GATE Exam 2026: How many questions to attempt to score 40 marks in GATE, Marks vs Rank, and Cutoff Insights
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Result - 19 Mar '26
Appearing GATE 2026 exam this year? If you are, then this article will guide you in the best way. Get complete information on how many questions is needed to score 40+ marks in GATE. The blog covers GATE expected cutoff marks, number of smart attempts, marks vs rank and more. Read below to know more.
GATE is one of the most competitive exams in India, opening doors to M.Tech admissions in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and prestigious PSUs. Every year, lakhs of students aim for high scores, but one common question is: How many questions should I attempt to score 40+ marks in GATE? Scoring 40+ marks in GATE is considered, but not enough for someone who is dreaming of getting into IITs or NITs.
As, GATE mark and rank varies every year depending on difficulty and normalisation process. Achieving 40 marks in GATE exam can get in you a rank between 2000 - 3000, which can be good for some new NITs and state government colleges. Let’s get into it to understand it better.
| GATE 2026 Exam Live Feb 15: EC and DA Paper Analysis and Question Answer Key | GATE 2026 Feb 14 shift 1 and 2 exam analysis and question paper |
IIT Guwahati has completed GATE 2026 exam. Students appearing for entrance test must be aware of GATE exam and shift timings.
Also read:
Firstly, understand GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
Before knowing how many questions to attempt, you must understand GATE exam pattern:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Mode of the question paper | English |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Number of papers (Subjects) | 30 test papers |
| Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subject(s) |
| Type of Questions | (a) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Question (MSQ) (c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
| Testing of abilities | (a) Recall (b) Comprehension (c) Application (d) Analysis & Synthesis |
| Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 marks Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks Subject Questions: 72 marks Total: 100 marks (XE includes the Engineering Mathematics section XE-A of 15 marks) |
| Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL | General Aptitude: 15 marks Subject Questions: 85 marks Total: 100 marks |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking. For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. There is no negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions. There is no partial marking in MSQ. |
Also read:
If your Target is 40 Marks in GATE 2026
To score 40+ marks in GATE 2026, you need to aim for at least 42 to 45 raw marks (keeping in mind that silly mistakes may happen).
| If you attempt 30 questions of 2 marks correctly | It can fetch you 60 marks in GATE 2026 |
| If you attempt 20 questions of 2 marks correctly, and 10 questions of 1 mark correctly | It can fetch you 50 marks in GATE 2026 |
| If you attempt 15 questions of 2 marks and 15 questions of 1 mark correctly | It can fetch you 45 marks in the GATE |
This means you don't have to solve all 65 questions. Even 22 to 28 correct GATE questions (with good accuracy) can give you 40+ marks.
Also read:
- What is the salary of a GATE topper in a month?
- GATE marks vs rank vs score
- GATE exam VS campus placements: Which is better for aspirants, benefits and more
How many questions are required to attempt to score 40+ marks in GATE Exam
GATE General Aptitude Section
- GATE GA section is generally easy and can be scored easily
- Keep a target of scoring at least 8 to 10 marks, which is around 7 to 8 questions (approx).
The General Aptitude section is included for GATE paper codes AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, GE, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL.
GATE Engineering Mathematics Section
- Highly formula-based with predictable and predictable questions.
- Keep a target of scoring 10 to 12 marks, which is roughly an attempt of 7 to 8 questions.
GATE Core Subject
- GATE specific-branch related discipline section has highest weightage
- Try scoring at least 20 to 25 marks- which is around 12 to 15 questions.
Also check:
GATE Questions Attempt vs Accuracy
Many aspirants think they must attempt 55 to 60 questions to score well. This is not true, check below -
| If you attempt 40 questions with 80% accuracy | You get at least 32 correct answers = 50 marks in GATE |
| If you attempt 55 questions with 50% accuracy and get 27 at least correct | Then you get around 42 marks in GATE |
Smart Strategy: How to attempt questions to score 40+ marks in GATE Exam
| Prioritise GA and Engineering Mathematics sections | These sections are comparatively easy and give a confidence boost. Secure 18 to 20 marks here. |
| Pick Easy Questions First | In GATE, at least 20 to 25% of questions are straightforward if you know basics. Hence, focus on the fundamentals. |
| Attempt GATE NATs and MSQs Wisely | Since there’s no negative marking, attempt them even if half sure. There is no partial marking in MSQs. |
| Avoid Blind Guessing in MCQs- | Negative marking can affect your GATE 2026 scores |
What is the Safe Attempt Range for 40+ Marks in GATE?
| Total attempts | 40 to 45 questions (overall) |
| Expected accuracy | 60 to 70% accuracy |
| Correct number of questions needed | 25 to 28 (approx) |
So, if you attempt 40 questions with 70% accuracy in GATE 2026 with 28 correct questions, that fetches at least 42 to 44 marks in GATE 2026. It is safe score in GATE 2026.
Also Read:
What to avoid while attempting GATE questions?
- Avoid guesswork
- Not focusing on GA and Engineering Mathematics- It can easily give you 20+ marks
- Lack of time management while attempting questions
- Not attempting GATE old question papers, Most toppers say that at least 10 to 12 GATE previous year papers are a must.
To secure seat at IIT Bombay for CSE, students should obtain rank as per the cutoff list. For BTech CSE admission, cutoff was 23 for EWS All India category candidates. Therefore, they should get a rank of 23 or below to secure a seat as per the last round cutoff list.
Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the past years’ trends of COEP Pune for several courses across OBC category:
| Course | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 97.21 | 97.23 | 98.08 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 97.81 | 98.69 | 98.86 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 98.46 | 98.86 | 99.07 |
| B.Tech. in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering | 99.34 | 99.35 | 99.66 |
| B.Tech. in Instrumentation and Control Engineering | 98.29 | 98.65 | 98.89 |
| B.Tech. in Metallurgical Engineering | 94.47 | 93.18 | 96.9 |
| B.Tech.8 in Computer Engineering | 99.67 | 99.73 | 99.81 |
| B.Tech. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence | – / – | – / – | 99.56 |
Explore more Engineering exams with upcoming dates
5 Mar '26 - 6 Mar '26
7 Mar '26
20 Feb '26 - 31 Mar '26
31 Mar '26
18 Feb '26 - 20 Apr '26
6 Feb '26 - 6 Mar '26
27 Feb '26 - 6 Mar '26
20 Jun '26
7 Jun '26 - 23 Jun '26
How to Secure 40+ Marks in GATE 2026
| Daily 2 Hour Practice of General Aptitude and Engineering Maths | Consistency here ensures 15 to 20 marks |
| Strengthen Core Fundamentals | Don't mug everything, understand concepts |
| Take GATE Mock Tests |
Practice attempting 50 to 55 questions in GATE exam and check your accuracy. |
| Make formula sheets | Many 1-mark questions are direct formula-based |
| Don’t Panic | Even if paper feels tough, remember that GATE cutoff and rank depend on relative performance. |
Hence, 40+ marks in GATE 2026 = Safely above the cutoff in all branches. However, it might not be enough for GATE cutoff for NITs (category-applicants may get seats in some branches)
Can I get IIT with 40+ marks in GATE?
Getting admission to an IIT with 40 marks in GATE is unlikely for top IITs and popular branches, as it is below average, but it may be possible (with less chance) for newer IITs, interdisciplinary programs, or less competitive branches, as cutoffs vary significantly by institution, branch, category, and the exam's difficulty. However, you can try your luck in state government colleges.
With 40+ marks in GATE 2026, your admission chances might become a little higher. Thus, scoring 40+ marks in GATE can be easy with practice and dedication. Honestly, you do not need to solve all 65 questions, just right strategy you can easily cross the 40+ mark benchmark and open opportunities to good colleges and PSU opportunties.
Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,
Read Full BioNews & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Mar '26 | JEE Main 2026 Admit Card Sessi... |
2 Apr '26 - 9 Apr '26 | JEE Main 2026 Exam Date Sessio... |
19 Feb '26 - 4 Apr '26 | TS EAMCET Application Form 202... |
7 Apr '26 - 8 Apr '26 | TS EAMCET 2026 form correction |
4 Feb '26 - 17 Mar '26 | AP EAMCET 2026 Registration wi... |
8 Mar '26 - 21 Mar '26 | AP EAMCET 2026 Application for... |
24 Feb '26 - 30 Mar '26 | KCET Application Correction Wi... |
Apr '26 | KCET 2026 Admit Card |
Sep '26 | DTU LEET 2026 Application Form... |
Oct '26 | DTU LEET 2026 Exam Date |
22 Mar '26 | OJEE 2026: Last date of fee pa... |
25 Apr '26 | OJEE 2026 Admit Card Release |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
No, GATE registrations have been closed for IIT Hyderabad PhD admissions to the academic year 2026. However, GATE is not a mandatory entrance exam for all PhD admissions at IIT Hyderabad.
Thus, candidates can still apply for PhD courses at IIT Hyderabad into the departments which accept candidates wi
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
No, GATE is not a compulsory entrance exam for PhD admissions at IIT Hyderabad. However, every department of IIT Hyderabad has a separate eligibility and selection criteria for their offered PhD courses.
In some departments, candidates are required to appear for the GATE in order to be eligible for I
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, according to GITAM University, candidates can answer their paper in whichever order they want.
Y
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, University of Mysore does accept GATE scores. Students seeking admissions to MTech/ PhD programmes can submit GATE score. This applies to programmes offered through various affiliated institutes/ college also. Students can check the university's site to know more.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
COAP also called as Common Offer Acceptance Portal is a platform used for GATE qualified candidates to exercise their college acceptance choices for admission to MTech/Ph/ME programmes. The COAP is a counselling platform used by participating IITs, IISc, and PSU for job recruitments.
It is one platfo
H
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
In GATE, normalisation process generally makes a gap of 4 to 7 marks (approximately) between actual and normalised scores. However, if difficulty level of paper was high then the marks might increase. On other hand, for easier paper, marks may reduce offering fairness across sessions.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, the GATE 2026 exam has already been concluded at this point for Jerusalem College of Engineering ME admissions. The entrance exam was conducted in the month of February and the result is expected to be revealed soon in the upcoming month of March.
Candidates who failed to appear for GATE can stil
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
There is no confirmation whether GATE is a compulsory entrance exam for Jerusalem College of Engineering ME course admissions. Several unofficial sources state that Jerusalem College of Engineering accepts GATE scores for ME admissions.
However, the website of Jerusalem College of Engineering has not
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, to get admission into IIT Madras MTech course, students have to appear for the GATE exam. This is a part of minimum eligibility criteria for M.Tech course admissions. After clearing the GATE exam, the students are selected on the basis of merit list. The students have to obtain a minimum of 60%
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, there is no subject-wise cutoff mark for GATE exam. The scores along with minimum-qualifying cutoff will be released (category-wise) along with normalised score.
- GATE Marks out of 100
- GATE Scores out of 1000
P
Contributor-Level 7
IIT Madras JEE Advanced cutoff 2024 was concluded for different courses such as BTech, Integrated BTech and BS. The cutoff for the General AI category candidates closed at a range of 159 and 10682. During 2023, the cutoff ranks for the same was closed at a range of 148 and 11185. Candidates can check the branch-wise cutoff for both the years in the table below, to get an idea of the change in cutoff: