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GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme and Weightage of Topics

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Content Curator updated | Updated On - Aug 16, 2022

GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering exam pattern has been released on the official website- gate.iitk.ac.in. No new changes have been made to GATE 2023 BM exam pattern this year. The weightage of core subjects is 72%, Engineering Mathematics is 13% and General Aptitude is 15%. Check GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Syllabus

  • Candidates can also sit for a maximum of two papers. If you are planning to appear for GATE BM as your first paper then for the second paper you can opt from BT or XL. 
  • The marking scheme is still the same i.e. for correct answers 1 or 2 marks will be awarded and 1/3 or 2/3 marks respectively will be deducted for wrong answers. 
  • The negative marking does not apply to questions of NAT and MSQ type questions. 

GATE 2023 results will be used to admit students into various postgraduate programs. GATE 2023 scores will also be used to recruit graduate engineers at Public Sector Undertakings. All details regarding the GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering exam pattern, marking scheme, etc can be found in this article.

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Highlights of GATE 2023 Biomedical Exam Pattern

  • GATE 2023 BM paper will consist of question types - MCQs, MSQs, and NAT.
  • The MCQs will have 4 options from which you must choose 1 correct answer.
  • As an answer, NAT questions allow you to provide or enter a numerical value.
  • -1/3 and -2/3 marks shall be deducted according to the marks assigned for every incorrect answer to an objective type question.
Biomedical Engineering Paper Code BM
Exam Mode Online
Total Marks 100
Number of Questions 65
Types of Questions MCQs, MSQ, and NAT
Number of Sections 3 (General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering Subject Questions)
Weightage by Section General Aptitude – 15% of total marks Engineering Mathematics – 13% of total marks Biomedical Engineering Subjects – 72% of total marks
Total Time Duration 3 hours (180 minutes)
Sectional Time-Limit None

Why is the knowledge of Exam Pattern important?

GATE is taken by thousands of students from all over India to apply for admissions to the best postgraduate programs and top career opportunities. Biomedical Engineering has been offered for the first time as a UG course in IIT Hyderabad. This will serve as a model for other IITs and provide a good base for students looking to pursue M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering. 

This is an emerging discipline with a lot of scope and GATE has introduced changes to this paper for the first time in 2020, owing to the very high difficulty level. The pass percentage earlier was only 15-17%. As the paper pattern has changed, students will need to go through the revised paper pattern to understand how to answer it best. 

The paper pattern shows the duration of the test, the type and number of questions to be answered throughout the syllabus, the weightage of each section, and the marks assigned to each subject to be evaluated. Therefore, awareness of the paper pattern will be very useful, since you can organize your study time according to the allocated marks for each topic and section.


Details of GATE BM Pattern

Details of GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Exam Pattern

Time Duration

  • GATE 2023 BM paper will be a 3-hour computer-based paper. 
  • PWD candidates will get extra time as per the rules. 

Language of Paper

  • English is the language used to take the test.

Total Marks

  • The highest marks one can get in GATE BM are 100, and the total number of questions is 65.
  • The paper will have both 1 or 2 mark questions.

Type of Questions

  • GATE BM will consist primarily of the question forms - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT).

Marking Scheme

  • MCQs are objective questions asked in all parts, each bearing 1 or 2 marks.
  • Every question will have four choices, with one correct answer.
  • In the case of MSQ, more than 1 option could be correct. 
  • In each segment, NAT questions bear one or two marks. The answers to these questions are numerical values you will need to enter with a virtual keypad. There are no options given for these questions.

Total Sections

  • The biomedical engineering paper of GATE will have three sections - General Aptitude with 15% of the total marks, Engineering Mathematics with 13% of the total marks, and Biomedical Engineering Subject Questions with 72% of the total marks. 

