100+ Free GATE CS Practice Questions
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In a 5-stage pipeline (IF, ID, EX, MEM, WB), what is the speedup over a non-pipelined processor for executing 100 instructions, assuming no hazards and each stage takes one cycle?
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Key Facts: GATE CS Exam
65 questions, 100 marks
GATE CS paper structure
GATE 2026 IIT Guwahati
180 minutes
Total exam time (computer-based)
gate2026.iitg.ac.in
INR 2000
General category application fee (regular period)
GATE 2026 Information Brochure
3 years
Validity of GATE score
NCB-GATE, Ministry of Education
100
Free GATE CS practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
GATE CS is a 3-hour, 100-mark, 65-question computer-based test (15 GA + 13 Engineering Math + 72 CS subject), with MCQ negative marking (-1/3, -2/3) and zero penalty on MSQ/NAT. Score is valid for 3 years and accepted by IITs, IISc, NITs, and major PSUs.
Sample GATE CS Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your GATE CS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to PROLIFIC.
2If the average of five consecutive even integers is 30, what is the largest of these integers?
3A train of length 200 metres crosses a platform of length 300 metres in 25 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/h?
4Identify the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 'The new policy was met with __________ from the employees who feared job losses.'
5In a group of 60 people, 35 like coffee and 30 like tea. If 10 like neither, how many like both coffee and tea?
6A shopkeeper marks an article 40 percent above cost and gives a 25 percent discount. What is his profit or loss percentage?
7Which figure of speech is exemplified by the phrase 'time flies'?
8A clock loses 5 minutes every hour. If it is set correctly at 12:00 noon, what time will it show at the actual 6:00 PM?
9If 3 men or 6 women can finish a job in 12 days, how long will 4 men and 8 women take to finish the same job?
10A bag contains 3 red, 4 green, and 5 blue balls. If two balls are drawn at random without replacement, what is the probability that both are blue?
About the GATE CS Exam
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Computer Science and Information Technology, code CS, is the most popular and competitive GATE paper, taken by 80,000+ candidates each year. Conducted jointly by the IISc Bangalore and seven IITs, GATE 2026 is organized by IIT Guwahati. The 3-hour computer-based test has 65 questions worth 100 marks across General Aptitude (15 marks), Engineering Mathematics (~13 marks), and 10 CS subject areas (~72 marks). Question types include MCQ (1 or 2 marks with negative marking of 1/3 or 2/3), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ, no negative marking), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT, no negative marking). GATE scores are used for admission to MTech/PhD programs at IITs/IISc/NITs and recruitment by PSUs like IOCL, BHEL, GAIL, NTPC, and BARC.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
180 minutes (3 hours)
Passing Score
Dynamic qualifying cutoff (typically around 25-30/100 for CS general category)
Exam Fee
INR 1000 (Female/SC/ST/PwD) / INR 2000 (others) for GATE 2026 (IIT Guwahati (organizing institute for GATE 2026) on behalf of NCB-GATE, MoE)
GATE CS Exam Content Outline
General Aptitude (GA)
Verbal, quantitative, analytical, and spatial aptitude. 5 one-mark + 5 two-mark questions = 15 marks (compulsory in every GATE paper).
Engineering Mathematics
Discrete Mathematics (logic, sets, relations, functions, graphs, combinatorics, groups), Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability and Statistics.
Digital Logic
Boolean algebra; combinational and sequential circuits; minimization (K-map, Quine-McCluskey); number representations and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating point).
Computer Organization and Architecture
Machine instructions and addressing modes; ALU, datapath and control unit; instruction pipelining; memory hierarchy: cache and main memory; I/O interface (interrupt and DMA mode).
Programming and Data Structures
Programming in C; recursion; arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, binary heaps, graphs.
Algorithms
Searching, sorting, hashing; asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity; algorithm design: greedy, divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming; graph algorithms (traversals, MST, shortest paths).
Theory of Computation
Regular expressions, finite automata, CFGs and pushdown automata, regular and context-free languages, pumping lemma; Turing machines and undecidability.
Compiler Design
Lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation; runtime environments; intermediate code generation; local optimisation; data flow analyses.
Operating System
System calls, processes, threads, IPC; concurrency and synchronization; deadlock; CPU and I/O scheduling; memory management and virtual memory; file systems.
Databases
ER-model; relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL; integrity constraints, normal forms; file organization, indexing (B/B+ trees); transactions and concurrency control.
Computer Networks
OSI and TCP/IP layering; switching; data link layer (framing, error detection, MAC, Ethernet bridging); routing; IP, TCP, UDP; HTTP, DNS, SMTP, FTP; basics of network security.
How to Pass the GATE CS Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Dynamic qualifying cutoff (typically around 25-30/100 for CS general category)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Exam fee: INR 1000 (Female/SC/ST/PwD) / INR 2000 (others) for GATE 2026
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 CS Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GATE CS 2026 exam pattern?
GATE CS 2026 is a 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions totaling 100 marks. It has three question types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) with negative marking of 1/3 mark for 1-mark MCQs and 2/3 mark for 2-mark MCQs, Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). MSQ and NAT carry no negative marking. The split is 15 marks General Aptitude + 13 marks Engineering Math + 72 marks CS subject.
Who is conducting GATE 2026 and when will it be held?
GATE 2026 is being organized by IIT Guwahati on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB-GATE), Ministry of Education, Government of India. The exam is held in early February 2026 across two weekends with multiple sessions. Check gate2026.iitg.ac.in for exact dates and admit card release.
What is the application fee for GATE 2026?
The application fee is INR 1000 for female candidates and SC/ST/PwD candidates, and INR 2000 for all other Indian candidates during the regular registration period. Late registration incurs an additional INR 500. Foreign candidates pay USD 100 (Addis Ababa, Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu) or USD 200 (Dubai, Singapore) during regular period.
How long is the GATE score valid and what is it used for?
GATE scores are valid for 3 years from the date of result announcement. They are used for admission to MTech, MS, ME, and PhD programmes at IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, and many other engineering institutes, and for direct recruitment to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like IOCL, BHEL, GAIL, NTPC, BARC, ONGC, Power Grid, and others.
What is the syllabus for GATE CS 2026?
The GATE CS syllabus has 11 sections: General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics (Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability), Digital Logic, Computer Organization and Architecture, Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating System, Databases, and Computer Networks. The official syllabus PDF is available at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
What is a good GATE CS score for IITs and PSUs?
For top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur), aim for a GATE score of 800+ (rank under ~200). For other IITs and IISc, 700+ is competitive. For NITs, 500-650 typically secures admission. PSUs like IOCL, BHEL, ONGC publish their own cutoffs each year, generally requiring 700+ for general category in CS.
Which CS subject topics carry the most weight in GATE?
Across recent years, the heaviest CS subject sections by marks are Algorithms (10-13 marks), Programming and Data Structures (8-12 marks), and Operating System (8-10 marks). Theory of Computation, Databases, and Computer Networks each contribute 6-9 marks. Digital Logic and Compiler Design are typically lighter at 4-6 marks.
Are there negative marks for wrong answers in GATE CS?
Yes, but only on MCQs. A wrong answer on a 1-mark MCQ deducts 1/3 mark; on a 2-mark MCQ it deducts 2/3 mark. There is NO negative marking on Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) — but partial credit is also not given for MSQs (must select exactly the right set). Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions have no negative marking either.