GATE 2026 How Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score – If you are also going to appear in the GATE exam in 2026, then you should know how to score 60+ in GATE 2026.
If you want to pass this exam, you must score 60+ because the cut-off is going to be very high this time, so you need to be aware of your knowledge and experience. Here you will find all the information about which questions you can attempt to achieve 60+.
You must also know that lakhs of people appear in any exam and only a few of them get selected, why does this happen, what is the difference between them and us, they know how to manage their time properly, if you manage your time properly then you can get a good score.
GATE 2026 – How Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026?
GATE exam has 65 questions (100 marks):
- GA (General Aptitude): 10 questions → 15 marks
- Subject (Core + Maths): 55 questions → 85 marks
A 60+ score is considered very good and often leads to:
M.Tech admissions in good IITs/NITs
High chances in PSU shortlisting (depending on branch & cutoff)
You must keep in mind that you will have to attempt 40 to 55 questions correctly in your exam. Your exam is going to be held in February 2026, so if you want to score 60 plus and get a better result, then you must attempt 40 to 55 questions.
If you tell me your branch (CSE, ME, CE, EE, ECE, IN etc.), I can give you:
Subject-wise number of questions to target
Weightage strategy for 60+, 70+, 80+
Expected cutoff for GATE 2026 in your branch
Target Strategy: How to Reach 60+ Marks
GA (General Aptitude): Target 12–14 marks
This is the easiest section.
- Attempt: 8–10 questions accurately
- Accuracy target: 80–90%
If you can get 12–14 marks here, your pressure on the technical part reduces.
Engineering Mathematics: Target 10–12 marks
Maths is predictable and moderate in difficulty.
- Attempt: 6–8 questions
- Accuracy target: 70–80%
Core Technical Part: Target 35–40 marks
This is the main scoring area.
To get 35–40 marks, you typically need:
- Attempt: 25–30 questions
- Accuracy: 65–70% or higher
Final Formula
To score 60+, you need:
Attempt ≈ 40–45 questions
Accuracy ≈ 70%
Because negative marking reduces the benefit of attempting too many risky questions.
GATE 2026 Subject-Wise Schedule Released by IIT Guwahati – Exam Date Out
Total Attempts Needed for 60+ Score
| Section | Marks Target | Questions to Attempt | Expected Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 12–14 | 8–10 | 80–90% |
| Maths | 10–12 | 6–8 | 70–80% |
| Technical Core | 35–40 | 25–30 | 65–70% |
| Total | 60–66 | 38–48 questions | 70% overall accuracy |
Distribution of Marks for GATE 2026: Computer Science
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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 |
Quick Tips to Achieve 60+ in GATE
Attempt only questions where you are 100% sure
Avoid guessing in 1-mark & especially 2-mark questions.
Prioritize numerical answer type (NAT)
No negative marking → very high scoring potential.
GA + Maths are the easiest 25+ marks
Secure these first.
For technical, select your strong subjects
Every branch has 3–4 “high scoring” predictable subjects.
Strategy on how Many Questions to Attempt for 60+ Score in GATE 2026
- General Aptitude: 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: Attempt to 25 to 30 questions, this section carries the most weight, so be very precise.
- Overall: To get a score of 60 or higher, the objective should be to correctly answer roughly 60 of the 65 questions.
How to Attempt Questions with High Accuracy
First Rule: Do NOT attempt everything
Accuracy matters more than high attempts.
Attempt only those questions where you have 80–100% confidence.
Use the 3-Round Method (Toppers’ Strategy)
Round 1: Easy & Sure Questions (Accuracy 100%)
- Attempt only those questions you immediately know
- No calculation risk
- No complicated steps
- Usually gives you 25–30% marks quickly
Round 2: Medium Questions (Accuracy 70–90%)
- Slight calculation
- Small conceptual steps
- Attempt only if you feel 70% confident
Round 3: Hard / Guesswork? Avoid.
- Complicated questions
- Multi-step problems
- Probability-based guessing
- High chance of negative marking
- Skip them unless NAT (no negative marking)
This strategy alone increases accuracy by 20–30%.
Avoid Negative Marking Traps
Never guess in MCQ (1 or 2 marks)
One wrong 2-mark question = lose 2.66 marks.
This can drop your rank drastically.
Prefer NAT questions
- No negative marking
- Even partial knowledge can give marks
- Safer to attempt
Don’t Spend Too Much Time on One Question
Rule:
If you spend more than 90 seconds on a question, skip it.
Why?
You lose time, and accuracy drops under pressure.
Identify Your Strengths Before the Exam
For GATE or any exam, accuracy comes from:
Strong concepts
Repeated practice
Knowing which topics you are best in
Make a list of:
- 5 strong subjects
- 5 medium subjects
- 5 weak subjects
Attempt strong subjects first → accuracy boosts automatically.
Practice in Exam-like Conditions
Accuracy increases when you practice with:
- Time limit
- No calculator (except GATE)
- No breaks
- Same level of difficulty
This trains your brain + speed + accuracy together.
Use Error Analysis After Every Mock Test
After every test, check:
- How many errors?
- Why? Concept? Calculation? Silly mistake?
- Fix the reason in next test
This is the fastest way to increase accuracy from 50% → 80%.
Check Units, Signs & Options Carefully
Many mistakes happen due to:
- Wrong unit (meters → mm)
- Sign error (+/–)
- Formula misread
- Option misjudged
Always re-check final answers for these issues.
Keep a “Mistake Notebook”
Write these things after every test:
- Chapter where mistake happened
- Type of mistake
- Correct method
- How to avoid next time
Revising this notebook before exam boosts accuracy massively.
10. Stay Calm During Exam
Low accuracy happens when you:
- Panic
- Rush
- Feel pressure
- Change answers repeatedly
Take 10 seconds after every 10 questions → reset your mind.
Accuracy Goal (Toppers Follow This)
| Exam | Ideal Attempts | Target Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| GATE | 40–50 | 70–85% |
| SSC | 70–90 | 85–95% |
| Banking | 75–85 | 95%+ |
Summary
Attempt less but correct
Avoid risky questions
NAT > MCQ (because no negative marking)
Follow the 3-round method
Practice + error analysis = high accuracy
IIT GATE 2026 Admit Card – Subject Wise Exam Schedule Download
