GATE 2026 Paper Analysis (OUT): Subject-Wise Exam Analysis, Difficulty Level, Cutoff
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Result - 19 Mar '26
GATE 2026 Exam Analysis: Candidates who appeared Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering this year can check GATE paper analysis of ECE, CSE, CE, ME, EE, and other papers here. IIT Guwahati has completed conducting Feb 7, 8, 14, and 15 exam. GATE 2026 Feb 15 exam was held for ECE (forenoon), AR and DA (in afternoon shift). GATE answer key (provisional), question paper, and GATE response sheet 2026 has been released.
As per the GATE 2026 exam date issued by the authorities, shift timings were: (forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm). After each shift, students can check GATE 2026 paper analysis of all 30 subjects.
GATE 2026 CSE & CE took place in two shifts. The CS 2 exam paper was easy to moderate, with Discrete Mathematics, COA, and CN dominating the question paper. Students can check GATE 2026 Feb 8 exam analysis below. Candidates appearing for GATE 2026, can find detailed paper analysis of all GATE papers (shift-wise), followed by GATE 2026 memory-based question paper and answer key.
Latest:
- GATE 2026 Paper Analysis: CE, EE, ME, CSE, ECE Paper Review
- GATE 2026 Answer Key
- GATE 2026 Cutoff
- GATE 2025 CS, ME, EE, EC, CE, DA, CH, and CY Paper Analysis
- GATE 2025 CS Shift 1 and 2 Paper Analysis
- GATE 2025 ME Paper Analysis
- GATE 2025 EE Paper Analysis
- GATE 2025 DA Paper Analysis
- GATE 2025 EC Paper Analysis: Shift 2
- GATE 2025 CE Paper Analysis: Shift 1
GATE 2026 Paper Analysis: CE, EE, ME, CSE, ECE Paper Review
GATE 2026 paper analysis (day-wise) is updated here. Candidates can check GATE exam analysis 2026 of Feb 7, 8, 14, and 15 below.
GATE 2026 Feb 15 (ECE and DA) Paper Analysis
| GATE Subjects | GATE 2026 Paper Analysis |
|---|---|
| GATE EC Paper Analysis | The GATE ECE paper was moderately tough. Candidates found Mathematics and Aptitude easy to moderate. Many questions were tricky and time consuming Some important topics were EMF, Analog Circuits, Control Systems, Op-amp Circuits, Discrete Time Signals, Vector Analysis, Differential Equations, etc. MCQs - 42 questions (1 and 2 marks), NATs - 13 questions (1 and 2 marks), and MSQs (1 and 2 marks) |
| GATE 2026 Data Science Exam Analysis | Questions related to DBMS were tricky and lengthy, Heavy-level mathematics based questions, Aptitude was easy, NAT and MSQs were asked the most MCQs - 33, MSQs - 14, NATs - 6 questions Topics covered: DBMS, TRC, Python, Probability, Algorithm |
Also read:
- GATE ECE 2026 paper analysis out, check difficulty level and questions
- GATE 2026 EE Paper Analysis, Difficulty Level, and Number of Safe Attempts
GATE Exam 2026 CE, EE, and ME Paper Analysis
| GATE Subjects | GATE 2026 Paper Analysis |
|---|---|
| GATE Civil Engineering CE-1 and CE-2 paper analysis | Civil Engineering Shift 2 was moderate. Many students found the GATE CE-2 question paper to be balanced and having similar difficulty level to that of shift 1. The overall difficulty level of the GATE 2026 CE paper was moderate, with a balanced mix of easy, medium, and a few tough questions. Geotechnical Engineering section had the maximum number marks along with GA and engineering mathematics. Students can check chapter-wise weightage below. |
| GATE 2026 EE (Electrical Engineering) paper analysis | Moderate with numerical questions were of higher weightage 10 to 15 NATs were asked, MCQs had 35 to 40 questions, and MSQs had 12 to 15 questions |
| GATE 2026 ME (Mechanical Engineering) paper analysis | ME paper was also moderate with concept-based questions. No MSQs were asked. NAT (2 questions - 1 mark, 18 questions - 2 mark, 28 questions of 1 mark, and 17 questions of 2 marks) were asked. |
GATE Exam Civil Engineering (CE-2) Chapter-Wise Weightage
| Subject | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 |
| Engineering Mechanics | - |
| Strength of Materials | 5 |
| Structural Analysis | 4 |
| Reinforced Cement Concrete | 6 |
| Design of Steel Structures | 2 |
| Building Material Construction | - |
| Construction Management | - |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 13 |
| Fluid Mechanics and OCF | 8 |
| Engineering Hydrology | 4 |
