Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering CS
GATE CS is a recruitment exam conducted by Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, relevant to engineering graduates targeting technical government and PSU roles.
GATE CS Study Material
GATE CS 2027 is the national entrance test for graduates who want to pursue an M.Tech or PhD in Computer Science and Information Technology, or use their score for recruitment by public sector organisations. The 2027 exam is organised by IIT Madras on behalf of the National Coordination Board, Ministry of Education, and will be held across three weekends in February 2027.
This page covers what you need before you apply and before you start preparing: dates, eligibility, fee, paper pattern, marking scheme, the revised CS syllabus, score validity and a practical study plan. All dates and figures are taken from the official GATE 2027 website, which marks every date as liable to change, so confirm them on the official GATE 2027 website before acting on them.
GATE CS 2027 Latest Updates
These are the notices that matter most right now, as on 1 October 2026.
Registration deadline extended: regular registration without a late fee now closes on 5 October 2026. The extended window with a late fee closes on 12 October 2026.
DigiLocker is mandatory: new registration through a verified DigiLocker account is required for all Indian nationals. Do not delete the account after applying, because future communication will be sent only through it.
Revised syllabi: the syllabi of the GATE 2027 test papers have been revised, so notes and question banks built on older syllabus lists need a quick check.
New paper: Robotics and Automation (RA) has been introduced, taking the total to 30 test papers.
GATE CS 2027 Exam Overview
The table below gives the core facts about the Computer Science and Information Technology paper in one place.
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Exam name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 |
Paper | Computer Science and Information Technology (paper code CS) |
Organising institute | IIT Madras, on behalf of the National Coordination Board, Ministry of Education |
Frequency | Once a year |
Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
Language | English |
Duration | 3 hours |
Total questions and marks | 65 questions, 100 marks |
Question types | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
Papers per candidate | One, or up to two from the permitted two-paper combinations |
Score validity | 3 years |
GATE 2027 Important Dates
The schedule below follows the official important dates page. Since the organisers can revise any date, check it again before every deadline.
Event | Date |
|---|---|
GOAPS (online application) opens | 2 September 2026 |
Regular registration closes (no late fee) | 5 October 2026 |
Extended registration closes (with late fee) | 12 October 2026 |
Application rectification window | 14 October to 21 October 2026 |
City allotment notification | 4 January 2027 |
Admit card download | To be announced |
GATE 2027 examinations | 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027 |
Announcement of results | 19 March 2027 |
All six exam days fall on Saturdays and Sundays. The CS paper is held on specific dates and shifts, which candidates will see on the admit card and city allotment notice.
GATE CS 2027 Eligibility
GATE eligibility depends on your degree and your current year of study. Candidates studying in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate programme, or those who have completed a government-approved degree in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts or humanities, can appear. The official criteria are built around qualification and year, and they do not state an age limit.
Qualifying degree | Who can apply |
|---|---|
B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Pharm. | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
B.Sc. (Research) / B.S. (4 years) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com. / BCA (3-year programme) | Currently in the 3rd year, or already completed |
M.Sc. / M.A. / MCA or equivalent | Currently in the 1st year or higher, or already completed |
Integrated M.E. / M.Tech. (post-B.Sc., 4 years) | Currently in the 1st to 4th year, or already completed |
Integrated M.E. / M.Tech. or Dual Degree (5 years) | Currently in the 3rd to 5th year, or already completed |
Integrated M.Sc. / Integrated B.S.-M.S. | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
Professional society examinations equivalent to B.E. / B.Tech. | Completed Section A or equivalent, if recognised by MoE, UPSC or AICTE |
Candidates with a higher degree than the one listed are also allowed to appear. Meeting the GATE eligibility rule is not the same as meeting an institute's admission rule, because every institute sets its own criteria for M.Tech and PhD admission. Our GATE CS eligibility guide explains this difference in more detail.
How to Apply for GATE CS 2027
Applications are submitted only through the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS), which is linked from the official website.
Prepare your DigiLocker account: create or update a verified DigiLocker account, as it is mandatory for Indian nationals.
Register on GOAPS: open the application portal from the official site and register with your basic details.
Fill in your details: enter personal and academic information and select the CS paper. If you want a second paper, add it to the same application.
Upload documents: add your photograph and signature as per the official size and format guidelines.
Pay the fee online: complete payment and keep the confirmation.
Use the rectification window: if you spot an error, correct it between 14 and 21 October 2026.
File only one application. If you submit more than one, only one is accepted and the rest are rejected without a refund.
GATE 2027 Application Fee
Category | Regular period (one paper) | Extended period (one paper) |
|---|---|---|
Female / SC / ST / PwD candidates | Rs. 1,000 | Rs. 1,500 |
All other candidates, including foreign nationals | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 2,500 |
For two papers, the fee is Rs. 2,000 (regular) or Rs. 2,500 (extended) for the female, SC, ST and PwD group, and Rs. 4,000 (regular) or Rs. 4,500 (extended) for everyone else.
