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100+ Free GATE XL Practice Questions

Pass your GATE Life Sciences (XL) — Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Which second messenger is most directly produced by activated adenylyl cyclase in G-protein-coupled receptor signaling?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: GATE XL Exam

65 questions / 100 marks

GATE XL paper structure

gate2026.iitg.ac.in

180 minutes

Total exam time (computer-based)

GATE 2026 Information Brochure

INR 1000 / INR 2000

Application fee (reserved / general, regular window)

GATE 2026 Brochure

3 years

Validity of GATE score for admissions and PSU recruitment

NCB-GATE policy

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

GATE XL is a 3-hour, 65-question, 100-mark CBT covering 15 marks of General Aptitude, compulsory 25-mark Chemistry (XL-P), and any two optional 30-mark life-science sections (XL-Q to XL-U). Used for IIT/IISc PG admission, PSU recruitment, and CSIR-UGC NET-equivalent posts.

Sample GATE XL Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your GATE XL exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1If 'BOOK' is coded as 'CPPL', how is 'PEN' coded using the same Caesar shift?
A.QFO
B.OFM
C.QGO
D.RFP
Explanation: Each letter is shifted by +1 in the alphabet (B→C, O→P, O→P, K→L). Applying the same +1 shift to PEN gives P→Q, E→F, N→O, i.e. QFO.
2A train travels 60 km in the first hour, 80 km in the second hour, and 100 km in the third hour. What is its average speed for the whole journey?
A.70 km/h
B.75 km/h
C.80 km/h
D.85 km/h
Explanation: Average speed = total distance / total time = (60 + 80 + 100) km / 3 h = 240/3 = 80 km/h. Since the time intervals are equal, the average of the speeds also equals 80 km/h.
3The ratio of the present ages of A and B is 5:7. After 6 years the ratio becomes 3:4. What is A's present age?
A.30 years
B.35 years
C.42 years
D.45 years
Explanation: Let A=5x, B=7x. (5x+6)/(7x+6)=3/4 gives 20x+24=21x+18, so x=6. A=5×6=30 years.
4Which of the following is the synonym of 'ubiquitous'?
A.Rare
B.Omnipresent
C.Specific
D.Ancient
Explanation: Ubiquitous means present, appearing, or found everywhere. Omnipresent (omni = all, present = being there) carries the same meaning of being everywhere simultaneously.
5A shopkeeper marks an item 25% above cost and gives a 10% discount on the marked price. What is his percentage profit?
A.10.0%
B.12.5%
C.15.0%
D.17.5%
Explanation: Let CP=100. MP=125. SP=125×0.90=112.5. Profit = 112.5−100=12.5, so profit % = 12.5/100×100 = 12.5%.
6A box contains 5 red balls and 3 blue balls. Two balls are drawn at random without replacement. What is the probability that both are red?
A.5/14
B.5/16
C.10/28
D.25/64
Explanation: P(both red) = (5/8) × (4/7) = 20/56 = 5/14. The denominator decreases from 8 to 7 because draws are without replacement.
7Which figure logically completes the sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
A.36
B.40
C.42
D.44
Explanation: The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 (an arithmetic progression with common difference 2). So the next term is 30 + 12 = 42. Equivalently, the n-th term is n(n+1) and for n=6 it is 42.
8The mean of five numbers is 18. If one number is excluded, the mean becomes 16. What is the excluded number?
A.20
B.22
C.24
D.26
Explanation: Sum of 5 numbers = 5×18 = 90. Sum of remaining 4 = 4×16 = 64. Excluded number = 90 − 64 = 26.
9Choose the option that best completes the sentence: 'Despite the heavy rain, the cricket match _____ as scheduled.'
A.proceeded
B.preceded
C.succeeded
D.exceeded
Explanation: 'Proceeded' means continued or moved forward. Despite the rain, the match continued as scheduled — proceeded fits the context perfectly.
10If 15% of a number is 45, what is 35% of the same number?
A.85
B.95
C.105
D.115
Explanation: If 15% of x = 45, then x = 45/0.15 = 300. Then 35% of 300 = 0.35 × 300 = 105.

About the GATE XL Exam

GATE XL (Life Sciences) is one of the 30 GATE papers offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and the seven IITs. GATE 2026 is organized by IIT Guwahati. The XL paper is the gateway for life-sciences graduates to MSc/MTech and PhD admission at IITs and IISc, JRF positions in many CSIR labs, and PSU recruitment. Candidates answer 65 questions totaling 100 marks across three blocks: 15 marks of General Aptitude (GA), a compulsory 25-mark Chemistry section (XL-P), and any two optional 30-mark sections chosen from Biochemistry (XL-Q), Botany (XL-R), Microbiology (XL-S), Zoology (XL-T) and Food Technology (XL-U). The 3-hour computer-based test mixes multiple-choice questions (MCQ with negative marking), multiple-select questions (MSQ), and numerical answer type (NAT) items.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours)

Passing Score

Qualifying marks set per paper each year (≈25/100 typical)

Exam Fee

INR 1000 (Female/SC/ST/PwD); INR 2000 (Other Indian); late fee adds INR 500 (IIT Guwahati (GATE 2026 organizing institute), under NCB-GATE, IITs and IISc)

GATE XL Exam Content Outline

15%

General Aptitude (GA)

Verbal aptitude (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension), quantitative aptitude (arithmetic, ratio, percentages, geometry, probability), analytical aptitude (logical reasoning, number series, data interpretation) and spatial aptitude. Common to every GATE paper.

