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    GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023, Marking Scheme, Weightage

    GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023 consists of 65 questions of 100 marks in total. The questions asked will be one of the three types - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer type Question (NAT). About 72% weightage (of the total marks) is given to GATE CSE Core syllabus, 15% to General Aptitude and 13% to the Engineering mathematics.The important topics from which the questions are asked are - Digital Logic, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Computer Organizations etc.Candidates appearing for the GATE CSE paper can also choose to appear for Mathematics (MA) as their second paper.Check GATE 2023 CSE Syllabus 

    With more than 3 Lakhs students appearing specifically for GATE CSE exam each year, it is absolutely vital for the candidates to get familiarised with the GATE CSE Syllabus and GATE CSE Exam pattern.The article below explains the GATE CSE Exam pattern in detail. 

    Table of Contents

    1. GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Highlights
    2. GATE CSE Marking Scheme 2023
    3. GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Weightage of Sections 
    4. GATE CSE Previous Year Paper Analysis
      4.1 GATE CSE 2021 Paper Analysis
      4.2 Previous Years Analysis for GATE CSE: Weightage of Topics
    5. GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Sample Questions from Major Topics
    6. GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023:Important Instructions For Candidates 
    7. GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023 FAQs

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    GATE CSE Exam Pattern Highlights

    GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Highlights

    The various highlights of the GATE CSE 2023 Exam pattern are given below:

    Mode Online - Computer Based Test (CBT)
    Duration3 Hours (180 Minutes)
    Nature of QuestionsMCQ – Multiple Choice Questions MSQ – Multiple Select Questions NAT – Numerical Answer Type
    Number of Questions65 Questions
    Total Marks100 Marks
    Marks Awarded1 or 2 marks per correct answer
    Negative Marking1/3rd Mark will be deducted for 1 mark question; 2/3rd Mark will be deducted for 2 marks question
    MediumEnglish
    GATE CSE Marking Scheme

    GATE CSE Marking Scheme 2023

    • The paper is of 100 marks and the total number of questions is 65
    • The language of the paper is English.
    • MCQs - 1 Marks – For each right answer; 1/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. 
    • MCQs - 2 Marks – For each right answer; 2/3 marks will be deducted for each of the wrong answers.
    • NAT – There is no negative checking for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. 
    • MSQ – There is no negative marking for a wrong answer in MSQ questions. However, there are no partial marks awarded for choosing partially correct combinations of choices or any single wrong choice

    Here is the table for the summarised Section wise distribution of marks for GATE CSE 2023 - 

    SectionNumber of questionsMarks per QuestionTotal Marks
    Computer Science Engineering25 (MCQ/NAT)125
    30 (MSQ/NAT)260
    General Aptitude10 (NAT/MCQ/MCQ)1 or 2 15
    Total65-100
    Weightage of Sections

    GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Weightage of Sections 

    With over 10 sections which include complex topics like Algorithms, Data logic, Discrete mathematics, Compiler Design and others, GATE CSE syllabus definitely requires a long preparation duration of over 8 months to be completed in full. Students can reduce this period significantly by focusing solely on the topics with high weightage in the GATE Exam. A list of such sections are tabulated below.

    Section 1: General Aptitude

    SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
    Numerical AbilityNumerical Computation8
    Numerical Estimation
    Numerical Reasoning and DATA Interpretation
    Verbal AbilityEnglish Grammar10
    Sentence Completion
    Verbal Analogies
    Word Groups
    Instructions
    Critical Reasoning and Verbal Deduction

    Section 2: Engineering Mathematics

    1.Discrete Mathematics

      SubjectTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      Discrete MathematicsPropositional and first-order logic10
      Sets, Relations
      Functions
      Partial Orders and lattices
      Groups
      Graphs: connectivity,matching,colouring
      Combinators: counting,recurrence,relations,generating functions

      2.Engineering Mathematics

      SubjectTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      Engineering MathematicsMatrices6
      Determinants
      The system of linear equations
      Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors,LU decomposition
      Limits
      Continuity and differentiability
      Maxima and Minima
      Mean, Median, Mode & Standard deviation
      Mean value theorem
      Integration
      Conditional Probability & Bayes theorem
      Uniform ,Normal,Exponential,Poisson and Binomial distributions

      Section 3: Computer Science subjects

      1.Digital Logic

      SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      Digital LogicNumber Representation and Computer arithmetic (fixed & floating point)7
      Combinational and Sequential circuits
      Boolean Algebra
      Minimization

