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100+ Free GATE EC Practice Questions

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A control system with open-loop transfer function G(s)H(s) = K/(s(s+2)) has a steady-state error to a unit ramp input of:

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: GATE EC Exam

65 questions / 100 marks

GATE EC paper size (3-hour CBT)

gate2026.iitg.ac.in

15 + 13 + 72

GA + Engineering Math + EC subject mark split

GATE 2026 Information Brochure

INR 1800 / INR 900

General fee / reserved-category fee (regular period)

GATE 2026 Information Brochure

3 years

GATE score validity for PG admission and PSU recruitment

NCB-GATE, MoE

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

GATE EC is a 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions worth 100 marks (15 GA + ~13 Eng Math + ~72 EC core). Question types are MCQ, MSQ, and NAT with negative marking only on MCQs. The score is valid for 3 years for PG admission and PSU recruitment.

Sample GATE EC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your GATE EC exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1If the sentence 'She is too clever ____ be fooled' is to be completed, which word fits the blank?
A.to
B.for
C.of
D.from
Explanation: The idiomatic structure 'too + adjective + to + verb' expresses an excess that prevents an action. 'Too clever to be fooled' means her cleverness is enough to prevent her from being fooled. This is the standard 'too...to' construction in English grammar.
2A shop offers a 20% discount on the marked price, then an additional 10% on the discounted price. What is the effective single discount percentage?
A.30%
B.28%
C.25%
D.32%
Explanation: Effective price factor = 0.80 × 0.90 = 0.72, so the customer pays 72% of the marked price. The effective discount is therefore 100% − 72% = 28%. Successive discounts never simply add; use the product-of-factors method.
3A train of length 200 m crosses a platform of length 300 m in 25 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/h?
A.60
B.72
C.80
D.90
Explanation: Total distance covered while crossing = train length + platform length = 200 + 300 = 500 m. Speed = 500 m / 25 s = 20 m/s. Convert: 20 × 18/5 = 72 km/h.
4In a group of 60 people, 35 read newspaper A, 30 read newspaper B, and 15 read both. How many read neither?
A.5
B.10
C.15
D.20
Explanation: By inclusion-exclusion, readers of at least one = |A| + |B| − |A∩B| = 35 + 30 − 15 = 50. People reading neither = 60 − 50 = 10.
5Which of the following is the correct sentence?
A.Neither of the two answers are correct.
B.Neither of the two answers is correct.
C.Neither of the two answer is correct.
D.Neither the two answers is correct.
Explanation: 'Neither' is singular when used as a pronoun referring to two items, so it takes a singular verb 'is'. The standard form is 'Neither of the [plural noun] is [singular verb]'.
6A clock shows 3:15. What is the angle between the hour and minute hands?
A.0 degrees
B.7.5 degrees
C.15 degrees
D.22.5 degrees
Explanation: Angle = |30H − 5.5M| where H=3, M=15: |30(3) − 5.5(15)| = |90 − 82.5| = 7.5 degrees. The hour hand has moved past the 3 by a quarter of the 30-degree slot to the 4, while the minute hand is exactly on the 3.
7If 5x + 3y = 31 and 3x + 5y = 33, what is the value of x + y?
A.6
B.7
C.8
D.9
Explanation: Add the two equations: (5x+3y) + (3x+5y) = 31 + 33, giving 8x + 8y = 64, so x + y = 8. This sum-of-equations shortcut avoids solving for x and y individually.
8Choose the word that is the antonym of 'EPHEMERAL':
A.Transient
B.Permanent
C.Brief
D.Fleeting
Explanation: 'Ephemeral' means lasting for a very short time. Its antonym is 'permanent', meaning lasting indefinitely. The other choices (transient, brief, fleeting) are synonyms of ephemeral, not antonyms.
9A cube of side 6 cm is painted on all faces and cut into smaller cubes of side 1 cm. How many smaller cubes have exactly two faces painted?
A.12
B.24
C.36
D.48
Explanation: Two-face-painted cubes lie along the edges (excluding corners). A cube has 12 edges, and each edge of side n contributes (n − 2) such cubes. With n = 6, count = 12 × (6 − 2) = 12 × 4 = 48.
10If TEACHER is coded as VGCEJGT, then STUDENT is coded as:
A.UVWFGPV
B.UVWGFPV
C.TUVEFOU
D.UWVFGPV
Explanation: Each letter is shifted +2 in the alphabet: T→V, E→G, A→C, C→E, H→J, E→G, R→T. Applying the same shift to STUDENT: S→U, T→V, U→W, D→F, E→G, N→P, T→V, giving UVWFGPV.

About the GATE EC Exam

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) is a national-level Computer-Based Test conducted jointly by IISc Bengaluru and seven IITs for admission to M.Tech/M.E./Ph.D. programmes across India and for recruitment by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as IOCL, BHEL, NTPC, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC, PGCIL, and ISRO. GATE 2026 is organised by IIT Guwahati. The EC paper tests 65 questions for 100 marks across General Aptitude (15 marks), Engineering Mathematics (~13 marks), and the seven core ECE subjects: Networks/Signals/Systems, Electronic Devices, Analog Circuits, Digital Circuits, Control Systems, Communications, and Electromagnetics.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours)

Passing Score

Qualifying mark set yearly (typically 25 marks or μ+σ, whichever is higher)

Exam Fee

INR 900 (SC/ST/PwD/Female); INR 1800 (others) (IIT Guwahati (GATE 2026 organising institute) for IISc Bengaluru and seven IITs)

GATE EC Exam Content Outline

15%

General Aptitude (GA)

Common to all GATE papers — verbal, quantitative, analytical, and spatial aptitude. 10 questions for 15 marks.

