GATE Syllabus

There are 22 papers in the GATE exam. Syllabus of each paper can be found by clicking the individual paper link:

General Aptitude (GA) : Common in all papers

AE: Aerospace Engineering

AG: Agricultural Engineering

AR: Architecture and Planning

BT: Biotechnology

CE: Civil Engineering

CH: Chemical Engineering

CS: Computer Sc. and Information Technology

CY: Chemistry

EC: Electronics and Communication Engg.

EE: Electrical Engineering

EY: Ecology and Evolution

GG: Geology and Geophysics

IN: Instrumentation Engineering

MA: Mathematics

ME: Mechanical Engineering

MN: Mining Engineering

MT: Metallurgical Engineering

PH: Physics

PI: Production and Industrial Engineering

TF: Textile Engineering and Fibre Science

XE: Engineering Sciences

XL: Life Sciences

XE Paper Sections                                          Code

Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)        A

Fluid Mechanics                                                   B

Materials Science                                                 C

Solid Mechanics                                                   D

Thermodynamics                                                 E

Polymer Science and Engineering                    F

Food Technology                                                 G

XL Paper Sections                                        Code

Chemistry (Compulsory)                                    H

Biochemistry                                                         I

Botany                                                                   J

Microbiology                                                        K

Zoology                                                                 L

Food Technology                                                M

XE (Engineering Sciences) and XL (Life Sciences) papers are of general nature.

General Aptitude Questions

All the papers will contain few questions that test the General Aptitude (Language and Analytical Skills), apart from the core subject of the paper.

XE Paper

A candidate appearing in the XE paper has to answer the following:

1. Section A – Engineering Mathematics (compulsory)

2. GA – General Aptitude (compulsory)

3. Any two of XE sections B to G

The choice of two sections from B to G can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to G).

XL Paper

A candidate appearing in the XL paper has to answer the following:

Section H – Chemistry (compulsory)

GA – General Aptitude (compulsory)

Any two of XL sections I to M

The choice of two sections from I to M can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered by the candidate. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (I to M).