CareerCraftCareerCraft Labs
ENहिं
Start free

GATE XLIISc Bengaluru and the seven older IITs, for NCB-GATE

Start GATE Life Sciences preparation free Like it? Continue at just ₹29/month — less than ₹1 a day

General Aptitude, every Life Sciences section, in 61 chapters.

First chapter + 1 full mock test free — no card needed

Start freeRead the free chapter
  • 61chapters
  • 65question full mock
  • 50syllabus sections
  • EN + हिंevery chapter in both

Exam pattern

GATE XL paper pattern

GATE Life Sciences

  • 65 questions
  • 100 marks
  • 180 minutes
  • a wrong MCQ costs a third of its marks, a wrong MSQ or NAT nothing
  • General Aptitude — 15 marks10 Qs
  • Life Sciences — 85 marks55 Qs

What you get

Everything for GATE XL, in one course

  • Chapters in English and Hindi61 chapters on the official syllabus, each ending in a quiz that explains every answer.
  • Mock tests in the real patternTimed and marked the way the exam is, negative marking included, with a section-by-section report.
  • Revision and weak-area analyticsSee which topics cost you marks, and revise them on a spaced schedule.
  • AI mentorPremiumAsk a doubt in English or Hindi, any hour, and get a plain answer.

Try it now

Try a real GATE XL question

A real question from the course. No sign-up needed.

From the chapter: Atomic Structure and Periodicity: Quanta, Matter Waves, the Hydrogen Atom, Configurations and Periodic Trends

According to Planck’s quantum theory, the energy of a single quantum of radiation is directly proportional to which quantity?

Show the answer and why

Answer: C.

Planck’s quantum is E = hν = hc/λ, so the energy of one quantum rises with frequency and falls as wavelength grows. Intensity is the tempting answer, but it sets how many photons arrive each second, not the energy of each; the square of the amplitude is the classical measure of that same intensity.

Syllabus

GATE XL syllabus, section by section

Open a section to see its chapters. General Aptitude’s first chapter is free.