13%

Engineering Mathematics

Linear algebra (matrices, eigenvalues), calculus, differential equations (first/second-order ODEs), complex variables, probability and statistics, vector calculus, numerical methods.

12%

Networks, Signals and Systems

Network solution (nodal, mesh, Thevenin/Norton), steady-state sinusoidal analysis, RC/RL/RLC transients, Laplace transform, CT/DT signals, LTI properties, Z-transform, Fourier series and transform, sampling theorem.

10%

Electronic Devices

Energy bands in intrinsic and extrinsic silicon, carrier transport (drift, diffusion), PN junction, BJT, MOS capacitor, MOSFET, LED, photodiode, IC fabrication (oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, photolithography, twin-tub CMOS).

12%

Analog Circuits

Small-signal models of diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs; single-stage amplifiers; op-amp circuits (inverting, non-inverting, integrator, differentiator, Schmitt trigger); active filters (Sallen-Key); sinusoidal oscillators (Wien-bridge, phase-shift); function generators; ADC and DAC.

10%

Digital Circuits

Number representations, Boolean algebra, K-maps, combinational circuits (mux, decoder, adder), sequential circuits (flip-flops, counters, shift registers), data converters, semiconductor memories (ROM, SRAM, DRAM), 8086 microprocessor architecture, programming, interfacing.

10%

Control Systems

Basic control components, feedback, transfer function, block diagram and signal-flow graph, time response of first/second-order systems, stability (Routh-Hurwitz, Nyquist), root locus, Bode plot, gain and phase margins, state-space representation.

10%

Communications

Random processes (autocorrelation, PSD), analog modulation (AM, DSB-SC, SSB, FM), digital modulation (ASK, PSK, FSK, QAM), PCM, DPCM, ISI, BER, matched filter, channel capacity, Shannon-Hartley, basic information theory and coding (Hamming, source coding).

8%

Electromagnetics

Maxwell's equations, plane wave propagation, transmission lines (impedance, VSWR, Smith chart, quarter-wave transformer), rectangular waveguides (TE/TM modes), antennas (dipole, array, gain, radiation pattern).

How to Pass the GATE EC Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Qualifying mark set yearly (typically 25 marks or μ+σ, whichever is higher)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
  • Exam fee: INR 900 (SC/ST/PwD/Female); INR 1800 (others)

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 EC Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build a foundation in Engineering Mathematics first — linear algebra, calculus, complex variables, probability — because every section uses these tools
2Solve at least 20 previous-year GATE EC papers (2015 onwards) — patterns and numerical-value (NAT) questions repeat across topics, especially in Networks, Control, and Communications
3Master signal/system transforms (Laplace, Fourier, Z) early — they unify Networks, Signals, Control, and Communications, and you cannot afford to lose those marks
4Use 'Made Easy' or 'ACE Engineering' postal-test-series for chapter-wise tests, plus at least one full-length all-India test series in the last 8 weeks to calibrate your pace
5Spend 15-20 minutes daily on General Aptitude — 15 'easy' marks here often separate top-100 from top-500 ranks; do not under-prepare GA
6Maintain a one-page formula sheet per subject (impedance, transfer functions, Maxwell's eqns, modulation BW, BER formulas) and revise it every week in the last 2 months

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GATE EC 2026 exam pattern?

GATE EC 2026 is a 3-hour Computer-Based Test with 65 questions worth 100 marks. The paper has 15 marks of General Aptitude (10 questions), about 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics, and 72 marks of EC subject content. Question types are MCQ (with negative marking of −1/3 or −2/3), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ, no negative marking), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT, no negative marking).

Who is conducting GATE 2026 and what is the application fee?

GATE 2026 is organised by IIT Guwahati on behalf of IISc Bengaluru and seven IITs under the National Coordination Board (NCB-GATE), Ministry of Education. The regular application fee is INR 1800 for general candidates and INR 900 for SC/ST/PwD/Female candidates. A late fee of INR 500 applies after the regular deadline. International candidates pay a higher fee in USD.

How is the GATE score calculated and how long is it valid?

The GATE score is computed on a 0-1000 scale using a normalisation formula that accounts for the qualifying mark, the mean and standard deviation of the top 0.1% of candidates, and the candidate's actual marks. The score card is valid for 3 years and is used for PG admission to IITs/IISc/NITs/IIITs and PSU recruitment by IOCL, BHEL, NTPC, GAIL, ONGC, PGCIL, ISRO, and many others.

What topics carry the most weight in GATE EC?

By weight, the largest core subjects are Networks/Signals/Systems and Analog Circuits (~12 marks each), followed by Digital Circuits, Control Systems, and Communications (~10 marks each), Electronic Devices (~10 marks), and Electromagnetics (~8 marks). Engineering Mathematics adds ~13 marks and General Aptitude is fixed at 15 marks across every GATE paper.

Is there negative marking in GATE EC?

Yes, but only on MCQ-type questions. For 1-mark MCQs, a wrong answer carries −1/3 mark. For 2-mark MCQs, a wrong answer carries −2/3 mark. MSQ (Multiple Select Questions) and NAT (Numerical Answer Type) have no negative marking, so it is strategically wise to attempt all of those.

When is GATE 2026 EC scheduled and when do registrations open?

GATE 2026 is scheduled for early February 2026, with EC typically held on a Saturday afternoon session. Registration on the GOAPS portal at gate2026.iitg.ac.in typically opens in late August 2025 and closes in late September with extension via late fee. Admit cards are released in early January 2026. Always check the official notification at gate2026.iitg.ac.in for exact dates.

What is the eligibility for GATE EC?

Eligibility is having completed (or being in the final year of) a Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology or equivalent in a relevant branch — typically B.E./B.Tech in Electronics, Electronics and Communication, or related disciplines for the EC paper. There is no upper age limit. Final-year students and those who have completed any government-approved degree may apply.