GATE Aerospace Engineering (AE) PYQs: previous year papers, answer keys and the 2027 syllabus
All 7 official AE papers from 2020 to 2026 with their answer keys (each as a PDF), how the marks were spread across topics, and what changed for GATE 2027.
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GATE AE previous year papers with answer keys
Topic-wise weightage
GATE AE marks by topic, 2020–2026
Marks out of the 85 subject marks in each paper (General Aptitude adds 15), counted from the official papers and keys. Where a year had two sets, the sets are averaged first, so each year counts once. On average, Aerodynamics carried the most marks (20.3 per paper); Flight Mechanics varied the most, from 4 to 18 marks.
Year by year
| Topic | Average | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerodynamics | 20.3 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 25 |
| Structures | 18.9 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
| Propulsion | 16.6 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 25 |
| Flight Mechanics | 12.1 | 15 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 4 |
| Calculus | 7.3 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| Differential Equations | 3.7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Space Dynamics | 3.3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Linear Algebra | 2.9 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
GATE 2027 syllabus
What changed in the GATE 2027 AE syllabus
Flight Mechanics and Space Dynamics are merged (six sections become five), numerical methods move into the core topics, Fanno and Rayleigh flow become special topics, and several advanced special topics are dropped.
Added or expanded
- Numerical methods: bisection, Newton-Raphson, numerical differentiation, trapezoidal and Simpson's rules, regression and interpolation
- Classification of PDEs; wave, Laplace and heat equations by separation of variables
- High-lift devices; CL-alpha curve; rigid-body momentum balance; Hohmann orbital transfers
- Fluid kinematics (streamline, streakline, pathline); Hagen-Poiseuille and Couette flow; manometers and Pitot probes
- Stress-strain curves of steel and aluminium; unsymmetric thin-walled sections
- Gas turbine combustor: types, configurations, stoichiometric fuel-to-air ratio
Removed
- Laplace transforms; mean value theorem
- Wind tunnel testing; shock-boundary layer interaction
- Vibration of beams; Airy's stress function; characteristics of aircraft structures and materials
- Surge and stall
8 past AE questions are on removed topics
These topics are no longer listed in the 2027 syllabus, so you can give them less time. They stay in the papers (the papers are official), marked in each answer key.
- GATE 2026 AE Q28 · Compressor surge and stall
- GATE 2024 AE Q50 · Compressor surge and stall
- GATE 2023 AE Q27 · Characteristics of aircraft structures and materials
- GATE 2021 AE Q28 · Contour integrals and residues
- GATE 2021 AE Q30 · Vibration of beams
- GATE 2021 AE Q39 · Wind tunnel testing and flow visualisation
- GATE 2020 AE Q11 · Mean value theorem
- GATE 2020 AE Q19 · Airy's stress function
Compared line by line with the official 2026 syllabus. Source: GATE 2027 information brochure, IIT Madras (revised 27 September 2026).
Download the official GATE 2027 AE syllabus (PDF)Questions about GATE AE
Which topics carry the most marks in GATE AE?
Across the official GATE Aerospace Engineering papers from 2020–2026, the topics with the most marks per paper on average were Aerodynamics (20.3 marks), Structures (18.9 marks), Propulsion (16.6 marks). General Aptitude adds a fixed 15 marks.
Has the GATE 2027 AE syllabus changed?
Yes. Flight Mechanics and Space Dynamics are merged (six sections become five), numerical methods move into the core topics, Fanno and Rayleigh flow become special topics, and several advanced special topics are dropped.
Are GATE AE previous year papers still useful for 2027?
Yes, for most topics: the core of the syllabus is the same. Questions on topics removed in 2027 (Laplace transforms; mean value theorem; Wind tunnel testing; shock-boundary layer interaction) are no longer listed in the 2027 syllabus, so give them less time.
When is the GATE 2027 exam?
GATE 2027 is organised by IIT Madras on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, in a forenoon (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) and an afternoon (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) session. Results are due on 19 March 2027. The date of each paper is announced by IIT Madras.
How many GATE AE papers can I practise on Lemyte?
7 official papers from 2020–2026. Each one runs as a full 3-hour test on an exam-style screen and is marked with the official answer key.