GATE 2016 Syllabi
The syllabus for each of the papers can be found by clicking on the subject papers below. Read the section on Structure of GATE 2016 to know what sections appear in each paper, especially in XE and XL.
*The syllabi for GATE 2016 papers have been revised. Hence, syllabi of some papers may be different from those of GATE 2015.
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.
Pattern of Question Papers and Marking Scheme
Pattern of Question Papers
In all the papers, there will be a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks are in General Aptitude (GA).
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% percentage of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
In the papers bearing the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and theremaining 85% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
GATE 2016 would contain questions of two different types in various papers:
(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to mark the correct answer(s).
(ii) Numerical Answer Questions of 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. For these questions the answer is a real number, to be entered by the candidate using the virtual keypad. No choices will be shown for this type of questions.
Design of Questions
The questions in a paper may be designed to test the following abilities:
(i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles, formulae or laws of the discipline of the paper. The candidate is expected to be able to obtain the answer either from his/her memory of the subject or at most from a one-line computation.
Example
Q. During machining maximum heat is produced
(A) in flank face
(B) in rake face
(C) in shear zone
(D) due to friction between chip and tool
(ii) Comprehension: These questions will test the candidate’s understanding of the basics of his/her field, by requiring him/her to draw simple conclusions from fundamental ideas.
Example
Q. A DC motor requires a starter in order to
(A) develop a starting torque
(B) compensate for auxiliary field ampere turns
(C) limit armature current at starting
(D) provide regenerative braking
(iii) Application: In these questions, the candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either through computation or by logical reasoning.
Example
Q. The sequent depth ratio of a hydraulic jump in a rectangular channel is 16.48. The Froude number at the beginning of the jump is:
(A) 5.0 (B) 8.0 (C) 10.0 (D) 12.0
Examples of each of this design is given in the types of questions above.
The questions based on the above logics may be a mix of single standalone statement/phrase/data type questions, combination of option codes type questions or match items type questions.
(iv) Analysis and Synthesis: In these questions, the candidate is presented with data, diagrams, images etc. that require analysis before a question can be answered. A Synthesis question might require the candidate to compare two or more pieces of information. Questions in this category could, for example, involve candidates in recognising unstated assumptions, or separating useful information from irrelevant information.
Marking Scheme
For 1-mark multiple-choice questions, 1/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-marks multiple-choice questions,2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. There is no negative marking for numerical answer type questions.
General Aptitude (GA) Questions
In all papers, GA questions carry a total of 15 marks. The GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 10 marks).
Question Papers other than GG, XE and XL
These papers would contain 25 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total60 marks). The question paper will consist of questions of multiple choice and numerical answer type. For numerical answer questions, choices will not be given. Candidates have to enter the answer (which will be a real number, signed or unsigned, e.g. 25.06, -25.06, 25, -25 etc.) using a virtual keypad. An appropriate range will be considered while evaluating the numerical answer type questions so that the candidate is not penalized due to the usual round-off errors.
GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper
Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is common for all candidates. Part B contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geo-physics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and either Section 1 or Section 2 in Part B.
Part A consists of 25 multiple-choice questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions). Each section in Part B (Section 1 and Section 2) consists of 30 multiple choice questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions).
XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)
In XE paper, Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) is compulsory. This section contains 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 7 marks), and 4 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 8 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type questions.
Each of the other sections of the XE paper (Sections B through G) contains 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks: 9 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 9 marks) and 13 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 26 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
XL Paper (Life Sciences)
In XL paper, Chemistry section (Section H) is compulsory. This section contains 15 questions carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
Each of the other sections of the XL paper (Sections I through M) contains 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 10 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