| Irrigation Engineering | 1 |
| Environmental Engineering | 11 |
| Transportation Engineering | 11 |
| Surveying | 7 |
GATE paper Civil Engineering CE-1 Chapter-Wise Weightage
| Subject | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 2 |
| Strength of Materials | 4 |
| Structural Analysis | 4 |
| Reinforced Cement Concrete | 3 |
| Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
| Building Material Construction | 1 |
| Construction Management | - |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 15 |
| Fluid Mechanics and OCF | 6 |
| Engineering Hydrology | 4 |
| Irrigation Engineering | 3 |
| Environmental Engineering | 9 |
| Transportation Engineering | 11 |
| Surveying | 7 |
GATE Exam Feb 7 & 8 Paper Analysis and Difficulty Level
| GATE MTech paper analysis | Subject-wise difficulty level, important topics, and weightage |
|---|---|
| GATE 2026 XE Exam Analysis | GATE 2026 XE analysis shows a moderate-to-difficult paper. Technical sections like Solid Mechanics were challenging, while Aptitude remained scoring. The GATE XE question paper had more focus on statement-based questions. The GA section was easy and scoring. XE-E and XE-D were lengthy. Students stated that the GATE XE-D paper reflected mechanical GATE PYQs. |
| GATE XL Paper Analysis 2026 | GATE 2026 XL exam was moderate to tough. The General Aptitude section was easy, core technical subjects featured tricky MSQs and calculation-heavy NAT questions. |
| GATE 2026 CS 1 and 2 Paper Analysis | GATE CSE 1 paper was overall moderate to lengthy, with Mathematics and Aptitude being moderate while CS section had some lengthy questions. (Topics covered: algorithm, OS, functions, graph theory, and CN) GATE 2026 CSE2 paper was easy to moderate. Mathematics-based questions were fewer. COA, DBMS, and CN had maximum questions. Overall, the paper was balanced and slight easy compared to GATE 2026 CSE1. Engineering Mathematics was easy to moderate. |
Number of MCQs, MSQs, and NATs asked in GATE 2026 CSE Shift 2 exam
| Question type | 1 mark | 2 mark |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 17 | 17 |
| MSQ | 5 | 6 |
| NAT | 6 | 13 |
GATE 2026 CSE Exam Chapter-wise weightage (memory-based)
| Topics | Marks and Weightage |
|---|---|
| Algorithm | 4 questions (1 mark) |
| Operating Systems | 5 questions (1 mark) |
| Engineering mathematics | 7 questions (1 mark) |
| DBMS | 4 questions (1 and 2 marks combined) |
| Computer Network | 6 questions |
| COA | 6 questions |
GATE 2026 Feb 7 and 8 Question Paper Download
Commonly asked questions
GATE 2026 CE-1 paper was conducted on Feb 14 in forenoon shift. Based on the experts and students feedback, the paper was easy to moderate with concept loaded questions. The most important topics that were covered in GATE 2026 CE-1 question paper were - Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental, and Transportation Engineering.
GATE 2026 EE paper was moderate comprising 10 to 15 NATs, MCQs had 35 to 40 questions, and MSQs had 12 to 15 questions (approximately).
The GATE 2025 cutoff for Aerospace Engineering (category-wise) can be checked below -
- General category - 28.9
- OBC-NCL or EWS category - 26
- SC/ST category - 19.2
GATE 2026 Answer Key
The GATE 2026 answer key (official) has been released at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates can raise objections to provisional GATE response sheet answer key 2026 using their enrollment ID and password. The date to challenge answer key will be available soon. After reviewing the answers, the authorities will release the final answer key.
However, after the completion of the exam, students can refer to the unofficial answer key to calculate probable scores. Check GATE answer key with solutions by MadeEasy
GATE Unofficial Answer Key 2026: Check ECE and DA Solutions with Questions
| GATE 2026 ECE answer key with solutions and questions | GATE 2026 DA question paper with solutions | GATE 2026 Exam DA answer key with solutions |
| Safe score for GATE CSE | Safe score for GATE ECE |
Also check
Commonly asked questions
Candidates can download answer key from the official website of GATE. GATE answer key will be available in two formats - provisional and final answer key. Provisional answer key of GATE can be raised for objection.
