GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences (XL) is based on topics from General Aptitude, Chemistry (XL-P) and Core Life Science Subjects such as Biochemistry (XL-Q), Botany (XL-R), Microbiology (XL-S), Zoology (XL-T) & Food Technology (XL-U). Read the article to download GATE 2023 Life Sciences Syllabus PDF and know topic-wise weightage for each subject.
GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences 2023, Important Topics Weightage, Exam Pattern, Question Papers
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Content Curator updated | Updated On - Dec 13, 2022
What is GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences (XL)?
GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences 2023 PDF is available for download. No new changes have been made to GATE 2023 Life Sciences Syllabus PDF. GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences for General Aptitude, Chemistry and Core Discipline Subjects carry a total weightage of 15%, 25% and 60% respectively. Check GATE Life Sciences Exam Pattern
- GATE Life Sciences General Aptitude and Chemistry are compulsory subjects while candidates can choose two of the subjects from Core Discipline syllabus.
- GATE Life Sciences Question Paper includes 65 questions in total carrying a weightage of 100 marks. Download GATE Life Sciences Question Paper PDFs
- The General Aptitude section includes 10 questions with a total weightage of 15 marks.
- GATE Life Sciences Chemistry (XL- P) includes 15 questions carrying a weightage of 25 marks.
- GATE Core Discipline (XL Q-U) includes 20 questions from each of the two selected subjects. Each subject selected carries a weightage of 30 marks.
- Candidates appearing for Life Sciences can choose Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry(CY) or Ecology and Evolution(EY) as one of their second paper in GATE 2023.
Quick Links:
GATE XL Syllabus
GATE 2023 Life Sciences (XL) Syllabus PDF
GATE 2023 Life Sciences (XL) Syllabus PDF is available for download for General Aptitude, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology. Candidates can download GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences 2023 PDF for each of the subjects they will be appearing for.
GATE Life Sciences Chemistry (XL-P) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences Biochemistry (XL-Q) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences Botany (XL-R) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences Microbiology (XL-S) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences Zoology (XL-S) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences Food Technology (XL-T) Syllabus PDF
GATE Life Sciences General Aptitude (GA) Syllabus PDF
GATE XL Weightage of Topics
GATE Life Sciences Important Topics Weightage
The section below covers the previous year's weightage for GATE Life Sciences important topics. Candidates can check the year-wise weightage for GATE XL Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology.
GATE Life Science- Biochemistry (XL-Q) Important Topics Weightage
| Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organization of life, Biomolecules | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Enzyme kinetics; Vitamins and Coenzymes; Metabolic pathways and their regulation: Photosynthesis | 3 | - | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Biochemical separation techniques | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Cell biology and signal transduction: Hormones and neurotransmitters | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Molecular biology, Recombinant biotechnology | 4 | 2 | - | - | 2 | - |
| Immunology | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
GATE Life Science- Botany (XL-R) Important Topics Weightage
| Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Systematics | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Plant Anatomy | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Morphogenesis & Development | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Physiology And Biochemistry | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Genetics | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Plant Breeding And Genetic Modification | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Economic Botany | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Plant Pathology | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Ecology And Environment | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
GATE Life Science- Microbiology (XL-S) Important Topics Weightage
| Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Perspective | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
| Methods In Microbiology | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Microbial Taxonomy And Diversity | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells: Structure And Function | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Microbial Growth | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Control Of Micro-Organisms | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Microbial Metabolism | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Microbial Diseases And Host Pathogen Interaction | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Chemotherapy/Antibiotics | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Microbial Genetics | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Microbial Ecology | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
GATE Life Science- Zoology (XL-T) Important Topics Weightage
| Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal World | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Evolution | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Genetics | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Biochemistry And Molecular Biology | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Cell Biology | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Gene Expression In Eukaryotes | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 1 |
| Animal Anatomy And Physiology | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Parasitology And Immunology | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Development Biology | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Ecology | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Animal Behaviour | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
GATE Life Science- Food Technology (XL-U) Important Topics Weightage
| Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Chemistry and Nutrition | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Food Microbiology | 7 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Food Products Technology | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Food Engineering | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
GATE XL Exam Pattern
GATE 2023 Exam Pattern for Life Sciences
- GATE XL 2023 Exam Mode: Online
- GATE XL 2023 Duration: 3 hours
- Types of Questions: MCQs, MSQs and NAT
- Number of Sections: 3 sections – General Aptitude, Chemistry (XL-P) and Core Discipline (XL Q-U)
- Total Questions: 65 questions
- Check GATE Life Sciences Exam Pattern
| 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 |
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GATE XL Preparation
GATE Preparation 2023 for Life Sciences
To assist the students in their GATE Life Sciences Preparation 2023, the following sections have been curated. The students are advised to check out the following and avail the benefits of the same.
