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

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

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 06 Feb 2026, 05:59 PM IST

GATE XL 2026 question paper with solutions will be available by coaching institutes on February 7. Candidates can evaluate their performance by checking the GATE Life Science 2026 question paper. Along with the question paper, the unofficial GATE answer key will also be available to candidates. The GATE XL question paper 2026 will be available here right after the exam is over. By going through the GATE 2026 XL question paper with solutions, it will help students understand the detailed analysis.

LiveGATE 2026 Feb 7 Exam LIVE: IIT Guwahati to conduct MTech exams tomorrow; timings, dress codeFeb 6, 2026 | 10:38 PM IST

The GATE 2026 exam is a 3-hour online computer-based test (CBT) in English for 30 subjects. It has 65 questions worth 100 marks, including MCQs, MSQs, and NATs.

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This Story also Contains

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

The GATE XL exam is scheduled on February 7, 2026 in the forenoon shift. In this article, you will be able to find all the updated details regarding the GATE life sciences (XL) exam. This exam is taken by aspirants aiming for PSU opportunities in Life Sciences or M.Tech, research programs in related fields.

GATE XL 2026 Question Paper: Overview

Go through the table below to understand the paper pattern for 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 PDF Free Download

You can use the GATE 2026 XL question paper with solutions pdf free download option from below. The link will be added to the below table right after the exam is over.

GATE Life Science 2026 Question Papers with Answers PDF

Available soon

GATE 2026 XL Question Paper with Solutions: Marking Scheme

Once you have the GATE 2026 XL question paper with solutions pdf free download, you can use it to calculate your marks as well. 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

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 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 GATE 2026 Life Sciences syllabus.

GATE 2026 Qualifying Marks for XL

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.
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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 expected difficulty level of the GATE Life Science paper?
A:

It is usually 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.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello,

The link to the question paper is attached here. You can also find the answer key that will help you analyse your in-depth performance. Careers360 provides students with preparation tips that will help them utilise their time effectively in preparartion.

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-metallurgical-question-papers

Thank you

Hello,

Yes, you can get admission in M.Tech CSE without GATE .

  1. Through university entrance exams
    Many universities conduct their own M.Tech entrance exams. You have to qualify the test and sometimes attend an interview.

  2. Through JET for M.Tech
    JET (JAIN Entrance Test) is conducted by Jain University.
    It is

Hii

No  you cannot get admission to IIT for M Tech if your B Tech is not completed at the time of admission, even if you clear the GATE cutoff but Yes, you can appear for GATE 2028 in your 3rd year of B Tech even if your degree is

Hello,

The link to the question paper is attached here. You can access the question papers along with the answer key on the careers360 website. Careers360 also provides students with preparation tips that will help them in preparing and the mock test and analyse their in-depth performance.

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/last-15-years-gate-papers-solutions

Thank you.