electrical or Mechanical in Part B; revised syllabi in several papers, including BT; changes to the TF paper; new section codes in XE, XH and XL; DigiLocker as the mandatory registration route for Indian nationals; and rectification charges of ₹500 per change (₹1,500 for changes that raise the fee category).

Overview

What GATE is, and who it suits

GATE is a single three-hour paper in a chosen subject, offered across a wide range of engineering, science, humanities and architecture disciplines. Candidates may sit one paper or, where permitted, two, and the score is valid for three years — which gives it a longer useful life than most Indian entrance examinations.

Its results feed three quite different processes. Postgraduate admission to the IITs, IISc, NITs and other institutions, frequently with a written test or interview stage after shortlisting. Research fellowships and direct doctoral admission. And recruitment by public sector undertakings, many of which shortlist entirely on GATE score before their own interview process.

The three question types, and why they matter

  • Multiple choice questions — four options, one correct, with negative marking. The conventional type.
  • Multiple select questions — more than one option may be correct, and partial credit generally does not apply — you must select exactly the right set. No negative marking, but also no partial reward.
  • Numerical answer type — you enter a value rather than selecting an option. No negative marking, and no elimination possible either.
  • The consequence — the two non-MCQ types carry no penalty, which means they should never be left unanswered.

Decide early whether you are targeting admission or PSU recruitment

The two use GATE differently. PSU recruitment generally shortlists on a high rank in a specific paper and applies its own eligibility criteria; postgraduate admission uses the score alongside institutional processes and may weigh other factors. The score target, and sometimes the paper choice, differ accordingly — and a candidate who has not settled the question ends up optimising for neither.

Eligibility

Who can apply for GATE

GATE eligibility, from the eligibility-criteria page for GATE 2027. GATE has no age limit and no limit on the number of attempts, and the qualifying degree need not be complete at the time of the test.

Who may apply.
Qualifying degreeStatus required
B.E., B.Tech, B.Pharm; B.Arch, B.Planning, naval architectureThird year or higher, or completed
B.Sc. (Research), B.S. (four-year)Third year or higher, or completed
Three-year B.Sc., B.A., B.Com. and other UG degrees (arts, humanities, commerce, science)Third year or completed — for Master’s admission at the IITs and IISc through papers such as XH, XL, MA, PH, CY, ST, DA
Pharm.D., MBBS, BDS, BVSc, AYUSH degreesThird year or higher of the professional programme, or completed
M.Sc., M.A., MCA, integrated M.Tech and M.E., dual degreesAny year of the programme, or completed
Professional society examinations (IE, ICE, IETE, AeSI, IIChE, IIM, IIIE)Completed sections A and B, where the examination is recognised as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech by MoE, AICTE, UGC or UPSC
Degrees from outside IndiaThird year or higher, or a completed Bachelor’s of at least three years

Also from the brochure

  • Two papers — allowed only from the approved two-paper combinations, in different sessions; a second application form is needed.
  • Foreign nationals — may apply at the general fee; the examination is held in India only.
  • Admitting institutes — set their own minimum qualifications and marks on top of the GATE score.

Selection process

How GATE selection works

Each stage in order, and what it actually tests.

Stages change between cycles. Confirm the structure in the notification for the cycle you are sitting.
StageFormatWhat it involves
GATE — the computer-based test3 hours, 65 questions, 100 marks, one paper per sessionGeneral Aptitude (10 questions, 15 marks) is common to every paper; the subject section carries 55 questions for 85 marks with 1- and 2-mark MCQs (negative marking), MSQs and NAT questions (no negative marking, no partial marks on MSQs). The XE, XL and XH papers have a compulsory section and choice of optional sections.
Answer key, score and rankMaster question papers and keys with a challenge window; scorecard on 19 March 2027Marks out of 100 are normalised across sessions for multi-session papers and converted to a GATE score out of 1,000; qualifying cut-offs are set paper-wise for General, OBC-NCL/EWS and SC/ST/PwD; the scorecard carries the marks, score, All India Rank and the cut-offs and is valid for three years.
Admission or recruitment on the scoreCOAP for the IITs, CCMT for the NITs and IIITs, IISc and institute portals, PSU applicationsM.Tech admissions at the IITs run through the Common Offer Acceptance Portal with rounds of offers; NITs, IIITs and CFTIs through CCMT counselling; IISc and other institutes on their own portals, some with written tests and interviews; PSUs such as IOCL, NTPC, PGCIL and ONGC shortlist on the GATE score and add group discussion and interviews on their own schedule.