GATE Life Sciences (XL) Books
Candidates preparing for GATE Life Sciences are advised to get the latest edition of some of the most popular books. GATE Books from popular publications are available as both in physical form at bookstores or as e-books online.
GATE Zoology Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| Animal Cell Culture Methods | Jennie P Mather, David Barnes |
| Modern Text Book Of Zoology Vertebrates | R.L.Kotpal |
| Zoology | Stephen A Miller and John P Harley |
GATE Chemistry Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| Gate Guide Life Science Chemistry & General Aptitude | G K Publications |
| A Logical Approach to Chemistry | Pragati Publications |
| 3,000 Solved Problems In Chemistry (Schaum’s Outline Series) | David E Goldberg |
GATE Food Technology Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| Food Technology | Neil Morris |
| Food Technology and Nutrition | Sunetra Roday |
| Textbook of Food Science and Technology | Avantina Sharma |
GATE Biochemistry Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Satyanarayana |
| Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Wilson/Walker |
| Practical Biochemistry | Damodaran Geetha K |
GATE Botany Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| A Text Book Of Botany | Singh Pande Jain |
| A Textbook Of Botany Vol-3 | S.N Pandey |
| Principles Of Genetics | Gardner |
GATE Microbiology Books
| Books Name | Author/Publication |
|---|---|
| Microbiology(fifth edition) | Micheal Pelczar, E.C.S Chan, Noel R. Krieg |
| Prescott’s Microbiology | Joanne M. Willey, Christopher J. Woolverton, Linda M. Sherwood |
| Smart Study Series Microbiology | Ankit Gupta, Prafulla Songara |
GATE XL Question Papers
Previous Year GATE Life Sciences Question Paper
Solving and practicing using previous year GATE Life Sciences Question Papers is one of the best ways to test your exam prep level. Candidates can use the links below to Download GATE Life Sciences Question Paper PDFs.
| Year | Exam Date & Session | Exam Mode | GATE XL Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | February 12 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2021 | February 13 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2020 | February 2 (Forenoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2019 | February 2 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2018 | February 3 (Forenoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2017 | February 12 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2016 | February 7 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2015 | January 31 (Forenoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2014 | February 2 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2013 | January 20 (Afternoon Session) | Online | Check Here |
| 2012 | February 12 (Afternoon Session) | Offline | Check Here |
| 2011 | February 13 (Afternoon Session) | Offline | Check Here |
| 2010 | February 14 (Forenoon Session) | Offline | Check Here |
| 2009 | February 8 (Forenoon Session) | Offline | Check Here |
| 2008 | February 10 | Offline | Check Here |
| 2007 | February 11 | Offline | Check Here |
GATE 2023 Syllabus of Other Subjects
Candidates who are planning to appear for GATE can check the syllabus their respective subjects from the links provided in the table below:
Frequently Asked Questions
GATE Syllabus for Life Science 2023 FAQs
Ques: What will be options provided to select the subjects in GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences 2023?
