TIFR GS PhD Pattern 2024: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Graduate School Admissions 2024 ( TIFR GS )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 27 Sep '25 - 26 Oct '25

This exam is conducted for courses given below:
Piyush Dixit
Updated on Sep 26, 2025 18:59 IST

By Piyush Dixit, Deputy Manager

TIFR GS Exam pattern for the academic session 2026 is likely to be the same as the previous year. Those candidates who are preparing for the TIFR GS Entrance Exam to appear for the academic session 2026-27. The candidates who appeared for the exam are waiting for the release of the TIFR GS 2026 Answer, Result, and Cutoff.

Once the Provisional Answer key is out on the official site of TIFR GS, exam takers will be able to calculate their scores according to the correct answer mentioned in the answer key. The exam conducting authority releases the TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern and the subject-wise Syllabus for those who wish to appear for the TIFR GS Exam 2026. The TIFR GS 2026 Exam will be conducted as a computer-based or online test (CBT), and the pattern differs according to the selected course on December 14, 2025. 

Candidates must focus on both the TIFR GS 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern to prepare for this entrance exam. The TIFR GS Exam consists of both subjective and objective questions and is conducted nationwide for all Science subjects, for which admission is provided through the TIFR GS Exam

Also Read:

 

Table of content
  • TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
  • TIFR GS 2026 Shift Timings
  • TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Mathematics
  • TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Physics
  • TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Chemistry
  • TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 for Computer & Systems Sciences
  • TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 for Science Education
View More
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TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights

The table below brings the expected TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern highlights.

Particulars

Details

Mode of the examination

Computer-based test (CBT)/LAN-based/Online

Medium/ Language

English 

Duration of the examination

three hours

Frequency of exams in a year

Once a year

Type of questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Subjective Questions, True-False Statements

Total number of Questions

Differs from subject to subject

Total Marks

80-100 marks

Negative marking

Yes

Marking Scheme

+2 for a correct answer| -1 for an incorrect answer

Total sections in the question paper

2

Name of the section and number of questions asked from it

Stage 1: Online Test

Stage 2: Interview round depending upon the score achieved

 

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TIFR GS 2026 Shift Timings

TIFR GS 2026 Exam will be held in two stages for the academic session 2026-27. The TIFR GS shift-wise timings are mentioned in the table below as per the previous year's exam. Candidates are advised to understand the exam timing to be aware of the exam schedule for the academic session 2026-27.

CUET PG Shift

CUET PG Shift Timing

Subjects

Morning Session 1

 

 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science & Learning, Information and Data Sciences

 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Mathematics (PhD at CAM)

Afternoon Session 2

 

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Biology (JGEEBILS) 

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Mathematics (all other programs), and Science Education 

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TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Mathematics

TIFR GS Exam Pattern for Mathematics is divided into two parts. Part A of the Mathematics subject consists of 20 MCQs (multiple-choice questions). Every question consists of four options, and students need to pick one correct answer out of the four options. Part B of he mathematics subject consists of 20 true/false questions. The exam time of exam is three hours. For further information, students must read the table below. 

Total Parts

Question Type

Total Questions

Exam Time

A

MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

20

1.5 Hours

B

True/ False Questions

20

1.5 Hours

Total

40

3 Hours

Note: Students will be graded only for Part A of the exam. The top 100 students will be selected for the next evaluation step based on the cutoff scores. As per the official website, only the selected student's Part B Answer Booklet will be graded. 
TIFR GS Marking Scheme:

Part A: For every right answer, students get two marks. One mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
Part B: For each correct answer, full marks are given. For partially correct answers, half marks are given.
Selection Criteria for Mathematics:

At TIFR, the selection process to take admission to different Mathematics programs at TIFR GS 2026 Centres (Integrated PhD at TIFR Mumbai, PhD, CAM-TIFR Bengaluru, ICTS-TIFR Bengaluru) includes two stages. If students clear the TIFR GS Written exam, only then will they be eligible for the second stage of the TIFR GS 2025 Admission Process. The scores that are achieved in the First Stage of the exam are also used in the second stage of the exam.

