GATE 2026 EE Exam Timeline
IIT Guwahati has officially scheduled the Electrical Engineering (EE) paper for the second Saturday of the examination window. This is a single-session paper, making every mark critical for your relative rank.
Event
Official Date / Time
Admit Card Release
January 13, 2026
EE Exam Date
February 14, 2026 (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM)
Result Declaration
March 19, 2026
Scorecard Download
March 27, 2026
Paper Structure & Question Types
The EE paper consists of 65 questions totaling 100 marks. The exam structure tests your fundamental concepts as well as your numerical speed.
• MCQ (Multiple Choice): 1 or 2 marks. Penalty of 1/3 or 2/3 respectively for wrong answers.
• MSQ (Multiple Select): One or more options can be correct. No negative marking.
• NAT (Numerical Answer): Enter values via virtual keypad. No negative marking.
Major Marks Distribution
Electrical Engineering is characterized by heavy core subjects. Mastering the high-weightage trio of Machines, Power Systems, and Power Electronics is essential for an AIR under 500.
Section
Approx. Marks
Weightage %
General Aptitude
15 Marks
15%
Engineering Mathematics
13 Marks
13%
Electrical Machines
10-12 Marks
~11%
Power Systems
10-12 Marks
~11%
Power Electronics
8-11 Marks
~10%
High-Weightage Core Topics
To maximize your efficiency, focus on these core pillars that often dictate the difficulty level of the paper:
1. Electrical Machines: Transformers (equivalent circuits), Induction machines (torque-slip characteristics), and Synchronous machines.
2. Power Systems: Load flow studies (Newton-Raphson), Fault analysis, and System stability (Equal area criterion).
3. Control Systems: Transfer functions, Routh-Hurwitz, Nyquist criteria, and State-space analysis.
4. Electric Circuits: Network theorems, Transient response, and Three-phase circuits.
How Your GATE Score is Calculated
For single-session papers like EE, your actual marks are directly used to calculate your GATE Score out of 1000. This score is then used for admission and PSU recruitment.
$$Score = S_q + (S_t - S_q)\frac{M - M_q}{\overline{M}_t - M_q}$$
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).
Success Strategy for 2026
1. The 28-Mark Buffer: Perfecting Aptitude (15) and Math (13) is the fastest way to build confidence and secure a base score.
2. Virtual Calculator Precision: EE involves complex calculations in Power Systems and Machines. Practice with the virtual calculator early to avoid "significant digit" errors.
3. Focus on NAT/MSQ: Since these have no negative marking, they are your best chance to take calculated risks on difficult technical problems.
4. PYQ Mastery: Patterns in Machines and Power Systems are often repetitive. Solve at least the last 15 years of papers.
Official Links & Reference Portals
Always verify details through the official Organizing Institute channels:
