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GATE Computer Science and Information Technology Exam Practice Test

140 questions available

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) is a prestigious, national-level examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It serves as a benchmark for assessing the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science. A qualifying score in GATE CS is a mandatory requirement for admission to postgraduate programs (ME, M.Tech, MS, direct PhD) in premier Indian institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIITs with financial assistance. Beyond academia, the GATE score is extensively used for recruitment to prestigious public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as BHEL, GAIL, IOCL, and HPCL, and is a respected credential for research positions in government organizations like DRDO and ISRO. The exam rigorously tests core fundamentals, analytical ability, and application skills, making it a definitive measure of a candidate's technical proficiency in the field.

Certification exam
3 hours Time Limit
Practice bank
140 Practice Questions
2 hours 20 minutes Practice Time
Start Practice
The bar to clear 3 Official passing score. Aim higher in practice before you book.
College Board140 practice questionsBlueprint 1.0Bank updated 2026-05-04

Sample Questions

Try a few questions to see what the full exam is like.

Operating System

A Unix-like file has two hard links in different directories. One directory entry is removed with unlink, but the file is still open by a process and one hard link remains. What happens to the file data?

Operating System

A system state has Available=(3,3,2). Process P has Allocation=(2,0,0), Max=(5,3,2), so Need=(3,3,2). Under Banker's safety check, what can be concluded about P at this point?

Theory of Computation

A grammar has productions E -> E + E | E * E | id. A parser finds two parse trees for id + id * id. What is the primary defect?

Algorithms

Bellman-Ford is run on a graph with 6 vertices and no negative cycles. After how many full relaxation passes over all edges are shortest paths guaranteed, in the worst case?

Computer Networks

A TCP Reno sender receives three duplicate ACKs for the same sequence number. What is the classic response?

Why This Certification Opens Doors

Achieving a competitive rank in the GATE CS exam is a transformative career milestone. It validates deep technical expertise to top academic institutions and leading public/private sector employers, opening doors to advanced education with scholarships and highly sought-after engineering positions. The certification is nationally recognized as a gold standard for technical competency, significantly enhancing a candidate's professional profile, credibility, and earning potential. It demonstrates a commitment to excellence and a mastery of core computer science principles that is highly valued across academia, government research, and industry.

Exam Blueprint

012D Array
02Array
03ArrayList
04Boolean Expressions and if Statements
05Inheritance
06Iteration
07Primitive Types
08Recursion
09Using Objects
10Writing Classes

Exam Details AP CS A | $98 USD | 3 hours

Exam Code AP CS A
Vendor College Board
Exam Cost $98 USD
Passing Score 3
Time Limit 3 hours
Question TypesMultiple Choice, Free Response
Retake Policy AP exams are offered once per year in May. Students may retake the exam in a subsequent year; there is no same-year retake. Scores from all attempts are reported to colleges unless the student requests score cancellation.
Exam Format Paper-based; two sections: multiple choice and free response. Administered at school in May. AP Studio Art/Drawing: portfolio submission. AP Research/Seminar: academic paper and oral presentation.

Study Resources

AP Students Course and Exam DescriptionOfficialstudy_guide
College Board$0
Free Course and Exam Descriptions (CEDs) available per AP subject at apstudents.collegeboard.org
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AP Classroom Practice Questions and AP Daily VideosOfficialPractice Exam
College Board$0
Free via AP Classroom (myAP); access through enrolled school or teacher
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the validity period of the GATE score?

The GATE score is valid for three years from the date of result announcement. This validity period is applicable for admissions to postgraduate programs and for recruitment processes in PSUs and other organizations that accept GATE scores.

Can final-year undergraduate students apply for the GATE CS exam?

Yes, students in the final year of their qualifying degree (e.g., B.Tech/B.E. in Computer Science/IT, B.Sc. in Computer Science, etc.) or those who have completed their degree are eligible to apply. There is no age limit for appearing in the GATE exam.

How is the GATE score different from the GATE rank?

The GATE Score is a normalized mark out of 1000, calculated based on the candidate's performance relative to all other candidates. The All India Rank (AIR) is a separate merit position based solely on the candidate's raw marks. While PSUs often use the GATE Score, academic admissions primarily consider the AIR.

What are the career opportunities beyond PG admissions after qualifying GATE CS?

A qualifying GATE score unlocks opportunities for entry-level engineering positions in major Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like ONGC, NTPC, and Power Grid. It is also a preferred qualification for scientist/engineer positions in DRDO, BARC, ISRO, and other government R&D establishments. Many private companies also value GATE qualification for roles requiring strong fundamentals.

What is the structure of the GATE CS question paper?

The paper consists of 65 questions worth 100 marks, to be completed in 3 hours. It includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. The paper is divided into two sections: General Aptitude (15% weightage) and the core Computer Science & IT subject (85% weightage).