GATE papers · Updated Oct 2026
GATE XE (Engineering Sciences) syllabus, weightage and study plan
Every section and topic of the official GATE 2027 Engineering Sciences (XE) syllabus with its share of the 100 marks and a first-pass study time. No reliable past-paper weightage exists for this paper, so marks are split evenly across the official sections and topics. Treat the numbers as a planning aid.
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Exam pattern at a glance
- Questions
- 65 (10 General Aptitude + 55 subject), 100 marks, 3 hours
- General Aptitude
- 15 marks, common to all papers
- Marking
- MCQ: −1/3 or −2/3 for a wrong answer; MSQ and NAT: no negative marking
- When
- February (2027)
- Second paper allowed
- GATE AE, GATE CE, GATE CH, GATE CY, GATE DA, GATE ME, GATE MT, GATE NM, GATE PH, GATE PI
Check the latest notification before the exam. Official syllabus ↗
Chapter-wise weightage and study hours
Weightage is the topic's share of the 100 marks; hours are a first pass without revision.
GATE 2027 renamed sections B-H to XE1-XE7, added XE8 Energy Science, and converted the former TF paper into section XE9.
Choice sections: pick 2 of 9 (chosen during the exam). Compulsory and picked sections add up to 100%. The sample week assumes the first 2 listed.
General Aptitude 15% of the paper · 84 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verbal Aptitude | 3.8% | 21 |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 3.8% | 21 |
| 3 | Analytical Aptitude | 3.8% | 21 |
| 4 | Spatial Aptitude | 3.8% | 21 |
| Total | 84 |
XE0: Engineering Mathematics (compulsory) 15% of the paper · 80 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linear Algebra | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2 | Calculus | 1.9% | 10 |
| 3 | Vector Calculus | 1.9% | 10 |
| 4 | Complex Variables | 1.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 1.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Partial Differential Equations | 1.9% | 10 |
| 7 | Probability and Statistics | 1.9% | 10 |
| 8 | Numerical Methods | 1.9% | 10 |
| Total | 80 |
XE1: Fluid Mechanics 35% of the paper · choice section · 189 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classification of Flows | 3.9% | 21 |
| 2 | Hydrostatics | 3.9% | 21 |
| 3 | Kinematics of Fluid Motion | 3.9% | 21 |
| 4 | Integral Analysis for a Control Volume | 3.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Differential Analysis | 3.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Dimensional Analysis | 3.9% | 21 |
| 7 | Internal Flows | 3.9% | 21 |
| 8 | Potential Flows | 3.9% | 21 |
| 9 | External Flows | 3.9% | 21 |
| Total | 189 |
XE2: Materials Science 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classification and Structure of Materials | 5.8% | 32 |
| 2 | Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Phase Transformations | 5.8% | 32 |
| 3 | Properties and Applications of Materials | 5.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Characterization and Measurements of Properties | 5.8% | 32 |
| 5 | Processing of Materials | 5.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Degradation of Materials | 5.8% | 32 |
| Total | 192 |
XE3: Solid Mechanics 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanics of Rigid Bodies | 12% | 64 |
| 2 | Mechanics of Deformable Bodies | 12% | 64 |
| 3 | Vibrations | 12% | 64 |
| Total | 192 |
XE4: Thermodynamics 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic Concepts | 4.4% | 24 |
| 2 | Properties of Pure Substances | 4.4% | 24 |
| 3 | First Law of Thermodynamics | 4.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Second Law of Thermodynamics | 4.4% | 24 |
| 5 | Entropy | 4.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Thermodynamic Relations | 4.4% | 24 |
| 7 | Thermodynamic Cycles | 4.4% | 24 |
| 8 | Mixtures of Ideal Gases | 4.4% | 24 |
| Total | 192 |
XE5: Polymer Science and Engineering 35% of the paper · choice section · 189 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polymer Chemistry | 3.9% | 21 |
| 2 | Polymer Characterization | 3.9% | 21 |
| 3 | Synthesis, Manufacturing and Properties | 3.9% | 21 |
| 4 | Polymer Blends and Composites | 3.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Additives, Compounding and Formulations | 3.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Polymer Rheology | 3.9% | 21 |
| 7 | Polymer Processing | 3.9% | 21 |
| 8 | Polymer Testing | 3.9% | 21 |
| 9 | Polymer Recycling, Waste Management and Sustainability | 3.9% | 21 |
| Total | 189 |
XE6: Food Technology 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food Chemistry and Nutrition | 8.8% | 48 |
| 2 | Food Microbiology | 8.8% | 48 |
| 3 | Food Products Technology | 8.8% | 48 |
| 4 | Food Engineering | 8.8% | 48 |
| Total | 192 |
XE7: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atmospheric Science | 18% | 96 |
| 2 | Ocean Sciences | 18% | 96 |
