100+ Free GATE CE Practice Questions
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The void ratio (e) and porosity (n) of a soil are related by:
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Key Facts: GATE CE Exam
65 questions / 100 marks / 180 minutes
GATE CE 2026 exam pattern
gate2026.iitg.ac.in
15 + 13 + 72
General Aptitude + Engineering Mathematics + Subject marks split
GATE 2026 information brochure
1/3 and 2/3
Negative marking for 1-mark and 2-mark MCQs (MSQ and NAT have no negative marking)
GATE 2026 marking scheme
3 years
Validity of GATE 2026 score for admissions and PSU recruitment
NCB-GATE policy
100
Free practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
GATE Civil Engineering (CE) is a 3-hour 65-question 100-mark CBT comprising 15 General Aptitude marks, 13 Engineering Mathematics marks and 72 subject marks across 6 CE sections. MCQ items carry 1/3 or 2/3 negative marking; MSQ and NAT items have no negative marking. GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati.
Sample GATE CE Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your GATE CE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1If 'PENCIL' is coded as 'QFODJM', how is 'PAPER' coded in the same scheme?
2The average age of a class of 30 students is 14 years. If the teacher's age is included, the average becomes 15 years. What is the teacher's age?
3Select the word from the options that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'AUSPICIOUS'.
4A train 150 m long crosses a platform 250 m long in 20 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/h?
5Complete the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
6If 5 men or 8 women can complete a job in 12 days, how many days will 4 men and 4 women take to complete the same job?
7In a group of 50 people, 25 read newspaper A, 30 read newspaper B, and 10 read both. How many read neither?
8A sum of money doubles itself at simple interest in 8 years. In how many years will it become five times?
9Find the next term in the letter series: A, C, F, J, O, ?
10Choose the option that best completes the sentence: 'Despite the heavy rainfall, the construction work _____ on schedule.'
About the GATE CE Exam
GATE Civil Engineering (CE) is among the most popular GATE papers, used for M.Tech and PhD admissions at IITs, IISc, NITs and IIITs, as well as recruitment by PSUs such as IOCL, NTPC, BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL, PowerGrid, NHPC, AAI, Indian Oil and others. GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati and runs for 180 minutes as a computer-based test with 65 questions worth 100 marks. The paper combines 15 General Aptitude marks, 13 Engineering Mathematics marks, and 72 subject marks spread across Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Environmental, Transportation, and Geomatics Engineering. Question types include MCQ (with 1/3 or 2/3 negative marking), MSQ (multiple select, no negative marking), and NAT (numerical answer type, no negative marking).
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
180 minutes (3 hours)
Passing Score
Qualifying cutoff varies by year (typical CE General cutoff ~ 28–32 marks out of 100); admissions/PSU recruitment use GATE score/rank
Exam Fee
INR 1000 (SC/ST/PwD/Female); INR 2000 (others); INR 500 surcharge during extended registration (IIT Guwahati (GATE 2026 Organising Institute) under the NCB-GATE; the host IIT/IISc rotates annually)
GATE CE Exam Content Outline
General Aptitude
Verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial aptitude — common to every GATE paper and worth 15 marks (5 one-mark + 5 two-mark questions).
Engineering Mathematics
Linear algebra (matrices, rank, eigenvalues), calculus (limits, integration, vector calculus), ordinary and partial differential equations, probability and statistics, numerical methods, Laplace and Fourier transforms.
Structural Engineering
Engineering mechanics; solid mechanics (stress, strain, bending, torsion, columns); structural analysis (trusses, beams, frames, arches, influence lines, moment distribution, matrix methods, plastic analysis); construction materials and management (concrete, steel, CPM/PERT); concrete structures (IS 456); steel structures (IS 800).
Geotechnical Engineering
Soil mechanics — origin, three-phase system, plasticity, classification, permeability, seepage, effective stress, shear strength, consolidation, compaction, earth pressure, slope stability; foundation engineering — SPT, bearing capacity, shallow and deep foundations, pile capacity, negative skin friction.
