Cracking the GATE exams does not require the candidate to be a topper in Engineering Exams. It calls for dedication and hard work, along with the sheer determination to ace the exams. The candidates who are thorough with the concepts of their selected subjects will perform well in GATE. Practising these questions regularly keeps the candidates well-prepared on the subjects. 

Since question papers are considered a very significant resource to prepare for the GATE, we will try and understand the type of questions and the marks’ distribution. Let us try and see how to analyse the GATE 2021 question paper in this article. Understanding the paper will help to crack the exams more easily. 

GATE Question Paper Sections 

There are 27 subjects for the exams, but a candidate has only to select just one or two subjects from the approved combinations and prepare accordingly. So, here, first, find the subject list with the codes. 

List of Subjects and Code

Now, let us analyse the sections found in the question paper for the respective subjects chosen as the secondary paper. Engineering Sciences with the XE paper code consists of Engineering Mathematics as a compulsory subject and any two optional sections from subjects like Fluid Mechanics, Material Science, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Polymer Science and Engineering, Food Technology, and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. In the same way, the Humanities and Social Science subject with XH paper code constitutes Reasoning and Comprehension as a Compulsory section along with one optional section from any of the subjects -English, Economics, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology. For the XL, i.e. Life Sciences Subjects, Chemistry is the compulsory section. In contrast, the other two optional sections can include any of the subjects from Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology and Food Technology. Meanwhile, the Primary question papers usually comprise a Common General Aptitude (GA) Section for all the papers and then the main subject section. 

These three-hour exams include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions and/or Numerical Answer Types (NAT) Questions. The total number of questions are ten questions under the General Aptitude section and fifty-five from the main subject, thus amounting to sixty-five questions. 

Detailed Marking Scheme for GATE 

Meanwhile, take a look at this detailed marking scheme for GATE, as mentioned in this article below: 

Upon thoroughly analysing the previous year question papers, candidates can get a proper foundation of the question paper design. Knowing this will help the candidates to ace the GATE exam pretty quickly. More and more students who wish to get into ME or the M. Tech programmes at IIT, obtain a scholarship or fellowship or pursue PSU jobs and so on will find this article pretty helpful. 

Since the exam has already been established as the best method to sharpen the skills and knowledge of Engineering / Graduate students who aim to pursue post-graduate courses, we are trying to arrive at the best strategy to perform well in the exams. And question papers are, thus, found to be the most effective study material.