GATE Life Sciences Previous Year Question Papers
Ten GATE XL (Life Sciences) previous year question papers, from 2016 to 2025, each retyped from the official paper and checked against the official final answer key. Every PDF has General Aptitude, Chemistry and all four life science sections, a subject-by-subject analysis of the paper, the topic of every answer, and 5 tricky questions solved step by step.
Everything you need to practice one paper properly
Paper at a glance
Which subjects and topics this paper asked, on one page, before you start.
Clean questions
Every question retyped on clean A4 pages. No zooming into blurry scans.
Checked answer key
Matched to the official final key, with the topic of every question.
5 solved questions
The trickiest ones, explained step by step.
Every explanation, free
Take the paper as a timed mock on Test Manthan and see the explanation of every question after you submit.
One-time form: fill it once and every paper on this page downloads straight away.
Every GATE Life Sciences paper, newest first
| Year | Paper | Practice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025Newest | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2024 | 2024 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2023 | 2023 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2022 | 2022 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2021 | 2021 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2020 | 2020 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2019 | 2019 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2018 | 2018 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2017 | 2017 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2016 | 2016 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
See the pattern across all these papers
GATE XL Chemistry Important Topics: 10-Year PYQ Analysis
8 pages · GATE XL Chemistry PYQs, 2016 to 2025
Get the free PDFHow to Prepare for GATE, CSIR NET and IIT JAM During College
4 pages · 6 methods · 3 worksheets
Get the free PDFThe GATE Life Sciences guide: syllabus, pattern, eligibility, cutoffs and dates →
Questions students ask
You answer General Aptitude (10 questions), Chemistry, and any 2 of the life science sections: Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology and Zoology.
The paper is 100 marks in 3 hours.
In MCQs, a wrong answer loses 1/3 mark (1-mark questions) or 2/3 mark (2-mark questions). MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking.
Yes, a little. From 2016 to 2021, Chemistry had 15 questions and each life science section had 20.
From 2022, Chemistry has 17 and each section has 19.
Across these 10 papers, Chemistry is the biggest (157 questions), then Biochemistry (141) and Microbiology (127). Chemistry is compulsory, so it counts for every student.
No. These PDFs cover General Aptitude, Chemistry and the four life science sections. Section XL-U (Food Technology) is left out.
Yes. Every question and option is from the official paper, retyped by our team so every question is clean and easy to read. Every answer is checked against the official final answer key, and where a question was dropped or its answer changed, the PDF says so.
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