One continuous sitting

Free GATE CS mock

One GATE CS paper in the real exam format: 65 questions across one timed section, 3 hr on a server-controlled clock.

About the real exam India's gateway to IISc, the IITs, the NITs — and the public-sector tech jobs at NPCIL, ONGC, BHEL and beyond.

  1. GATE CS — Full Mock3 hr
Full lengthIndiaCalculatorNegative marking
Opens your Free Mock selection · you confirm before your one attempt is used

Free, reversible until you begin · one attempt per account · no retake, no card.

Fidelity

How this mirrors the real format

  • The paper structure is the real format: a single timed section, 65 questions in total.
  • Timing is server-controlled for the full 3 hr -- closing the tab does not pause the clock, exactly like our paid mock series.
  • Marking follows the published paper: the per-section marks shown in the paper map are the marks the scorer applies.
  • Navigation is free within a section: you can review and change answers before you submit.
  • An on-screen calculator is provided in the sections where the exam allows one.

"Real format" means the paper shape, timing, marking and navigation above - not the official exam software, its visual identity, or any affiliation with the exam body.

The published paper

The paper, start to finish

01GATE CS — Full Mock
65 questions · 3 hr
Scored out of 100 marks; wrong answers can cost marks
Calculator

Navigation: move freely between questions within a section.

Marks and results

What you get back

What this free mock returns

You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.

  • Scored out of 100 raw marks, with per-section totals.
  • Wrong answers can cost marks where the paper defines it - the per-section marks in the paper map are the marks the scorer applies.

How the real GATE CS is scored

GATE scores are reported as both raw marks (out of 100) and a normalised GATE score (out of 1000) — IISc / IIT cutoffs are quoted in the 1000-scale, PSU cutoffs in the 100-scale. The General-category qualifying mark for CS in 2025 was 27.6 / 100, dropping to 24.8 for OBC-NCL / EWS and 18.4 for SC / ST / PwD. The qualifying mark is only the floor; competitive M.Tech and PSU recruitment require considerably higher.

  • 850+ / 1000 (≈ 70+ / 100)Realistic shot at IISc CS M.Tech and the older IIT CS / AI / Data-Science programmes. Top-tier PSU interviews (BARC / ISRO Scientist-Engineer).
  • 750 – 850 / 1000Strong M.Tech CS seats at IIT-BHU, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Guwahati. Direct technical-officer recruitment at Maharatna PSUs (NPCIL, ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL).
  • 650 – 750 / 1000M.Tech CS at most IITs (mid-tier), all NITs, and several IIITs. PSU written shortlist for Navratna-level (BEL, GAIL, EIL).
  • Qualifying (27.6+/100, General)Clears the floor for M.Tech applications at lower-tier CFTIs and many state-university M.Tech programmes — but PSU recruitment generally needs 55+/100.

Context only - this free mock returns: You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.

About the exam

The GATE CS at a glance

About the real GATE CS

GATE CS (Computer Science and Information Technology) is the most-attempted paper of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering — India's national PG entrance, conducted by IISc Bangalore and the seven IITs on rotation. 170,825 CS aspirants appeared in 2025; ~17% qualified. The single 3-hour CBT covers 65 questions across 10 sections plus General Aptitude. The CS score unlocks TWO largely independent career tracks: the academic / research route into M.Tech and M.S.(R) programmes at IISc, IITs, NITs, IIITs, and Centrally-Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) — and the public-sector route, where Maharatna / Navratna PSUs use GATE CS scores as their first-round filter for graduate engineer hiring. Scores stay valid for three years; many candidates use them for both tracks simultaneously.

1.71 lakh
Appeared (2025)
Most-attempted GATE paper; ~23% of all GATE candidates
27.6 / 100
Qualifying cut-off
General category, 2025 (OBC: 24.8, SC/ST: 18.4)
3 years
Score validity
GATE 2026 scores valid for admissions / hiring through 2029

What it covers

Algorithms is the heaviest single section at ~12 marks; Operating Systems, Databases, Computer Networks, and Engineering Math each contribute ~7–8 marks.

Who sits it

  • Final-year B.Tech / B.E. / MCA students in CS, IT, or allied branches targeting an M.Tech at IISc or an IIT.
  • Recent CS graduates working in industry who want to pivot into research, AI/ML, or systems via a CFTI M.Tech.
  • Job-seekers aiming for technical-officer / scientific-officer roles at PSUs (NPCIL, ONGC, BHEL, IOCL, BEL, NTPC, GAIL, etc.) where GATE CS is the qualifying gate.

How people prepare for it

  • Algorithms (~12 marks) and Theory of Computation (~8 marks) reward Cormen-level depth — don't shortcut these by relying on YouTube playlists alone. Solve at least 20 problems per algorithmic technique (greedy, DP, D&C, graph) before moving on.
  • Practice the mixed +1 / +2 marking + 1/3 and 2/3 negatives on full-length mocks weekly — strategy under negative marking is its own skill, separate from subject mastery.
  • Use the back-up paper combination strategically: if your primary CS preparation is on track, picking Data Science & AI (DA) as a paired second paper costs very little additional study (most DA topics overlap with CS Math + Algorithms) and effectively doubles your shot at a PSU / IISc-DSAI seat.

