100+ Free GATE GG Practice Questions

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Which of these geological time periods is correctly ordered from oldest to youngest?

Ordovician, Cambrian, Silurian, Devonian

Silurian, Cambrian, Devonian, Ordovician

Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian

Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician, Cambrian

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: GATE GG Exam

65 questions / 100 marks

GATE GG total questions and marks (10 GA + 55 subject)

gate2026.iitg.ac.in

180 minutes

Total computer-based test duration

GATE 2026 Information Brochure

15 + 85

GA marks + Subject (Part A common + Part B Geology OR Part C Geophysics) marks

GATE 2026 Information Brochure

INR 1000

Application fee for General/OBC/EWS in the regular window

IIT Guwahati GATE 2026 notification

100

Free practice questions on OpenExamPrep

OpenExamPrep

GATE Geology and Geophysics (GG) is a 3-hour CBT with 65 questions for 100 marks: 15 GA + 85 subject. Candidates pick Geology OR Geophysics at the exam; Part A common is ~25% of subject. MCQs carry -1/3 or -2/3 negative marking, MSQ and NAT have zero negative.

Sample GATE GG Practice Questions

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

1In GATE 2026, what is the mark distribution between General Aptitude (GA) and the subject paper for science-stream papers like Geology and Geophysics (GG)?

A.GA 15 marks + Subject 85 marks = 100 marks

B.GA 25 marks + Subject 75 marks = 100 marks

C.GA 10 marks + Subject 90 marks = 100 marks

D.GA 30 marks + Subject 70 marks = 100 marks

Explanation: For science-stream GATE papers (XL, XH, GG, etc.), the General Aptitude section carries 15 marks and the subject section carries 85 marks, totalling 100 marks. Engineering papers use the same GA 15 + Subject 85 split, while only the question count differs.

2If a passage contains the sentence 'The committee comprises of five members from each state,' which correction makes it grammatically standard?

A.Replace 'comprises of' with 'comprises'

B.Replace 'comprises of' with 'is comprising of'

C.Replace 'five members' with 'five member'

D.No correction required; the sentence is correct

Explanation: The verb 'comprise' means 'to consist of' and is followed directly by its object, never by 'of'. 'The committee comprises five members' is correct; 'comprises of' is a common but ungrammatical redundancy.

3A train travels 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole journey?

A.40 km/h

B.45 km/h

C.50 km/h

D.55 km/h

Explanation: Average speed = total distance / total time. Total distance = 120 km. Time = 60/30 + 60/60 = 2 + 1 = 3 hours. Average speed = 120/3 = 40 km/h. This is the harmonic mean of the two speeds when equal distances are covered.

4If 'PEN' is coded as 'QFO', how is 'INK' coded using the same shift?

A.JOL

B.HMJ

C.JNL

D.KOL

Explanation: Each letter is shifted by +1 in the alphabet. P→Q, E→F, N→O confirms a +1 Caesar shift. Applying +1 to I→J, N→O, K→L gives 'JOL'.

5Which is the closest synonym of the word 'ubiquitous'?

A.Omnipresent

B.Unique

C.Unstable

D.Ambiguous

Explanation: 'Ubiquitous' means existing or being everywhere at the same time, which is exactly the meaning of 'omnipresent'. Both are derived from Latin roots ('ubique' = everywhere; 'omni' + 'praesens').

6A bag contains 4 red, 3 green and 5 blue balls. If one ball is drawn at random, what is the probability that it is NOT blue?

A.7/12

B.5/12

C.1/3

D.1/2

Explanation: Total balls = 4 + 3 + 5 = 12. Non-blue balls = 4 + 3 = 7. Probability = favourable / total = 7/12. The complement rule gives 1 − 5/12 = 7/12.

7A bar chart shows that company X had revenue of 200 crore in 2024 and 260 crore in 2025. What is the percentage increase?

A.30%

B.23%

C.26%

D.60%

Explanation: Percentage increase = (new − old) / old × 100 = (260 − 200) / 200 × 100 = 60/200 × 100 = 30%. The denominator is the original (2024) value, not the new value.

8Choose the option that best completes the sentence: 'The hypothesis was ____ by the new data.'