GATE BM Marking Scheme

GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Marking Scheme

Discipline Subject Number of Questions Marks
Biomedical Engineering (BM) General Aptitude 10 15
Engineering Mathematics 10 13
Biomedical Engineering Subjects 45 72
Total 65 100

Know More GATE 2023 Exam Pattern


Important Topics in GATE BM

Important Topics from GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering

Section 1- General Aptitude

  • Numerical Ability 
  • Verbal Ability 

Section 2 – Engineering Mathematics

  • Linear Algebra
  • Calculus
  • Differential Equations ( ODE and PDE)
  • Vector Analysis
  • Complex Analysis
  • Numerical Methods
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Limits and Continuity

Section 3 – Biomedical Engineering

  • Electrical Circuits
  • Signals and Systems 
  • Analog and Digital Electronics
  • Measurements and Control Systems 
  • Sensors and Bio-instrumentation
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Medical Imaging Systems 
  • Biomaterial

Check Detailed GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Syllabus


Previous Year Sample Questions

Sample Questions from GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering Important Topics:

Section 1 – General Aptitude

Q. 1. Although he has a string of poor performances, the chances of K.L Rahul being selected to the team are ____.

(A) slim (B) bright (C) obvious (D) certain

Q.2. Choose the word that fits the analogy.

Cover: Uncover :: Associate:

(A) Unassociate (B) Inassociate (C) Misassociate (D) Dissociate

Sections 2 and 3 – Engineering Mathematics and Biomedical Engineering Subject Questions

Q. 1. m1 and m2 are the roots of a linear second order physical system’s characteristic equation. Match the nature of the given roots with the systems’ natural responses.

(A) P-L, Q-M, R-K

(B) P-M, Q-L, R-K

(C) P-L, Q-K, R-M

(D) P-M, Q-K, R-L

Q. 2. Biomaterials possessing shape memory effects are NOT used in -

(A) Intracranial aneurysm clips

(B) Arterial blood vessel closure devices

(C) Orthopedic total joint replacements

(D) Orthodontic dental arch wires

Download GATE 2023 Practice Papers


Weightage of Important Topics

Weightage of Topics in GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering 

Section 1 – General Aptitude

Section
 
Topics
 
Weightage (2019) Paper 2018 (Weightage)
Number of Questions (1 Mark + 2 Marks) Total Marks Number of Questions (1 Mark + 2 Marks) Total Marks
General Aptitude Data Interpretation 5+5 15 5+5 15
Numerical Computation
Numerical Reasoning
English Grammar
Verbal Reasoning
Vocabulary

Section 2 – Engineering Mathematics

Section
 
Topics
 
Weightage (2019) Weightage (2018)
Number of Questions (1 Mark + 2 Marks) Total Marks Number of Questions (1 Mark + 2 Marks) Total Marks
Engineering Mathematics Linear Algebra 6+3 12 6+4 14
Calculus
Differential Equations
Vector Analysis
Complex Analysis
Numerical Methods
Probability and Statistics
Limits and Continuity

Section 3 - Biomedical Engineering Subjects

Section Topics Weightage
Number of Questions Total Marks
Biomedical Engineering Subjects Electrical Circuits 45 70
Signals and Systems
Analog and Digital Electronics
Measurements and Control Systems
Sensors and Bio-instrumentation
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Biomechanics
Medical Imaging Systems Biomaterials

What is Biomedical Engineering and its scope?

Biomedical Engineering, also known as Bioengineering, BioMed or BME is a multidisciplinary STEM field integrating biology and engineering, applying the concepts and materials of engineering to medicine and healthcare. Biomedical Engineers' growing demand is related to the general change of society towards the regular use of machinery and technology in all facets of life. The synthesis of engineering principles and biological understanding to meet medical needs has helped create innovative, life-saving ideas such as:

  • Artificial organs

  • Surgical robots

  • Advanced prosthetics

  • New therapeutic drugs

  • Kidney dialysis

Biomedical Engineering is a wide field with various focus areas and depending on the details of your job, the exact nature of the work you will find yourself doing will vary. A few examples of some of the Biomedical Engineering subdivisions include:

  • Biomedical Electronics

  • Biomaterials

  • Computational Biology

  • Cellular, Tissue and Genetic Engineering

  • Medical Imaging

  • Orthopaedic Bioengineering

  • Bionanotechnology

Scope after GATE 2023 BM Paper

The number of students answering GATE in Biomedical Engineering (BM) is rising high because it is a new addition. The Master's courses now need a GATE score and several companies are using GATE scores for recruitment as well. Some students will be interested in pursuing M.Tech from IITs / NITs in different streams while others will attempt to get a job. Therefore, it is important to understand the importance of the GATE BM exam and the various opportunities it provides through GATE.

