GATE Humanities & Social Sciences
IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027) · Online (CBT) · Annual (February)
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GATE XH Mock Tests
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Table of Contents
About GATE Humanities & Social Sciences (GATE XH) 2027
The GATE Humanities & Social Sciences (GATE XH) is one of the most competitive entrance exams, conducted by the IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027). Preparing for the GATE XH requires systematic practice, conceptual clarity, and regular self-evaluation. Our platform offers dynamic mock tests, previous years' resolved papers, and AI-enabled analysis to help you secure a top rank.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
How to Prepare for GATE XH
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