A.Corroborated

B.Refuted

C.Inundated

D.Eluded

Explanation: 'Corroborated' means supported or confirmed, the most neutral fit for a hypothesis verified by data. It is a key term in scientific reasoning meaning 'to provide additional supporting evidence'.

9A solution loses 20% of its volume by evaporation. By what percentage must the remaining volume be increased to restore the original volume?

A.25%

B.20%

C.22%

D.30%

Explanation: If the original volume is V, after 20% loss the remaining volume is 0.8V. To return to V, we must add 0.2V to 0.8V, i.e., (0.2V / 0.8V) × 100% = 25%. This is the classic 'successive percentage' trap where 20% down ≠ 20% up.

10Five friends sit in a row: P is left of Q, R is right of P but left of S, T is right of S. Who is at the leftmost position?

A.P

B.Q

C.R

D.T

Explanation: From the clues: P < Q, P < R < S, S < T. The only person with no one to their left is P. A consistent ordering is P, R, Q-or-S, S, T (with Q placed anywhere right of P).

About the GATE GG Exam

GATE GG is the Geology and Geophysics paper of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, conducted jointly by the seven IITs and IISc on rotation (IIT Guwahati for GATE 2026). It is the standard gateway to M.Tech, M.E., M.S., and PhD admissions in Earth science programmes at IITs, IISc, IISERs, and central universities, as well as PSU recruitment screening at ONGC, OIL, GSI, and others. The 3-hour Computer-Based Test has 65 questions for 100 marks: 15 marks of General Aptitude (10 questions) plus 85 marks of subject content (55 questions). Candidates choose ONE stream at the exam — Geology (Part B) or Geophysics (Part C) — and Part A (Earth/planetary system and basics of geology) is common to both.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours)

Passing Score

Qualifying mark set yearly (typically 25 marks or μ+σ); score valid for 3 years

Exam Fee

INR 1000 (General/OBC); INR 500 (SC/ST/PwD/Women) per paper (GATE Committee (IITs and IISc) — GATE 2026 organised by IIT Guwahati)

GATE GG Exam Content Outline

15%

General Aptitude (GA)

Verbal ability (English grammar, vocabulary, comprehension), quantitative aptitude (percentages, ratios, speed-time-distance, probability, data interpretation), analytical and logical reasoning, spatial reasoning. Common to every GATE paper.

~21% (subject)

Part A — Common (Earth and Planetary System; Basics of Geology)

Earth as a planet, the Solar System, formation and differentiation of Earth, Earth's interior, geological time scale, plate-tectonic framework, introduction to minerals and rocks. Common to candidates choosing either Part B or Part C.

~32% (Geology stream)

Part B — Geology Core Concepts

Geomorphology (fluvial, glacial, aeolian, coastal, karst landforms); Structural Geology (folds, faults, joints, foliations, stress-strain); Stratigraphy (principles, Indian stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, unconformities); Paleontology (invertebrate fossils, vertebrate evolution, biostratigraphy).

~22% (Geology stream)

Part B — Geology Petrology and Mineralogy

Crystallography and physical/optical mineralogy; rock-forming silicates and carbonates; igneous petrology (Bowen's series, classification, magmatic processes); metamorphic petrology (facies, P-T paths, foliation); sedimentology (clastic, carbonate, depositional environments, diagenesis).

~10% (Geology stream)

Part B — Economic, Resource and Applied Geology

Ore deposits (porphyry, VMS, BIF, Indian metallic and non-metallic deposits), petroleum geology, hydrogeology (aquifers, Darcy's law, groundwater quality), engineering geology (slope stability, dam sites), environmental geology, marine geology and paleoceanography.

~32% (Geophysics stream)

Part C — Geophysics Solid Earth and Seismology

Solid Earth geophysics (gravity, magnetism, heat flow, isostasy); earthquake seismology (P/S/surface waves, magnitude, moment, focal mechanisms, Indian seismicity); seismic prospecting (refraction, reflection, NMO, CMP, deconvolution, migration).

~28% (Geophysics stream)

Part C — Geophysics Potential, EM and Borehole Methods

Potential and time-varying fields (gravity corrections, magnetic methods, resistivity, IP, EM and MT); borehole geophysics (gamma-ray, sonic, resistivity, neutron, density logs; Archie's law); remote sensing and thermal methods; radiometric and airborne geophysics; geophysical inversion.

