Structure of GATE 2016

GATE 2016 will be conducted in the subjects (also referred to as “papers”) shown in Table below Candidates must familiarize with the paper code for the paper of their choice, as this knowledge will be required at the time of application form submission and appearing for the examination. A candidate is allowed to appear in ONLY ONE paper.

Since a candidate is allowed to appear in ONLY ONE of the 23 papers for which GATE 2016 examination is being held, the candidate has to make the choice of the paper he/she wishes to write carefully. Table below gives the list of GATE papers and paper codes for GATE 2016.

The candidate is expected to appear in a paper appropriate to the discipline of his/her qualifying degree. However, the candidate is, free to choose any paper according to his/her admission plan, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria of the institutions in which he/she wishes to seek admission. For more details regarding the admission criteria in any particular institute, the candidate is advised to refer to the websites of that institute.

Table: List of GATE papers and corresponding codes

Sl.No	Paper	Code		Sl.No	Paper	Code
1	Aerospace Engineering	AE		13	Instrumentation Engineering	IN
2	Agricultural Engineering	AG		14	Mathematics	MA
3	Architecture and Planning	AR		15	Mechanical Engineering	ME
4	Biotechnology	BT		16	Mining Engineering	MN
5	Civil Engineering	CE		17	Metallurgical Engineering	MT
6	Chemical Engineering	CH		18	Petroleum Engineering	PE
7	Computer Science and Information Technology	CS		19	Physics	PH
8	Chemistry	CY		20	Production and Industrial Engineering	PI
9	Electronics and Communication Engineering	EC		21	Textile Engineering and Fibre Science	TF
10	Electrical Engineering	EE		22	Engineering Sciences	XE*
11	Ecology and Evolution	EY		23	Life Sciences	XL**
12	Geology and Geophysics	GG
	XE Paper Sections	Code			XL Paper Sections	Code
	Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)	A			Chemistry (Compulsory)	H
	Fluid Mechanics	B			Biochemistry	I
	Materials Science	C			Botany	J
	Solid Mechanics	D			Microbiology	K
	Thermodynamics	E			Zoology	L
	Polymer Science and Engineering	F			Food Technology	M
	Food Technology	G

*XE (Engineering Sciences) and **XL (Life Sciences) papers are of general nature and will comprise of Sections listed in the above table. More detailed explanation is given below.

General Aptitude Questions

All the papers will contain few questions that test the General Aptitude (Language and Analytical Skills), apart from the core subject of the paper.

XE Paper

A candidate appearing in the XE paper has to answer the following

1. Section A – Engineering Mathematics (compulsory)

2. GA – General Aptitude (compulsory)

3. Any two of XE sections B to G

The choice of two sections from B to G can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to G).

XL Paper

A candidate appearing in the XL paper has to answer the following

Section H – Chemistry (compulsory)

GA – General Aptitude (compulsory)

Any two of XL sections I to M

The choice of two sections from I to M can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered by the candidate. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (I to M).

Duration and Examination Type

The GATE examination consists of a single paper of 3-hour duration that contains 65 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The question paper will consist of both multiple choice questions (MCQ) and numerical answer type questions. Click here for the pattern of question papers.

The examination for all the papers will be carried out in an ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT) mode where the candidates will be shown the questions in a random sequence on a computer screen. The candidates are required to either select the answer (for MCQ type) or enter the answer for numerical answer type question using a mouse on a virtual keyboard (keyboard of the computer will be disabled). Candidates will be provided with blank paper sheets for rough work and these have to be returned back after the examination. At the end of the 3-hour window, the computer will automatically close the screen from further actions.