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GATE XE Exam Pattern 2024: Subject-wise Pattern & Marking Scheme

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

GATE XE Exam Pattern 2024: In this article, we are providing an official exam pattern of the GATE XE exam here. Before heading toward the preparation, you should have a proper study of the exam pattern and syllabus of the GATE XE exam. GATE XE (Engineering Sciences) is one of the 29 papers which has 9 sections (A-H) out of which 2 sections General Aptitude (GA), and Engineering Mathematics (XE-A) is compulsory along with the candidate must attempt any two sections of XE Paper from sections B-H.

The choice of two sections from B to H can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Let’s discuss the section-wise detailed GATE XE exam pattern 2024 along with the marks distribution and topics.

Download GATE Syllabus for All Engineering Branches PDF

GATE XE Exam Pattern 2024

Here is the GATE XE exam pattern 2024 described in detail along with the different paper combinations. Candidates are advised to go through these details before applying for the GATE 2024 application form.

Section Code Marks
General Aptitude(Compulsory) GA 15
Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) XE-A 15
Any Two optional Sections(70 Marks)
Fluid Mechanics XE-B 35 x 2
Materials Science XE-C
Solid Mechanics XE-D
Thermodynamics XE-E
Polymer Science and Engineering XE-F
Food Technology XE-G
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences XE-H

Details About GATE XE Exam

  • The length of the examination will be three hours.
  • There will be a total of 65 questions.
  • The Maximum Mark will be 100 Marks.
  • The type of questions that will come in GATE XE is as follows:
    • Multiple-Choice Questions(MCQ)
    • Numerical Answer Type(NAT)
  • In GATE XE Questions a candidate will be tested on the basis of the following parameters:
Recall
  • These types of questions will be based on formulas, facts, and laws of the respective branch.
  • In this, the candidate must give an answer either from his/her memory directly or at most from the one-line computation.
Comprehension
  • Here the questions are designed to determine the candidate’s knowledge of the basics of their respective course, by requiring them to draw simple conclusions from the basic concepts.
Application
  • Here, the candidate is required to apply his/her expertise either through computation or logical reasoning.
Analysis and Synthesis
  • The candidate is presented with data, diagrams, images, etc. which basically requires analysis before a question can be answered.
  • This type of question might require the candidate to compare two or more pieces of information.

XE Combination of Papers

GATE 2024 exam allows the candidate to appear for one or up to two papers for an allowed combination of papers. Candidates can appear for GATE XE 2024 as:

  • Primary paper when choosing only one paper to appear for or
  • As a secondary paper along with a primary paper when choosing two papers to appear for.
  • GATE XE can be the secondary paper along with the following codes
Code of the Primary Paper Code of Papers allowed as Secondary Paper
Aerospace Engineering(AE) XE
Chemical Engineering(CH)
Mining Engineering (MN)
Metallurgical Engineering (MT)
Petroleum Engineering (PE)
Production and Industrial Engineering (PI)
Textile Engineering and Fiber Science(TF)

Negative Marking in MCQs

The marking scheme for GATE XE Exam is described below. Candidates must be aware that MCQ questions in the GATE XE exam carry negative marks so that it can be avoided in the GATE Exam.

  • 1-mark MCQ: 1/3 mark is to be deducted for every wrong answer
  • 2-mark MCQ: 2/3 mark is to be deducted for every wrong answer

GATE XE Marks Distribution 2024

The marks distribution in GATE XE papers is shown below. In the GATE exam questions either carry two marks or one mark.

  • General Aptitude (Compulsory)
    • Questions carry a total of 15 marks.
    • It will hold a weightage of a total of 15 marks.
    • There will be a total of 10 questions where
      • 5 questions will be of 1 mark each and
      • 5 questions will be of 2 marks each.
  • Section A – Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)
    • Questions will be of two types either MCQ or NATs.
    • The total no. of questions will be 11
    • This section will carry 15 marks in total
      • 1-mark each: 7 questions
      • 2-mark each: 4 questions
  • Any two of XE Sections B to H
    • You can make the choice of any two sections from B to H after having a look at the questions.
    • At a time you can only answer TWO optional sections.
    • If you wish to change midway through the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to H).
    • Optional Sections B to H of XE-Paper will have 22 questions with a total weightage of 35 marks
    • 1-mark each: 9 questions
    • 2-marks each: 13 questions
    • A few questions will be of MSQ/NATs while the remaining will be MCQ

GATE XE Pattern 2024: Section-wise Topics

GATE XE includes a total of 9 sections out of which GA and XE-A are compulsory and candidates can choose any two sections from sections B-H. Find the overview of the different sections of GATE XE below.

 Subject code  Exam pattern
General Aptitude
  • Verbal analogies, word groups, instructions, critical reasoning, and verbal deduction.
  • English grammar, sentence completion
  • Numerical Ability: Numerical computation, numerical estimation, numerical reasoning, and data interpretation
Engineering Mathematics
  • Probability & Statistics and Numerical Methods
  • Linear Algebra, Calculus, Vector Calculus, Complex variables
  • Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations
Fluid Mechanics
  • Flow and Fluid Properties, Kinematics of Fluid Motion
  • Potential Flows.
  • Differential Analysis, Dimensional Analysis
  • Internal Flows, External Flows
  • Integral Analysis of Control Volume
  • Bernoulli’s Equation and its Applications
Materials Science
  • Properties and Applications of Materials
  • Characterization and Measurements of Properties
  • Processing of Materials, Degradation of Materials.
  • Classification and Structure of Materials
  • Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Phase Transformations
Solid Mechanics
  • Vibrations
  • Mechanics of rigid bodies
  • Mechanics of deformable bodies
Thermodynamics
  • Thermodynamic Relations
  • Properties of Pure Substances
  • Thermodynamic Cycles
  • Ideal Gas Mixtures
  • Basic concepts of Thermodynamics
  • First Law of Thermodynamics
  • Second Law of Thermodynamics
Polymer Science & Engineering
  • Chemistry of high polymers
  • Polymer Characterization
  • Polymer Technology, Polymer rheology
  • Polymer processing, Polymer testing
  • Polymer Recycling and Waste management.
  • Synthesis, manufacturing, and properties
  • Polymer blends and composites
Food Technology
  • Food Products Technology
  • Food Engineering
  • Food Chemistry and Nutrition
  • Food Microbiology
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
  • Modes of Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere
  • Ocean Sciences, Chemical Properties of Seawater
  • Major and Minor Elements, Ocean Acidification
  • Atmospheric Science Vertical Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
  • Blackbody Radiation and Radiation Balance

GATE XE Previous Year’s Cutoff

Candidates can check maximum marks, previous year’s average marks & cut off for the XE branch for GATE 2022 from the below table.

Branch name 

Total marks 

Max marks obtained 

AVG marks out of 100

The cutoff marks out of 100 

XE

1000

90.33

22.00

37.00

Important articles for GATE XE 2024

Important Tips for GATE Preparation 

  1. How to use Virtual Calculator for GATE 2024
  2. Topper’s strategy for GATE Exam preparation
  3. GATE 2024 Exam Syllabus

Accelerate your GATE 2024 preparations with BYJU’s Exam Prep Online Classroom Program

Related Important Links

GATE Cut Off GATE Question Papers PDF
GATE Subject-wise Weightage GATE Mechanical Syllabus
GATE Civil Syllabus GATE Electrical Syllabus
GATE CSE Syllabus GATE ECE Syllabus
GATE General Aptitude Syllabus GATE 2024 Computer Science Engineering Syllabus
GATE 2024 Civil Engineering Syllabus GATE 2024 Electrical Engineering Syllabus

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