Water Resources Engineering
Fluid mechanics — properties, kinematics, dynamics, Bernoulli and momentum; hydraulics — pipe and open channel flow, hydraulic jump, weirs and orifices; hydrology — precipitation, infiltration, runoff, unit hydrograph, reservoir routing; irrigation — duty/delta, canal design, water requirements.
Environmental Engineering
Water quality standards and treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection); wastewater characteristics and treatment (BOD, COD, activated sludge, anaerobic treatment); air pollution (PM, gaseous pollutants, NAAQS); municipal solid waste; noise pollution (CPCB Rules 2000).
Transportation Engineering
Transportation infrastructure (highway geometric design — SSD, OSD, curves, superelevation, gradient); highway pavements (flexible and rigid pavements, CBR, Marshall mix design, IRC:37 and IRC:58); traffic engineering (volume, speed, density relations, PCU, capacity, intersection and signal design).
Geomatics Engineering
Principles of surveying — chain/tape, compass, theodolite, levelling, traversing, tacheometry, contouring; topographic maps and contour interval; remote sensing basics; GPS/GNSS positioning; GIS — vector/raster data, spatial analysis.
How to Pass the GATE CE Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Qualifying cutoff varies by year (typical CE General cutoff ~ 28–32 marks out of 100); admissions/PSU recruitment use GATE score/rank
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Exam fee: INR 1000 (SC/ST/PwD/Female); INR 2000 (others); INR 500 surcharge during extended registration
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 CE Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GATE CE 2026 exam pattern?
GATE Civil Engineering 2026 is a 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions worth 100 marks. The paper combines 15 marks of General Aptitude, 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics, and 72 marks of subject questions spanning Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Environmental, Transportation and Geomatics Engineering. Questions are MCQ, MSQ (multiple-select) or NAT (numerical answer type).
What is the marking scheme and negative marking in GATE CE?
MCQs carry 1 or 2 marks with negative marking of 1/3 or 2/3 respectively for a wrong answer. Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry 1 or 2 marks with no negative marking — but partial credit on MSQ is not given. Unanswered questions earn zero.
Who conducts GATE 2026 and how do I register?
GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati on behalf of the National Coordination Board GATE (NCB-GATE), MoE. Registration opens through the GOAPS portal on gate2026.iitg.ac.in; expect the application window to open in late August and close in early October 2025, with an extended (surcharge) window thereafter and exams in early February 2026.
What is a good GATE CE score for IITs and PSUs?
For IIT/IISc M.Tech admissions, an AIR under 200 (typically GATE score 750+) is competitive for top specialisations. NIT cutoffs are more relaxed (AIR ~ 1000–3000). PSU shortlists vary by year: IOCL, NTPC, BHEL and PowerGrid typically shortlist around AIR 300–1500 for general category Civil candidates.
What is the syllabus weightage between sections?
General Aptitude is 15 marks and Engineering Mathematics is 13 marks (these two combined are 28 marks). The remaining 72 marks are distributed approximately as Structural (22), Geotechnical (10), Water Resources (13), Environmental (10), Transportation (10) and Geomatics (7). Exact weightages vary slightly year to year — Structural and Water Resources are consistently the heaviest subject sections.
Is GATE CE valid for PSU jobs and how long is the score valid?
Yes. Major Indian PSUs — IOCL, NTPC, BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL, PowerGrid, NHPC, AAI, NPCIL — use GATE CE scores for Civil Engineer recruitment, releasing notifications soon after GATE results. The GATE 2026 score is valid for 3 years from the date of result announcement for M.Tech/PhD admissions and PSU recruitments.
Can I use a calculator in GATE CE?
Yes — but only the virtual scientific calculator provided on-screen in the GATE CBT interface. Physical calculators, mobile phones, smart watches, and any digital aids are strictly prohibited. Practising with the online virtual calculator (available on the GATE website) ahead of the exam is highly recommended.