GATE CS Syllabus 2026

The GATE Computer Science (CS) syllabus spans the core undergraduate CS curriculum plus Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude, which together carry around 30 marks and should never be skipped.

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GATE CS exam pattern

SectionQuestionsDuration
General Aptitude (10 Q · 15 marks)1030 min
Computer Science (55 Q · 85 marks)55150 min
Total65180 min

Marking: 1.5 marks per correct answer, -0.5 per wrong answer (negative marking). Scale: 0–100.

GATE CS syllabus — topic-wise

Engineering Mathematics

Core Computer Science

General Aptitude

How to cover the GATE CS syllabus

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), conducted by IISc and the IITs, is a national test of undergraduate engineering and science, used for M.Tech/MS/PhD admission and PSU recruitment. The 3-hour computer-based test has 65 questions for 100 marks — General Aptitude (10 questions) plus the subject section (55) — using multiple-choice, multiple-select and numerical-answer questions. Negative marking applies only to multiple-choice questions, and normalised marks give a GATE Score on a 0–1000 scale valid for 3 years.

✅ Preparation tips

  • Attempt numerical-answer (NAT) questions freely — no negative marking.
  • Do not neglect the General Aptitude section (15 marks).
  • Practise previous-year papers under timing.

⚠️ Common mistakes

  • Guessing on multiple-choice questions, which carry negative marking.
  • Ignoring General Aptitude and engineering mathematics.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GATE CS syllabus?

The GATE CS syllabus covers Engineering Mathematics, Core Computer Science, General Aptitude. The GATE Computer Science (CS) syllabus spans the core undergraduate CS curriculum plus Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude, which together carry around 30 marks and should never be skipped.

What is the GATE CS exam pattern?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering — Computer Science has 65 questions across 2 sections in 180 minutes, with negative marking of -0.5 per wrong answer.

How many sections are there in GATE CS?

GATE CS is organised into 2 sections: General Aptitude (10 Q · 15 marks), Computer Science (55 Q · 85 marks).

Where can I practise the full GATE CS syllabus for free?

Wrexa Edge offers 10 free full-length GATE CS mock tests that cover the entire syllabus in the real exam interface, with instant scoring and topic-wise analysis.

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