GATE Aerospace Engineering 2026: Syllabus, Weightage, and Exam Guide
Master the AE Paper: Detailed Syllabus Breakdown, Important Dates, and Scoring Strategy.
Updated: 4 days ago
Categories: GATE Exam, Aerospace Engineering, Higher Education
GATE 2026 Aerospace Exam Timeline
For the 2026 cycle, Aerospace Engineering (AE) is scheduled for the afternoon session. It is vital to keep track of these official dates released by IIT Guwahati.
Event
Official Date
Admit Card Release
January 13, 2026
AE Exam Date
February 7, 2026 (Afternoon)
Result Declaration
March 19, 2026
Scorecard Download
March 27, 2026
Exam Structure & Pattern
The GATE AE paper consists of 65 questions totaling 100 marks. The exam tests candidates on Recall, Comprehension, Application, and Analysis.
• MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions): Single correct option; negative marking applies.
• MSQ (Multiple Select Questions): One or more correct options; no negative marking.
• NAT (Numerical Answer Type): No options; you must enter a real number using the virtual keyboard. No negative marking.
Marking Distribution & Weightage
The paper is divided into three distinct parts. Mastering the Aptitude and Math sections is often the key to qualifying easily.
Section
Marks
Weightage %
General Aptitude
15
15%
Engineering Mathematics
13
13%
Core Aerospace Subjects
72
72%
Aerospace Core Syllabus Focus
The core discipline is split into Core Topics (90% of questions) and Special Topics (10%).
• Aerodynamics (15-20 Marks): Fluid mechanics, Airfoils/Wings, Compressible flows, and Shock-boundary layer interaction.
• Flight Mechanics (15-18 Marks): Atmosphere, Airplane Performance, Static and Dynamic Stability.
• Aircraft Structures (15-18 Marks): Strength of Materials, Flight Vehicle Structures, and Structural Dynamics.
• Propulsion (12-15 Marks): Thermodynamics, Gas Turbines, Ramjets, and Rocket Propulsion.
• Space Dynamics (8-10 Marks): Central force motion, Orbits, and Kepler's laws.
How is the GATE Score Calculated?
Your raw marks are converted into a score out of 1000 using the following formula. This ensures that the difficulty level across different years is normalized.
$$Score = S_q + (S_t - S_q) \frac{M - M_q}{\overline{M}_t - M_q}$$
Where M is your raw marks,
Mq is the qualifying marks,
𝑀̄t represents the average marks of the top 0.1% candidates,
Sq is the minimum qualifying score (350),
and St is the normalized top score (900).
Top Tips for Success
1. Prioritize Flight Mechanics & Aerodynamics: These carry nearly 40% of the total marks combined.
2. Solve NATs Practice: Since there is no negative marking, these are "safe" marks, but they require high calculation accuracy.
3. Virtual Calculator Mastery: Physical calculators are banned; practice with the official GATE virtual calculator early.
4. PYQs (2007-2025): Aerospace is a niche paper; patterns often repeat. Solve at least 15 years of papers.
Official Links & References
Always refer to the Organizing Institute for authentic information:
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