GATE Life Science (XL) Exam Pattern is out on gate2024.iisc.ac.in, and there are no new updates. The exam, led by IISc Bangalore, sticks to the usual routine, lasting 3 hours and happening online.
- In the GATE Life Science (XL) paper, you've got 65 questions in total. General Aptitude gives you 10 questions, Chemistry chips in with 15, and your chosen life science subjects (from Sections Q to U) bring in 20 each.
- The total mark is 100. General Aptitude contributes 15 marks, Chemistry takes up 25 marks, and your life science choices share the rest.
- And for your second combination paper, you've got options: Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), or Ecology and Evolution (EY).Out of the total 65 questions, 10 questions are from General Aptitude section, 15 from Chemistry and 20 each from two life science subjects (Section Q to U).
Also Check:
- GATE Question Paper (Available): Check Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF
- GATE Question Paper 2025 (Soon): Check Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF
- GATE Question Paper 2024 (Available): Check Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF
- GATE Paper Analysis, Difficulty Level, Branch-wise Question Paper Analysis, Weightage of Topics
The candidates preparing for the upcoming GATE XL paper can check out the detailed exam pattern to know the topics well in advance from the article below.
| People Also Asked Q: Can I skip the General Aptitude and Chemistry sections in the GATE Life Science (XL) exam? A: No, both General Aptitude and Chemistry are mandatory sections in the GATE Life Science (XL) exam. Q. How many questions are there in total, and what's the marking scheme? A: There are a total of 65 questions. General Aptitude has 10 questions, Chemistry has 15, and your chosen life science subjects (from Sections Q to U) have 20 each. The total marks are 100, with 15 marks for General Aptitude, 25 marks for Chemistry, and the rest for life science subjects. Q: Can you tell me more about the second combination paper options? A: For your second combination paper in GATE Life Science (XL), you can choose from Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), or Ecology and Evolution (EY). |
GATE 2024 Life Science Exam Pattern: Key Highlights
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| GATE XL Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| GATE X Exam Language | English |
| GATE XL Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| GATE XL Sectional Time Limit | None |
| GATE XL Total Marks | 100 |
| GATE XL Total Number of questions | 65 |
| GATE XL Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ); Multiple Select Questions (MSQ); or Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| GATE XL Number of Sections | Three sections- General Aptitude, Chemistry, and Biochemistry/ Microbiology / Botany/ Zoology / Food Biotechnology ( Any two ) |
| GATE XL Section-wise Number of Questions | General Aptitude- 10 questions, Chemistry – 15 questions; Sections Q to U (Any two) - 20 questions (each) |
| GATE XL Section-wise Weightage | General Aptitude- 15 marks, Chemistry – 25 marks; Sections Q to U (Any two) - 60 marks |
| GATE XL Marking Scheme | 1 or 2 marks for each correct answer |
| GATE XL Negative Marking | For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted; For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted. No marks will be deducted for NATs. |
GATE 2024 Life Sciences (XL): Subjects with Codes
The third section of XL includes segments Q to U and the candidates can choose any two of them.
In addition to the GA segment, there are six more segments included in the syllabus of Life Sciences. The first segment is P which includes Chemistry. The remaining 5 segments are Biochemistry (XL-Q), Botany (XL-R), Microbiology (XL-S), Zoology (XL-T), and Food Technology (XL-U). Among the five segments, applicants can select any two.
Subjects with Code:
- XL-P – Chemistry
- XL-Q – Biochemistry
- XL-R – Botany
- XL-S – Microbiology
- XL-T – Zoology
- XL-U – Food Technology
GATE 2024 Life Science Marking Scheme
Detailed marking scheme for GATE XL paper has been tabulated below:
| Section | Total Number of 1 mark questions | Total Number of 2 mark questions | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Section P(Chemistry) | 5 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| Section Q-U(Any two of these) | 10+10 | 10+10 | 20+20=40 | 30+30=60 |
| Total | 30 | 70 | 65 | 100 |
GATE Life Science (XL) Syllabus 2024
GATE Life Science: Chemistry (Compulsory)
- Section 1: Atomic Structure and Periodicity
- Section 2: Structure and Bonding
- Section 3: s, p and d Block Elements
- Section 4: Chemical Equilibria
- Section 5: Electrochemistry
- Section 6: Reaction Kinetics
- Section 7: Thermodynamics
- Section 8: Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Organic Reaction Mechanisms
- Section 9: Chemistry of Biomolecules
GATE Life Science Biochemistry (XL – Q)
- Section 1: Organization of life; Protein structure, folding / misfolding and function; Myoglobin, etc.
- Section 2: Enzyme kinetics, regulation, and inhibition; Vitamins and Coenzymes; Bioenergetics, etc.
- Section 3: Biochemical separation techniques: ion exchange, size exclusion, affinity chromatography, DNA- protein, and protein, etc.