What it opens up

  • M.Tech / M.S.(R) at IISc Bangalore — CS, AI, Computational and Data Sciences, Signal Processing; stipend ₹12,400 / month plus near-zero tuition.
  • M.Tech at the IITs — CS / AI / Data Science at IIT-B, IIT-D, IIT-M, IIT-K, IIT-KGP, IIT-R, IIT-G, IIT-BHU, IIT-Hyd, plus newer IITs.
  • M.Tech at NITs and IIITs through CCMT counselling — Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal, Allahabad, Hyderabad (IIIT-H separate process) are the most competitive.
  • Scientific Officer / Scientist-Engineer at BARC, ISRO, DRDO via GATE-based recruitment (a written GATE-CS cut-off followed by interview).
  • Direct technical-officer / management-trainee positions at Maharatna and Navratna PSUs — NPCIL, ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL, GAIL, BEL, EIL, HPCL, RITES, and others — most with starting pay scales of ₹50,000 – ₹70,000 / month plus benefits.
  • PhD programmes at IISc / IITs (direct PhD admissions weight GATE alongside MS coursework / interview performance).

Figures about the real exam, as recorded in the Myndaq course. They describe the real sitting, not this free mock paper - check current details with the exam body before you book.

Be clear about this

What differs or is limited

  • This free mock follows the same paper shape, timing, marking scheme and navigation as our paid GATE CS 2027 mock series. It is scored automatically. It does not include tutor explanations, analysis dashboards or practice content.
  • Includes the virtual calculator and free navigation, as in the real exam.
Before you begin

Device and setup checklist

  • A stable internet connection for the full duration.
  • An on-screen calculator is provided where the exam allows one.
  • A laptop or desktop is recommended for the closest exam experience.
One attempt

One attempt, explicitly

Adding this mock to your account is free and reversible - you can change the exam any time before you begin. Only the confirmed Begin action uses your one attempt. No retake, no reset, no card.

Questions

Frequently asked

How many attempts do I get?
One. Every account gets exactly one free mock, on one exam. You can change the chosen exam freely until you begin the paper; after that the attempt is permanently used and there is no retake.
What does the result include?
You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.
Is the timing real?
Yes. The paper runs 3 hr on a server-controlled clock, section by section. Closing the tab does not pause it.
Do I need to pay or add a card?
No. The free mock needs only a Myndaq account. The paid course unlocks explanations, practice content and the full mock series.

About the real GATE CS

How is GATE CS scored, given the mixed 1-mark / 2-mark questions?
65 questions total. The 10 General Aptitude questions split as 5 × 1-mark + 5 × 2-mark (total 15 marks). The 55 subject questions split as 25 × 1-mark + 30 × 2-mark (total 85 marks). MCQs carry negative marking: −1/3 for a wrong 1-mark answer, −2/3 for a wrong 2-mark answer. MSQs and NATs have NO negative marking, so attempt them freely. The raw / 100 score is then normalised by IIT Guwahati to a / 1000 GATE Score that IITs and PSUs use for ranking.
Is GATE CS enough for an IIT M.Tech, or do I also need a CGPA cut-off?
GATE score is the dominant signal for IIT M.Tech admissions, but several IITs (notably IIT-B, IIT-D, IIT-M) apply a secondary B.Tech CGPA filter — usually 6.5 / 10 minimum, sometimes 7.0 for CS specifically. The GATE score gets you on the shortlist; the CGPA filter cuts the shortlist down before the interview. IISc additionally weights the interview heavily (40 % marks in the final composite for some programmes).
Which PSUs actually recruit through GATE CS, and what are the realistic cut-offs?
Steady GATE-CS recruiters include NPCIL, ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL, GAIL, BEL, HPCL, EIL, RITES, and BARC. Cut-offs vary year to year but General-category candidates typically need 55–70 / 100 to be shortlisted; reserved categories see lower bars. Most PSUs first publish a GATE-score cut-off, then conduct a Document Verification + Personal Interview round. PSU recruitment runs separately from M.Tech counselling — students often apply to both with the same GATE score and choose whichever resolves faster.
Can I appear for GATE multiple times to improve my score?
Yes — there's no attempt cap. Scores stay valid for 3 years from declaration, so a 2026 score remains useful through 2029. Each year's GATE is a fresh paper, so a 2027 attempt could push your score higher (or lower — that's the risk). Many candidates take GATE twice — once in their final B.Tech year and once after a year of focused preparation. The 2-paper combination option also lets you sit a primary paper (CS) and a paired secondary paper (typically DA — Data Science & AI) in the same window, broadening your eligibility for M.Tech specialisations.
GATE CS or CAT — which one for a tech career?
Very different doors. GATE CS opens M.Tech (technical research), PSU technical roles, IISc CSA, IIT CS labs, and PhD pipelines — your career stays in engineering / research / systems. CAT opens IIM MBA, which is a strategic / management track — your career typically moves into product management, consulting, banking, or non-technical leadership. They're not substitutes. Strong tech-track candidates often plan GATE first for the M.Tech + 3 years of work experience, then evaluate CAT later if they want to pivot to management. Picking both in the same year usually means doing neither well — they reward different study patterns.
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