GATE 2026 XL Question Paper OUT: Download Life Sciences Paper PDF with Solutions

GATE 2026 XL Question Paper OUT: Download Life Sciences Paper PDF with Solutions

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 22 Feb 2026, 01:40 PM IST

GATE XL 2026 Question Paper with Solutions- The GATE XL exam 2026 was conducted on February 7, forenoon shift. The overall difficulty level of the exam was reported to be moderate. This test is taken by aspirants aiming for PSU opportunities in Life Sciences or M.Tech, research programs in related fields. You can find the memory-based questions from the GATE Life Sciences 2026 exam added below. Aspirants can view the GATE Life Science 2026 question paper given in this article to evaluate how well their exam went. Along with the question paper, the official GATE XL answer key is available on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in. GATE 2026 exam provides students with a clear understanding of the exam pattern and question trends.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE 2026 XL Question Paper with Solutions PDF Free Download
  2. How to Download GATE Life Science 2026 Question Papers with Answers PDF?
  3. GATE XL 2026 Question Paper: Overview
  4. GATE 2026 XL Question Paper with Solutions: Marking Scheme
  5. GATE XL Question Paper 2026: Section Distribution
  6. GATE XL Question Paper: Previous Years
GATE 2026 XL Question Paper OUT: Download Life Sciences Paper PDF with Solutions
GATE 2026 XL Question Paper

The official GATE Answer Key 2026 and response sheet, along with the question paper, have been released. Candidates can download the Master Question Paper with Answer Key using their Enrollment ID and Password.

GATE 2026 XL Question Paper with Solutions PDF Free Download

You can use the GATE 2026 XL question paper with solutions pdf free download shortly. Until then, you can view the snippets of memory-based question paper added below. Also, you can view the analysis for the question paper below:

SectionDifficulty LevelKey Topics AskedRemarks
General Aptitude (GA)EasyDice, Pythagoras theorem, Age problems, Distance problemsStraightforward and scoring
ChemistryModerateOrganic reaction mechanisms (SN1/SN2), Nitric acid reactions, Buffer solutions, Coordination compoundsConcept-based, required clarity in fundamentals
BiochemistryEasyPentose phosphate pathway, Enzyme kinetics, Turnover numberMore MSQ & NAT questions than usual; scoring for prepared students
BotanyModerate to ToughConceptual and analytical plant science questionsRequired in-depth understanding
MicrobiologyModerateCore microbiology conceptsBalanced mix of theory and application
ZoologyModerately ChallengingMetabolic pathways, Enzyme kinetics, Receptor–ligand interactionConceptual and slightly lengthy
Food TechnologyEasyBasic food science and processing conceptsEasiest and most scoring section for many candidates


Memory based questions:

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper


GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE 2026 XL Question paper

GATE Life Science 2026 Question Papers with Answers PDF

Available soon


How to Download GATE Life Science 2026 Question Papers with Answers PDF?

Follow the steps below to download the GATE 2026 Life Science Question Papers with Answers PDF:

  1. Click on the GATE Life Science Question Papers link available in the table above.

  2. By clicking on that link, you will be redirected to the official website of Careers360.

  3. After logging in, click on the Download PDF option.

  4. The GATE Life Science Question Paper with Answers PDF will be sent to your registered email ID.

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GATE XL 2026 Question Paper: Overview

Go through the table below to understand the paper pattern for the GATE XL question paper 2026:

Particulars

Details

Total Marks

100

Mode

CBT (Computer-Based Test)

Duration

3 Hours

Number of Questions

65

Sections

General Aptitude + Life Science

Exam Date

February 7, 2026 ( forenoon shift)


GATE 2026 XL Question Paper with Solutions: Marking Scheme

The official answer key and response sheet, along with the question paper, have been released. You can use it to calculate your marks. Using the table and formula below, you can calculate your estimated marks for GATE 2026:

Formula:
Total Marks = Marks secured for correct responses – Negative marks for wrong responses
There is no negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions. You can also visit the marking scheme of GATE 2026

Component

Details

Total Marks

100 marks per paper

Exam Duration

3 hours (180 minutes)

Question Types

MCQ, MSQ, NAT

Marks per Question

1 mark or 2 marks

Negative Marking – MCQ

1-mark MCQ: –1/3 mark for each wrong answer 2-mark MCQ: –2/3 mark for each wrong answer


GATE XL Question Paper 2026: Section Distribution

The Life Sciences (XL) paper allows candidates to choose any two sections from the following list:

Section Code

Section Name

XL-P

Chemistry

XL-Q

Biochemistry

XL-R

Botany

XL-S

Microbiology

XL-T

Zoology

XL-U

Food Technology

Each selected section carries 35 marks, and General Aptitude carries 15 marks, making a total of 100 marks. To view the whole syllabus, download the GATE 2026 Life Sciences syllabus.

GATE 2026 Qualifying Marks for XL(Previous Year)

You can check last year's GATE XL qualifying marks and prepare accordingly for GATE 2026:

Test Paper

Cut-off

(GEN)

Cut-off

(OBC-NCL/EWS)

Cut-off

(SC/ST/PwD)

Life Sciences

31.3

28.1

20.8

GATE XL Question Paper: Previous Years

You can also download the GATE Computer Science Question Papers with Answers PDF:

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
Download GATE previous year question papers to understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Practice with these papers to boost your preparation and improve your score.
Check Now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the syllabus of GATE Life Science 2026?
A:

The GATE Life Science Syllabus for 2026 is divided into three sections: Chemistry (XL-P), General Aptitude, and specific Life Science subjects, which include Botany (XL-R), Biochemistry (XL-Q), Zoology (XL-T), Microbiology (XL-S), and Food Technology (XL-U).

Q: What is the difficulty level of the GATE Life Science paper?
A:

It was moderate to difficult.

Q: Does the GATE Life Science Syllabus change every year?
A:

The GATE Life Science Syllabus undergoes minor revisions annually, and significant changes are communicated officially through the GATE website.

Q: When will the results of GATE 2026 XL be announced?
A:

The official date of the GATE 2026 result announcement is March 19, 2026, according to IIT Guwahati.

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