GATE Exam Paper Analysis 2026: Feb 15 Exam (Concluded), Exam Analysis (Out)

IIT Guwahati concluded the GATE 2026 Feb 15 shift 2 exam at 5.30 PM. The GATE 2026 exam with Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA) and Architectural Engineering (AR) papers was conducted in the second shift of the examination day.  Based on initial student reactions, the overall difficulty of the DA paper was reported as moderate to slightly tough. The questions asked were purely mathematic calculation based, making it difficult to solve. The AR exam was moderate in difficulty level. Some candidates found the numerical or analytical sections challenging.

The GATE Feb 15, shift 1 exam was of a moderate difficulty level. Many students shared that the General Aptitude and Mathematics sections were simple and helped them score marks easily. However, the main Electronics and Communication subjects require strong basic knowledge and good time management. The questions were asked from the official syllabus and included both theory and numerical problems. Overall, students felt the paper was fair and similar to previous years, so candidates who prepared well were able to attempt it confidently.

The GATE 2026 Day 3, CE and EE examinations have concluded. Overall, the Civil Engineering (CE) paper was rated as moderate, with a few challenging questions. According to initial student feedback, the GATE question papers for both CE and EE were largely moderate in difficulty and focused mainly on conceptual understanding. Some questions were reported to be lengthy, and several candidates estimated around 20+ safe attempts. Strength of materials, engineering hydrology, geotechnical engineering are some of the topics covered in CE-I paper. 

GATE 2026 examination was conducted successfully in two shifts, Shift 1 featured CS-1 and ST, while Shift 2 included CS-2, EY, NM, and PE, with the exam concluding at 5:30 PM. Both shifts were moderate to difficult, with emphasis on core subjects like Algorithms, OS, and DBMS and students felt the paper as time-consuming and lengthy. The ST paper was concept-heavy and calculation-oriented, with a moderate difficulty level requiring strong statistical fundamentals. EY and NM papers were rated moderate, with a balanced mix of theoretical and application-based questions.

The GATE 2026 CH, ES, and BT papers were overall rated easy to moderate by candidates. The CH paper included moderately difficult questions with easy-to-moderate Mathematics and General Aptitude sections, though a few students found it lengthy. The ES paper mostly had direct questions with some concept-based and lengthy problems. In the BT paper, the General Aptitude section was similar to XL GA, while core questions focused on topics such as transfer function, Monod growth kinetics, and sterilisation.

The day 1 Shift 1 exam concluded at 12:30 PM. The GATE 2026 XE Shift 1 exam, held on February 7, was considered easy to moderate by most candidates. While the paper was largely manageable, a few questions were lengthy and statement-based, especially in the XE-E section, with some time-consuming Thermodynamics problems. The XE-D paper was rated moderate, and the General Aptitude section was reported to be easy. Many students observed similarities with the Mechanical Engineering GATE previous year questions, leading to expectations of a higher cutoff for GATE XE this year.

The GATE exam is one of the most important national-level exams in India for postgraduate admissions and public sector recruitments (PSUs). Every year, lakhs of engineering graduates appear for this highly competitive test. Since the GATE exam covers a wide range of disciplines, the difficulty level, question patterns, and weightage of topics vary significantly from year to year.

In this article, we will know about the GATE 2026 paper Analysis, overall difficulty level, and comparison with previous years. 

GATE 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level Overview

The exam analysis focuses on the overall paper difficulty, distribution of questions, and balance between numerical and theoretical problems. For GATE 2026, the paper analysis will be released after each session concludes. A breakdown of the subject-wise GATE 2026 overall paper difficulty is as follows:

Relevant articles related to GATE

GATE 2026 Shift-Wise Paper Analysis

The GATE 2026 is to be conducted on Feb 07-08 and 14-15, 2026. The day-wise, shift-wise GATE exam analysis will be added below:

Feb 07, 2026 - Shift 1 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Feb 15, 2026 - Shift 1 (9.30 AM to 12.30 PM)

For the February 15, 2026, session, the ECE paper received mostly positive feedback from candidates. The question paper followed a balanced structure, with a proper mix of conceptual and numerical questions across major subjects.

• The ECE paper was considered moderate in difficulty level. 
• General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics were relatively easier and scoring for most students.
• Questions from subjects such as Networks, Signals & Systems, Electronic Devices, Analog and Digital Circuits, Control Systems, and Communication were calculation-based and were time-consuming.

Feb 15, 2026 - Shift 2 (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM)

The DA (Data Science & Artificial Intelligence) and AR (Architectural Engineering) papers were conducted in the afternoon shift. Both papers were concept-focused and moderately challenging.

• The DA paper was considered moderate to slightly tough in difficulty level. General Aptitude was comparatively easier and scoring, while the core sections were heavily mathematics and calculation-based.
• The AR paper was rated moderate in nature. The questions asked were both conceptual and numerical based. 
• Some sections were straightforward, and a few were analytical and application-based questions that required deeper understanding and careful time management.

GATE 2026 Subject-Wise Analysis and Key Topics

The weightage and important topics varied slightly across streams. Below is a subject-wise analysis based on common papers like Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, and Civil Engineering, as per the previous year’s trends.

1. General Aptitude (GA)

• Key Topics: Reading comprehension, data interpretation, basic arithmetic, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

2. Engineering Mathematics

• Key Topics: Linear algebra, calculus, probability & statistics, differential equations, numerical methods.
• Difficulty: Moderate in Difficult

3. Core Subject (examples from major branches)

• Computer Science (CSE): Data structures, algorithms, operating systems, computer networks, DBMS. 
• Mechanical Engineering (ME): Strength of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and manufacturing.
• Electrical Engineering (EE): Power systems, machines, signals & systems, control systems. 
• Civil Engineering (CE): Structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, transportation, environmental engineering. 

Difficulty level

The Overall GATE exam 2026 difficulty level was as follows:

• Computer Science (CSE): Moderate to Difficult
• Mechanical Engineering (ME): Moderate to Difficult
• Electrical Engineering (EE): Moderate
• Civil Engineering (CE): Moderate

Relevant articles related to GATE

GATE Exam Analysis 2026 vs Previous Years’ Trends

Comparing GATE 2026 with past years helps in identifying shifts in difficulty and topic focus.

GATE 2026 Good Scores and CutOff (Expected)

Since the GATE exam is competitive and normalization is used across different papers, the expected cutoff varies by discipline and category. 

The GATE 2026 Exam Analysis helps you to know the ongoing trends of difficulty level and the important topics over the past few years. This analysis provides important insights to finalise your Preparation strategy. By focusing on high-weightage areas and practicing numerical problem-solving, you can improve your chances of securing a good score in GATE. While every GATE paper brings its own new trends, consistent practice and smart strategy, guided by such analysis, remain the most reliable path to success.