      2.Computer Organization and Architecture

      SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      Computer Organization and ArchitectureMachine instructions and addressing modes5
      ALU
      Data-path and control unit
      Instruction Pipelining
      Memory Hierarchy:cache
      Main Memory
      Secondary Storage
      I/O interface( Interrupt and DMA)

      3.Programming and Data structure

      SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      Programming and Data structureProgramming C15
      Recursion
      Boolean Algebra
      Arrays
      Stacks
      Linked List
      Queues
      Binary Heaps
      Graphs
      Trees
      Binary search trees

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      4.Algorithms

      SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
      AlgorithmsSearching, sorting & hashing5
      Asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity
      Algorithm design techniques: greedy,dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer
      Minimum spanning trees
      Graph search
      Shortest Paths

      5.Theory of Computation

        SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
        Theory of ComputationRegular expressions and finite automata6
        Context-free grammars and pushdown automata
        Regular and context-free languages
        Pumping Lemma
        Turing Machines
        Undecidability

        6.Compiler Design

          SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
          Compiler DesignLexical analysis5
          Parsing
          Syntax-directed translation
          Runtime Environments
          Intermediate code

          7.Operating Systems

            SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
            Operating SystemsProcesses8
            Thread
            Inter-process communication
            Deadlock
            Concurrency and synchronization
            CPU Scheduling
            Memory management and virtual memory
            File systems

            8.Database

              SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
              DatabaseER-Model9
              Relational Model: Relational algebra,tuple,calculus,SQL
              Integrity constraints,normal forms
              File organization,indexing (e.g. B and B+ trees)
              Transactions and concurrency control

              9.Computer Networks

                SectionTopicsAverage Weightage of Marks
                Computer NetworksConcept of Layering9
                LAN technologies (Ethernet)
                IPv4/IPv6, routers and routing algorithms (distance vector, link state)
                TCP/UDP and sockets, congestion control
                Application layer protocols (DNS,SMTP,POP,FTP,HTTP)
                Basics of WiFi
                Network Security: authentication,basics of the public key cryptography, digital signatures and certificates,firewalls

                CheckGATE Computer Science Paper Analysis

                GATE CSE Previous Year Paper Analysis

                GATE CSE Previous Year Paper Analysis

                The data presented above regarding the weightage of sections has been compiled by the detailed Paper Analysis of the Previous years question papers. However the data from each year's question paper also has other uses than estimating the ‘general average weightage of sections’, it can also show us the trends of weightage from different sections over the years. SO for that purpose a brief analysis of the previous year question papers are given below

                GATE CSE 2021 Paper Analysis

                TopicsNumber of Questions in the Exam
                Algorithms4
                Digital Logic3
                Computer Network4
                Data Structure2
                Computer Organisations6
                Theory of Computation6
                Databases7
                Compiler Design4
                Operating Systems6
                Discrete Mathematics5
                Engineering Mathematics8
                General Aptitude10

                Previous Years Analysis for GATE CSE: Weightage of Topics

                SUBJECTSGATE 2012GATE 2013GATE 2014GATE 2015GATE 2016GATE 2017GATE 2018GATE 2019GATE 2020
                Engineering Mathematics*17%12%21%17%13.75%8%7%6%5%
                Discrete Mathematics & Graph Theory11%10%12.7%11%4.5%7%11%5%10%
                Design & Analysis Algorithms9%8%9%8.5%9.75%6.5%7%7%6%
                Programming & Data Structure18%17%12%16%9.75%13.5%11%10%12%
                Digital Logic5%4%6%7%6%5%4%9%4%
                Computer Organization*5%11%8%6%7%9%11%3%8%
                Theory Of Computation4%7%7%6%8.25%9.5%7%8%10%
                Compiler design5%4%3%4%3.5%4%6%6%4%
                Operating Systems*8%11%8%8%15.5%9%9%11%9%
                DBMS*12%8%8%6%5.75%6%5%8%8%
                Computer Networks9%7%8%8%10%7.5%7%11%9%

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                Sample Questions from Major Topics

                GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023: Sample Questions from Major Topics

                Given below are the 1 & 2 Mark Questions from GATE CS Previous Years Papers With Solution

                • Ques. What is the worst-case time complexity of inserting n2 elements into an AVL-tree with n elements initially?

                Answer. Θ(n2 log n)

                Explanation: Since the AVL tree is a balanced tree, the height is O(log n). So, time complexity to insert an element in an AVL tree is O(log n) in the worst case.