| Total | 192 |
XE8: Energy Science 35% of the paper · choice section · 192 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy Resources and Conversion Technologies | 18% | 96 |
| 2 | Energy Storage, Economics, Environment, and Efficiency | 18% | 96 |
| Total | 192 |
XE9: Textile Engineering and Fibre Science 35% of the paper · choice section · 190 h
| # | Chapter / topic | Weightage (% of paper) | Study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Textile Fibres | 7.0% | 38 |
| 2 | Yarn Manufacture, Yarn Structure and Properties | 7.0% | 38 |
| 3 | Fabric Manufacture, Structure and Properties | 7.0% | 38 |
| 4 | Textile Testing | 7.0% | 38 |
| 5 | Chemical Processing | 7.0% | 38 |
| Total | 190 |
A sample first week
A first week at 6 hours a day, built from the weightage above: each subject gets sessions in proportion to its marks, starting with its heaviest chapters, mixed so no day is one subject only. Your real plan in the app fits your own hours and exam date.
| Day | Session 1 (2 h) | Session 2 (2 h) | Session 3 (2 h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | General AptitudeVerbal Aptitude | XE0: Engineering MathematicsLinear Algebra | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows |
| Tue | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials | General AptitudeVerbal Aptitude (contd.) | XE0: Engineering MathematicsLinear Algebra (contd.) |
| Wed | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows (contd.) | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials (contd.) | General AptitudeVerbal Aptitude (contd.) |
| Thu | XE0: Engineering MathematicsLinear Algebra (contd.) | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows (contd.) | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials (contd.) |
| Fri | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows (contd.) | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials (contd.) | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows (contd.) |
| Sat | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials (contd.) | XE1: Fluid MechanicsClassification of Flows (contd.) | XE2: Materials ScienceClassification and Structure of Materials (contd.) |
| Sun | Revise this week's chapters, take one timed mock or sectional test, and log the score. | ||
How Daily Tayyari plans your day
Pick your exam and date
Choose the exam (and GATE paper or UPSC optional) and your exam date. The full official syllabus loads with every chapter listed above.
Tell it your daily hours
Say how many hours you can study on weekdays and weekends. The plan only ever fills that time.
Get today's tasks
Each morning you see a short list of tasks: new chapters weighted by marks, plus practice and revision, sized to fit your day.
Spaced revision, automatically
Finished chapters come back after 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days, and sooner if a chapter felt hard.
Green, yellow, red status
See whether you are on track, slightly behind or behind, and when the syllabus will be finished at your real pace.
Mock test tracking
Log scores from any test series. Chapters that went badly are marked weak and revised sooner.
Frequently asked questions
Which chapters carry the most weight in GATE XE?
Going by our compiled weightage, the heaviest chapters are Classification and Structure of Materials, Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Phase Transformations, Properties and Applications of Materials, Characterization and Measurements of Properties, Processing of Materials. They are worth starting early, but past papers vary from year to year, so plan to cover the whole syllabus.
Is this GATE XE weightage official?
No. The GATE organising institute publishes the syllabus, not chapter weightage. These numbers come from analyses of previous years' papers, so treat them as a guide to priority, not a promise of what will be asked.
How many hours does the GATE XE syllabus take?
Our first-pass estimate adds up to about 540 hours of study, before revision and mock tests. At 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, that is roughly 3.5 months. Daily Tayyari replaces these defaults with your actual pace after the first week or two.
Can GATE XE be combined with a second paper?
Yes. Under the GATE 2027 rules a XE candidate may also write AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, NM, PH, PI. A second paper adds its own syllabus, so the planner adds its chapters on top.
How do the optional sections in GATE XE work?
You answer the compulsory part plus 2 of the 9 optional sections. Only plan the sections you will actually pick; Daily Tayyari asks for your choice when you set up.
Is Daily Tayyari free, and does it work in Hindi?
Yes. It is free with no ads and no payment; you sign in with Google only so your plan is saved. You can switch between Hindi and English at any time, and chapter names are shown in both.