25%

XL-P Chemistry (Compulsory)

Atomic structure and periodicity; chemical bonding (VSEPR, hybridization, MO theory basics); gaseous, liquid and solid states; thermodynamics; chemical and ionic equilibrium; electrochemistry; chemical kinetics; basic organic chemistry (functional groups, SN1/SN2, acid-base); basic inorganic chemistry (transition metals, coordination); and instrumental methods (UV-Vis, IR).

~15%

XL-Q Biochemistry (Optional 30-mark section)

Organization of life, biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids), enzyme kinetics (Michaelis-Menten, allosteric, inhibition), metabolism (glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty-acid oxidation), signal transduction, and immunology basics.

~15%

XL-R Botany (Optional 30-mark section)

Plant systematics, plant anatomy, morphogenesis, plant physiology (photosynthesis, water relations, hormones), reproduction (gametogenesis, double fertilization), genetics (Mendelian, polyploidy), molecular biology, plant pathology and plant ecology.

~15%

XL-S Microbiology (Optional 30-mark section)

History and scope of microbiology, bacterial cell structure, microbial growth and control (sterilization, antibiotics), microbial metabolism, virology (bacteriophage cycles), immunology, medical microbiology and food/industrial/environmental microbiology.

~15%

XL-T Zoology (Optional 30-mark section)

Animal diversity (phyla), structural organization, evolution (natural selection, Hardy-Weinberg), ecology (biomes, trophic levels), development (cleavage, germ layers), physiology (excretion, respiration, neuromuscular junction), immunology, behaviour and reproductive biology.

How to Pass the GATE XL Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Qualifying marks set per paper each year (≈25/100 typical)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
  • Exam fee: INR 1000 (Female/SC/ST/PwD); INR 2000 (Other Indian); late fee adds INR 500

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

GATE XL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the compulsory XL-P Chemistry section first — it is 25 of 100 marks and is the only section every XL candidate must answer; weak chemistry alone can sink your overall score
2Choose your two optional sections early (by July at the latest) and stick to them — switching optional sections in October wastes 2 months of preparation
3Solve at least 10 years of past GATE XL papers (2014-2025) section by section — questions repeat in concept and the NAT cutoffs train your numerical accuracy under time pressure
4Build a personal cheat-sheet for each section: amino-acid pKa values, key enzymes in glycolysis/TCA, plant hormone effects, bacterial growth kinetics formulas, common functional-group IR bands — review them daily in the last 30 days
5Take 8-10 full-length 3-hour computer-based mocks on the official GATE practice interface in the final 6 weeks; pacing across GA + Chemistry + two optionals is the biggest single differentiator on test day
6For NAT questions, practice answering to the exact decimal precision the question requests (e.g., 'round off to 2 decimal places') — a correct value with wrong precision is marked wrong

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GATE 2026 XL exam pattern?

GATE XL 2026 is a 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions totaling 100 marks. Section 1: General Aptitude (15 marks) — common to all GATE papers. Section 2: XL-P Chemistry (25 marks) — compulsory for all XL candidates. Section 3: Two optional sections of 30 marks each from XL-Q Biochemistry, XL-R Botany, XL-S Microbiology, XL-T Zoology, or XL-U Food Technology. Question types include MCQ, multiple-select (MSQ), and numerical answer (NAT).

What is the negative marking scheme in GATE XL?

For 1-mark MCQs, 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer. For 2-mark MCQs, 2/3 mark is deducted. There is NO negative marking on MSQ (multiple-select) or NAT (numerical answer type) questions. Unanswered questions carry no marks.

Who conducts GATE 2026 and where do I apply?

GATE 2026 is organized by IIT Guwahati (the 2026 organizing institute), on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB-GATE), IISc Bangalore, and the seven older IITs. Online application is through the GOAPS portal at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Each candidate may attempt up to two papers in 2026 (one primary plus one allied paper from the published list).

What is the GATE XL application fee?

Within the regular registration window, the GATE 2026 fee is INR 1000 for Female / SC / ST / PwD candidates and INR 2000 for other Indian candidates. A late registration window typically adds INR 500. International candidates pay USD 100/200 depending on the test center country. Refer to the official brochure for the exact 2026 dates.

How is GATE XL used after the result?

A valid GATE XL score is used for (a) admission to MSc/MTech and direct PhD programs at IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, and many central universities; (b) CSIR/DRDO/ICAR junior research fellowships in some streams; (c) eligibility for PSU recruitment via GATE in select life-science roles; and (d) certain government laboratory positions. The score validity is 3 years from the date of announcement.

Which two optional sections should I pick?

Pick optional sections that match your undergraduate background and post-GATE goals. The most popular combinations are Biochemistry + Microbiology (for molecular/biotech aspirants), Botany + Microbiology (for ecology/agriculture aspirants), Zoology + Biochemistry (for physiology/biomedical aspirants), and Botany + Zoology (for classical life-science aspirants). Practice both sections fully — you must answer questions from BOTH chosen sections in the test, not pick within the exam.

Can I attempt GATE XL if I am a final-year UG student?

Yes. Candidates in the third or higher year of any UG program, or holding a UG/PG degree in any relevant discipline, are eligible. There is no upper age limit for GATE. Final-year students should submit a self-declaration / provisional certificate from their institute as proof of enrollment.