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    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 19 Mar 2026, 05:38 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 students aiming for PSU opportunities in Life Sciences, M.Tech, and research programs in related fields. The Official GATE questions papers are released by IIT Guwahati. The GATE XL question paper and GATE XL answer key is available on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.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.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 along with that you can also refer to the GATE XL analysis 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
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    Memory based questions:

    Question 1: Not a storage polysaccharide?
    i.dextrion

    ii.Chitin

    iii. starch

    iv. Glycogen

    Question 2: Which one is containing I chinal C?
    i. Leucine
    ii. Serine
    iii. Isolaricine $X$
    iv. Threonine $x$

    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:

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    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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    Questions related to GATE

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to GATE ?

    Hello,

    Yes, many NITs allow ECE students to apply for M.Tech in CSE if they have a valid GATE CSE score and satisfy the institute’s eligibility criteria. Most NITs mention eligibility as “same or related discipline,” under which ECE and EE are commonly accepted allied branches.

    Some well-known NITs where

    Hey,

    With a VITMEE rank around 944, getting M.Tech CSE at Vellore Institute of Technology Chennai in Category 1 is honestly quite difficult because Category 1 seats usually close at much lower ranks.

    But you still have decent chances for:
    • Category 2 or 3 in core CSE
    • Category

    Hi,

    Your scholarship eligibility depends on whether your GATE 2026 score meets the General category qualifying cutoff. If your category could not be changed after the correction window, then you are usually treated as a General category candidate during admission and scholarship processing.

    Generally:
    • If your score is equal

    Hi,

    With a GATE score of 426, you do have a chance of getting MTech Data Science in some NITs , especially through later counselling rounds or in comparatively less competitive NITs. For top NITs, though, Data Science seats can still be quite competitive since it is a popular specialisation.

    Hello Student,

    Getting a seat in Mining Engineering in MBM Jodhpur with 67th percentile as an OBC candidate might be difficult, as the cut off goes around 75-80th percentile.

    What you can do is to go for spot rounds or REAP's last round, provided the seats remain vacant.