GATE Civil Engineering (CE) Paper Analysis 2024
GATE Exam Analysis provides a helping hand to the candidates to understand the type of questions asked in the exam, the difficulty level of the specific GATE Question Paper and the marking scheme. As the Civil Engineering 2024 exam is completed on 4th February, a comprehensive GATE CE exam analysis guide is available to all candidates. Additionally, we recommend that all candidates keep informed and updated through our website. This will ensure that they stay up-to-date with any changes or updates that may be helpful for them in successfully passing through the GATE journey.
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2024 Shift 1:
Marks Weightage
| Subjects | Marks Weightage | Difficulty Level |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 14 | Moderate to Hard |
| Transportation Engineering | 10 | Moderate to Hard |
| Environmental Engineering | 8 | Moderate |
| Engineering Mechanics | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| Strength of Materials | 7 | Moderate |
| Structural Analysis | 4 | Moderate to Hard |
| Reinforced Cement Concrete | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Steel Structures | 1 | Moderate |
| Hydrology and Irrigation | 7 | Moderate to Hard |
| Fluid Mechanics and Open Channel Flow | 6 | Easy to Moderate |
| Construction Materials and Management | 3 | Moderate |
| Surveying | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| Aptitude | 15 | Moderate to hard |
| Engineering Mathematics | 9 | Moderate to hard |
Variety of Questions
| Type of Questions | Number of Questions |
| Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) | 37 |
| Multiple Select Question (MSQ) | 23 |
| Numerical Answer Type Question (NAT) | 5 |
Difficulty level
The forenoon paper of Civil Engineering was a moderately difficult paper. Questions asked in this paper were lengthy, requiring a lot of calculations. Due to this reason the chances of making the calculation mistakes were observed more in this paper. Getting into more details, here is the subject-wise analysis of the Civil Engineering forenoon paper of GATE 2024.
Geotechnical Engineering
The questions are framed from the chapters of properties of soil, seepage analysis, Earth pressures, consolidation of soil and shallow foundation which can be listed as the highly probable areas of questions framing in geotechnical engineering for GATE. Questions were of moderate to hard difficulty level, involving bulky calculations.
Transportation Engineering
Questions asked in transportation engineering in this paper were more conceptual questions requiring less calculations. While attempting the paper, candidates have invested a lot of time in question understanding for this subject of the GATE 2024 forenoon session for Civil Engineering.
Environmental Engineering
Questions of environmental engineering in the GATE 2024 forenoon session of civil engineering have a good mix of easy and hard questions. Few match the column types of questions framed in this subject, for solving them, candidates have opted for the option elimination approach.
Strength of Materials
Questions of strength of materials were slightly tricky this time. Difficulty level of the questions was moderate and most of them were formula based questions. Repeatedly, over the years, it was observed that principal stresses and deflections were the key areas of questions framing. This year also the same trend was observed for this subject, along with the questions from Thin pressure vessels and Torsion of shafts.
Structural Analysis
Questions of Structural Analysis for this paper were highly conceptual questions, which requires deep understanding of the structural behaviour. Questions were framed from the chapters of indeterminacies and Influence line diagrams, along with Truss Analysis.
Reinforced Cement Concrete and Steel Structures
Questions from these two subjects had the difficulty level of easy to moderate. Direct questions from the provisions of IS:456 and IS:800 were asked in RCC and Steel structures respectively.
Fluid Mechanics and Open Channel Flow
Questions asked from these subjects were the direct formula based questions. Difficulty level of these questions were easy to moderate level. As per the memory based questions that we have received, weightage of Open channel flow was more than fluid mechanics.
Hydrology and Irrigation
For these two subjects, from the last few years, direct formula based questions were asked. For the GATE 2024 Civil Engineering Forenoon Session, the same pattern of questions were asked. Difficulty level of the questions was moderate to hard.
Construction Materials and Management
For the GATE 2024 Civil Engineering forenoon session, one question from engineering economics was asked. Over the past few years, not many questions were observed from this area. The weightage of CMM for this was also more than the conventional weightage of this subject.
Surveying
As it is one of the highly practical application-based subjects, which opens up the wide domain of question framing from the day-to-day civil engineering works, questions asked in the GATE 2024 Civil Engineering Forenoon session from this subject were practical application-based questions. Moderate difficulty level questions were framed from photogrammetry and tacheometry, but the overall difficulty level of the questions from this subject was easy to moderate.
IMS GATE ACADEMY has conducted a detailed GATE CE Exam Analysis and solution discussion of the memory-based questions just after the session. Civil Engineering Department Mentors have provided valuable insights and experience of this session.
GATE 2024 Civil Engineering Forenoon Session Detailed Analysis Link –
https://www.youtube.com/live/CvYEYWoFJfw?si=144-V5rH28PwPKp4
Here is the past years’ paper analysis:
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2023 Shift 1: 12th February 2023
Find below the detailed analysis of the GATE 2023 Civil Shift 1 Exam:
- The GATE Civil Engineering 2023 Exam comprised a total of 65 questions, including 9 multiple-select questions (MSQs), 22 numerical answer-type questions (NATs), and 34 Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs).
- According to the feedback received from the candidates who appeared for the exam, the Aptitude section was considered to be quite difficult. However, the overall difficulty level of the GATE CE exam was moderate.
- Furthermore, the section with the highest weightage in the exam was Geotechnical Engineering, which was expected, given its significance in the field of Civil Engineering.