Application to admission

How GATE runs, from GOAPS registration to the February examination, the scorecard and COAP, CCMT or PSU selection

The steps follow the GATE 2027 information brochure and the way the 2026 cycle ran at IIT Guwahati.

The GATE process

  1. Register on GOAPS On gate2027.iitm.ac.in from 2 September 2026, through DigiLocker for Indian nationals; fill the personal, category and qualifying-degree details, choose the paper or the two-paper combination and three city preferences, and upload the photograph, signature, ID and category or PwD certificates in the prescribed sizes.
  2. Pay the fee ₹1,000 (one paper) or ₹2,000 (two) for women, SC, ST and PwD candidates and ₹2,000 or ₹4,000 for others by 27 September; ₹500 more per paper in the extended window to 5 October 2026.
  3. Rectification 14–21 October 2026, with ₹500 per change in name, date of birth, city, paper, gender or category, and NIL for address and college details.
  4. City allotment and admit card City allotment on 4 January 2027 and the admit card on the date to be announced; carry it with the original ID.
  5. Examination A 3-hour computer-based session on one of the six days from 6 to 21 February 2027, with the on-screen virtual calculator and scribble pad; two-paper candidates sit in different sessions.
  6. Keys, result and scorecard Master question papers and answer keys with a challenge window; result on 19 March 2027; the scorecard with marks, GATE score out of 1,000, rank and cut-offs, downloadable from GOAPS and valid for three years.
  7. Admission or recruitment COAP for IIT M.Tech offers, CCMT for the NITs and IIITs, IISc and other institutes on their own portals, and PSU applications on the score; some institutes add a written test or interview.

Exam pattern

GATE exam pattern and marking

The GATE exam pattern below is the question-paper-pattern page for GATE 2027: 65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours in every paper, with General Aptitude common to all and the subject section carrying the other 85 marks.

GATE paper. 3 hours, 65 questions, 100 marks, computer-based.
SectionQuestionsMarksNotes
General Aptitude10155 one-mark and 5 two-mark: verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial aptitude
Subject5585In AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI: 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics and 72 of the subject; in AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH, XL: 85 of the subject
Total651001- and 2-mark questions; MCQ, MSQ and NAT
Question types and marking.
TypeCorrectWrong
MCQ — one of four+1 or +2−1/3 on a 1-mark, −2/3 on a 2-mark question
MSQ — one or more of four+1 or +2 only when all correct options are chosenNo deduction; no partial marks
NAT — number typed on the virtual keypad+1 or +2 within the accepted rangeNo deduction
Sectional papers.
PaperStructure
XE Engineering SciencesGA 15 + Engineering Mathematics (XE0) 15 compulsory + any two sections of 35 chosen during the exam
XL Life SciencesGA 15 + Chemistry (XL0) 25 compulsory + any two sections of 30 chosen during the exam
XH Humanities and Social SciencesGA 15 + Reasoning and Comprehension (XH0) 25 + one section of 60 chosen at application
AR, GE, RAGA 15 + common Part A (60 / 55 / 60) + Part B1 or B2 (25 / 30 / 25) chosen during the exam
GG Geology and GeophysicsGA 15 + common Part A 25 + Geology or Geophysics 60, chosen at application

Scoring

Raw marks are normalised for papers held in more than one session and converted to a GATE score out of 1,000 that puts every paper on one scale; qualifying cut-offs are paper- and category-wise — in 2026 from 25 to 40 for General candidates, with 30 in CS and 26.4 in EC — and the score is what COAP, CCMT and the PSUs use.

