GATE Score Calculation 2026

GATE authorities use the process of marks normalization to calculate the candidates’ scores out of 1000. The marks obtained in GATE out of 1000 is the GATE score of the aspirant. GATE exam is conducted in multiple sessions. The difficulty level of the sessions and slots may vary.

GATE Marks Vs Rank Vs Scores?

GATE Marks

The GATE marks are calculated on the basis of weightage on each question and the number of questions. The total number of questions asked in the GATE Written test is 65. There are three types of questions - Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Selected Questions and Numerical Answer Type questions.

There is a total of 100 marks. The negative marks are only applicable for MCQs. One-third of the marks allocated to each MCQs will be deducted. GATE marks are the actual or raw marks that a candidate received in the examination based on their performance.

GATE Score

The primary distinction between GATE marks and GATE scores is that GATE marks are calculated on a scale of 100, whereas GATE scores are calculated on a scale of 1000. The GATE Score is calculated on the basis of taking actual marks and normalised marks.

The GATE Score is widely accepted by the PSU bodies as well as the IIT, IISc & NIT at the time of admission into the higher studies. Moreover, some foreign universities accept GATE Score as well.

GATE Rank

The GATE Rank is calculated on the basis of the GATE score. All GATE-qualified candidates will be given an All India Rank which will determine their chances of admission. The GATE Rank also influences the changes in PSU recruitments through GATE. A good GATE rank is a subjective concept and is defined according to the aspirations of the candidate. A good GATE rank to take admission in IIT, IISc & NIT differs in every institution.

GATE Expected Marks Vs Gate Rank

The GATE rank and marks analysis will help the candidates to evaluate their options after the exam carefully. Below mentioned table provides the GATE Expected Marks Vs Gate Rank analysis which will help the candidate to get an idea of the expected marks with rank:

GATE 2021 Rank vs Marks vs Scores

Here is the GATE Rank 2021 with marks and score to get an idea of the how high the marks should be to get AIR 1 rank:

GATE 2021 Rank vs Marks vs Score

In the following section of the article, GATE 2021 marks, rank, and score for each subject is given for candidates to maintain transparency by the conducting authorities.

For Civil Engineering (CE)

For Computer Science & Information Technology (CS)

For Electrical Engineering (EE)

For Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)

For Instrumentation Engineering (IE)

For Production & Industrial Engineering (PI)

Actual GATE Marks

For MCQ type of questions, 1 or 2 marks will be rewarded for every correct answer and 1/3 mark is deducted for each incorrect attempts. There is no negative marking for the MSQs and numerical questions. There is a total of 100 marks for 65 questions asked from General Aptitude and the core subject.

GATE Marking Scheme

GATE 2026 Negative Marking

Candidates can get the GATE Exam Syllabus here.

Normalized GATE Marks

After evaluating the answers, the raw marks obtained by the candidate will be converted to a normalised GATE score. The following formula is used to calculate Normalized Marks for CE, CS, EC, EE, and ME papers (multi-session papers). The Normalization mark of a jth candidate in the ith session M̂ij has given by-

GATE 2026 Score Normalization

Further, the graph can help understand the relationship between the two scores better.

Graph is showing the linear relationship between "actual marks" and "normalized marks" of a candidate, in multiple-session papers (CE or ME) of GATE 2026.

• Mgt = average marks of top 0.1 % candidates in all sessions of that subject.
• Mgq = mean + standard deviation, of marks of all candidates in all sessions of that subject.
• Mti = average marks of top 0.1 % candidates in the ith session of that subject.
• Miq = mean + standard deviation, of marks of all candidates in the ith session of that subject.

GATE Score 2026

The GATE score is calculated out of 1000. The GATE score is computed based on the marks (normalised) obtained by the candidate and mean marks of the top 0.1% or top 10 of the candidates who appeared in the same paper, including multi-session. Get the list of GATE Cutoff marks here.

How to Calculate GATE Score?

For all papers for which there is only one session, actual marks will be used to calculate the GATE Score 2026. GATE score will be calculated using the formula,

In the above formulae,

• M: marks obtained by the candidate (actual marks for single session papers and normalised marks for multi-session papers)
• Mq: is the qualifying marks for general category candidates in the paper
• M̅t: is the mean of marks of top 0.1% or top 10 (whichever is larger) of the candidates who appeared in the paper (in case of multi-session papers including all sessions)
• Sq: 350 is the score assigned to Mq
• St: 900 is the score assigned to M̅t

In the GATE score formula, Mq is usually 25 marks (out of 100) or (μ+σ), larger. Here μ is the mean, and σ is the standard deviation of all the candidates who appeared in the paper.

The GATE Committee can decide the qualifying mark/score for each GATE paper. If any claim or dispute arises in respect of GATE, the Courts and Tribunals in Madras alone shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain and settle any such dispute or claim.

GATE 2026 Qualifying Marks

Candidates who will be able to qualify with the minimum score, will be awarded the GATE Scorecard. Qualified candidates will be able to download the GATE Scorecard from the official website. The GATE score card is the official document confirming the qualification of candidates. GATE scorecard 2026 can be used in applying for M.Tech admission or in PSU recruitment.