GATE 2026 Exam Analysis, Question Papers, Answer Keys & Cutoffs

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 examination was conducted by IIT Guwahati in multiple shifts on February 7 and 8, 2026, in computer-based test (CBT) mode for a range of subjects including core engineering and science papers. The exam will continue on 14 and 15 February 2026 for remaining subjects.

Shift-Wise Question Paper Analysis

February 7, 2026

The first day of the GATE 2026 exam was held in two shifts covering subjects such as AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL in the forenoon slot, and AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH in the afternoon, each paper lasting three hours.

According to subject experts:

• The Biotechnology (BT) and Chemical (CH) papers were reported to contain varied difficulty sections.
• MATHEMATICS (MA) and General Aptitude (GA) sections generally remained moderate, while branch-specific questions demanded strong conceptual clarity.

February 8, 2026

The second day included CS-1, ST in the morning shift and CS-2, EY, NM, and PE in the afternoon.

Analyses indicate:

• The CS-1 (Computer Science) paper was moderate to difficult, with heavier weightage on algorithms, operating systems, compiler design, database and discrete mathematics topics.
• The CS-2 shift was assessed as moderate to tough, featuring a mix of tricky multiple-select questions and extensive problem-solving items.
• Other subject papers such as EY (Ecology & Evolution), NM (Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering) and PE (Petroleum Engineering) were moderate in difficulty with focused topic coverage.

Memory-Based Question Papers & Unofficial Answer Keys

Several coaching institutes and educational portals have released memory-based question papers and PDF answer keys for GATE 2026 shifts. These resources allow candidates to cross-check responses and estimate probable scores pending official keys. Memory-based PDFs are available for:

• Core engineering disciplines like CS, CE, ME
• Science papers such as CY (Chemistry) and PH (Physics)These can be used for self-assessment before official answers are published.

Expected Cut-Off Ranges

Initial projections suggest subject-wise expected qualifying cut-off ranges for the General category:

• Computer Science (CS): 28.5–31.0
• Mechanical Engineering (ME): 29.5–32.0
• Physics (PH): 27.5–30.0These ranges are indicative and may shift based on final answer key evaluations and normalisation across shifts.

Official Answer Key and Result Timeline

IIT Guwahati is scheduled to release the provisional GATE 2026 answer key by late February 2026. Candidates will be allowed to submit objections against the provisional key within a specified period, typically with a processing fee per challenged question. The GATE 2026 results are expected to be declared in March 2026, after consideration of final keys and scoring. Scorecards will be issued subsequently to qualifying candidates.

Exam Pattern and Logistics

The GATE exam comprises Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Each paper is of 100 marks with a duration of three hours, including a General Aptitude section common to all subjects. Candidates must carry their printed admit card and valid photo ID to the test centre as per guidelines issued by the organising institute.