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 - 27 Mar '26 - 31 May '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.
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- 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.
Commonly asked questions
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.
IIIT Allahabad accpets JEE Main score for admission to the BTech courses. As per the IIIT Allahabad cutoff 2023, the Last Round closing rank for BTech ranged between 5924 and 9558, among which Information Technology was the most competitive specialisation. The Round 1 closing rank for BTech ranged between 4817 and 8428 for BTech.
So, considering the previous year Round 1 and the Last Round closing ranks, candidates seeking admission to IIIT Allahabad must secure a rank over and above 4800 and 9600 for the General ALL India category candidates.
Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the 2023 Last Round closing ranks for IIIT Allahabad to get an idea of the ranks required for all the BTech courses offered at this institute:
| Course | Round 1 | Last Round |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering | 8428 | 9558 |
| B.Tech. in Information Technology | 4817 | 5924 |
| B.Tech. in Information Technology (Business Informatics) | 5162 | 6587 |
The opening and Closing rank depends on the category and quota of candidates. For the General category under All India, opening rank was 5365 and closing rank was 5374. The cutoffs are different when it comes to other categories or female candidates and even domicile of home state. In All India, opening and closing rank for female candidates was 8323 and 8618. Admission to Integrated B.Tech. + M.Tech. in Engineering Design (Automotive Engineering) in IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology is based on the scores obtained in the entrance exam JEE. Applicants are advised to confirm what category are they applying while checking for cut offs.
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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.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
No, Indian students don't need JEE, NEET, or GATE exam score to get a seat at Imperial College. However, programs like MBBS (UCAT), MBA (GMAT), and some STEM programs (ESAT, TMUA, GRE) do ask for additional test scores.
Make sure to check entry requirements for desired course before applying at Impe
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, you can get admission in M.Tech without GATE exam at MIT College of Management and Computer Application. In that case, you can appear for PERA CET or MIT-WPU CET exam and get a valid score for admission.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
| Target Performance | Desired Score | Approx. Questions to Attempt | Reasoning |
| Top IITs / PSUs | 70 - 85+ | 55 - 60 Questions | High attempts with near-perfect accuracy are required to compete for the top 500 ranks. |
| Old IITs / Top NITs | 55 - 70 | 45 - 52 Questions | A safe zone where you focus on high-weightage topics and core subjects. |
| Qualification / New NITs | 30 - 45 | 35 - 40 Questions | Focus on General Aptitude, Mathematics, and your the strongest 3–4 technical subjects. |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
The GATE 2026 results were officially released by IIT Guwahati on March 19, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM IST.
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
| Category | Potential Branches | Admission Chance |
| General | Interdisciplinary branches (Biomedical, Earth System Science, Aquacultural Engineering) | Moderate |
| OBC | Chemical, Cryogenic, or Functional Materials | Moderate to High |
| SC / ST | Core branches (Mechanical, Communication, Structural) | Very High |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
| Institute Category | Potential IITs | Admission Chance |
| Newer IITs | IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad | High |
| Mid-Tier IITs | IIT Patna, IIT Mandi, IIT Palakkad | Moderate (Likely in later rounds) |
| Old IITs | IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur | Low for core M.Tech |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
| Category | Recommended Institutions | Likely Branches |
| Mid-to-Lower NITs | NIT Patna, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Agartala, NIT Srinagar | Power Systems, Control Systems, or Wireless Technologies (often in Spot Rounds). |
| Specialized GFTIs | DIAT Pune, SLIET Longowal, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya | Laser & Electro-Optics, Power Electronics, or Instrumentation. |
| Top Private Universities | BITS Pilani (Higher Degree), VIT Vellore, Thapar Institute, LPU | Various Electrical specializations. |
| State Universities | Anna University (CEG), JNTU Hyderabad, College of Engineering Pune (COEP) | Power Systems or Electrical Machines. |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
| Category | Chance at Rank 1360 | Likely Specialization |
| General (Open) | Moderate | Advanced Communication Systems, EMLS (Spot Round) |
| OBC-NCL | High | EMLS, Advanced Communication Systems |
| SC / ST / PwD | Very High | VLSI System Design, EMLS |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
At this score, he should look for specialised or interdisciplinary branches where the OBC cutoff is lower:
IIT Jammu / IIT Dharwad: May get core Electrical or Power Electronics in later rounds.
IIT BHU (Varanasi): Possible for programs like Electrical Machines and Drives or specialised Chemical/Materi
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
| Category | Chance of Admission | Likely Institutes |
| General | Low for premium colleges | State Government Universities, Private Universities, and newer GFTIs. |
| OBC-NCL | Moderate | Newer IIITs (spot rounds), state-level universities, and mid-tier private colleges. |
| SC / ST / PwD | High | Mid-to-lower tier NITs, some IIITs, and newer IITs. |
S
Contributor-Level 8
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,
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