The GATE 2026 AR paper was reported as Moderate to Difficult. Part A (Common) featured a heavy emphasis on Building Materials and Sustainable Architecture. Part B1 (Architecture) was more calculation-heavy compared to previous years, while Part B2 (Planning) focused on recent government urban schemes.
Part A: Moderate
Part B: Difficult (Technical)
Subject-Wise Weightage (GATE 2026)
Below is the marks distribution based on initial candidate feedback and memory-based questions.
Section
Key Topics
Weightage
Part A (Common)
History of Arch, Building Construction, Services (HVAC/Acoustics), Sustainability.
60 Marks
Part B (Arch/Plan)
Building Science vs. Urban Design/GIS.
25 Marks
Aptitude
Spatial Visualization, Verbal & Quantitative.
15 Marks
Expected Qualifying Cutoff 2026
Considering the difficulty of MSQs in the Architecture section, cutoffs are expected to remain steady.
Category
2026 (Exp.)
2025 (Actual)
2024 (Actual)
General (GEN)
36.5 - 38.0
35.5
33.9
OBC-NCL / EWS
32.8 - 34.2
31.9
30.5
SC / ST / PwD
24.3 - 25.5
23.6
22.6
GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff (IIT-wise)
Top ranks for M.Arch and M.Plan usually require a score above 700. Here are the expected admission thresholds:
Short tests, one topic at a time, with every answer explained.
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SampleGATE Architecture and Planning · Free sample (4 questions)A few questions in the exact player you get after buying: the clock, the question palette, then your score and every answer explained.
#1
Principles of Architectural Composition Fundamentals | GATE Architecture and Planning
Start here
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#2
Building Materials and Properties Fundamentals | GATE Architecture and Planning
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#3
Development Control and Zoning Regulations Advanced Challenge | GATE Architecture and Planning
10 Qs · ~10 min Sameera leads with 7/10
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#4
Settlement Geography and Regional Theories Advanced Challenge | GATE Architecture and Planning
10 Qs · ~10 min Samikshya Samal leads with 3/10
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#5
GATE AR — History of Architecture
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#6
GATE AR — Climate and Solar Geometry
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#7
GATE AR — Structural Systems and Analysis
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#8
GATE AR — Water Supply and Sanitation Services
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#9
GATE AR — Housing and Slum Improvement
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#10
GATE AR — Surveying and Levelling Techniques
10 Qs · ~10 min m leads with 5/10
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#11
GATE General Aptitude — Grammar and Vocabulary (GATE 2026 pattern)
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#12
GATE General Aptitude — Statements and Logical Inference (GATE 2026 pattern)
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#13
GATE General Aptitude — Arrangements and Puzzles (GATE 2026 pattern)
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#14
GATE General Aptitude — Numbers, Algebra and Logarithms (GATE 2026 pattern)
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
#15
GATE General Aptitude — Counting, Probability and Geometry (GATE 2026 pattern)
10 Qs · ~10 min
Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis
