The pattern of GATE examination has been CHANGED from 2005.
Main Papers
The question paper will be fully objective type for a total of 150 marks divided into three groups:
Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 30 (30 questions) will carry one mark each.
Group II: Question numbers 31 to 80 (50 questions) will carry two marks each.
Group III: Question Numbers 81a to 85b (10 questions) will carry two marks each. Each number in this series (81,82,83,84,85) will have two sub-questions (a & b). The answer to part 'b' will be linked to the correct answer to part 'a', as described below in Section (e)(vi).
Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is correct.
Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks in Q1 to Q80 and Q81a, 82a, 83a, 84a and 85a. Marks for correct answers to Q81b, 82b, 83b, 84b and 85b will be given only if the answer to the corresponding part 'a' is correct. However, Q81b, 82b, 83b, 84b and 85b will not carry any negative marks.
Papers bearing the code AG, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, IT, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF will contain questions on Engineering Mathematics to the extent of 20 to 25 marks.
The multiple choice objective test questions can be of the following type:
Each choice containing a single stand-alone statement/phrase/data.
Example:
Q. The time independent Schrodinger equation of a system represents the conservation of the
total binding energy of the system
total potential energy of the system
total kinetic energy of the system
total energy of the system
Each choice containing a combination of option codes.
The question may be accompanied by four options P, Q, R, S and the choices may be a combination of these options. The candidate has to choose the right combination as the correct answer.
Example:
Q. The infra-red stretching frequency νco of
(P) Mn(CO)6+ (Q) CO (R) H3B←CO (S) [V(CO)6]- follows the order
P>R>S>Q
S>P>R>Q
Q>S>P>R
R>Q>P>S
Assertion[a]/Reason[r] type with the choices stating if [a]/[r] are True/False and/or stating if [r] is correct/incorrect reasoning of [a]
Example:
Q. Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion [a] and the Reason [r]
Assertion: For a fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe the average velocity is one half of the maximum velocity.
Reason: The velocity for a fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe varies linearly in the radial direction.
Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a]
Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a]
Both [a] and [r] are false
[a] is true but [r] is false
Match items: Match all items in Column 1 with correct options from those given in Column 2 and choose the correct set of combinations from the choices A, B, C and D.
Example:
Q. Match the following and choose the correct combination
Capital
State
P. Chennai
1. Andhra Pradesh
Q. Bangalore
2. West Bengal
R. Mumbai
3. Rajasthan
S. Kolkata
4. Karnataka
5. Tamil Nadu
6. Maharashtra
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
P - 1
P - 5
P - 5
P - 4
Q - 6
Q - 4
Q - 4
Q - 5
R - 4
R - 3
R - 6
R - 6
S - 5
S - 2
S - 2
S - 2
Common data based questions: Multiple questions may be linked to a common problem data, passage and the like. Two or three questions can be formed from the given common problem data. Each question is independent and its solution obtainable from the above problem data/passage directly. (Answer of the previous question is not required to solve the next question). Each question under this group will carry two marks.
Example:
Common data for Q. 78,79,80: The gas phase reaction, 2P + 4Q → 2R which is first order in P and first order in Q is to be carried out isothermally in a plug flow reactor. The entering volumetric flow rate is 2.5 dm3/min and the feed is equimolar in P and Q. The entering temperature and pressure are 727oC and 10 atm respectively. The specific reaction rate at this temperature is 4 dm3/gmol min and the activation energy is 15,000 cal/gmol.
Q.78. What is the volumetric flow rate in dm3/min when the conversion of P is 25%?
(A) 1.88 (B) 5.40 (C) 7.10 (D) 10.80
Q.79. What is the rate of reaction in gmol/(dm3 min) when the conversion of P is 40%
(A) 1.82 x 103 (B) 4.95 x 10-3 (C) 6.2 x 10-3 (D) 9.73 x 103
Q.80. What is the value of the specific reaction rate constant in dm3/gmol min at 1227oC?
(A) 17.68 (B) 22.32 (C) 49.60 (D) 59.75
Linked answers question: The question will consist of a problem statement followed by two sub-questions (a) and (b) based on the problem statement. The solution to part (b) depends upon the answer to part (a). Each part (a) as well as (b) in such linked answer questions will carry two marks.
Example:
Statement for linked answer Q. 81a & 81b: A reversible Carnot engine operates between the actual heat input temperature of 1000 K and actual heat rejection temperature of 250 K. The ambient temperature is 200 K.
Q.81a The efficiency of this engine will be
A) 5% (B) 20% (C) 25% (D) 75%
Q.81b The above engine is to provide the power output of 100 kW. The heat input required will be
(A) 133.33 kW (B) 400 kW (C) 500 kW (D) 2000 kW
In the above simplistic example, the calculation of heat input in Q.81b requires the value of efficiency calculated in Q.81a as the first step.
Structure of the XE/XL Paper Sections
XE and XL papers contain a number of sections. Each Section is of 50 marks. Each Section will be fully objective type and the questions are divided into three groups.
Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 10 (10 questions) will carry one mark each.
Group II: Question numbers 11 to 26 (16 questions) will carry two marks each.
Group III: Question Numbers 27a to 28b (4 questions) will carry two marks each. Each number in this series (27, 28) will have two subquestions (a & b). The solution to part 'b' will be linked to the correct answer to part 'a', as described above in (e) (vi).
All questions have four choices with only one being correct.
Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks in Q1 to Q26 and Q27a, 28a. Marks for correct answers to Q27b, 28b, will be given only if the answer to the corresponding part 'a' is correct. However, Q27b, 28b will not carry any negative marks.
The types of multiple choice questions are the same as in the Main papers as described above in (e).
