The GATE Architecture & Planning (AR) paper rewards breadth more than depth. Questions jump from building materials to housing policy to climatology in a few minutes, so the smartest first step is to see the whole syllabus as a handful of clear categories. This guide does exactly that.

How the paper is structured

The AR paper has three parts. Everyone attempts General Aptitude and Part A; for Part B you choose either Architecture (B1) or Planning (B2).

Section	What it tests	Marks
General Aptitude	Verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial reasoning	15
Part A (common)	Core architecture and planning topics, compulsory for everyone	60
Part B1 or B2	Your choice: Architecture (B1) or Planning (B2)	25
Total	65 questions in 3 hours	100

Questions are a mix of MCQ, MSQ and NAT (numerical answer). Only MCQs carry negative marking, so attempt every MSQ and NAT you can.

Category-wise breakdown

1. Design, history and theory

• Principles of design and visual composition
• History of architecture: Indian, Western, Islamic, modern and contemporary
• Important architects, buildings and design movements
• Vernacular and traditional architecture

2. Building materials and construction

• Properties and uses of brick, stone, timber, concrete, steel and glass
• Construction details: foundations, walls, roofs, staircases, openings
• Modular coordination and prefabrication basics

3. Structures

• Structural systems and load paths
• Behaviour of beams, columns and frames
• Basics of RCC and steel; earthquake-resistant design principles

4. Building services and sustainability

• Water supply, drainage, electrical, fire safety and HVAC
• Lighting and acoustics
• Climatology and passive design; green rating systems such as GRIHA, IGBC and LEED

5. Urban planning, housing and urban design

• Planning theories and models of city structure
• Housing typologies, standards and policies
• Urban design elements, public spaces and landmark plans

6. Planning techniques, infrastructure and management

• Surveys, demography and population projections
• GIS and remote sensing basics
• Transportation and infrastructure: water, sanitation, solid waste
• Project management (CPM/PERT), estimation, building byelaws, URDPFI and NBC

B1 or B2: which should you choose?

Choose B1 Architecture if your strength is design, construction and services. Choose B2 Planning if you enjoy planning theory, regulations and data-driven techniques, or if you are aiming for M.Plan admissions and planning jobs.

Suggested study priority

1. Start with Part A: it is the largest block of marks and common to everyone.
2. Move to your Part B choice once the basics feel comfortable.
3. Practise General Aptitude every week. These are some of the easiest marks in the paper.

Map every previous-year question to one of these six categories. Within a few weeks you will see which topics repeat, and that becomes your revision list.

Sample content for theme testing. Always confirm the latest syllabus and exam pattern on the official GATE website.