The process to download the GATE 2026 answer key PDF can be checked below -
- Visit GATE official website
- Login using enrollment ID and password
- The answer key will be displayed on screen
- Check and download
Based on final answer key GATE scores will be calculated.
The GATE provisional and final answer key are different. The GATE provisional answer key is released along with the response sheet. Through the provisional answer key, candidates will be able to raise objections. On the other hand, the final answer key is basically released after the review process, which is used for the GATE score evaluation. Candidates must note that the final answer key cannot be rechecked or raised for objections.
GATE answer key is released after exam is over. The answer key released on Feb 22, 2026. It contain answers to the questions asked in test. Candidates can download answer key, response sheet, and question paper using enrollment ID and password.
GATE 2026 Cutoff
The GATE cutoff scores and results will be released on March 19. The GATE 2026 cutoff is the minimum score the candidates must score to be eligible for admissions or PSU recruitments. The authorities will release the GATE 2026 minimum qualifying cutoff for all 30 subjects along with the result. To check the result, candidates must log in using their enrollment ID and password through GOAP portal.
Also check:
Commonly asked questions
The expected GATE 2026 exam cutoff may be somewhere around 28-37 for general category, 26 -28.3 for OBC/EWS and 27-31 for SC/ST category. The actual GATE 2026 cutoff will be announced along with the results in March.
The GATE 2025 cutoff of computer Science and information technology (category-wise) can be checked below -
- For general - 29.2
- OBC-NCL/EWS - 26.2
- SC/ST/PwD - 19.4
The cutoff is the minimum mark that is required for all candidates to qualify for the exam. IIT Guwahati will announce the GATE cutoff 2026 after the announcement of results.
The following are the most registered subjects/papers in the GATE examination -
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Every year, Lacs of candidates register for the above subjects, making the respective branch competitive.
GATE 2025 CS, ME, EE, EC, CE, DA, CH, and CY Paper Analysis
IIT Roorkee hosted the GATE 2025 exam for all 30 subject test papers. Candidates can check the complete GATE 2025 exam analysis to analyse their attempts at the GATE 2025 question paper. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is a national-level entrance exam conducted to offer admission to MTech/research programs or apply for PSU recruitment.
The GATE 2025 question paper comprises 65 questions (MSQs, NAT, and MCQs) across various subjects for 100 marks. The exam is three hours long, covering questions based on problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Here is an in-depth GATE 2025 paper analysis of CS, ME, CH, CE, DA, CY, EC, EE, IN, and XE papers.
GATE 2025 Branch-Wise Difficulty Level
| Subject Paper | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | Moderate |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | Moderate |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | Moderate |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | Moderate |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | Easy to Moderate |
| Electronics and Communication (EC) | Moderate |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | - |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | Moderate |
Commonly asked questions
This year, IIT Guwahati conducted the GATE 2026 exam. IIT Guwahati conducted the GATE exam in 2018. Based on the GATE 2018 and past year paper format, the GATE 2026 is expected to be moderately difficult. The question paper is expected to have higher weightage on concept-based questions, blending numerical and practical analysis. Candidates are advised to practice the previous year's question paper as many times as possible to understand the difficulty level of the question paper.
No, physical calculators are not allowed inside GATE exam hall. Candidates will be provided with a virtual calculator to solve their questions. It is advised to practice using GATE calculator to improve accuracy.
A compensatory time of 60 minutes is given to candidates who have opted for scribe facility in GATE exam. To avail this facility, candidates have to choose option while filling GATE form.