Ans: GATE Life sciences 2023 XL section comprises the following subjects/codes:
- XL-P – Chemistry
- XL-Q – Biochemistry
- XL-R – Botany
- XL-S – Microbiology
- XL-T – Zoology
- XL-U – Food Technology
GATE Life Sciences Chemistry (XL-P) is a mandatory subject for candidates to attempt. Meanwhile, candidates can choose any two subjects from Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology.
Ques: What will be the marking scheme and weightage of sections in GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences 2023?
Ans: The weightage of General Aptitude will be 15% and the remaining 85% will be reserved for chemistry & sections (two) selected by the candidates.
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of 1 mark questions | No. of 2 marks questions | ||
| GA | 5 | 5 | 15 marks |
| Section P – Chemistry (compulsory) | 5 | 10 | 25 marks |
| Sections Q to U (Any two) | 10 + 10 | 10 + 10 | 30 marks + 30 marks |
| TOTAL | 30 questions | 35 questions | 100 marks |
Ques: Can I opt for Food Technology & Zoology sections as my 2 optional sections along with Chemistry in GATE Life sciences 2023?
Ans: Yes. You can opt for any 2 sections from Q to U. The sections P that is chemistry will remain compulsory for all the candidates. The rest of the 2 sections can be selected as per the preference of candidates.
Ques: What will be major topics for GATE Life sciences 2023 microbiology sections that is XL-S section?
Ans: The major topics for these sections are mentioned below:
- Historical Perspective
- Methods in Microbiology
- Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity
- Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
- Microbial Growth
- Control of Microorganisms
- Microbial Metabolism
- Microbial Diseases and Host-Pathogen Interaction
- Antibiotics
- Microbial Genetics
- Microbial Ecology
Ques. What are the sub-topics to prepare for in GATE Life Sciences- Chemistry Syllabus 2023?
Ans. The sub topics in the GATE Life Sciences- Chemistry Syllabus 2023 is as follows:
- Atomic Structure and Periodicity
- Structure and Bonding
- s, p & d Block Elements
- Chemical Equilibria
- Electrochemistry
- Reaction Kinetics
- Thermodynamics
- Structure Reactivity Correlations and Organic Reaction Mechanisms
- Chemistry of Biomolecules
Ques. What are some good books for GATE Life Sciences- Biochemistry Syllabus 2023?
Ans. Some good books for GATE Life Sciences- Biochemistry Syllabus are as follows:
- Biochemistry by Satyanarayana
- Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by Wilson/Walker
- Practical Biochemistry by Damodaran Geetha K
Ques. What are the sub-topics that one needs to prepare for in the GATE Life Sciences- Botany Syllabus 2023?
Ans. The subtopics in the GATE Life Sciences- Botany Syllabus 2023 is as follows:
- Plant Systematics
- Plant Anatomy
- Plant development
- Physiology and Biochemistry
- Genetics and genomics
- Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing Principles, methods
- Economic and applied Botany
- Plant Pathology
- Ecology and Environment
Ques. What are the sub-topics that one needs to prepare for in GATE Life Sciences- Microbiology Syllabus 2023?
Ans. The subtopics in the GATE Life Sciences- Microbiology Syllabus 2023 is as follows:
- Historical Perspective
- Methods in Microbiology
- Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity
- Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function
- Microbial Growth
- Control of Microorganisms
- Microbial Metabolism
- Microbial Diseases and Host-Pathogen
- Chemotherapy/Antibiotics
- Microbial Genetics
- Microbial Ecology
Ques. What is a good score for GATE Life Sciences 2023?
Ans. A good score for GATE Life Sciences is anywhere from 25 to 35 as the GATE Life Sciences Cut Off is usually in that range. Check GATE Cut Off for the previous year’s trends.
Ques. Is GATE Life Science hard?
Ans. GATE Life Sciences is usually easy to moderate in terms of difficulty. Check GATE Paper Analysis for setting up realistic targets.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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