GATE Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme (MCQ, MSQ, NAT) Explained
The complete GATE exam pattern — duration, number of questions, General Aptitude split, and exactly how MCQ, MSQ and NAT questions are marked (including negative marking).
By Zen Alpha Faculty · IIT, NIT & ex-ISRO mentors · Updated 2 November 2026
Knowing the exact pattern changes how you attempt the paper — which questions to risk, which to leave, and how to budget three hours. Here is the structure as followed in recent GATE cycles.
The basics
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes).
- Total questions: 65.
- Total marks: 100.
- Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) with an on-screen virtual calculator. Physical calculators are not allowed.
- Sections: General Aptitude (GA) + the subject (e.g., CS).
Marks split
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude (10 questions) | 15 (five 1-mark + five 2-mark) |
| Core subject | 85 |
| Total | 100 |
Questions are a mix of 1-mark and 2-mark items across the paper.
The three question types
MCQ — Multiple Choice Questions
Four options, exactly one correct. These are the only questions with negative marking: a wrong 1-mark MCQ costs −1/3, and a wrong 2-mark MCQ costs −2/3.
MSQ — Multiple Select Questions
One or more options can be correct, and you must select all the correct ones (and none of the wrong ones) to get the marks. No negative marking, but also no partial marks — it is all or nothing.
NAT — Numerical Answer Type
No options; you type a numeric answer using the virtual keypad. No negative marking, so you should always attempt every NAT question.
Strategy from the marking scheme
Always attempt all NAT and MSQ questions (nothing to lose on NAT; MSQ only hurts if you half-guess). For MCQs, guess only when you can eliminate at least two options — otherwise the −1/3 or −2/3 penalty is not worth it.
Normalization
When a subject is held in multiple sessions, GATE normalizes scores across sessions to account for slight differences in difficulty, then computes a GATE score out of 1000 from your normalized marks. You cannot control this — focus on maximizing your raw marks.
See the pattern in action on real papers: every question on our GATE PYQ pages is tagged MCQ/MSQ/NAT with its marks and the official answer.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there in GATE and for how many marks?+
GATE has 65 questions for 100 marks, to be solved in 3 hours. This includes 10 General Aptitude questions worth 15 marks.
Is there negative marking in GATE for MSQ and NAT?+
No. MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking. Only MCQs carry negative marking: −1/3 for a 1-mark MCQ and −2/3 for a 2-mark MCQ.
Is there partial marking in MSQ questions?+
No. MSQ is all-or-nothing — you must select every correct option and no incorrect option to earn the marks.
Can I use a calculator in GATE?+
Only the on-screen virtual calculator provided in the exam. Physical calculators and mobile phones are not allowed.
What is GATE normalization?+
For subjects conducted in multiple sessions, GATE statistically adjusts raw marks across sessions for fairness, then derives a GATE score out of 1000.
Put this into practice on Zen Alpha
Free GATE previous-year papers with solutions, mock tests, notes and 1:1 doubt support — built by IIT, NIT & ex-ISRO mentors.