GATE 2025 CS Shift 1 and 2 Paper Analysis
The GATE 2025 CSE exam was conducted in two shifts on February 1, 2025. Overall, the paper was easy to moderate with balanced-level questions. The GATE 2025 CS question paper was a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging questions. Candidates can check the section-wise difficulty level below -
| Section | Difficulty-Level |
|---|---|
| General aptitude | easy to moderate |
| Engineering Mathematics | easy to moderate |
| Core technical subjects | moderate to difficult |
GATE 2025 CSE Paper Analysis: Key Topics Asked
The GATE 2025 CSE shift 1 and 2 question paper answer key comprised questions from the following topics -
- Boolean algebra
- Combinational and sequential circuits
- Minimization
- Number representations and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating-point)
- Computer Organization and Architecture
- Programming and Data Structure
- Algorithms
- Operating Systems
- Computer Networks
Read more -
Commonly asked questions
There are two shift timings for the GATE exam. Candidates can find the details of the shift timing on the official website. The GATE shift timings are as follows -
- Forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Candidates can also find the exam timing details mentioned in the GATE admit card. Candidates are advised to appear for the GATE 2026 exam on the date prescribed in the hall ticket.
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati conducted GATE 2026 exam. The exam dates along with branch-wise exam dates was released on official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The entrance test was held in two shifts -
- Forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
GATE 2025 ME Paper Analysis
The GATE 2025 ME exam was conducted on February 2, 2025, in the first shift (9:30 am to 12:30 pm). Based on students' reactions and feedback, the GATE 2025 ME paper had a mix of conceptual and theoretical questions. Some technical questions were tricky in the core subject section. On the other hand, the general aptitude and engineering mathematics section had easy-to-moderate questions. MCQs had higher weightage than MSQs and NATs. Here is a section-wise breakdown of the difficulty level.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| engineering mathematics | easy to moderate |
| general aptitude | easy |
| core subject | moderate to difficult |
GATE 2025 ME Paper Analysis: Key Topics Covered
The GATE 2025 Feb 2 ME paper comprised questions from the following topics -
- engineering mechanics
- strength of materials
- machine design
- theory of machine
- manufacturing process
- fluid mechanics
- machine design
Read More
GATE 2025 EE Paper Analysis
The GATE 2025 EE paper was conducted on Feb 2 in the second shift (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm). Overall, the paper was moderately tricky, with few challenging questions. The majority of the questions were solvable. The GATE EE 2025 question paper had maximum MCQ questions. Aptitude and Engineering mathematics were moderate, and technical subjects were easy to moderate. Candidates can check the section-wise difficulty level below -
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| general aptitude | easy to moderate |
| engineering mathematics | moderate |
| core technical subjects | easy to moderate |
GATE 2025 EE Paper Analysis: Key Topics Covered
The GATE EE 2025 question paper comprised questions from the following topics -
- Signal system
- Control system
- Electrical machine
- Power Electronics
- Network Theory
- Power System
Read here - GATE 2025 EE paper analysis shift 2
Commonly asked questions
The IIT Roorkee conducted GATE 2025 exam. The cutoff for GATE EE (last year) can be checked below -
- cutoff for general category - 25
- cutoff for OBC-NCL or EWS category - 22.5
- and cutoff for SC/ST category was 16.6
This year, IIT Guwahati is conducting GATE 2026. Candidates can refer to these cutoff and plan their choice filling.
GATE 2025 DA Paper Analysis
GATE 2025 EC Paper Analysis: Shift 2
GATE 2025 CE Paper Analysis: Shift 1
GATE Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
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 Yesterday
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 Yesterday
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 2 days 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 2 days 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
Answered 2 days ago
A GATE score of 550 in mechanical engineering will fetch you a rank range of 1500 - 3000. Students with this GATE score range can opt for M.Tech at NIT Calicut, NIT Trichy, etc.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
Based on the question paper difficulty level of GATE CS 1 and CS2, it is expected that the normalisation will not be more than +-4 to 5 marks. GATE CSE paper was moderate to tough. The result will be declared on March 19. Candidates can check their qualifying status at GOAPS portal using their enrol
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, with 50 marks in the GATE exam candidates can get admission to few IITs and NITs as well.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
For top NITs, the safe score in GATE will be roughly around 650 - 750 scores. However, it also depends on other factors, such as category, past year trends, etc.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Here are some colleges that offer M.Tech admission in CSE round -
- Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur
- Central University of Rajasthan
- Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar
- Central University of Rajasthan
- Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur
U
Contributor-Level 10
2052 Institutes accepting GATE
IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology
Powai, Mumbai • Public
4.6IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology
Hauz khas, Delhi • Public
- ₹ 70,000
- 2 years
- |
- Full Time
IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology
Adyar, Chennai • Public
BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Pilani • Private
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What is the gap of marks between normalised and actual marks in GATE exam?