Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, organized by IIT Guwahati, wrapped up its exams on February 15, 2026 (Sunday), with papers in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) in the Forenoon shift (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM) and Architecture and Planning (AR) + Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) in the Afternoon shift (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM). The full exam schedule ran from February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, across multiple shifts.
Paper Analysis Summary (Feb 15, 2026 – Based on Student Reactions & Expert Reviews)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate to slightly tough (varied by paper; conceptual + mathematical focus across most).
- General Aptitude (GA): Easy to moderate (common to all papers; straightforward).
- ECE (Electronics & Communication Engineering): Moderate to moderately difficult. High weightage on EDC, Networks, Signals & Systems, Communications; numerics dominant in core subjects, theory in EDC/EMT. Good attempts: ~38–45. Expected cutoff (General): ~25–32 marks (some predict 27–30 based on trends).
- DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence): Moderate to slightly tough (mathematics-heavy; analytical focus). Key topics: DBMS (tricky/lengthy), Probability, Python, ML, Stats, Algorithms, SQL; MSQs and NATs prominent. Good attempts: ~30–38. Expected cutoff (General): ~29–31 marks (or around 28–32).
- AR (Architecture and Planning): Moderate (conceptual; balanced). Specifics limited in early feedback, but aligned with moderate trend.
Experts note the papers emphasized conceptual clarity, application-based questions, and time management (many lengthy/calculation-intensive). NAT and MSQ questions were higher in number, testing depth over rote learning.
Answer Key & Memory-Based Questions
- Unofficial Answer Keys & Solutions: Available now from coaching institutes (e.g., Physics Wallah, MADE EASY, Unacademy) via YouTube sessions and PDFs. Memory-based questions, detailed solutions, topic-wise breakdowns, and expected scores shared (check links below).
- Official Response Sheet / Answer Key: Expected soon (typically released within days post-exam on gate2026.iitg.ac.in). Candidates can challenge if discrepancies arise.
Next Steps
- Response sheet challenge window: Likely opens soon (check official site).
- Official Answer Key: Expected in late February/early March.
- Results Announcement: March 19, 2026 (per schedule).
- Scorecards: Free download from March 27 to May 31, 2026.