                • Ques. A processor has 64 registers and uses a 16-bit instruction format. It has two types of instructions: I-type and R-type. Each I-type instruction contains an opcode, a registered name, and a 4-bit immediate value. Each R-type instruction contains an opcode and two register names. If there are 8 distinct I-type opcodes, then the maximum number of distinct R-type opcodes is _______.

                Answer: 14 (Note – This question was Numerical Type.)

                • Ques. Consider a database implemented using a B+ tree for file indexing and installed on a disk drive with a block size of 4 KB. The size of the search key is 12 bytes and the size of the tree/disk pointer is 8 bytes. Assume that the database has one million records. Also, assume that no node of the B+ tree and no records are present initially in the main memory. Consider that each record fits into one disk block. The minimum number of disk accesses required to retrieve any record in the database is ___________?

                Answer: 4 (Note – This question was Numerical Type)

                • Ques. Raman is confident of speaking English _______ six months as he has been practicing regularly _______ the last three weeks.

                Answer: within, for

                DownloadGATE Computer Science Practice Paper

                Important Instructions For Candidates

                GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023:Important Instructions For Candidates 

                • To be on the safer side, try to reach the test centre an hour before the exam.
                • Do not take any prohibited items such as mobile, notes, electronic watch etc inside the test center. In case one does carry them inside by mistake , promptly deposit them at the exam centre itself. A candidate will be outright banned from taking the GATE Exam if found in possentition of such items after the exam has begun. 
                • After taking your appointed seat do check that the computer allotted is working fine. Reach out to the administration quickly if there is any problem in the system.
                • Make sure that one has occupied his allotted seat by confirming his photograph which would be displayed on the allotted system
                • Do read the important instructions before the exam to get an idea of the marking and pattern.
                • Do write GATE registration number on the rough/scribble pad provided

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                GATE CSE Exam Pattern FAQs

                GATE CSE 2023 Exam Pattern FAQs

                Ques. Are there any changes in the exam pattern of GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans: No. There are no changes in the marking scheme, weightage of sections, total number of questions, etc. The only change in the exam pattern is that from this year candidates can sit for a maximum of two papers. 

                Ques. How many sections are there in GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023 and what is the weightage of each section?

                Ans: There are three sections in the GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023:

                • General aptitude
                • Engineering Mathematics
                • Core subject syllabus 
                • General Aptitude carrying 15% of the total marks, Engineering Mathematics carrying 13% of the total marks, and Computer science Subject Questions carrying 72% of the total marks.

                Ques. Will there be any negative marking as per GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans: Yes. For wrong answers, marks will be deducted depending on the total marks of that question. 

                The marking scheme is given below

                Type of questionNegative marking for wrong answerMarking for correct answer
                MCQs
                • 1/3 for 1 mark questions
                • 2/3 for 2 marks questions
                +1 or 2 marks
                MSQs, NATsNo negative marking +1 or 2 marks

                Ques. What is the standard duration of the exam as per the GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023? 

                Ans: The duration of the exam is 3 Hours. No extra time would be allotted to any candidate under any circumstances even if the candidate manages to acquire permission for delayed entry into the examination hall.

                Ques. Many questions would be asked from the General Aptitude section in the exam as per the GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans. 10 Questions would be asked from the General Aptitude section comprising 15 marks in total. The rest of the 55 Question and 85 marks would be from Core CSE subjects and Engineering Mathematics.

                Ques. How many 1 mark and 2 mark questions would be asked in the exam as per the GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans. The table below details the 1 and 2 marks questions asked in the GATE exam:

                SectionMarks per QuestionNumber of questions
                Computer Science Engineering125 (MCQ/NAT)
                230 (MSQ/NAT)
                General Aptitude1 or 2 5
                Total-65

                Ques. How many questions from Theory of Computation are asked in the exam as per the GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans. There is no official statement/ provision regarding the inclusion of a set number of questions from a particular topic. Only 10 questions are to be asked from the General Aptitude section and the rest 55 Questions can be asked from any topic in the GATE CSE Syllabus. However, through the Computer Science Paper Analysis we are able to determine that Questions of 4-6 marks from Theory of Computation are asked in the paper each year.

                Ques. How many questions from Digital logic are asked in the exam according to GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2023?

                Ans. There is no official statement/ provision regarding the inclusion of a set number of questions from a particular topic. Only 10 questions are to be asked from the General Aptitude section and the rest 55 Questions can be asked from any topic in the GATE CSE Syllabus. However, through the Computer Science Paper Analysis we are able to determine that Questions of 4-7 marks from Discrete mathematics are asked in the paper each year.