GATE CS Exam Pattern 2027
The CS paper is a three-hour computer-based test with 65 questions carrying 100 marks. It has a General Aptitude section and a subject section, and the subject section includes Engineering Mathematics.
Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
General Aptitude | 10 | 15 |
Engineering Mathematics | Part of the 55 subject questions | 13 |
Core Computer Science subjects | Part of the 55 subject questions | 72 |
Total | 65 | 100 |
Every question carries either 1 or 2 marks. This works out to 5 one-mark and 5 two-mark questions in General Aptitude, and 25 one-mark and 30 two-mark questions in the subject portion. In total, 35 questions carry 2 marks each, so depth of understanding counts for 70 of the 100 marks.
Question Types and Marking Scheme
MCQ (multiple choice): one correct option. A wrong answer costs 1/3 mark in a 1-mark question and 2/3 mark in a 2-mark question.
MSQ (multiple select): one or more correct options. There is no negative marking and no partial marking, so you earn marks only by selecting every correct option.
NAT (numerical answer): you type a number. There is no negative marking.
Because MSQ and NAT carry no penalty, leaving them blank gains nothing. MCQs are different: a blind guess on a 2-mark MCQ can cost you more than it earns on average, so attempt them when you can eliminate options. Candidates with certain benchmark disabilities can request one hour of compensatory time with a valid certificate, as detailed in the official brochure.
GATE CS Syllabus 2027
The CS syllabus has ten subject sections plus General Aptitude. The 2027 syllabus has been revised, so download the latest CS syllabus PDF from the official test papers and syllabus page and use it as your master checklist.
Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
Engineering Mathematics | Discrete mathematics, linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics |
Digital Logic | Boolean minimisation, combinational and sequential circuits, number representation |
Computer Organization and Architecture | Instruction set, ALU and control unit design, memory hierarchy and cache, I/O, pipelining |
Programming and Data Structures | C programming, recursion, arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, heaps, graphs |
Algorithms | Searching, sorting, hashing, complexity, greedy, dynamic programming, divide and conquer, graph algorithms |
Theory of Computation | Finite automata, regular and context-free languages, pushdown automata, Turing machines, undecidability |
Compiler Design | Lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation, runtime environments, code optimisation, data flow analysis |
Operating System | Processes, threads, synchronisation, deadlock, scheduling, memory management, file systems |
Databases | ER model, relational algebra, SQL, normal forms, indexing, transactions and concurrency |
Computer Networks | Layering, switching, data link layer, routing, IPv4, TCP flow and congestion control, DNS, HTTP |
General Aptitude | Verbal and numerical ability, common to all GATE papers |
Result, Scorecard and Score Validity
The official schedule lists 19 March 2027 for the announcement of GATE 2027 results. A GATE score stays valid for three years, which means a 2027 score can support admission or recruitment cycles in the following years as well, subject to what each institute or organisation accepts.
The organisers state clearly that qualifying in GATE does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a job. Each institute and employer applies its own eligibility and selection process on top of the score.
What a GATE CS Score Is Used For
According to the organising institute, qualified candidates can use GATE scores for admission to postgraduate and doctoral programmes in institutions supported by the Ministry of Education, with possible financial assistance. Several public sector undertakings also use GATE scores for recruitment. The specific institutes, programmes and organisations change from year to year, so check each one's own notification.
GATE CS Cut-Off
Two different cut-offs matter. The qualifying cut-off decides whether you clear GATE, and it varies by year, paper and category. The admission or shortlisting cut-off is set separately by each institute or recruiter and is usually higher. Neither number is fixed in advance, so treat previous-year cut-offs as a guide to the level you should aim for, not as a promise.
How to Prepare for GATE CS 2027
With the first exam day on 6 February 2027, you have roughly 18 weeks from 1 October. A phased plan keeps that time under control.
Weeks 1 to 8, build concepts: finish the syllabus with the revised PDF in hand. Start with Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating System and Databases, then move to the rest.
Weeks 9 to 14, practise by topic: solve previous-year questions and topic-wise tests. Keep an error log that notes whether each mistake was a concept gap, a calculation slip or a misread question.
Weeks 15 to 18, simulate the exam: take full-length mocks in the 3-hour, 65-question format and analyse each one. Use the remaining time to revise weak areas.
Secure the foundation marks: General Aptitude (15) and Engineering Mathematics (13) together make up 28 marks, and both reward steady practice.
Treat MCQs and NATs differently: practise answering NATs with exact values, and learn when to skip an MCQ you cannot narrow down.
Plan your two-paper choice early: if you want a second paper, check the permitted combinations before you apply.
Start with the official GATE 2027 website for dates and rules, build your plan around the revised syllabus, and use regular mock tests to measure how ready you are for February.