GATE 2025 Syllabus for English (XH -C2) - Important Chapters, Best Books, Sample Questions, Marking Scheme, Exam Pattern

Soham Mitra

Updated On: February 14, 2025 11:34 PM | GATE

The GATE 2025 syllabus for English (XH -C2) covers topics such as Literary Criticism and Theory, the History of English Literature, and more. The GATE English Literature exam will have questions from two sections: General Aptitude and subject Questions, which carry 15 and 85 marks, respectively.

GATE 2025 Syllabus for English

GATE 2025 Syllabus for English (XH-C2): IIT Roorkee has released the GATE English Literature syllabus on its website. The GATE English syllabus is part of the Humanities and Social Sciences paper. You can also access the syllabus pdf on this page. The GATE syllabus for English Literature consists of topics related to the History of English, Research Approaches and Methodologies, etc. While studying for the GATE 2025 exam for English, you must refer only to the top recommended books such as Cambridge History of Lecture by Emily Legouis/David Daiches, An Objective History of English Literature through MCQ, etc. Besides this, the preparation must also involve solving the previous year question papers for the GATE English exam, as this will help you understand better the paper pattern, marking scheme, important topics, etc. You can read more about the GATE Syllabus for English 2025 below.

Quick link: GATE 2025 Humanities & Social Sciences: Exam Date (Feb 15), Syllabus, Question Papers, Pattern, Cutoff

GATE 2025 English paper will be held on February 15, 2025. Those who will be appearing for the GATE 2025 English GATE exam English Literature should focus on doing full GATE English syllabus revision, and solving previous year papers and mock tests as the exam is just a few days away. Go through the important topics of the GATE exam English Literature syllabus.

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GATE 2025 Syllabus PDF for English

As discussed above, IIT Roorkee has released the GATE English Literature syllabus on its website. The GATE syllabus for English Literature is available in a pdf format. You can access the GATE English syllabus pdf either from the official website or the link mentioned below:-

GATE 2025 English Syllabus Important Topics

The GATE syllabus for English Literature includes topics such as anglophone and English translation, Multi-genre literature in English, Literary criticism and theory, etc. The GATE 2025 syllabus PDF for English has been published by the authority and you can view it in the table below:-

Section

Important Topics

C2.1

Multi-genre literature in English—poetry, the novel, and other forms of fiction including the short story, drama, creative non-fiction, and non-fiction prose—with emphasis on the long 19th and 20th centuries.

C2.2

Especially in a comparative context, anglophone and in English translation, literature from India and, extending to some degree, the larger Indian subcontinent.

C2.3

Literary criticism and theory; critical and cultural intellectual traditions and approaches widely referred to and used in the discipline of English.

C2.4

History of English literature and English literary studies

C2.5

Research approaches and methodologies, including interpretive techniques responsive to literary forms, devices, concepts, and genres

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Best Books to Prepare for GATE 2025 English Paper

Studying from the best-recommended books for GATE English papers is one of the most important aspects of preparation. To get more details related to the best books to prepare for the GATE exam English Literature, you should carefully go through the contents of the books and the GATE English Literature syllabus. In the table below, we have provided the list of best books for the GATE 2025 English paper:-

Name of the book

Name of the author

Cambridge History of Literature

Emily Legouis/David Daiches

An Objective History of English Literature through MCQ

-

Delhi University M.A English Guide

Delhi University

Jawaharlal Nehru University M.A English Entrance Exam Guide

JNU

GATE 2025 English Sample Question Papers

Preparing for GATE exam English syllabus with the help of some rigid preparatory methods always includes solving sample question papers or previous year question papers. Solving a good number of GATE sample papers can help you gauge your preparations before the date of the GATE exam English Literature. After analyzing the past 5 years' question papers, we have identified and compiled a set of questions that are likely to be asked in the exam. Find sample questions for GATE English paper 2025 below:-

Question 1. Eject : Insert : : Advance : _______ (Byword meaning)

  1. Advent
  2. Progress
  3. Retreat
  4. Loan

Correct Answer -  3

Question 2 - “I have not yet decided what I will do this evening; I ______ visit a friend.”

  1. mite
  2. would
  3. might
  4. didn’t

Correct Answer -  3

Question 3 - “If ‘→’ denotes increasing order of intensity, then the meaning of the words [simmer → seethe → smolder] is analogous to [break → raze → ________ ]. Which one of the given options is appropriate to fill the blank?”