                Ques. Does the CSE Exam Pattern 2023 have provisions for undertaking the exam in Hindi?

                Ans. No. The GATE exam is carried out in English language only. There is simply no provision for carrying out GATE in Hindi or any other regional language- marathi, Tamil, Urdu etc. Since, english is the medium of instruction across several engineering institutes, any applicant even slightly familiar with the language would not face any problem in comprehending the questions.

                GATE 2025 : 20 Answered QuestionsView All

                • Top Answer By Pragya Tripathi on 20-Apr-2023

                Ans. An MS from IIT Kanpur is considered to be a highly respected and prestigious degree. The MS program at IIT Kanpur is reputed for its focus on excellent research and its strong focus on practical, hands-on learning. As an MS student, you get to work with some of the most experienced and respected scholars and researchers in their fields, which gives an insight into the latest industry developments and trends.  Additionally, not being located near metropolitan areas, IIT Kanpur gives a peaceful learning environment and students don’t spend much time partying or clubbing. Although it is a 2-year program, with the right determination one can complete it in 18 months also. If you are true to your passion you can also complete a Ph.D. under an experienced thesis advisor and won’t have to go to a foreign university for a Ph.D. Overall, an MS from IIT Kanpur is a valuable and highly esteemed program that offers many opportunities in terms of career and professional advancement. Although it is challenging, the learning experience is worth the effort. Read more

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                • Top Answer By Prachi Sinha on 09-May-2022

                Ans. Andhra University M.Tech admission is done in two ways, i.e. through GATE and through AP PGECET. To get admission, you need to have a valid GATE score or you need to score a valid rank in AP PGECET. Soon, Andhra University will release the notification for AP PGECET. Here are the tentative dates. Event Tentative dates Notification release date Second week of July 2022 Application form available  Second week of July 2022 Admit card release date  Second week of September 2022 Exam date Third week of September 2022 Result  Second week of October 2022 Andhra University will release the application form online. Visit the official website of the institute regularly to get the updated information.  Read more

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                • Top Answer By Aditi Gupta on 01-Apr-2022

                Ans. Many GATE toppers leave PSU and join NITIE, instead of IITs because it offers better placements. Usually, students with good scores join  ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL, and others. Despite the good salary, PSU jobs can get monotonous after a few years. So, the top rankers start looking for better career options. If they wish to do an MBA, they need to prepare for CAT. Some do prepare for CAT, but many join NITIE as it is an easier option. NITIE takes admission through GATE and the GATE score is valid for 3 years. So, they can easily get admission based on their GATE score.  Also, the institute has a great placement record. During the NITIE Mumbai placement in 2022, the average CTC offered was INR 25.41 LPA. The video below will convince you further to join NITIE Mumbai Overall, its the excellent opportunities offered by NITIE that makes mant GATE toppers leave PSU and join NITIE Read more

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                • Top Answer By Subham Patra on 15-Jul-2022

                Ans. Here are some strategies that can help you prepare for GATE and ESE simultaneously. Compare the syllabus of GATE and ESE. Go through the previous years' questions of both. The technical portion of both examinations overlaps a lot. The major difference is question patterns and styles. Different types of questions are asked on the same topics. GATE tests aptitude for solving technical questions. While ESE puts more emphasis on technical details.  Figure out which subjects contribute more to which examinations.  If you have less time, start with GATE preparation. The topics can be covered easily and in less time. Once you are through GATE preparation, you can solve ESE questions without much difficulty.  Focus on GATE and ESE preparations only.  First, go through the syllabus thoroughly. Once you are done with the syllabus, go through your notes and solve previous years' questions. Solve test series, and review hard questions. Analyze the tests you give and work on your mistakes.  Read more

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                • Top Answer By Dishi Mishra on 15-Jul-2022

                Ans. GATE consists mostly of numerical questions. It tests the aptitude for solving questions in less time. BITS HD papers have 10-15 numerical questions usually. The numerical questions aren’t on the same level as GATE and are just formula-based problems. Usually, around 80-90% of BITS HD questions are theory oriented. You need to have a good grasp of your engineering subjects to score well in BITS HD. The questions can come from anywhere in the syllabus. BITS HD usually consists -  15 Mathematics questions (difficulty usually higher than GATE) 15 general English questions 70 Engineering discipline questions Also, note that BITS take admission based on GATE scores as well.  Read more

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                • Top Answer By Lorina on 27-Feb-2023

