This article will tell students How Many Questions to attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026. This is something that every student wants to know about how many questions to attempt in the GATE 2026 exam. This is answered briefly in the article below. Candidates should go in-depth into this article to know the answer and strategy behind this question.
Also know about GATE 2026 vs GATE 2025: Will the Competition Get Tougher?
How Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026
Candidates should aim to correctly answer at least 40 to 55 questions in the upcoming GATE 2026 exam (scheduled for February 2026) to achieve a score of 60 or better. The General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics sections are very important, and candidates should prioritise these sections, as they carry a high weightage.
A wise strategy combines a high accuracy rate with an adequate number of attempts, as opposed to attempting many questions with low accuracy. So students should focus on high-weightage chapters and should focus on accuracy. For example, if you answer 40 questions with 80% accuracy, you can get roughly 50 points; if you answer more questions with less accuracy, you can get a lower score.
How to attempt Questions with Accuracy?
Candidates should be very confident in their preparation and in themselves. Follow the points mentioned below that can help students focus on attempting questions with high accuracy.
- Prioritise accuracy by focusing on giving accurate responses to the questions rather than merely attempting to respond to a large number of questions. Answering 40 questions with 80% accuracy earns 50 points, while answering 55 questions with only 50% accuracy earns 42 points.
- Start by concentrating on easy sections: Start with the General Aptitude (GA) and Engineering Mathematics sections since they are usually easier and can boost confidence.
- Make a plan for your attempts: Answer questions that make you feel at ease. For questions that require guesswork, consider the risk-reward based on negative marking. Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions are a good option for high-risk attempts because they don’t have negative marking.
- Use your time wisely: If you have extra time after answering all the questions you are certain about, use it for questions that you have marked for revision or that don’t have a negative score.
Strategy on how Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026
- General Aptitude: Make an effort to correctly respond to atleast 8 to 10 questions, but make sure whatever questions you are doing, you are confident on that.
- Engineering Mathematics: Attempt to provide accurate answers to atleast 7 or 8 problems with 98% accuracy.
- Subject-Specific: Try responding or answering to 25 to 30 questions, this section carries the most weight, so be very precise.
- Overall: Focussing on high accuracy on a moderate number of questions is a safer and more effective way to achieve a respectable score. To get a score of 60 or higher, the objective should be to correctly answer roughly 60 of the 65 questions.
GATE 2026 Marks Distribution
In order to properly plan their study, candidates for the upcoming GATE 2026 exam should be completely informed of the topic-wise distribution of marks based on GATE previous year questions.
View the GATE distribution of marks for different engineering fields or disciplines per topic below.
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Computer Science
Candidates must adhere to the official GATE CSE syllabus for 2026 in order to do well on the GATE CSE (Computer Science Engineering) paper. They can also increase the efficacy of their study strategy by include crucial subjects. See the Computer Science GATE distribution of marks in the table below.
| GATE CSE Topics | Expected Marks Distribution in % |
|---|---|
| Theory of Computation | 7.5 |
| Operating System | 9 |
| Compiler Design | 2.75 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Computer Organization and Architecture | 9 |
| Computer Networks | 7.5 |
| Programming and Data Structures | 10.5 |
| Algorithms | 8 |
| Digital Logic | 5.25 |
| Software Engineering / Web Technology | 1.5 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 14.75 |
| Database | 7.5 |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Mechanical Engineering
Analysing the GATE ME syllabus is essential for candidates getting ready for the Mechanical Engineering (ME) exam in order to decide which subjects to concentrate on.
After that, candidates can consult the Mechanical Engineering topic-wise GATE marks distribution table, which is shown below. The development of a successful preparation approach will be aided by this knowledge.
| GATE ME Topics | Expected Weightage of marks |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 12.25 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 14.25 |
| Thermodynamics | 12.75 |
| Theory of Mechanics | 9 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8 |
| Strength of materials | 7.75 |
| Fluid Mechanics | 7.5 |
| Heat Transfer | 6 |
| Machine Design | 3.75 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 2.5 |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | 1.25 |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Electronics & Communication Engineering
The table below shows the GATE distribution of marks for Electronics and Communication Engineering by topic.
| GATE ECE Topics | Expected Marks Distribution in % |
|---|---|
| Network Theory | 11.25 |
| Communication Systems | 10.75 |
| Electronics Devices & Circuits | 7.25 |
| EMT (Electromagnetic Theory) | 9.5 |
| Digital Circuits | 6 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 10.5 |
| Signal & Systems | 9 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Analog Circuits | 11.75 |
| Micro Processors | 1.5 |
| Control Systems | 9 |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Electrical Engineering
Check out the table below for a comprehensive grasp of the expected topic-wise mark distribution in the GATE Electrical Engineering exam:
| GATE EE Topics | Expected Marks Distribution in % |
|---|---|
| Network Theory | 11.75 |
| Analog & Digital Electronics | 11.25 |
| Signal & System | 8.5 |
| Control Systems | 9 |
| Power Systems | 9.75 |
| Electrical Machines | 8.25 |
| Electrical & Electronics Measurements | 4.5 |
| EMT (Electromagnetic Theory) | 2.75 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 11.75 |
| Power Electronics | 7.5 |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Instrumentation Engineering
Applicants preparing for the Instrumentation Engineering exam must have a thorough understanding of the GATE mark distribution for the key subjects chosen from the comprehensive Instrumentation Engineering 2025 syllabus in order to perform well.
| GATE IE Topics | Expected Marks Distribution in % |
|---|---|
| Analog Circuits | 11.75 |
| Circuits and Networks | 10.25 |
| Measurements | 6.25 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Communications | 1.5 |
| Signals and Systems | 7.75 |
| Control System | 10.75 |
| Transducers | 12.25 |
| Digital Circuits | 7 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 11.75 |
| Analytical Biomedical & Optical Instrumentation | 4.25 |
| Process Controls | 1.5 |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Civil Engineering
The projected marks distribution weightage for each of the topics included in the GATE Civil Engineering syllabus is broken down in detail in this table. Applicants can utilise it as a helpful tool when planning their study schedules.
| GATE CE Topics | Expected Marks Distribution in % |
|---|---|
| SOM (Strength of Materials) | 7.75 |
| Structural Analysis | 3.5 |
| FM and Hydraulic Machine | 6.75 |
| Irrigation & Hydrology | 7.75 |
| RCC (Reinforced Concrete) and Prestressed Concrete | 6.5 |
| Geo-Technical | 15.25 |
| Design of Steel Structures | 4.25 |
| Highway & Surveying | 12 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 12.25 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Environment Engineering | 9 |
FAQs on How Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026
How Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026
Candidates should target atleast 55 to 65 qu
How many points will be awarded for GATE 2026?
The GATE 2026 exam will be administered in 30 different subjects with a total score of 100.
What is the computer science GATE Distribution of Marks?
There will be 65 questions totalling 100 points in the GATE CSE 2026 exam.
Where is the GATE 2026 Marks Distribution available?
To view the GATE 2026 Marks Distribution, candidates must consult this article.
What is the distribution of GATE 2026 marks each section?
There are three main sections: engineering mathematics, which is worth 13 marks, general aptitude, which is worth 15 marks, and topics chosen by the applicant, which are worth 72 or 85 marks, respectively.
What grading system will be used for the GATE 2026 Data Science and AI paper?
The DA paper will receive 15 GATE points for general aptitude (GA) and 85 points for subject-specific questions.
