What is the GATE XH exam structure?

GATE XH has General Aptitude (15 marks), a compulsory Reasoning and Comprehension section (XH0, 25 marks), and one chosen subject section (60 marks) from Economics (C1), English (C2), Linguistics (C3), Philosophy (C4), Psychology (C5) or Sociology (C6).

Who is eligible for GATE XH?

Candidates with (or in the final year of) a master's degree in the corresponding discipline — MA English for XH-C2, MA/MSc Economics for C1, MSc/MA Psychology for C5, and so on. Check the official eligibility table, which maps each XH section to qualifying degrees.

What is the GATE XH qualifying cutoff?

2026 General cutoffs by section: Economics 35.7, English 40, Linguistics 37.4, Philosophy 38.3, Psychology 39.3, Sociology 40. In 2025 all six sections sat at 40; 2024 ranged from 36 (Sociology) to 52.7 (Psychology).

What does GATE XH qualify you for?

PhD and MS-by-research admission in humanities and social sciences at IITs (Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, Gandhinagar) and research programmes at other top institutes. It is the main GATE route for HSS aspirants alongside UGC-NET for JRF.

How should I choose my XH optional section?

You must choose based on your master's discipline — the section tests disciplinary depth, not general aptitude. The compulsory XH0 Reasoning and Comprehension section is common to all and rewards sustained reading practice.

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GATE XH Preparation Guide

IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027)

Your Complete Preparation Guide for GATE XH 2027 — strategy, study plan, tips & more.

DifficultyModerate

Total Marks100

Duration180 min

Start Practising Now →Free Mock Tests

Exam Overview

Mode

Online (CBT)

Frequency

Annual (February)

Next Exam Date

6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 Feb 2027

EEligibility Criteria

Masters degree holders in the chosen HSS discipline (MA/MSc/MPhil); final-year students eligible as per brochure

ANumber of Attempts

No limit

Study Plan by Subject

Reasoning & Comprehension (XH0, compulsory)

Week 1-4: Foundation

Core concepts & basics

Week 5-8: Deep Practice

Advanced problems & revision

Week 9-12: Mock Tests + Revision

Full-length tests & weak-area focus

Refer to official syllabus for complete topic list

1 Optional Section from: Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology

Week 1-4: Foundation

Core concepts & basics

Week 5-8: Deep Practice

Advanced problems & revision

Week 9-12: Mock Tests + Revision

Full-length tests & weak-area focus

Refer to official syllabus for complete topic list

Expert Preparation Tips

Treat XH0 (Reasoning and Comprehension) as a scoring anchor — 25 common marks decided by reading and logic practice

For Economics: revise micro (consumer/producer theory, game theory) and macro (IS-LM, growth) with numericals

For Psychology: statistics and research methods questions are heavily weighted — drill ANOVA, correlation and design concepts

For Sociology/Philosophy/English: build thinker- and text-based revision sheets; direct attribution questions recur

Solve previous GATE XH papers (2021-2026) for your section — question style has been stable across years

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Section	Questions	Marks	Duration (est.)
Reasoning & Comprehension (XH0, compulsory)	33	50	90 min
1 Optional Section from: Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology	33	50	90 min
Total	65	100	180 min

Important Dates

Registration Opens

2 Sep - 5 Oct 2026 (late fee until 12 Oct 2026)

Next Exam Date

6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 Feb 2027

Conducted By

IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027)

Frequently Asked Questions

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