Pattern of Question Papers and Marking Scheme
Pattern of
Question Papers
The examination for the papers with codes AE, AG, AR, BT,
CE, CH, CY, GG, MA, MN, MT, PH, TF, XE and XL will be conducted ONLINE using
computers where the candidates will be required to select the answer for each
question using a mouse. For all other papers (CS, EC, EE, IN, ME & PI),
the exam will be conducted OFFLINE in whicih candidates will have to mark the
correct choice on an Optical Response Sheet (ORS) by darkening the appropriate
bubble against each question.
In all the papers, there will be a total of 65 questions
carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying total of 15 marks are in
General Aptitude (GA). The remaining of 85% of the total marks is devoted to
the syllabus of the paper (as indicated in the syllabus section)
GATE 2013
would contain questions of four different types in various papers:
(i) Multiple choice questions carrying 1 or 2
marks each; Each of the multiple choice objective questions in all
papers and sections will contain four answers, of which one correct answer
is to be marked.
(ii) Common data questions (which are also multiple
choice questions), where two successive questions use the same set of input
data;
Example
Statement for Common Data Questions, for instance, for
Questions 48 and 49 in Main Paper:
Let X and Y be jointly distributed random variables such
that the conditional distribution of Y, given X=x, is uniform on the interval
(x-1,x+1). Suppose E(X)=1 and Var(X)=5/3.
First question using common data:
Q.48 The mean of the random variable Y is
(A) 1/2 (B) 1 (C) 3/2 (D) 2
Second question using common data:
Q.49 The variance of the random variable Y is
(A) 1/2 (B) 2/3 (C) 1 (D) 2
(iii) Linked answer questions (which are also multiple
choice questions), where the answer to the first question in the pair is
required to answer its successor;
Example: Statement for Linked Answer Questions, for
instance, for Questions 52 and 53 in Main Paper:
An E. coli cell of volume 10-12 cm3 contains 60
molecules of lac-repressor. The repressor has a binding affinity (Kd) of 10-8 M
and 10-9 M with and without lactose respectively, in the medium.
First question of the pair:
Q.52 The molar concentration of the repressor in the cell is
(A) 0.1 nM (B) 1 nM (C) 10 nM (D) 100 nM
Second question of the pair:
Q.53 Therefore the lac-operon is
(A) repressed and can only be induced with lactose.
(B) repressed and cannot be induced with lactose.
(C) not repressed.
(D) expressed only when glucose and lactose are present.
(iv) Numerical answer questions, where the answer is a
number, to be entered by the candidate using the mouse and a virtual keypad
that will be provided on the screen.
Design of Questions
The questions in a paper may be designed to test the
following abilities:
(i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles,
formulae or laws of the discipline of the paper. The candidate is expected to
be able to obtain the answer either from his/her memory of the subject or at
most from a one-line computation.
Example
Q. During machining maximum heat is produced
(A) in flank face
(B) in rake face
(C) in shear zone
(D) due to friction between chip and tool
(ii) Comprehension: These questions will test the
candidate’s understanding of the basics of his/her field, by requiring him/her
to draw simple conclusions from fundamental ideas.
Example
Q. A DC motor requires a starter in order to
(A) develop a starting torque
(B) compensate for auxiliary field ampere turns
(C) limit armature current at starting
(D) provide regenerative braking
(iii) Application: In these questions, the
candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either through computation or
by logical reasoning.
Example
Q. The sequent depth ratio of a hydraulic jump in a
rectangular channel is 16.48. The Froude number at the beginning of the jump
is:
(A) 5.0 (B) 8.0 (C)
10.0 (D) 12.0
(iv) Analysis and Synthesis: These can be
linked answer questions, where the answer to the first question of the pair is
required in order to answer its successor. Or these can be common data
questions, in which two questions share the same data but can be solved
independently of each other.
Common data based questions: Two questions are linked to a
common data problem, passage and the like. Each question is independent and its
solution is obtainable from the above problem data or passage directly. (Answer
of the previous question is not required to solve the next question). Each
question under this group will carry two marks.
Linked answer questions: These questions are of problem
solving type. A problem statement is followed by two questions based on the
problem statement. The two questions are designed such that the solution to the
second question depends upon the answer to the first one. In other words, the
first answer is an intermediate step in working out the second answer. Each
question in such ‘linked answer questions’ will carry two marks.
Examples of each of this design is given in the types of
questions above.
The questions based on the above four logics may be a mix of
single stand alone statement/phrase /data type questions, combination of option
codes type questions or match items type questions.
Marking Scheme
For 1 mark multiple choice questions, 1/3 mark will be
deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2 marks multiple choice questions,
2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. However, for the linked
answer question pair, where each question carries 2 marks, 2/3 mark will
be deducted for a wrong answer to the first question only. There is no negative
marking for wrong answer to the second question of the linked answer question
pair. If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is
unattempted, then the answer to the second question in the pair will not be
evaluated. There is no negative marking for numerical answer type questions
(numerical answer type questions will appear only in the papers for which the
exam is ONLINE only).
General
Aptitude (GA) Questions
In all papers, GA questions are of multiple choice type, and
carry a total of 15 marks. The GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1
mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total
10 marks).
Question
papers other than GG, XE and XL
These papers would contain 25 questions carrying one
mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying two marks each
(sub-total 60 marks). Out of these, two pairs of questions would be
common data questions, and two pairs of questions would be linked answer
questions. In the ONLINE papers, the question paper will consist of
questions of multiple choice type and numerical answer type. For multiple
choice type questions, each question will have four choices for the answer. For
numerical answer type questions, each question will have a number as the answer
and choices will not be given. The answer is to be entered using the mouse
and a virtual keypad that will appear on the screen.
GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper
Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG
question paper consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is common for
all candidates. Part B contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2
(Geo-physics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and either
Section 1 or Section 2 in Part B.
Part A consists of 25 multiple choice questions carrying
1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks & some of these may be numerical
questions). Each section in Part B (Section 1 and Section 2) consists of
30 multiple choice questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some
of these may be numerical questions). Out of these, two pairs of questions
would be common data questions, and two pairs of questions would be linked
answer questions.
XE Paper
(Engineering Sciences)
In XE paper, Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) is
compulsory. This section contains 11 multiple choice questions carrying a total
of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 7 marks), and 4
questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 8 marks). Some of the multiple
choice questions may be replaced by numerical questions.
Each of the other sections of the XE paper (Sections B
through G) contains 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks: 9
questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 9 marks) and 13 questions carrying 2
marks each (sub-total 26 marks). Out of the 2 mark questions, 2 pairs are
common data questions and 1 pair is linked answer questions. Some of the
multiple choice questions may be replaced by numerical questions.
XL Paper (Life
Sciences)
In XL paper, Chemistry section (Section H) is
compulsory. This section contains 15 multiple choice questions carrying a total
of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 10
questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Out of the 2-mark
questions, 1 pair is common data questions, and 1 pair is linked answer
questions. Some of the multiple choice questions may be replaced by
numerical questions.
Each of the other sections of the XL paper (Sections I
through M) contains 20 multiple choice questions carrying a total of 30 marks:
10 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions
carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some of the multiple choice
questions may be replaced by numerical questions.
resistor is suitable for most LEDs if your supply voltage is 12V or less. Remember to connect the LED the correct way round!
