100+ Free GATE AR Practice Questions
Pass your Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering — Architecture and Planning exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A 'bioclimatic chart' (such as Olgyay's, 1963) is used to:
Explore More India GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: GATE AR Exam
65 questions / 100 marks
GATE AR exam pattern (15 GA + 85 subject)
gate2026.iitg.ac.in
180 minutes
Total exam duration in single shift
GATE 2026 Information Brochure
INR 1800 / INR 900
Application fee (General-OBC / SC-ST-PwD-Women)
GATE 2026 Information Brochure
Part A or Part B
Candidate chooses Architecture (A) or Planning (B)
GATE 2026 AR syllabus
100
Free practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
GATE AR is a 180-minute computer-based test of 65 questions and 100 marks: 15 GA + 85 subject (candidate picks Part A Architecture or Part B Planning). Mix of MCQ, MSQ, and NAT. Conducted by IIT Guwahati for GATE 2026 with fee INR 1800 (General).
Sample GATE AR Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your GATE AR exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1If the ratio of two numbers is 3:5 and their sum is 56, what is the larger number?
2Choose the word that is the antonym of 'ephemeral':
3A train 200 m long crosses a platform 300 m long in 25 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/h?
4In a sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?. What is the next term?
5A statement: 'All architects are designers. Some designers are planners.' Which conclusion follows?
6The mean of 5 numbers is 28. If one number is excluded, the mean becomes 25. What is the excluded number?
7Fill in the blank: The new policy was ______ as it addressed long-standing concerns of multiple stakeholders.
8If P + Q = 14, P − Q = 2, what is P² − Q²?
9The cost price of an article is INR 800. It is sold at a 25% profit. What is the selling price?
10A pie chart shows expenditure on Food 30%, Rent 25%, Travel 15%, Education 20%, Others 10%. If total monthly expense is INR 40,000, how much is spent on Education?
About the GATE AR Exam
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Architecture and Planning (paper code AR) is the national entrance test for M.Plan, M.Arch and PhD admissions in Indian Institutes of Technology, NITs, IIITs, SPA Delhi/Bhopal/Vijayawada, and is used by many PSUs for recruitment. For GATE 2026, the exam is jointly conducted by IIT Guwahati on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB-GATE), IISc Bangalore and seven IITs. The AR paper has a unique two-part subject format: candidates choose Part A (Architecture) or Part B (Planning) at the exam, in addition to the common General Aptitude section. AR is the only GATE paper without a separate Engineering Mathematics section; instead 15 marks of General Aptitude plus 85 marks of subject-specific content make up the 100-mark, 3-hour computer-based test held in February 2026.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
180 minutes (3 hours)
Passing Score
Qualifying mark ~25-35/100 for General; lower for SC/ST/OBC/PwD
Exam Fee
INR 1800 (General/OBC); INR 900 (SC/ST/PwD/Women) (IIT Guwahati on behalf of NCB-GATE (IISc Bangalore + 7 IITs))
GATE AR Exam Content Outline
General Aptitude (GA)
Common to all GATE papers — verbal ability (vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension), quantitative aptitude (arithmetic, algebra, ratios, basic probability), analytical and spatial reasoning, data interpretation from charts/tables
History of Architecture
Indus Valley urbanism, Buddhist (stupa) architecture, Hindu temple architecture (Nagara/Dravidian/Vesara), Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture, classical Greek/Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, Modernism (Bauhaus, Le Corbusier, Wright), Indian Modernism (Correa, Doshi)
Building Materials, Construction, and Construction Technology
Cement and concrete (IS 456), bricks (IS 1077), timber, steel, glass, polymers; concrete mix design, water-cement ratio, workability tests; formwork, foundations (IS 1904, IS 6403), damp proofing, finishes
Building Structures
Bending moment and shear in beams, columns and slenderness, trusses, RCC design fundamentals (IS 456), seismic design (IS 1893) and wind loads (IS 875 Part 3), prestressed concrete, shear walls, flat slabs, tensile and space-frame structures
Building Services
