General Aptitude
The highest marks-per-hour section in the entire paper. Never leave it to the last week.
Verified 2026 guide
GATE subject-wise syllabus, topic map and practice links. Verified against The current organising IIT or IISc sources on 23 September 2026.
Explore GATE
The highest marks-per-hour section in the entire paper. Never leave it to the last week.
Common across branches and highly predictable in style. It is the safest place to build a reliable base score.
Algorithms, OS and DBMS repeatedly carry the largest weight. Theory of Computation is compact and highly scoring.
Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics are heavyweight. Manufacturing is broad but formula-driven and reliable.
Network Theory and Control Systems are consistent scorers and worth early mastery.
Geotechnical and Structural Analysis carry heavy weight. Environmental and Surveying are smaller but easy marks.
Signals and Systems plus Networks form the backbone. Electromagnetics is heavy relative to its weight — prioritise accordingly.
The organising institute and official domain rotate. Paper syllabi and qualifying marks must be checked each cycle.
Official authority: The current organising IIT or IISc. Last verified: 23 September 2026.
Use a timed GATE test, then review the section and topic breakdown.