Study plan

How to prepare for GATE

GATE is a three-hour paper of 65 questions on the whole undergraduate syllabus with a third of a mark off on wrong MCQs and nothing off on MSQs and NAT, held on six days in February. The preparation is syllabus coverage from the official syllabus PDF, previous papers from the master question papers, and mocks on the computer-based interface with the virtual calculator; registration closes on 27 September and the extended window on 5 October.

Twenty-week plan for GATE 2027 (6–21 February 2027).
WeeksWorkOutput
1–8The subject syllabus topic by topic from the 2027 syllabus PDF, standard texts and the previous ten years of questions by topic; Engineering Mathematics alongside in the engineering papersNotes and a formula sheet per topic
9–14Topic tests with NAT practice on a virtual calculator; General Aptitude two sessions a week (15 marks with no syllabus to speak of)Weak topics listed and re-done
15–18Full 3-hour mocks twice a week on the CBT interface with the official marking; the 2026 and 2025 papers under timeAttempt strategy: NAT and MSQ attempted, MCQs only above a confidence threshold
19–20Formula sheet, previous-year mistakes, one mock; city allotment and admit cardReady for the February slot

What the AIR-1s do

  • They cover the syllabus, not the coaching notes — GATE asks from the whole official syllabus and a topic skipped is 2 or 4 marks gone.
  • They never leave NAT and MSQ blank — no deduction, so an estimate is free.
  • They give General Aptitude its 15 marks — the cheapest marks on the paper and the difference between two cut-off scores.
  • They practise on the calculator — the on-screen calculator is slower than a physical one and NAT precision depends on it.

Practice on this site

GATE syllabus GATE previous year papers GATE mock tests GATE study material IIT JAM guide

Sources

Official notifications and sources

Checked 15 September 2026 against the GATE 2027 pages at IIT Madras and the GATE 2026 result pages at IIT Guwahati.

Official documents

GATE 2027 — IIT Madras GATE 2027 important dates GATE 2027 question paper pattern GATE 2027 eligibility criteria GATE 2027 application fees and rectification charges GATE 2027 notifications GATE 2026 cut-off marks, registered and appeared by paper GATE 2026 All India Rank 1 candidates GATE 2026 important dates

Exam resources

Everything for GATE

Six resource pages, each kept in step with the latest official notification.

GATE SyllabusGATE syllabus — general aptitude, engineering mathematics and the subject syllabus for each paper.GATE Exam PatternGATE exam pattern 2027 — 65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours, General Aptitude 15 and subject 85, MCQ/MSQ/NAT with −1/3 and −2/3 on MCQs only; 2026 cut-offs.GATE Previous PapersGATE previous year papers — building a topic weighting table and practising the three question types.GATE Mock TestsGATE mock tests — full three-hour practice with the correct marking rules for each question type.GATE PreparationGATE preparation — topic-weighted subject revision, engineering mathematics, general aptitude and choosing your target.GATE Study MaterialGATE study material — guidance on degree textbooks for the subject, plus mathematics and aptitude notes.

Related

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All PG Research examsEvery exam in this categoryPrevious-year papersPast papers with solutionsCurrent affairsDaily, weekly and monthlyExam updatesNotifications and results

Questions

GATE — FAQs

What is the GATE 2027 exam date, and what is the registration last date?

The examinations are on 6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 February 2027 and the results on 19 March 2027. GOAPS at gate2027.iitm.ac.in opened on 2 September 2026; regular registration closes on 27 September 2026 and the extended window with late fee on 5 October 2026, with rectification from 14 to 21 October and city allotment on 4 January 2027.

What is the GATE exam pattern?

A 3-hour computer-based paper of 65 questions for 100 marks: General Aptitude 10 questions for 15 marks and the subject 55 questions for 85 marks, of which 13 are Engineering Mathematics in the engineering papers. Questions are 1- or 2-mark multiple-choice (−1/3 or −2/3 for a wrong answer), multiple-select and numerical-answer (no deduction). The XE, XL and XH papers have compulsory and optional sections, and there are 30 papers in 2027 including the new Robotics and Automation paper.