Lighting and lux levels (NBC 2016), acoustics and reverberation time (Sabine formula), HVAC fundamentals (COP, sol-air temperature), plumbing/water supply (135 LPCD per CPHEEO), vertical transportation (elevator handling capacity), fire safety and refuge areas (NBC 2016 Part 4)
Environmental Planning and Design
Indian climate zones (NBC SP-41 — hot-dry, warm-humid, composite, cold), thermal comfort, bioclimatic charts (Olgyay, Givoni), Mahoney tables, passive solar/cooling (Trombe wall, wind catcher), daylighting, rainwater harvesting, green-building rating systems (IGBC, LEED India, GRIHA)
Visual and Urban Design
Visual composition (proportion, Golden Ratio, Gestalt theory, colour theory, drawing projections — isometric/oblique/perspective); Urban Design (Kevin Lynch, Jane Jacobs, Camillo Sitte, Gordon Cullen, Garden City, Neighbourhood Unit, New Urbanism, TOD, FAR/FSI)
Architectural Conservation
Venice Charter (1964), Burra Charter, INTACH Charter (2004), Feilden's seven levels of intervention, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and AMASR Act 1958, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, adaptive reuse, stone deterioration mechanisms
Computer-Aided Design
2D CAD workflows (AutoCAD, DWG/DXF formats), Building Information Modeling (Revit, ArchiCAD) and clash detection (Navisworks), parametric and algorithmic modelling (Grasshopper, Dynamo), rendering and visualization (V-Ray, Lumion, Enscape)
How to Pass the GATE AR Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Qualifying mark ~25-35/100 for General; lower for SC/ST/OBC/PwD
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Exam fee: INR 1800 (General/OBC); INR 900 (SC/ST/PwD/Women)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
GATE AR Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GATE AR exam pattern for 2026?
GATE 2026 AR is a 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions for 100 marks. It has two sections: General Aptitude (15 marks, 10 questions) and Subject (85 marks, 55 questions). Within the subject section, candidates choose Part A (Architecture) or Part B (Planning) at the start of the exam. Unlike other GATE papers, AR has no separate Engineering Mathematics section.
What is the marking scheme for GATE AR?
Each question carries 1 or 2 marks. MCQs (one correct option) have negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for a wrong answer on 1-mark questions, 2/3 mark for 2-mark questions. MSQs (one or more correct, no partial credit) and NAT (Numerical Answer Type, type in a numeric value) have no negative marking. Strategic skipping is therefore essential on MCQs but you should attempt every MSQ and NAT.
Who conducts GATE 2026 and when is it held?
GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati on behalf of the National Coordination Board GATE, the Department of Higher Education, IISc Bangalore and seven IITs. The exam is held in early February 2026 across multiple shifts, with results typically announced in mid-March 2026 and the GATE score valid for 3 years.
Should I attempt Part A (Architecture) or Part B (Planning)?
Choose based on your background. B.Arch graduates targeting M.Arch programmes typically pick Part A; B.Plan graduates and those targeting M.Plan typically pick Part B. The choice is made at the start of the exam — you cannot attempt both. Many M.Plan programmes (e.g., SPA Delhi) accept candidates qualifying through either part, but check each institute's eligibility carefully.
Is there a separate Engineering Mathematics section in GATE AR?
No. AR is one of the few GATE papers (along with AE Architecture in some past years, GG Geology, etc.) that does NOT have a separate Engineering Mathematics section. The 85 subject marks go entirely to Architecture (Part A) or Planning (Part B) topics. Basic quantitative and analytical questions appear in the 15-mark General Aptitude section.
What is the application fee for GATE 2026?
The regular application fee for GATE 2026 is INR 1800 per paper for General, OBC-NCL, EWS and foreign candidates, and INR 900 for SC, ST, PwD, and Women candidates. Late registration adds an extra INR 500 to either. Female candidates from all categories also pay the INR 900 concessional fee.
What is a 'good' GATE AR score?
Qualifying marks for AR typically range 25-35 out of 100 for General candidates. A score above 50 generally lands candidates in top IITs/IISc/SPA Delhi M.Plan/M.Arch lists; above 65 is competitive for direct PhD admission and prestigious institutes. Cut-offs vary annually with paper difficulty; the GATE score (not raw marks) is what programmes use for admission.