General AptitudeFree chapter3 chapters
  1. Verbal Aptitude — Grammar, Usage, Vocabulary and ComprehensionFree
  2. Quantitative Aptitude — Ratios, Powers, Mensuration, Statistics and Data
  3. Analytical Aptitude — Number Relations, Analogy, Deduction and Induction
Atomic Structure and Periodicity (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Atomic Structure and Periodicity: Quanta, Matter Waves, the Hydrogen Atom, Configurations and Periodic Trends
Structure and Bonding (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Structure and Bonding: Ionic and Covalent Bonds, VB and MO Theory, Shapes, Polarity, Weak Interactions, Lattice Energy and HSAB
s, p and d Block Elements (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. s, p and d Block Elements: Oxides, Halides and Hydrides, the 3d Series and Coordination Complexes
Bioinorganic Chemistry (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Bioinorganic Chemistry: Oxygen Carriers, Iron–Sulfur Proteins, Carbonic Anhydrase and Cu–Zn Superoxide Dismutase
Chemical Equilibria (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Chemical Equilibria: Colligative Properties, Ionic Equilibria, Buffers, Solubility Product and Kc, Kp, Kx
Electrochemistry (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Electrochemistry: Conductance, Kohlrausch's Law, Cell Potentials, the Nernst Equation and Cell Thermodynamics
Reaction Kinetics (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Reaction Kinetics: Rate Laws, Activation Energy, Catalysis and Enzyme Inhibition
Thermodynamics (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Thermodynamics: First Law, Thermochemistry, Entropy and Free Energy
Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Organic Reaction Mechanisms (XL0 Chemistry)2 chapters
  1. Structure and Reactivity: Acids and Bases, Electronic Effects, Stereochemistry, Conformers and Aromaticity
  2. Organic Reaction Mechanisms: Substitution, Elimination, Addition, Grignard Reagents, Aromatic Substitution and Functional-Group Tests
Chemistry of Biomolecules (XL0 Chemistry)1 chapter
  1. Chemistry of Biomolecules: Structure, Sequencing, Purification and Spectroscopy
Structure and Function of Biomolecules (XL1 Biochemistry)1 chapter
  1. Structure and Function of Biomolecules: Water, Macromolecules, Protein Folding and Six Model Proteins
Enzymes and General Principles of Metabolism (XL1 Biochemistry)1 chapter
  1. Enzymes and General Principles of Metabolism: Catalysis, Kinetics, Inhibition, Regulation, Coenzymes and ATP
Metabolic Pathways and Associated Disorders (XL1 Biochemistry)2 chapters
  1. Energy Metabolism: Glycolysis, TCA Cycle, Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Gluconeogenesis and Fatty Acids
  2. Nitrogen Metabolism, Photosynthesis and the Calvin Cycle, and Metabolic Disorders
Analytical Techniques (XL1 Biochemistry)2 chapters
  1. Buffers, Chromatography, Centrifugation, Electrophoresis, Interaction Assays and Spectroscopy
  2. PCR, Sequencing and Mutagenesis; Antibody–Antigen Interaction, Immunoassays and Monoclonal Antibodies
Cell Structure and Function (XL1 Biochemistry)1 chapter
  1. Cell Structure and Function: Organelles, Membranes, Transport, Protein Targeting, Signalling and Ion Channels
Gene Expression and Its Regulation, and DNA Repair (XL1 Biochemistry)1 chapter
  1. Gene Expression and Its Regulation, and DNA Repair: Replication, Transcription, Translation, Repair and Chromatin Accessibility
Plant Systematics (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Plant Systematics: Nomenclature, Classification, APG, Major Families, Cladistics and DNA Barcoding
Plant Anatomy (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Plant Anatomy: Cells, Meristems, Organs, Steles, Vascular Tissues and Secondary Growth
Plant Development; Cell and Tissue Morphogenesis (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Plant Development: Gametophytes, Fertilisation, Embryo and Meristems, Patterning, Flowering, Light and Hormones
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (XL2 Botany)2 chapters
  1. Water Relations, Transport, Stomata, Nitrogen Metabolism, Photosynthesis and Respiration in Plants
  2. Abiotic Stress, Biomolecules, Secondary Metabolites, Plant Hormones, Senescence and Programmed Cell Death
Genetics and Genomics (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Genetics and Genomics: Cell Division, Mendel, Linkage, Organelle Genes, Epigenetics, Genome Change and Omics
Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification and Genome Editing: Selection, Heterosis, Markers, Tissue Culture, Transgenics and CRISPR
Economic and Applied Botany (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Economic and Applied Botany: Food, Fibre, Timber, Sugar, Beverages, Oils, Rubber, Dyes, Drugs, Microbes, GM Crops and Postharvest Processing
Plant Pathology (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Plant Pathology: Diseases of Crops, Pathogenesis, Resistance, Defence Signalling and Plant-Microbe Interactions
Ecology and Environment (XL2 Botany)1 chapter
  1. Ecology and Environment: Ecosystems, Energy Flow, Biogeochemical Cycles, Succession, Biogeographic Zones, Biodiversity and Plant Interactions
Historical Perspective (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Historical Perspective: From Animalcules to Germ Theory and the Molecular Era
Methods in Microbiology (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Methods in Microbiology: Pure Culture, Sterilisation, Nutrition, Diagnosis, Microscopy, PCR and CRISPR-Cas
Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity: Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Protozoa, Viruses and Molecular Phylogeny
Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Prokaryotic Cells: Walls, Membranes, Transport, Appendages, Inclusions and Chemotaxis
Microbial Growth (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Growth: Growth Curve and Kinetics, Measurement and Yields, Continuous Culture, Environment, Sporulation, Quorum Sensing and Biofilms
Microbial Metabolism (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Metabolism: Energetics, Central Pathways, Respiration and Fermentation, Chemolithotrophy, Photosynthesis, Biosynthesis and Regulation
Microbial Diseases and Host Pathogen Interaction (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Diseases and Host–Pathogen Interaction: Infection, Pathogenicity and Immunity
Control of Micro-organisms: Chemotherapy/Antibiotics (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Control of Micro-organisms: Chemotherapy and Antibiotics
Microbial Genetics (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Genetics: Mutation, Gene Transfer, Repair, Regulation and Genomes
Microbial Ecology (XL3 Microbiology)1 chapter
  1. Microbial Ecology: Interactions, Biogeochemical Cycles and Community Genomics
Animal Diversity (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Animal Diversity: Systematics, Classification and Phylogenetic Relationships
Evolution (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Evolution: Origin and History of Life, Theories, Natural Selection, Adaptation and Speciation
Genetics (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Genetics: Inheritance, Sex Linkage, Linkage Mapping, Population Genetics and Disorders
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Biomolecules, the Central Dogma, Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle, Enzymes, Hormones, Vitamins and Minerals
Cell Biology (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Cell Biology: Microscopy, Cell Structure, Cytoskeleton, Organelles, Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Chromatin
Gene Expression in Eukaryotes (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Gene Expression in Eukaryotes: Genome Organisation, Levels of Regulation and Transposable Elements
Animal Anatomy and Physiology (XL4 Zoology)2 chapters
  1. Comparative Anatomy and Physiology I: Respiration, Circulation, Digestion and Excretion
  2. Comparative Anatomy and Physiology II: Skeleton, Muscle, Nerves, Hormones and Reproduction
Parasitology and Immunology (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Parasitology and Immunology: Parasites, Their Life Cycles and the Immune Response
Development Biology (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Developmental Biology: Gametes, Embryos, Differentiation, Metamorphosis and Stem Cells
Ecology (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Animal Ecology: Ecosystems, Populations, Diversity, Zoogeography and Conservation
Animal Behaviour (XL4 Zoology)1 chapter
  1. Animal Behaviour: Instinct, Learning, Mating, Social Life and Communication
Food Chemistry and Nutrition (XL5 Food Technology)2 chapters
  1. Food Components: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Pigments, Flavours and Enzymes
  2. Nutrition, Food Adulteration and Chemical Changes during Processing
Food Microbiology (XL5 Food Technology)1 chapter
  1. Food Microbiology: Microorganisms, Growth and Death Kinetics, Spoilage, Pathogens, Fermented and Probiotic Foods
Food Products Technology (XL5 Food Technology)2 chapters
  1. Food Processing Principles: Quality Analysis, Thermal and Non-Thermal Preservation, Packaging and Storage
  2. Food Products Technology: Cereals, Oils, Fruits, Plantation Crops, Milk, Meat, Waste Utilisation and Food Standards
Food Engineering (XL5 Food Technology)2 chapters
  1. Food Engineering I: Mass and Energy Balances, Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer
  2. Food Engineering II: Mechanical Operations, Thermal Operations and Psychrometrics