                Ans. The required GATE rank depends upon various parameters like  The engineering branch Company (PSU)  Number of vacancies for the stream People who are graduating in 3-4 years are lucky as both IOCL and ONGC are planning to recruit in bulk because of massive retirements in both the companies. The mechanical and chemical branches are expected to have the most vacancies. Candidates will be called in a 1:5 ratio and thus, interviews will be the major determining factor of your selection. If you are unable to showcase your knowledge and talent during the interview, even a single-digit rank cannot guarantee your admission. A minimum of 40% marks are required to pass the interview. So if you get a call for the interview, don’t let your rank discourage you or even make you overconfident.  Read more

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                • Top Answer By Ankita Sinha on 07-Oct-2020

                Ans. Sikkim Manipal University has been ranked at 17 for Private Engineering by India Today in 2020. The largest department within the institution is the CSE department and it has also won the best department in SMIT multiple times. Admissions: Class 12th with mandatory subjects in Physics, Maths, Chemistry/computer science/biology is the prerequisite for admission to CSE at Sikkim Manipal. SMIT online, MET, JEE Mains is the examinations accepted for BTech admission. The total intake for CSE is 180 and the course fee is 12.20 lakhs. Curriculum: The University offers a well-structured and detailed curriculum with exposure to major areas of computer science like Big data analytics, robotics, cloud computing, ethical hacking, and more. The course structure focuses on providing students with knowledge of the core subjects of computer science in order to strengthen their foundation and make them industry-ready. Faculty: The university has 33 highly experienced and qualified faculties for CS. The faculty members also conduct seminars and workshops with esteemed institutions like ISRO, IIT, and TIFR. Infrastructure: The University offers a great infrastructure for the CSE department as it receives funding from two highly esteemed agencies, AICTE and ISRO. There are nine state-of-the-art practical labs like the Networking lab, digital circuit and microprocessor labs, GIS and remote sensing lab, advanced programming lab, and more. It also has a huge library with over 2500 journals and books dedicated to the CSE branch. It has been updated with modern facilities and infrastructure all across the campus in order to provide students with the best experience. Placements: AGS Infotech, Amazon, Britannia, Cipla, Capgemini are some of the major recruiters at the institute. Placement Rate within CSE 92.5% Lowest CTC 3.5 LPA Average CTC 5 LPA Highest CTC 18 LPA Sikkim Manipal University is a great option for students who want to pursue a BTech degree program in the CSE department. Read more

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                • Top Answer By Harshita Sinha on 15-Jul-2022

                Ans. It depends on your career goals. GATE offers more options for engineering students. It is an all-around examination. You can go for MTech, PSUs, MS, and FRM. If you want more options, GATE will be better for you.  If you want to do an MBA, after graduation, CAT will be the better option. Almost all top B-Schools accept CAT scores for MBA.  Read more

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                • Top Answer By Ashish Gupta on 15-Apr-2023

                Ans. IIT Roorkee admission 2023 hasn’t been wrapped up yet, hence its GATE cutoff too hasn’t been released as of now. M.Tech admission process of IIT Roorkee is conducted on the basis of the GATE cutoff, and all the candidates applying for admission into the M.Tech course under the non-sponsored category will be required to clear the cutoff for admission.  The cutoff scores for M.Tech admission at IIT Roorkee for 2022 and 2021 have not been disclosed by the admission authority. Let’s consider GATE 2020 cutoff for a slight idea. Category  GATE 2020 Cutoff General 77.1 EWS 79.1 OBC 72.32 SC 58.62 ST 61.33 Read more

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                • Top Answer By Radhika Srivastava on 11-Apr-2023

                Ans. First of all, admission to the IIT Roorkee MTech program is not given on the basis of GATE rank. The final shortlisting is done on the basis of Normalized GATE marks were used which is calculated by IIT Roorkee as follows: Normalized GATE marks = Normalized marks out of 100 or Marks*100\Maximum marks awarded in the paper that year  For example if a candidate has scored 64 marks and the maximum marks given that year are 92, the Normalized GATE marks are 64*100/92=69.57.  The table below comprises the expected GATE 2023 cut-off for IIT Roorkee based on the previous year's cut-off trends.  MTech Course Cutoff Alternate Hydro Energy Centre 760-839 Architecture & Planning 650-844 Biotechnology 570-577 Civil Engineering 656-780 Chemical Engineering 650-657 Computer Science & Engineering 840-844 Disaster Mitigation & Management 700-710 Electronics and Communication Engineering 736-750 Electrical Engineering 760-779 Mechanical and Industrial Engineering 748-785 Read more

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                *The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College

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