What are the GATE 2027 syllabus and exam pattern changes?

The pattern is unchanged — 65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours, General Aptitude 15 and the subject 85 — and the exam dates and eligibility are unchanged. What IIT Madras changed in the brochure it revised after the 20 July launch is the paper list and some syllabi: a new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper with a common Part A and an Electrical or Mechanical Part B, offered in combination with CS, DA, EC, EE, IN or ME; Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) withdrawn as a standalone paper and offered as a section of Engineering Sciences (XE); a rewritten Biotechnology (BT) syllabus with merged sections, trimmed engineering topics and new additions; revised section codes in XE, XH and XL; and DigiLocker as the mandatory registration route. The paper-wise PDFs on gate2027.iitm.ac.in are the reference for every other paper, whose syllabi are unchanged.

What is the GATE 2027 syllabus for CSE?

Unchanged for 2027: General Aptitude (verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial aptitude) for 15 marks, and the Computer Science and Information Technology paper for 85 — Engineering Mathematics (discrete mathematics, linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics), Digital Logic, Computer Organisation and Architecture, Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating System, Databases and Computer Networks. Weightage is not fixed by the syllabus; the 2020–2026 papers show algorithms, data structures, mathematics and operating systems carrying the most marks. The topic-wise list is on the GATE syllabus page here and the PDF on gate2027.iitm.ac.in.

What is the GATE 2027 application fee?

In the regular period, ₹1,000 for one paper and ₹2,000 for two for women, SC, ST and PwD candidates, and ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 for all other candidates including foreign nationals; in the extended period to 5 October 2026 the amounts are ₹1,500 and ₹2,500, and ₹2,500 and ₹4,500. Rectification of name, date of birth, city, paper, gender or category costs ₹500 per change.

Who is eligible for GATE 2027?

Anyone in the third or higher year of any undergraduate degree — engineering, technology, architecture, pharmacy, science, commerce, arts, humanities or a professional medical programme — or who has completed one, including three-year B.Sc., B.A. and B.Com. graduates, and candidates in any year of an M.Sc., M.A., MCA or integrated programme. There is no age limit and no restriction on attempts. Indian nationals must register through DigiLocker.

What were the GATE 2026 cut-offs?

For General, OBC-NCL/EWS and SC/ST/PwD candidates: CS 30 / 27 / 20 (2,59,922 registered, 2,11,020 appeared), EC 26.4 / 23.7 / 17.5, EE 27.7 / 24.9 / 18.4, ME 25.2 / 22.6 / 16.7, CE 28.7 / 25.8 / 19.1, DA 26.4 / 23.7 / 17.5, CH 25 / 22.5 / 16.6, IN 39.8 / 35.8 / 26.5, MA 34.7 / 31.2 / 23.1, PH 25.5 / 22.9 / 17, XL 36.3 / 32.6 / 24.1 and XE 35.2 / 31.6 / 23.4, from the cut-off page at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Is there negative marking in GATE?

Only on multiple-choice questions: one-third of a mark on a 1-mark MCQ and two-thirds on a 2-mark MCQ. Multiple-select and numerical-answer questions carry no deduction, though an MSQ scores only when every correct option is chosen and none else. Leave no NAT or MSQ blank.

How long is a GATE score valid and what is it used for?

Three years from the date of the result. It is used for M.Tech, M.E., M.Arch, M.S. and Ph.D. admissions with the MoE scholarship at the IITs (through COAP), IISc, the NITs and IIITs (through CCMT) and other institutes, and by public-sector undertakings such as IOCL, NTPC, PGCIL and ONGC to shortlist for their own selections. The organising institute is not involved in admissions or recruitment.

Are there free GATE mock tests?

Yes. The free GATE mock tests here follow the 2027 pattern — 65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours with General Aptitude, MCQ, MSQ and NAT questions and the −1/3 and −2/3 deductions on MCQs — for the major papers, and report the score against the 2026 cut-offs. Use them with the master question papers and keys published by the organising institutes and the official mock-test links.

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