Question 1

What is the official GATE Physics (PH) exam pattern and scoring scheme?

Accepted Answer

GATE PH is a 3-hour (180 minutes) Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 65 questions for 100 marks. General Aptitude comprises 10 questions (15 marks), and Technical Physics & Mathematics comprises 55 questions (85 marks). Question formats include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ with negative marking: -1/3 for 1-mark and -2/3 for 2-mark questions), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ without negative marking), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT with official accepted intervals and no negative marking).

Question 2

Where can I find verified GATE Physics (PH) previous year questions (PYQs) with solutions?

Accepted Answer

GATE PH Prep Portal provides all 1,300 official GATE PH previous year questions spanning 2007 through 2026. Every question includes detailed step-by-step mathematical derivations, official answer keys, KaTeX formula formatting, and subject-wise categorization.

Question 3

How many full-length CBT mock tests are provided on the GATE PH portal?

Accepted Answer

The portal includes 41 full-length CBT mock tests specially crafted according to the official GATE PH 65-question / 100-mark blueprint with TCS-iON palette states, in addition to 20 official past exam papers from 2007 to 2026.

Question 4

What core subjects are covered in the GATE Physics syllabus?

Accepted Answer

The official syllabus encompasses 8 major core sections: Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Solid State Physics, and Nuclear and Particle Physics, along with General Aptitude.

Question 5

Is GATE PH Prep Portal free to use and available offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes, GATE PH Prep Portal is 100% free with zero fees. It is built as an offline-first Progressive Web App (PWA) with service worker caching and local IndexedDB data persistence, allowing aspirants to practice tests and revise formulas anywhere without an active internet connection.

Question 6

What are the qualifying cutoff marks for GATE Physics (PH) across categories?

Accepted Answer

Historical GATE Physics qualifying cutoff marks typically range between 25.0 to 29.5 marks for General/Unreserved, 22.5 to 26.5 marks for OBC-NCL and EWS, and 16.5 to 19.5 marks for SC, ST, and PwD categories out of 100 total marks. Scoring 60+ marks generally secures an All India Rank (AIR) in the top 30, qualifying for M.Tech/Ph.D. admissions at premier institutes like IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, and TIFR/BARC research fellowships.

Question 7

Is a virtual scientific calculator allowed in the GATE PH CBT exam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Physical handheld calculators are strictly prohibited in the official GATE examination. Candidates must use the onscreen official TCS-iON virtual scientific calculator provided in the test interface. The GATE PH Prep Portal features an exact interactive replica of this official TCS-iON virtual calculator across all CBT mock tests and practice modes.

Question 8

What is the chapter-wise subject weightage in GATE Physics?

Accepted Answer

Based on trend analysis across official GATE PH papers, the approximate marks weightage is: Quantum Mechanics (~20-24%), Classical Mechanics & Electromagnetic Theory (~20-24%), Thermodynamics, Statistical & Solid State Physics (~20-24%), Mathematical Physics (~13-15%), and General Aptitude (15%).

GATE Year	Organizing Institute	General (UR)	OBC-NCL / EWS	SC / ST / PwD	Candidates Appeared
GATE 2025	IIT Roorkee	26.8	24.1	17.8	~21,000
GATE 2024	IISc Bangalore	32.0	28.8	21.3	20,258
GATE 2023	IIT Kanpur	31.1	27.9	20.7	18,517
GATE 2022	IIT Kharagpur	26.5	23.8	17.6	~18,000
GATE 2021	IIT Bombay	32.8	29.5	21.8	17,499
GATE 2020	IIT Delhi	37.2	33.4	24.8	~19,000

Official GATE Physics (PH) Qualifying Cutoff Marks (Past 5 Years)

Key Insights from Organizing Institutes