Exam Pattern
GATE Exam Pattern
GATE 2026: Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
The deduction depends on both the question type and what the question is worth. GATE mixes single-correct multiple choice, multiple-select questions and numerical answers, and only the first of those carries a penalty, scaled to the mark value: a third off a one-mark question, two thirds off a two-mark one. Multiple-select and numerical-answer questions deduct nothing at all, which makes them the free attempts in the paper. General Aptitude is 10 questions and 15 of the 100 marks. Only Computer Science and Information Technology is built here.
GATE 2026 Computer Science (CS)
Official 2026 pattern| Questions | 65 |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Negative marking | Mixed by question type and mark value: 1-mark MCQ -1/3, 2-mark MCQ -2/3, MSQ and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry no negative marking per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Aptitude, Computer Science and Information Technology |
| Test | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | 15 |
| Computer Science and Information Technology | 55 | 85 |
Timing: Single unrestricted 180-minute timer covering both General Aptitude and the CS paper, with free navigation between them; there is no subject locking or separate timing group.
TakeMockTest currently provides GATE 2026 practice for Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) only, not other GATE papers. Each mock has 65 questions for 100 marks: General Aptitude (10 questions, 15 marks), Engineering Mathematics (13 marks within the CS paper), and Core CS (72 marks within the CS paper), across 30 one-mark and 35 two-mark questions. Three question types appear: MCQ (single correct option; 1-mark wrong answers deduct 1/3 mark, 2-mark wrong answers deduct 2/3 mark), MSQ (multi-select; one or more correct options, full credit only for the exact correct set, zero credit for an incomplete or incorrect selection, no negative marking and no partial credit), and Numerical Answer Type or NAT (a typed numeric value, no negative marking). The official GATE 2026 CBT interface provides an on-screen virtual scientific calculator; this platform does not currently reproduce that calculator, so questions are written to be solvable without one.
Official source · checked 26 August 2026The GATE 2026 Computer Science (CS) exam pattern is 65 questions carrying 100 marks, to be answered in 180 minutes. That works out to about 166 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 2 sections are General Aptitude and Computer Science and Information Technology. Computer Science and Information Technology carries the most, 85 marks of the 100 or about 85%, against 15 marks for General Aptitude. Marks per question are not uniform across sections either, so an equal number of questions does not mean equal weight. All sections share one composite timer, so you are free to move between them and spend your time where it earns most.
GATE 2026 Computer Science (CS) marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 1.54 marks.
- Worked example: attempt 52 of the 65 questions and get 39 right and 13 wrong, and you score 60.06 out of 100.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 166 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free GATE mock test to see where your time actually goes.
GATE exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in GATE?
GATE deducts Mixed by question type and mark value: 1-mark MCQ -1/3, 2-mark MCQ -2/3, MSQ and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry no negative marking for a wrong answer. An unattempted question always scores zero, so the choice is only ever between guessing and leaving it blank.
How many questions are there in GATE?
GATE has 65 questions. That leaves about 166 seconds per question in GATE.
What are the total marks in GATE?
GATE is out of 100 marks, which works out at 1.54 marks a question.
How long is the GATE exam?
GATE runs for 180 minutes.
Does GATE have a sectional time limit?
No. GATE runs every section on one composite timer of 180 minutes, so you can move between sections freely and give the slower ones more of your time.