Price

Start free. Upgrade when you are ready.

  • Basic₹29/monthless than ₹1 a day · every GATE chapter, mocks and PYQs
  • Free₹0first chapter + 1 full mock, no card
  • Premium₹399 oncethen ₹29/month · AI mentor, answer writing, unlimited mocks
Start GATE free

Prices include GST. Cancel anytime. Fees worked out per day →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does the GATE Life Sciences course cost?

The first chapter of the GATE course is free. Every chapter of this paper, in English and Hindi, unlocks with the GATE plan — ₹29 a month, less than ₹1 a day, cancel anytime — with scored practice and the full-length XL mock test in the real 65-question pattern. Premium adds the AI mentor.

How much of the GATE XL syllabus is covered?

The whole paper: 58 chapters across all 50 of its sections. General Aptitude is shared by every paper.

What is the GATE exam pattern?

65 questions for 100 marks in 180 minutes: General Aptitude for 15 marks and the paper for 85. A wrong MCQ costs a third of its marks; MSQ and NAT questions carry no negative marking.

Related

Other GATE papers

Start GATE Life Sciences today

First chapter + 1 full mock test free — no card needed. Then the whole course is ₹29 a month — less than ₹1 a day. Cancel anytime.

Start free

Official sources

CareerCraft Labs is a private study platform. It is not a government body and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorised by any examination authority. We do not accept applications, conduct examinations, or issue government results.

Notifications, syllabi, exam dates and results are official only on the conducting body's own website. Always verify there before you act on anything you read here.

Start free