Graduate & postgraduate competitive exams
GATE Architecture & Planning (GATE AR) — exam guide
GATE AR is a national-level exam for B.Arch / B.Planning graduates and M.Arch / M.Planning aspirants pursuing higher studies and PSU roles. APJ focuses on degree holders — not school-level undergraduate entrance tests.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | B.Arch / B.Planning graduates; M.Arch / M.Plan aspirants |
| Conducting body | IIT/IISc on behalf of MoE — confirm on official GATE portal |
| Paper sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Architecture & Planning technical |
| APJ course | GATE AR preparation — 89 lessons across 14 chapters (GA + technical + PYQ framework) |
| Practice on APJ | Previous year papers · GA PYQ quiz |
| Jobs & recruitment | Architecture & planning jobs · Government exam hub · Exam calendar |
Exam prep articles
| Topic | Article |
|---|---|
| Overview | What is GATE AR? Eligibility, dates & pattern |
| Syllabus | GATE AR syllabus and paper pattern |
| Study plan | How to prepare for GATE AR |
| Comparison | GATE AR vs other exams |
| PYQ method | How to use previous year papers |
| General Aptitude | GA practice from official PYQs |
Start here — popular course lessons
These five lessons drive most organic search traffic on APJ. Study them alongside the syllabus map and PYQ hub.
| Lesson | Chapter | Why start here |
|---|---|---|
| L1.4 Anthropometrics & ergonomics | Ch 1 | Body dimensions, percentile design — frequent GATE MCQs |
| L1.8 Room standards | Ch 1 | NBC Part 3 minima, kitchen triangle — NAT-friendly |
| L2.3 Formwork & scaffolding | Ch 2 | Temporary works identification — CPWD / GATE recall |
| L2.4 PERT & CPM | Ch 2 | Critical path, float — high-yield numerical block |
| L2.6 Estimation | Ch 2 | Quantity methods, IS 1200 units — matches PYQ patterns |
Cross-year paper comparison (2021–2026)
Question-type mix, difficulty, and focus areas — auto-updated when new PYQ years publish.
| Aspect | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to difficult | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| MCQ count | 46 | 42 | 52 | 40 | 44 | 36 |
| MSQ count | 7 | 16 | 22 | 18 | 11 | 21 |
| NAT count | 12 | 27 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 24 |
| Match-the-following sets | 11 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| MTA questions | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| B1/B2 optional split | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Top focus areas | Transportation, building services | Heritage, structural systems | Housing, GIS, planning frameworks | Transport, software, building services | GIS, governance, NBC standards | Planning frameworks, housing standards |
Previous year papers (auto-indexed)
Every published GATE AR analysis and solutions page under this hub appears below — no manual hub edits when a new year goes live.
| Year | Analysis | Solutions | Mock quiz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
| 2025 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
| 2024 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
| 2023 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
| 2022 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
| 2021 | Analysis | Solutions | Mock → |
Previous year papers hub — card layout with quick links.
How to use APJ for GATE AR prep
- Read the exam prep articles above for orientation, then open the GATE AR course and work through each lesson.
- Practice General Aptitude with the PYQ-based GA quiz (updates when new years are added).
- After one syllabus pass, use previous year papers — analysis first, then the year mock under timed conditions.
- Confirm eligibility, dates, and syllabus on the official GATE website each year.
- Use job listings for architecture and planning recruitment alongside exam prep.
FAQ
Does APJ cover undergraduate entrance exams?
No. We target graduates and postgraduates — GATE AR and government recruitment roles.
Where are PYQ mocks and analysis?
On Previous year papers — all published years (2021–2026 on APJ). The year table on this page updates automatically when analysis or solutions pages are published.
Do I need an account for quizzes?
Yes — free student registration lets you attempt timed mocks and save attempts. Sign in if you already have an account.