- Section 4: Cell structure and organelles; Biological membranes; Membrane assembly and Protein targeting; Action potential; Transport across membranes; etc.
- Section 5: DNA damage and repair; DNA replication, transcription and translation; Recombinant DNA technology and applications: etc.
- Section 6: Active and passive immunity; Immune system: Innate and adaptive; Cell of the immune system; function and diversity; etc.
GATE Life Science Botany (XL – R)
- Section 1: Plant Systematics
- Section 2: Plant Anatomy
- Section 3: Plant development; cell and tissue morphogenesis
- Section 4: Plant physiology and biochemistry
- Section 5: Genetics and genomics
- Section 6: Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing
- Section 7: Economic and Applied Botany
- Section 8: Plant Pathology
- Section 9: Ecology and Environment
GATE Life Science Microbiology (XL – S)
- Section 1: Historical Perspective
- Section 2: Methods in Microbiology
- Section 3: Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity
- Section 4: Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function
- Section 5: Microbial Growth
- Section 6: Control of Micro-organisms
- Section 7: Microbial Metabolism
- Section 8: Microbial Diseases and Host Pathogen Interaction
- Section 9: Chemotherapy/Antibiotics
- Section 10: Microbial Genetics
- Section 11: Microbial Ecology
GATE Life Science Zoology (XL – T)
- Section 1: Animal Diversity
- Section 2: Evolution
- Section 3: Genetics
- Section 4: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Section 5: Cell Biology
- Section 6: Gene expression in Eukaryotes
- Section 7: Animal Anatomy and Physiology
- Section 8: Parasitology and Immunology
- Section 9: Development Biology
- Section 10: Ecology
- Section 11: Animal Behaviour
GATE Life Science Food Technology (XL – U)
- Section 1: Food Chemistry and Nutrition
- Section 2: Food Microbiology
- Section 3: Food Products Technology
- Section 4: Food Engineering
Preparation Tips for GATE Life Science Exam 2024
- Know the Concepts & Fundamentals
- Know the updated GATE Life Science exam pattern and syllabus.
- Prepare short notes for formulas and concepts
- Focus on all the concepts.
- Make a list of GATE Life Science important topics to know the difficulty level of the exam.
Previous Year GATE Life Sciences Question Paper
| Year | GATE XL Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Check Here |
| 2022 | Check Here |
| 2021 | Check Here |
| 2020 | Check Here |
| 2019 | Check Here |
| 2018 | Check Here |
| 2017 | Check Here |
| 2016 | Check Here |
| 2015 | Check Here |
| 2014 | Check Here |
| 2013 | Check Here |
| 2012 | Check Here |
| 2011 | Check Here |
| 2010 | Check Here |
| 2009 | Check Here |
| 2008 | Check Here |
| 2007 | Check Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Should I do more practice papers for the GATE 2024 Life Science Exam?
Ans. Yes, the candidates must do more practice papers related to the GATE Life Science 2024 exam as it helps them get familiar with the kind of questions asked in the exam.
Ques. What are the main topics asked in the GATE Syllabus for Chemistry?
Ans. The GATE Life Science syllabus for the Chemistry section includes Atomic Structure and Periodicity, Structure and Bonding, s, p & d Block Elements, Chemical Equilibria, Reaction Kinetics, etc.
Ques. How many questions are asked in the GATE Syllabus for Life Science Paper Sections Q to U?
Ans. Total of 10 questions of 1-mark each and 10 questions of 2-marks each will be asked from sections Q to U.
Ques. List the main chapters included in the R Botany syllabus?
Ans. Some of the chapters which candidates need to prepare to include cell walls and membranes, organization, organelles, cytoskeleton, Plant cell structure, and its components; floral parts, embryo, young seedlings, etc.
Ques. What is the weightage of the GATE XL General Aptitude section 2024?
Ans. A total of 5 questions of 1-mark each and 5 questions of 2-marks each will be asked from the GA section. All the MCQs will be asked from this section.
Ques. How many sections are there in the GATE 2024 Life Science paper and what is the weightage of each section?
Ans. GATE 2024 Life Science paper is divided into three sections-
General Aptitude with a weightage of 15 marks,
Chemistry (compulsory subject) with a weightage of 25 marks,
Sections Q to U (any two): 10 questions of 1-mark each, and 10 questions of 2-marks each.
Ques. Name some important books for Biochemistry?
Ans. Some of the Biochemistry books that candidates can refer to include:
- Biochemistry by Satyanarayana
- Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by Wilson/Walker
- Practical Biochemistry by Damodaran Geetha K
Ques. Can I pick any two optional topics for GATE Life Science Exam 2024?
Ans. Yes, the candidates can opt for any 2 sections from Q to U. Section P (chemistry) is mandatory for all the candidates. While the rest of the 2 sections can be selected as per the candidates’ preference.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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