The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 answer key has been released by the conducting institute on the official portal. Candidates who took the examination in February can now access their response sheet and question paper online. The documents are available through the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in using login credentials.
GATE 2026 Answer Key Download Process and Login Details
Candidates can access the answer key and response sheet only through the official portal. The process requires valid login details issued during registration. The following steps explain how candidates can download the documents:
- Visit the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- Open the candidate login section on the GOAPS portal.
- Enter the enrolment ID and password carefully.
- Access the response sheet, question paper, and provisional answer key.
- Download and save the files for reference while calculating expected marks.
These documents help candidates review their responses submitted during the exam conducted on 7 February 2026, 8 February 2026, 14 February 2026, and 15 February 2026.
GATE 2026 Response Sheet and Answer Key: Key Differences Explained
The examination authority releases multiple documents related to the answer verification process. Each of them serves a different purpose during evaluation. The details are outlined below:
- GATE Response Sheet 2026:This document displays the answers submitted by candidates during the examination.
- GATE 2026 Provisional Answer Key:It contains the officially suggested answers released by the exam authority.
- GATE 2026 Final Answer Key:This version is issued after reviewing objections submitted by candidates and is used for preparing the final result.
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme to Estimate Probable Scores
Candidates often use the provisional answer key to estimate their likely scores before the official result announcement. Understanding the marking scheme is essential for accurate calculation. According to the GATE 2026 exam pattern, the marking rules are as follows:
- For one-mark multiple-choice questions, one-third mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
- For two-mark multiple-choice questions, two-thirds mark is deducted for each wrong attempt.
- There is no negative marking for MSQ (Multiple Select Questions) and NAT (Numerical Answer Type) questions.
Using this system, candidates can compare responses and estimate performance in the exam.
GATE 2026 Objection Window and Result Timeline
After reviewing the provisional answer key, candidates have the option to challenge any discrepancy found in the answers. The process to submit objections includes the following steps:
- Log in to the official portal using registered credentials.
- Open the provisional answer key section.
- Select the question to challenge and upload supporting documents.
- Pay the prescribed objection fee and submit the request.
- Save the confirmation for future reference.
All submitted objections will be reviewed by the examination authority. If valid, corrections will be included in the final answer key. The GATE 2026 result is scheduled to be announced on 19 March 2026, along with the final answer key. Once released, the final key will be treated as the official basis for score calculation and will not allow further challenges.