Study M.Tech after GATE

  • The most common way to proceed is to apply for M.Tech at the IITs, IISc, and NITs after having cleared the GATE exam.
  • It can be a very significant step for students who have dreamt of studying at the country's top institutes such as IITs and NITs.
  • You will also be eligible for the MHRD stipend during the two year Master's course, provided you have a high GATE ranking.
  • Also, if you apply to other states, regional, or private colleges that do not have GATE scores as their primary selection criterion, getting a good GATE score will still give you an advantage over the other applicants. Once you have completed M.Tech, you can apply to private jobs that provide good salary packages for biomedical engineers.  Know More GATE Counselling 

Job opportunities

  • Healthcare manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare service sectors are the main recruiters.
  • Government agencies such as the Department of Drugs and state-wise health departments also recruit B.E./B.Tech graduates in Biomedical Engineering.
  • In general, the average starting salary is between INR 3,00,00 - INR 6,00,000 per year.  Check PSU Recruitment through GATE

Research opportunities

Research is a field where the biomedical engineers in the country can thrive and succeed. However, many students either apply for M.Tech or take up government or private jobs. Those of you who are more inspired to explore the possibilities of biomedical research can choose a career that is research-oriented and give back to society.

Note: –  There is no Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) for the biomedical engineering field. These companies do not hire biomedical engineering graduates because they do not manufacture medical devices.

Important Instructions to Candidates

Important Instructions to Candidates

1. GATE 2023 Admit Card must be brought to the examination center with at least one existing and valid evidence of photo ID (Aadhar Card, Passport, College ID, PAN Card, Driver's License, Voter ID, or Employer ID).

2. GATE Admit Card shall be considered valid only if the applicant has a clearly identifiable signature and photograph.

3. Candidates are required to report 60 minutes prior to the scheduled test time at the exam center.

4. Candidates will only be allowed to take the exam if officials at the exam center check their qualifications.

5. Candidates can take their designated seats 35 minutes before scheduled examination time.

6. Candidates are required to begin reading the test instructions 20 minutes prior to the scheduled examination time.

7. No applicant will be allowed to enter the exam center after 09:30 am for the morning session and after 02:30 pm for the afternoon session.

8. Candidates are not permitted to leave the examination hall until the test finishes.

9. A virtual scientific calculator will be available on the computer screen for the test.

10. Scribble pads will be available for the rough work. Candidates will be asked to write their names and registration numbers on the pads before beginning any rough work. These pads have to be returned to the invigilator after the examination.

11. GATE does not permit mobile phones, personal calculators or other electronic devices to be taken into the examination hall.

12. Do not carry papers, charts or tables into the examination hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: Are there any changes in the marking scheme and exam pattern of GATE 2023 Biomedical Engineering?

Ans: No. There are no changes introduced in the marking scheme. The marking scheme is as mentioned in the table below. But the pattern has been changed from this year. 

Type of question

Negative marking for wrong answer

Marking for correct answer

MCQs

1/3 for 1 mark questions

2/3 for 2 marks questions

1 or 2 marks

MSQs, NATs

No negative marking 

1 or 2 marks

Ques: What are the changes introduced in GATE 2023 Exam pattern?

Ans: There are two major changes introduced in the exam pattern. First, candidates can now sit for a maximum of two papers, and second, the distribution of marks has been changed. 

  • General aptitude – 15%
  • Engineering Mathematics – 13% 
  • The subject selected by the candidates – 72%

Ques: What are the second paper option if I opt for GATE Biomedical Engineering as my first paper?

Ans: If you are planning to appear for GATE BM as your first paper then for the second paper you can opt from BT or XL. 

Ques: What type of questions will be asked in GATE 2023?

Ans: From this year, 3 types of questions will be asked in GATE 2023. 

  • Multiple Select Questions – MSQs
  • Multiple Choice Questions – MCQs
  • Numerical Answer Type – NAT

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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