GATE Exam 2025: Engineering Mathematics

Understanding how each topic is weighted in the exam can help you strategize your preparation. Based on historical data, here’s an overview of the topic-wise weightage for Engineering Mathematics in previous years:Linear Algebra: In the 2024 GATE exam, Linear Algebra carried 16 marks, showing a slight increase from the 15 marks in 2023. In 2022, this topic had a higher weightage of 18 marks, while in 2021, it contributed 13 marks. This indicates that Linear Algebra is a consistently important topic, maintaining a relatively stable presence in the exam over the years, with occasional fluctuations in the mark distribution.
Calculus: The marks allotted to Calculus in the GATE exam saw some variation in recent years. In 2024, it was worth 7 marks, which is significantly lower than the 14 marks it received in 2023 and 2021. In 2022, the weightage was 15 marks. This topic, which covers differentiation, integration, maxima, and minima, has been a significant part of the syllabus, but its weightage has fluctuated in recent years, with 2024 marking the lowest allocation in the last four years.
Differential Equations: In the 2024 exam, Differential Equations carried 10 marks, a slight drop compared to 12 marks in 2023. However, the weightage was 8 marks in both 2022 and 2021, showing some consistency in its importance. This topic, involving first-order and higher-order differential equations, continues to play a pivotal role in the GATE syllabus, though its mark distribution has seen moderate variation.
Vector Calculus: Vector Calculus was allotted 6 marks in the 2024 exam, maintaining a consistent mark allocation similar to 2021. However, there was a significant rise in 2023, with 14 marks assigned to this topic, making it one of the highest-weighted sections that year. In 2022, the topic had a mark allocation of just 5, reflecting the inconsistency in its prominence across the years. Nevertheless, its importance as a fundamental mathematical tool for engineering subjects is undeniable.
Complex Variables: In the 2024 GATE exam, Complex Variables contributed 5 marks, which is in line with its contribution in 2022 and 2021. In 2023, this topic received 6 marks, showing a small increase. Despite its relative consistency, Complex Variables remains a moderately weighted topic across the years, with a slight tendency to fluctuate depending on the overall exam pattern.
Numerical Methods: Numerical Methods, which involves solving linear and nonlinear equations, interpolation, and numerical differentiation, saw a noticeable change in mark distribution. In 2024, it contributed 9 marks, which is a significant increase compared to the 4 marks in 2023. This topic had 5 marks in 2022 and 8 marks in 2021. The rise in 2024 reflects the growing importance of computational methods in engineering, which have become integral to modern problem-solving techniques.
Probability & Statistics: The weightage for Probability & Statistics was 8 marks in 2024, an increase from the 6 marks in 2023. This topic saw a drop to 4 marks in 2022, but it had a considerable weightage of 13 marks in 2021, the highest among the years listed. The fluctuation in its marks shows that, while important, the focus on Probability & Statistics can vary from year to year, depending on the overall exam trend and the specific focus of the syllabus.
Discrete Mathematics: Discrete Mathematics had a steady allocation of 5 marks in 2024, consistent with its contribution in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, it contributed 4 marks, showing a slight decrease in its importance. Discrete Mathematics, which is especially relevant for computer science aspirants, covers topics like logic, sets, relations, graphs, and combinatorics. Its consistent presence over the years indicates its enduring significance, particularly for those pursuing technical and computational fields.
Linear Algebra and Differential Equations consistently dominate the section in terms of marks, while Probability and Statistics and Numerical Methods have gained prominence in recent years.