  1. Obfuscate
  2. Obliterate
  3. Fracture
  4. Fissure

Correct Answer - 2

Question 4 - Which one of the given options is a possible value of x in the following sequence?:

3, 7, 15, x, 63, 127, 255?

  1. 35
  2. 40
  3. 45
  4. 31

Correct Answer - 4

Question 5 - Three distinct sets of indistinguishable twins are to be seated at a circular table that has 8 identical chairs. Unique seating arrangements are defined by the relative positions of the people. How many unique seating arrangements are possible such that each person is sitting next to their twin?

  1. 12
  2. 14
  3. 16
  4. 28

Correct Answer - 3

Question 6 - In a locality, the houses are numbered in the following way:

The house-numbers on one side of a road are consecutive odd integers starting from 301, while the house-numbers on the other side of the road are consecutive even numbers starting from 302. The total number of houses is the same on both sides of the road.

If the difference of the sum of the house-numbers between the two sides of the road is 27, then the number of houses on each side of the road is:-

  1. 27
  2. 52
  3. 54
  4. 26

Correct Answer - 1

Question 7 - On a given day, how many times will the second-hand and the minute-hand of a clock cross each other during the clock time 12:05:00 hours to 12:55:00 hours?

  1. 51
  2. 49
  3. 50
  4. 55

Correct Answer - 4

Question 8 - Three distinct sets of indistinguishable twins are to be seated at a circular table that has 8 identical chairs. Unique seating arrangements are defined by the relative positions of the people. How many unique seating arrangements are possible such that each person is sitting next to their twin?

  1. 12
  2. 14
  3. 10
  4. 28

Correct Answer - 1

Question 9 - During a half-moon phase, the Earth-Moon-Sun form a right triangle. If the Moon-Earth-Sun angle at this half-moon phase is measured to be 89.85°, the ratio of the Earth-Sun and Earth-Moon distances is closest to:

  1. 328
  2. 382
  3. 238
  4. 283

Correct Answer - 2

Question 10 - The appropriate synonym for the word ‘ignite’ in the following passage will be:

Spirituality must be integrated with education. Self-realization is the focus. Each of us must become aware of our higher self. We are links to a great past and a grand future. We should ignite our dormant inner energy and let it guide our lives. The radiance of such minds embarked on constructive endeavors will bring peace, prosperity, and bliss to this nation.

  1. Encourage
  2. Simulate
  3. Dissipate
  4. Engross

Correct Answer - 1

GATE 2025 Engish Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Apart from knowing the GATE English Literature syllabus, you are also required to get well acquainted with the exam pattern. As per the GATE 2025 exam pattern stated by the official authority, the section on General Aptitude and subject questions will contain a total of 15 and 85 marks respectively. You can find more details related to the exam pattern & marking scheme of the GATE English paper below:-

Exam Pattern

Name of the section

Total number of marks

General Aptitude

15

Subject Questions

85

Negative Marking

1 Mark Questions

1/3rd of the total marks

2 Marks Questions

2/3rd of the total marks

MSQ Questions

No negative marking

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FAQs

Who is eligible for the GATE English Literature exam?

You can participate in the GATE 2025 English Literature exam if you have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate degree from a recognized university and have a background in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, or the arts.

What is the syllabus for GATE English Literature 2025?

The topics mentioned in the GATE 2025 English syllabus are poetry, the novel, and other forms of fiction including short story, drama, creative non-fiction, and non-fiction prose with emphasis on the long 19th and 20th centuries.

Can I complete the entire syllabus of GATE English within a fortnight?

Completing the whole syllabus of GATE English in a fortnight can be a bit challenging but you can do it if you have a focused and structured approach.

Are there any chapters that I can skip from the English syllabus of GATE?

There are no chapters that you can skip from the GATE English syllabus, as all the chapters are equally important for the exam.

What are the important chapters in GATE English syllabus?

The important chapters in the GATE English syllabus include Multi-genre literature in English, Anglophone and English translation, Literary criticism and theory, History of English literature, Research approaches and methodologies.

What are the topics covered in GATE 2025 English syllabus?

There are various topics covered in the syllabus of GATE 2025 English like the Multi-genre literatures in English Poetry, literature from India, History of English literature and English literary studies, etc.

Which topics should I target to score 80+ in GATE English paper?

To score 80+ marks in the GATE English exam, you can target topics such as Multi-genre literature in English, Anglophone and English translation, Literary criticism and theory, History of English literature, Research approaches and methodologies, as these topics are consistently asked in the exam with many questions/ high weightage questions.

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