GATE 2026 Psychology (XH-C5) Paper Analysis: Difficulty, Weightage & Cutoffs
Detailed Review of the Feb 7 Exam, Subject-wise Marks Distribution, and Safe Scores for IIT Admissions.
Updated: just now
Categories: GATE 2026, Paper Analysis, Psychology.
GATE 2026 Psychology (XH-C5) Detailed Analysis
Difficulty Level & Student Reactions
The GATE 2026 Psychology paper followed a Moderate to Hard difficulty trend. While the General Aptitude section was manageable, the C5 (Psychology) section featured tricky MSQs that required deep conceptual understanding. Many students found the Research Methods and Statistics portion particularly demanding due to its application-based nature.
GA: 15 Marks (Easy)
B1 (Reasoning): 25 Marks (Moderate)
C5 (Psychology): 60 Marks (Moderate to Hard)
Subject-Wise Marks Weightage
| Subject Domain | High-Yield Topics (2026) | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods & Stats | Hypothesis Testing, ANOVA, Effect Size, Regression Analysis. | High |
| Biopsychology | Nervous System structures, Neurotransmitters, Endocrine regulation. | High |
| Cognitive Psychology | Memory models, Information processing, Gestalt principles. | Moderate |
| Social Psychology | Attribution theory, Cognitive dissonance, Group dynamics. | Moderate |
| Psychological Testing | Reliability & Validity types, Item analysis, Norms construction. | Moderate |
Expected Qualifying Cutoff 2026
The cutoff for Psychology often stays on the higher side compared to other humanities subjects. Based on the 2026 exam's toughness, qualifying marks are expected to align with previous years' high standards.
| Category | 2026 (Expected) | 2025 (Actual) | 2024 (Actual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (GEN) | 48.0 - 52.0 | 40.0 | 52.7 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 43.0 - 46.5 | 36.0 | 47.4 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 32.0 - 34.5 | 26.6 | 35.1 |
IIT Admission Targets
IIT Delhi / Bombay
Score: 750+ | Marks: 65+
IIT Madras / Kanpur
Score: 700+ | Marks: 58+
Newer IITs / NITs
Score: 600+ | Marks: 50+
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