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GATE CS vs GATE EC
GATE CS: 65 questions, 100 marks, 180 minutes. GATE EC: 65 questions, 100 marks, 180 minutes. Both test General Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| GATE CS CS paper | GATE EC EC paper | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | IIT Madras (Organizing Institute, GATE 2027) for the National Coordination Board | IIT Madras (Organizing Institute, GATE 2027) for the National Coordination Board |
| Questions | 65 | 65 |
| Marks | 100 | 100 |
| Time | 180 min | 180 min |
| Seconds a question | 166 | 166 |
| Marking | Questions carry 1 or 2 marks. A wrong 1-mark MCQ costs 1/3 and a wrong 2-mark MCQ costs 2/3. MSQ and NAT have no negative marking, and no question gives partial marks. | Questions carry 1 or 2 marks. A wrong 1-mark MCQ costs 1/3 and a wrong 2-mark MCQ costs 2/3. MSQ and NAT have no negative marking, and no question gives partial marks. |
| Sections | General Aptitude, Computer Science & IT (incl. 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics) | General Aptitude, Electronics & Communication (incl. 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics) |
| Languages | English | English |
| Next exam | 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Feb 2027 | One of 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 or 21 Feb 2027; the EC paper's day is awaited |
| Last cut-off (UR) | Not published | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 3 full (2 free) | 3 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test General Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- Dates: GATE CS 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Feb 2027; GATE EC One of 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 or 21 Feb 2027; the EC paper's day is awaited. If they are weeks apart, prepare the shared sections first and the exam-specific ones in the last weeks before each.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for GATE CS and GATE EC together?
- Yes. Both test General Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, GATE CS or GATE EC?
- GATE CS: Questions carry 1 or 2 marks. A wrong 1-mark MCQ costs 1/3 and a wrong 2-mark MCQ costs 2/3. MSQ and NAT have no negative marking, and no question gives partial marks. GATE EC: Questions carry 1 or 2 marks. A wrong 1-mark MCQ costs 1/3 and a wrong 2-mark MCQ costs 2/3. MSQ and NAT have no negative marking, and no question gives partial marks.
- What are the age limits for GATE CS and GATE EC?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of IIT Madras (Organizing Institute, GATE 2027) for the National Coordination Board (website ) and IIT Madras (Organizing Institute, GATE 2027) for the National Coordination Board (website ). Age-limit calculator · All comparisons