GATE 2021 Question Paper PDFs

GATE 2021 includes Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) and Humanities and Social Sciences (XH). XH combines a common section with an optional subject such as Economics or Psychology. Its optional subjects have different question papers.

GATE 2021 Paper Structure and Marking

XE and XL include compulsory and optional sections. Candidates answer the compulsory section and their selected optional sections, not every section in the question paper.

For a numerical-answer question, enter the number in the form requested and use the accepted range in the key when one is specified. A value outside that range earns no marks. MCQ penalties apply only to wrong MCQs, not to blank answers. In an MSQ, selecting only some correct options earns no partial credit; adding an incorrect option also loses the marks for that question.

Checking Answers Against the Key

Use the answer key for the same paper code and session. If the question order differs from the master paper, compare the question and options before checking the answer.

• Mark MCQs by both their key and their 1-mark or 2-mark value.
• Use the numerical range printed in the NAT key rather than rounding every answer to the same number of decimals.
• For MSQs, compare the entire selected set with the key.
• The final official key determines the marks if a solution gives a different answer.

Score example: 12 correct 1-mark MCQs and 18 correct 2-mark MCQs earn 48 marks. Three wrong 1-mark MCQs deduct 1 mark, while three wrong 2-mark MCQs deduct 2 marks. These MCQs contribute 45 marks, before adding any correct numerical or multiple-select answers.

Raw marks are different from the GATE score out of 1,000 and All India Rank. The GATE exam pattern explains the marking rules and paper structure.

Using the 2021 Paper for GATE Preparation

A full attempt includes General Aptitude and the subject paper within three hours. For topic-wise practice, group questions by concept and marks: a chapter with four 2-mark questions contributes more than one with six 1-mark questions.

For a wrong numerical answer, check units, signs and rounding before changing the method. In an MCQ, compare the selected option with the exact condition in the question. For an MSQ, an incomplete selection earns zero even if every selected option is correct.

The GATE question-paper collection includes other years and sessions. The GATE mock-test guide covers computer-based practice, including full-paper attempts.

Chapter-wise weightage varies by paper and session. Compare the marks attached to each question rather than question counts alone; GATE uses both 1-mark and 2-mark questions.