GATE Architecture & Planning General Aptitude Syllabus

What is the meaning of the idiom 'to bite the bullet'?

To force oneself to do or endure something difficult or unpleasant that has been avoided.

What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Very rarely; something that happens only on rare occasions.

Explain the meaning of the idiom 'a blessing in disguise'.

Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good later.

In vocabulary, what is the difference between a synonym and an antonym?

A synonym is a word with the same or similar meaning (big/large); an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning (big/small).

What is the difference between 'stationary' and 'stationery'?

'Stationary' (with an 'a') is an adjective meaning not moving; 'stationery' (with an 'e') is a noun meaning writing materials such as paper and pens.

In reading comprehension, what is the 'main idea' of a passage?

The central point or most important thought the author wants to convey — what the passage is mostly about, often supported by surrounding details.

What is the difference between an inference and a stated fact in a comprehension passage?

A stated fact is explicitly written in the text; an inference is a logical conclusion the reader draws from clues in the text that are not directly stated.

What is narrative sequencing (para-jumbles), and what clues help in ordering sentences?

Arranging jumbled sentences into a logical, coherent paragraph. Clues include the opening/independent sentence, pronoun references, transition/linking words, chronological order, and cause-effect relationships.

In a narrative sequence, why is identifying the 'opening sentence' the first key step?

The opening sentence introduces the topic independently—it does not begin with pronouns, conjunctions, or references to earlier ideas—so fixing it anchors the rest of the logical order.

What is data interpretation in aptitude tests?

The skill of reading, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data presented in tables, charts, or graphs, often involving calculations of totals, averages, ratios, and percentages.

What does a bar graph represent and when is it best used?

A bar graph uses rectangular bars whose lengths are proportional to the values; it is best for comparing quantities across distinct categories.

What does a pie chart represent, and what total do all its sectors add up to?

A pie chart shows parts of a whole as sectors of a circle; the angles of all sectors sum to $360^{\circ}$ and the values together represent $100\%$.

How do you convert a category's percentage share into its central angle in a pie chart?

Multiply the percentage (as a fraction) by $360^{\circ}$: $$\text{Angle} = \frac{\text{Value}}{\text{Total}} \times 360^{\circ}.$$

If a sector of a pie chart subtends an angle of $90^{\circ}$, what percentage of the total does it represent?

$$\frac{90^{\circ}}{360^{\circ}} \times 100\% = 25\%.$$

What is a line graph best suited to display?

A line graph displays data points connected by line segments and is best for showing trends or changes in a quantity over a continuous interval, usually time.

What is the formula for percentage change between an old value and a new value in data interpretation?

$$\text{Percentage change} = \frac{\text{New value} - \text{Old value}}{\text{Old value}} \times 100\%.$$

How is the arithmetic mean (average) of $n$ data values computed?

$$\bar{x} = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_{i} = \frac{x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}}{n}.$$

In a histogram, what is plotted on each axis and how does it differ from a bar graph?

A histogram plots continuous class intervals on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis with adjacent bars touching; a bar graph compares discrete categories with gaps between bars.

What is a scatter plot used to reveal?

A scatter plot displays points for paired $(x, y)$ values to reveal the relationship, correlation, or trend between two variables.

In a 2-dimensional Cartesian plot, what do the coordinates $(x, y)$ of a point represent?

The horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distances of the point from the origin along the two perpendicular axes.

How many coordinate axes and coordinates are needed to locate a point in a 3-dimensional plot?

Three mutually perpendicular axes (x, y, z), and three coordinates $(x, y, z)$ are needed to locate a point in 3D space.

In a 2D plot, how is the distance between two points $(x_1,y_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2)$ calculated?

$$d = \sqrt{(x_{2}-x_{1})^{2} + (y_{2}-y_{1})^{2}}.$$

What is a map's scale and what does a scale of 1:50,000 mean?

A map scale is the ratio of distance on the map to actual distance on the ground. A scale of 1:50,000 means 1 unit on the map equals 50,000 of the same units on the ground.

On a topographic map, what do contour lines represent, and what does close spacing indicate?

Contour lines join points of equal elevation; closely spaced contour lines indicate a steep slope, while widely spaced lines indicate a gentle slope.

In a data table, what are 'rows' and 'columns', and how do you read a specific value?

Rows run horizontally and columns run vertically; a specific value is read at the intersection (cell) of a given row and column.

What is the formula to express one quantity as a percentage of a total?

$$\text{Percentage} = \frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Whole}} \times 100\%.$$

How is a ratio between two data quantities $a$ and $b$ expressed and simplified?

It is written as $a:b$ (or $\frac{a}{b}$) and simplified by dividing both terms by their greatest common divisor, e.g., $20:30 = 2:3$.

What is the difference between the words 'fewer' and 'less' in correct usage?

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns ('fewer books'); 'less' is used with uncountable quantities ('less water').

What does the idiom 'to read between the lines' mean, and why is it relevant to comprehension?

To understand the implied or hidden meaning beyond the literal words — exactly the inferential skill needed to answer comprehension questions about an author's tone or intent.

In data interpretation, how do you find what percentage greater value A is than value B?

$$\text{Percentage greater} = \frac{A - B}{B} \times 100\%,$$ where B is the base (reference) value being compared against.