GATE 2026 Syllabus for Psychology (XH - C4) - Important Chapters, Best Books, Sample Questions

IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 Psychology syllabus PDF. The syllabus for the GATE Psychology paper includes topics such as Research Methods and Statistics, Psychometrics, and Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Behaviour. 

GATE 2026 Syllabus for Psychology (XH - C4) - Important Chapters, Best Books, Sample Questions

GATE 2026 Syllabus for Psychology (XH-C4): IIT Guwahati has published the GATE Psychology syllabus on its official website. The GATE 2026 syllabus in Psychology includes various subjects such as Approaches to Research, Memory and Forgetting, Language and Cognition, Moral and Aging Development, etc. You will be able to download the syllabus of GATE Psychology on this page. If you are going to sit for the Psychology GATE exam, then you must be well-versed in the Psychology GATE syllabus. IIT Guwahati will structure the question paper as per the GATE Psychology paper pattern and the syllabus.
Throughout this article, we will be discussing various details such as the GATE 2026 syllabus , important chapters, best books, etc. After you qualify GATE exam for Psychology, you will be able to get admission to one of the reputed GATE 2026 participating colleges . To get more information about the GATE 2026 syllabus for Psychology, keep reading.

GATE 2026 Psychology Syllabus PDF

As discussed above, IIT Guwahati has released the GATE Psychology syllabus PDF on its website. The link for the GATE Psychology syllabus PDF download can be found below:-

GATE 2026 Psychology Chapter-Wise Syllabus

As the GATE 2026 exam taker, you must make sure to have all the details about the GATE exam Psychology syllabus. The table below holds the details about the GATE Psychology syllabus:-

Section

Topic

Subtopics

C5.1 Research Methods and Statistics

C5.1.1 Approaches to Research

Philosophical worldviews & criteria involved in approach, Quantitative & qualitative research, Mixed methods

C5.1.2 Designing Research

Research problems, purpose statement, variables and operational definitions, hypothesis, sampling

C5.1.3 Nature of Quantitative & Qualitative Research

Structured, semi-structured interviewing, self-completion questionnaires, observation, experimental designs, quasi-experimental, field studies, focus groups, narratives, case studies, ethnography

C5.1.4 Ethics in Conducting and Reporting Research

Ethical considerations in research methodology

C5.1.5 Statistics in Psychology

Measures of central tendency, dispersion, normal probability curve, parametric and non-parametric tests, effect size, power analysis

C5.1.6 Correlational Analysis

Correlation (product moment, rank order), partial correlation, multiple correlation, regression, factor analysis

C5.1.7 Experimental Designs

ANOVA, randomized block designs, repeated measures, cohort studies, MANOVA, ANCOVA, single-subject designs

C5.2 Psychometrics

Foundations of Psychological Measurement

Scales and items construction, analysis of test items, test standardization, reliability, validity, norms

Applications of Psychological Testing

Applications in education, counseling, clinical, organizational, and developmental settings

C5.3 Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Behaviour

Heredity and Behaviour

Evolution, natural selection, nervous system, structure of the brain, neurotransmitters, endocrine system, biological basis of motivation

Physiological Psychology Methods

Invasive and non-invasive methods (EEG, microelectrode studies, scanning methods)

Genetics and Behaviour

Chromosomal anomalies, nature-nurture controversy, twin and adoption studies

C5.4 Perception, Learning, Memory and Forgetting

Sensation and Perception

Sensory thresholds, sensory adaptations, gestalt principles, depth perception, illusions

Theories of Learning

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, social learning, cognitive learning

Memory and Forgetting

Encoding, storage, retrieval, interference theory, decay theory, physical aspects of memory

C5.5 Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence and Language

Basic Elements of Thought

Concepts, propositions, imagery, problem solving methods, metacognitive processing

Theories of Intelligence

Spearman, Thurstone, Jensen, Cattell, Gardner, Sternberg, emotional intelligence

Language and Cognition

Measuring intelligence, differences between intelligence, aptitude, and creativity

C5.6 Personality

Theories of Personality

Psychoanalytic, behaviorist, social cognitive, humanism, trait and type theories

Biology of Personality

Assessment methods, biological influences

C5.7 Motivation, Emotion and Stress and Coping

Motivation Theories

Instinct, drive-reduction, arousal, incentive, humanistic theories, intrinsic motivation

Emotions and Stress

Theories of emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer, Lazarus), stressors, general adaptation syndrome, coping strategies

C5.8 Social Psychology

Social Perception and Influence

Attribution, impression formation, conformity, compliance, obedience, attitude formation

Prejudice and Discrimination

Cognitive dissonance, aggression, power, prosocial behavior, group dynamics, leadership theories

C5.9 Development Across the Life Span

Human Development

Nature vs nurture, prenatal development, cognitive and psychosocial development in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood

Moral and Aging Development

Theories of aging, moral development

C5.10 Applications of Psychology

Psychological Disorders

Assessment and diagnosis, PTSD, psychotherapies (psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, biological)

Applications in School and Organization

Motivation and learning theories in education, counseling, leadership in organizations, territoriality issues

GATE 2026 General Aptitude Syllabus for Psychology

The section on General Aptitude in the GATE Psychology syllabus plays a major role in contributing to your success in the exam. Therefore, you must make sure to know the details about the general aptitude syllabus of GATE Psychology. Find the details about the GATE 2026 syllabus Psychology in the table below:-

Name of the chapter

Name of the topic

Verbal Aptitude

  • Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech
  • Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context, reading and comprehension, Narrative sequencing.