- This detailed GATE CE exam analysis will help you gain a better understanding of the GATE 2023 Civil Shift 1 Exam.
| Topics | 1 Marks | 2 Marks | Total Marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| Strength of Materials | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Engineering Hydrology | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 4 | 6 | 16 |
| Structural Analysis | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Surveying | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Building Material and Construction Management | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Design of Steel Structures | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Irrigation Engineering | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Transportation Engineering | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Open Channel Flow | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Environmental Engineering | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| Design of Concrete Structures | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| General Aptitude | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| Total | 100 | ||
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2023 Shift 2: 12th February 2023
As per the feedback from the candidates who appeared for the GATE 2023 CE exam in shift 2, the overall difficulty level was moderate. The question paper included a total of 65 questions, which included 35 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), 11 Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and 19 Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Upon analyzing the question paper, it was observed that specific topics carried higher weightage compared to others. For instance, Engineering Mathematics was a crucial topic with 9-11 marks assigned to it, followed by Geotechnical Engineering with 12-15 marks, Environmental Engineering with 10-12 marks, SOM (Strength of Materials) + Structures with 11-14 marks, and Hydrology + Irrigation with 4 marks.
Overall, the paper was created to test the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various Civil Engineering concepts, and the marks were distributed in a way that ensured that no particular topic was given undue importance.
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2022
The question paper for the GATE CE exam was generally easy, according to the candidates who appeared for the exams. However, some aspirants found the General Aptitude section to be challenging. The overall difficulty level of the GATE CE 2022 question paper was moderate, consisting of 7 MSC questions, 35 MCQ questions, and 23 NAT questions. There was only one question related to SOM modular. Environmental and geotechnical engineering carried 11 marks each. For a detailed GATE CE Exam Analysis 2022, please check below.
| Topics | 1 Marks | 2 Marks | Total Marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| Strength of Materials | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Engineering Hydrology | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| Structural Analysis | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Surveying | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Building Material and Construction Management | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Design of Steel Structures | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Irrigation Engineering | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Transportation Engineering | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Environmental Engineering | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| Design of Concrete Structures | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| General Aptitude | 5 | 5 | 15 |
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2021 Session 1
The conducted exam was at a Moderate level of difficulty overall. It included 15 NATs (Numerical Answer Type) questions and 2 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions). Also, candidates who appeared for the exam described that the General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics sections were relatively easy; hence, scoring well in these sections could prove advantageous.
Furthermore, the paper had a few subjects with higher weightage regarding mark distribution. These subjects were Transportation, Environment, and Geo-Tech. Thus, it is advisable for candidates to focus on these particular topics while preparing for the exam. Overall, the exam was well-balanced and aimed at testing the knowledge and analytical abilities of the candidates.
| Subject Name | Questions (1 Mark+2 Marks) | Weightage |
| Airport | 0+1 | – |
| Construction Material (CPM) | 1+2 | – |
| Highway | 3+3 | – |
| General Aptitude | 5+5 | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 5+3 | 11% |
| Geotech Engineering | 2+1 | 13% |
| Environmental Engineering | 3+6 | 8% |
| Fluid Mechanics | 1+2 | 6% |
| Structural Analysis | 2+1 | 6% |
| Strength of Materials | – | 4% |
| Steel Structure | 0+1 | 2% |
| Design Of Steel Structure | 0+1 | – |
| Surveying | 2+1 | 4% |
| RCC | 1+2 | 4% |
| Irrigation & Hydrology | 1+0 | 9% |
| Building Material | 1+0 | 2% |
| Transportation Engineering | – | 11% |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
GATE CE Exam Analysis 2021 Session 2
- The overall level of the exam was Moderate and candidates were able to attend the exam effectively.
- The paper consisted of 2 MCQs.
- Likewise, General Aptitude and Geo-Tech sections were easy.
- Geotech Engineering, & Environmental Engineering were the subjects with the highest marks weightage.
| Subject Name | Questions (1 Mark+2 Marks) | Weightage |
| Transportation | 4 + 3 | 15% |
| Fluid Mechanics | 0 + 1 | 13% |
| Engineering Mechanics | 1 + 3 | 5% |
| Mechanics of Material | 0 + 1 | 6% |
| Environment | 3 + 2 | 14% |
| Irrigation | 0 +1 | 5% |
| SOM | 2 + 5 | 11% |
| Surveying | 0 + 3 | 6% |
| Hydrology | 1 + 1 | 6% |
| Geotech Engineering | 4 + 0 | 4% |
| Steel Structure | 1 + 5 | 1% |
| RCC | 3 + 5 | 3% |
| Structural Analysis | 0 + 5 | 9% |
GATE CE Exam Analysis FAQs
Does the GATE exam include numerical-type questions?
Yes. There will be some numerical-type questions. The candidates can utilise the virtual on-screen calculators to answer such questions.
How difficult is the Civil paper in GATE?
The difficulty level of the Civil exam depends on the candidates’ level of preparation. As Civil is a popular subject, the competition for admission in this course is significantly high. Candidates are advised to start their preparation early and plan a good strategy to ensure that the exam is not difficult.
What are the benefits of understanding the GATE CE Exam analysis?
It is important to understand the GATE analysis to identify the paper patterns and to evaluate one’s potential marks in the exam.
How many sections do the Civil Engineering part have?
Civil Engineering is divided into different fields, including Engineering Mathematics, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Geomatics Engineering.