How to Pass the GATE GG Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Qualifying mark set yearly (typically 25 marks or μ+σ); score valid for 3 years
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
Exam fee: INR 1000 (General/OBC); INR 500 (SC/ST/PwD/Women) per paper

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 GG Study Tips from Top Performers

1Pick your stream (Geology or Geophysics) at the start and commit — switching strategy three months before the exam usually costs rank.

2Master Part A common topics first: Earth's interior, plate tectonics, geological time scale, and basics of mineralogy — these give certain marks for either stream.

3For Geology: keep a single notebook of structural geology diagrams, Bowen's reaction series, and Indian stratigraphy; revisit weekly because GATE re-uses these themes.

4For Geophysics: drill the standard formulae (sin θc = V1/V2, Darcy's law, Bouguer = 0.04193 ρ h mGal, skin depth ≈ 503√(ρ/f), Archie's law) until they are automatic; NAT questions reward exact computation.

5Solve at least 10 years of previous-year GATE GG papers — recurring patterns (P/S waves, gravity reductions, well-log curves, sequence stratigraphy) appear almost every year.

6Take full 3-hour mocks; train yourself to skip MCQs whose answer you cannot reduce to two options, since the -1/3 or -2/3 negative marking on a guess costs more than it gains on average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to choose between Geology and Geophysics in GATE GG 2026?

Yes. GATE GG has a common Part A (Earth and Planetary System; basics of geology) and two specialised parts: Part B (Geology) and Part C (Geophysics). Candidates choose ONE of Part B or Part C inside the exam interface. Part A and the chosen Part together make up the 85-mark subject section; the additional 15 marks come from General Aptitude (GA).

What is the exam pattern and marking scheme for GATE GG 2026?

65 questions, 100 marks, 180 minutes. GA contributes 15 marks (10 questions), subject 85 marks (55 questions). Question types are MCQ, MSQ (multiple-select) and NAT (numerical-answer-type). MCQs carry -1/3 negative marking for 1-mark questions and -2/3 for 2-mark questions; MSQ and NAT have NO negative marking. There is no partial credit on MSQ.

Which IIT is conducting GATE 2026 and where can I find the official syllabus?

GATE 2026 is being organised by IIT Guwahati. The official website is gate2026.iitg.ac.in, where the GG syllabus PDF, information brochure, exam dates, and application portal are hosted. Candidates should rely only on the official IIT GATE syllabus and not on third-party syllabi.

What is the GATE 2026 application fee for the GG paper?

For GATE 2026 the standard application fee within the regular window is INR 1000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS, and INR 500 for SC, ST, PwD and women candidates. A late-fee window applies at higher cost. International candidates pay a separate USD-denominated fee. Refer to the official IIT Guwahati notification for exact dates and amounts.

What career and academic opportunities follow a good GATE GG score?

A qualifying or competitive GATE GG score is used for admission to M.Tech, M.E., M.S. and PhD programmes in Earth-science and applied-geophysics streams at the IITs, IISc, IIST, NITs, IISERs, and other central universities. PSUs such as ONGC, OIL, GSI, IOCL, and CMPDI also use GATE GG scores as the first screening stage for recruitment of geologists and geophysicists. The score is valid for 3 years.

How should I structure my study for GATE GG over 6-12 months?

Begin with the common Part A and your chosen specialisation. Geology aspirants should master mineralogy/petrology/structural geology first, then stratigraphy, economic geology and applied geology. Geophysics aspirants should secure seismology, potential-field methods (gravity/magnetic), seismic prospecting, borehole logs, and inversion fundamentals. Solve 10-15 years of previous-year GATE GG papers in the final 2-3 months and take at least 8-10 full-length mocks under exam conditions to lock pacing and negative-marking discipline.

Is the General Aptitude (GA) section important for GATE GG?

Yes — GA carries 15 marks (15% of the paper) and is generally regarded as the easiest source of marks. Top rankers typically aim to score 13+ in GA. Spending 8-10 hours on basic English, quantitative aptitude, and reasoning drills can be the highest mark-per-hour return in the whole preparation.

100+ Free GATE GG Practice Questions

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