GATE MA previous year question papers
Mathematics · 2007–2026
Free year-wise GATE MA question papers with official answer keys. Solve them under a 3-hour timer to simulate the real exam, then review every wrong answer against the GATE MA syllabus.
Free PDF downloads
We link to established, free sources rather than re-hosting copies. Papers open in a new tab; always cross-check against the official GATE organising institute's site for the current cycle.
How to use these papers
- Finish a subject first, then solve that subject's questions across all years.
- Once the syllabus is covered, switch to full papers under a strict 3-hour timer.
- Log every mistake by cause: concept gap, silly error, or time pressure.
- Re-solve the papers you scored worst on after two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exam pattern for GATE MA?
65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours: 15 marks of General Aptitude and 85 marks of core Mathematics across eleven sections, mixing MCQ, MSQ and Numerical Answer Type questions. There is negative marking on incorrect MCQs (one-third for 1-mark questions, two-thirds for 2-mark questions); MSQ and NAT questions carry none.
I have an engineering degree, not a BSc/MSc in Mathematics. Is GATE MA realistic for me?
It's attempted every year by engineering graduates, usually from branches with a heavy mathematics core, but the paper is written at BSc/MSc Mathematics depth, not engineering-mathematics depth. Real Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Functional Analysis and Topology are rarely taught at that level of rigour outside a dedicated math degree, so expect to build these largely from scratch rather than "revise" them. Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis, ODEs and Numerical Analysis are the more familiar bridge topics and are a reasonable place to start.
Which sections should a pure-math background prioritise versus an engineering background?
Math-degree candidates typically already have Real Analysis, Algebra and Topology at exam depth and mainly need to sharpen speed and the applied sections: Numerical Analysis and Linear Programming: which get thinner treatment in a pure-math curriculum than a proof-heavy course does. Engineering-degree candidates usually have the opposite gap: comfortable with Calculus, ODEs, Linear Algebra and Numerical Methods from their coursework, but needing to build Real Analysis, Algebra, Functional Analysis and Topology as close to new subjects.
Is GATE MA only useful for a PhD, or does it lead anywhere else?
PhD and integrated MSc-PhD admission at IITs, IISc and CSIR-funded institutes is the main route, and a valid score is a standard eligibility filter for those programs. It is also used for MSc admission at several IITs and for a smaller number of PSU and teaching-linked openings that accept the MA paper, but candidates should treat the research route as the primary reason to attempt this paper rather than the PSU angle that drives papers like CS or ME.