GATE 2023 Combination of Two Papers, Primary Paper, Secondary Paper and Important Details

By Himanshu Bajpai|Updated : March 3rd, 2023

Two Paper combinations for GATE 2023 will be conducted for 29 papers by IIT Kanpur. The table shows the list of papers with codes. A candidate can appear either in one or up to two papers of the GATE 2023 examination. However, a candidate can only select the second paper from the pre-defined 'Two Paper Combination' list. Therefore, two paper combinations for GATE 2023 will be selected with a predefined list shared below.

Candidates opting for two paper combinations for GATE 2023 must have a primary choice of paper as their default choice. The second choice of paper has to be chosen from the allowed combinations given in the table above. Combinations other than the listed ones are not allowed. Under unforeseen circumstances, certain combinations may be removed from the list in the above table later. In such cases, the fee paid for the second paper will be refunded to the candidates. Also, note that the examination centre for the second paper may be different (but in the same city) from that for the first paper due to the infrastructure and scheduling constraints. 

Table of Content

GATE 2023: Combination of Two Papers Details 

Candidates who want to opt for two papers for GATE 2023 can opt for a combination of papers, but these papers must be selected from a predefined list of papers for the examination. Two paper combinations for GATE 2023 for the primary (first) and (second) papers are shared below. 

Code of the First
(Primary) Paper
Codes of Papers Allowed as
Second Paper
Code of the First
(Primary) Paper
Codes of Papers Allowed as
Second Paper
AENM, XEINBM, EC, EE, PH
AGES, GE, XE, XLMACS, GE, PH, ST
ARCE, GEMEAE, CH, NM, PI, XE
BMBT, EC, IN, XLMNGE, GG, XE
BTBM, XLMTPH, XE
CEAE, AR, ES, GE, NM, XENMAE, CE, XE
CHPE, XEPECH, GG, XE
CSEC, GE, MA, PH, STPHEC, GE, GG, IN, MA, MT, ST, XE
CYXE, XLPIME, MT, XE
ECIN PH, EE, CS, GESTMA, PH
EEEC, IN PHTFXE
ESAG, CE, GEXEAE, AG, CH, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, NM
EYXLXHST
GECE, GG, ES, MNXLBM, BT, CY, EY
GGGE, MN, PE, PH, XE  

GATE XE/XH/XL Paper and Other Optional Subjects

Each GATE 2023 paper is for a total of 100 marks. General Aptitude (GA) is common for all papers (15 marks), and the rest of the paper covers the respective syllabus (85 marks). GATE XE has one paper in common: Engineering Mathematics and candidates have to select the other two optional subjects from the other seven subjects. Similarly, GATE XH has one paper in common, which is reasoning and comprehension, and candidates have to select the other optional subjects from the other six subjects. Finally, GATE XL has one paper in common, chemistry, and candidates must select the other two optional subjects from the other five. All combinations of papers are shared below- 

XE Paper SectionsCodeXH Paper SectionsCodeXL Paper SectionsCode
Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory)
(15 marks)
AReasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory)
(25 marks)
B1Chemistry (Compulsory)
(25 marks)
P
Any TWO optional Sections
(2x35 = 70 marks)
Any ONE optional Section
(60 marks)
Any TWO optional Sections
(2x30 = 60 marks)
Fluid MechanicsBEconomicsC1BiochemistryQ
Materials ScienceCEnglishC2BotanyR
Solid MechanicsDLinguisticsC3MicrobiologyS
ThermodynamicsEPhilosophyC4ZoologyT
Polymer Science and EngineeringFPsychologyC5Food TechnologyU
Food TechnologyGSociologyC6  
Atmospheric and Oceanic SciencesH    

Multi-Sessional Papers Details  

The candidate will be assigned to appear only in one of the sessions for the papers running in multiple sessions. Candidates must familiarise themselves with the paper code required during application and examinations. A candidate appearing in one or two papers should fill in only one application form. In the case of multiple applications, only one will be accepted, and the remaining applications will be rejected without any refund for the paid fee.

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FAQs

  • From GATE 2023, IITs have made it legal that a candidate may appear either in one or two subject papers. The combination must be from the approved list of combinations and subject to infrastructure and data availability for candidates who choose two papers.

  • Two paper combinations are made legal from the year 2023 as follows -

    Candidates opting for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (New Paper) and Engineering Sciences as the first paper can choose Aerospace Engineering as the second paper.

  • It is always helpful for your career as the combination of both papers is related to each other. Hence you don't want to study different subjects.

  • GATE 2023 will be conducted for 29 papers and one can attempt any one or two of these papers. So, candidates planning to appear for the upcoming exam must be aware of the GATE 2023 exam pattern and syllabus.

  • Any of the seven IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee) or IISc Bangalore conducts the GATE test. IIT Kanpur will conduct the GATE exam 2023. 

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