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2- and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables
  • Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series. Mensuration and geometry, Elementary statistics and probability.

Analytical Aptitude

Logic: deduction and induction, Analogy, Numerical relations and reasoning

Spatial Aptitude

Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions.

GATE 2026 Psychology Syllabus Important Chapters

In GATE 2026 Psychology, certain chapters consistently carry more weight due to their relevance in the field and frequency in past Psychology GATE exams. Topics such as Research Methods and Statistics (focusing on quantitative and qualitative research designs, and statistical methods), Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Behavior (including brain structures, neurotransmitters, and genetic influences), Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting (covering theories of learning, memory processes, and perception), etc. are quite important as questions have been asked before from these sections. Provided below are the important chapters for the GATE Exam Psychology syllabus:-

Sections

Topics

Important Topics

Research Methods and Statistics

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design, Hypothesis Testing

Research methodologies, statistics in psychology, and experimental designs

Biological and Evolutionary Basis of Behavior

Nervous System, Neurotransmitters, Brain Functions

Genetic and neurophysiological basis of behavior

Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting

Sensation, Theories of Learning, Memory Processes

Sensory processes, classical and operant conditioning, memory retrieval

Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence, and Language

Intelligence Theories, Problem Solving

Cognitive processes, intelligence testing, decision-making

Personality and Social Psychology

Personality Theories, Social Influence, Group Dynamics

Personality assessment, attitudes, and influence of social environments on behavior

Sample Question Papers for GATE 2026 Psychology Paper

The best way to assess the preparation levels before appearing for the GATE Exam Psychology syllabus is to solve the previous year's question papers, mock test papers, and sample test papers. The best way to measure the preparations is to attempt the GATE 2026 Psychology sample test papers available on the official website of the IIT Guwahati. You can download the previous year's Psychology question papers as sample papers. For example, we have provided the 2022 question paper below:

You will also be able to find the answer key to the sample question paper at the end of the PDF.

GATE 2026 Psychology Sample Questions

1. The theory of psychoanalysis is founded on which of the following?
(A) Psychoanalysis is based on experimental research and laboratory studies.
(B) Psychoanalysis is based on detailed case studies of people.
(C) Psychoanalysis is based on the analysis of dreams and unconscious thoughts.
(D) Psychoanalysis is based on statistical surveys and population studies.

2. If "RAMAN" is encoded as 52 and "MAP" as 33, what is the encoding for "CLICK"?
(A) "CLICK" encodes as 47, applying principles of letter substitution and addition.
(B) "CLICK" encodes as 43, applying principles of letter substitution and addition.
(C) "CLICK" encodes as 39, based on the sum of the positions of the letters in the alphabet.
(D) "CLICK" encodes as 55, following a pattern of assigning numbers to letters and adding them.

3. The theory of psychoanalysis is founded on which of the following?
(A) Psychoanalysis is based on experimental research with animals.
(B) Psychoanalysis is based on statistical analysis of large groups of people.
(C) Psychoanalysis is based on detailed case studies of people.
(D) Psychoanalysis is based on surveys and questionnaires.

4. In the Darwinian sense, what term refers to the ability to survive and produce fertile offspring?
(A) Adaptation refers to the process by which organisms evolve traits that improve survival.
(B) Evolution refers to the gradual change of species over generations.
(C) Fitness refers to survival and reproductive success of organisms.
(D) Natural selection refers to the mechanism by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

5. When Monkey-A sees Monkey-B, what is this called?" with the correct answer included:
(A) Cognitive imitation involves learning by observing others' actions and objectives.
(B) Social learning is the process by which individuals learn from the behavior and actions of others in a social group.
(C) Observational learning is the acquisition of skills or knowledge by watching others perform tasks.
(D) Behavioral conditioning occurs when an individual learns through reinforcement and punishment from others' actions.

GATE 2026 Psychology Exam Pattern

The exam of the GATE 2026 syllabus Psychology will be structured based on the specified GATE Psychology paper pattern. You can find the details about the GATE 2026 Psychology exam pattern below:-

Specifications

Details

Mode of the exam

Online (Computer Based)

Exam Duration

3 hours

Exam section

  • General Aptitude (GA)

  • Reasoning and Comprehension (XH-B1)

  • Psychology (XH-C5)

Questions type

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

  • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

  • Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

Total number of marks

100 marks

Marking scheme

1 or 2 marks per question

Negative Marking

  • MCQs - 1 mark per correct answer; 1/3 mark to be deducted for every wrong answer.

  • MCQs - 2 marks to be deducted for each correct answer; 2/3 marks to be deducted for every incorrect response.

  • No negative marking for MSQ & NAT.

  • No partial marking for MSQ-type questions.

Best Books for GATE 2026 Psychology Exam

If you desire to succeed in the GATE 2026 Psychology exam with a good score, then you must ensure that you have your hands on the best books to prepare from. After doing a bit of research on what supposedly could be the best books for the PG-level GATE exam for Psychology, we have come up with a list of the following books that should help you achieve your goals:-

  1. MCQs in Psychology - Objectives for JRF/UGC NET and Other Competitive Examinations
  2. Question Bank Psychology - SLET/UGC NET/SPSC/UPSC/Other Higher Grade Examinations
  3. NTA UGC NET Psychology Paper-II (recent edition)
  4. Objective Psychology (Popular Master Guide) Paperback

For more information and updates on the GATE 2026 Psychology Exam, Stay tuned with CollegeDekho!

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