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TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Physics

TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern for the Physics course includes two parts. Part A includes objective-type questions, and there are a total of 25 Multiple Choice Questions questions. The Part A questions are based on the basic topics. Part B also consists of the MCQ-type questions. The total exam time is three hours. For further clarification, students must read the information given below.

Part

Question Type

Total Questions 

Exam Time

A

Multiple Choice Questions

25

1.5 Hours

B

Multiple Choice Questions

15

1.5 Hours

Total

40

3 Hour

The marking scheme for the Physics subjects is mentioned as follows:

Section A: For each correct answer, 3 marks are given, for each wrong answer, there is a negative marking of 1 mark and 0 marks for not attempting a question. 

Section B: For each correct answer, 5 marks are given, for each wrong answer, there is no negative marking, and 0 marks for not attempting a question. 

Selection Process for Physics Course

The Physics entrance test is conducted in two stages:
1. The first stage is the Screening Test, which includes multiple-choice type questions.
2. The second stage is for the candidates who clear the screening test and are eligible for the Interviews/written tests. 

 

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TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Chemistry

TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern for Chemistry consists of one part. Part A of the Chemistry subject includes a total of 40 MCQ (multiple choice questions). For every question, there are four options, and the candidates need to select one correct option out of the four options given. The Chemistry exam time is three hours. For more information, candidates can refer to the table below:

Part

Questions Type

Total Questions

Exam Time

A

MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

40

3 Hours

Total

40

3 Hours

Marking Scheme for Chemistry Courses: 

Part A: For each right answer, 3 marks will be awarded. For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.

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TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 for Computer & Systems Sciences

TIFR GS exam pattern for Computer & Systems Sciences paper consists of multiple-choice questions that students need to complete within three hours. The paper was divided into three parts as shown in the table below:

Total Parts

Name of the subjects 

Exam Time

A

Common

3 Hours

B

Computer Science

C

Learning Information & Data Science/Systems Science

The exam duration for the Computer & System Sciences paper is three hours in total. Students need to complete all three parts as per their understanding because there is no separate time allotted for each part. Each part consists of a total of fifteen questions. 

NOTE:

  • Common: All the candidates need to attempt Part A. 
  • If a candidates want to be considered for the Computer Science Course, then it is mandatory to attempt Part B, but if a candidate does not wish to be considered for entrance into Computer Science, then they are allowed to skip all the questions in Part B: Computer Science. 
  • Students need to attempt Part C in case they want to be considered for the Learning, Information and Data Science, and if they do not want to be considered for LIDS, they can skip Part C. 
  • Students can also attempt both Part B: CS and Part C: LIDS; regardless, no extra time will be given. Students who wish to attempt both Part B: CS and Part C: LIDS will be assessed for TIFR GS 2025 entrance into both Computer Science and Learning, Information and Data Sciences.
  • As in a paper exam, questions and sections can be attempted in any order and revisited as frequently as desired.

Marking Scheme of Computer and System Science: There is negative marking in the exam for incorrect answers.

Correct Answers: Four marks will be given for each right answer. 

Incorrect Answers: Mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Candidates appearing for TIFR GS can go through the links mentioned below:

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TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 for Science Education

TIFR GS 2026 Science Education exam pattern is divided into two parts. Part A includes a total of 80 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions). Every question consists of four options, and candidates need to choose one correct opinion out of the four options. Part B includes 3 descriptive questions for 50 marks. The total exam time is three hours. For further clarification, students should refer to the table below:

Part

Questions Type 

Total Questions

Exam Time

A

MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

80

1.5 Hours

B

Critical Reasoning- Descriptive

3

1.5 Hours

Total

83

3 Hours

Section A

Subject Name Total Questions To be Attempted
Quantitative reasoning, scientific literacy and technical comprehension.  25 Any 50 questions are to be attempted from 80 Questions
Social and cognitive sciences and education. 15
Same no. of questions on Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry 40
qna

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