GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam – Here we will discuss in detail about GATE Life Sciences 2025 exam. We will discuss about GATE 2025 Life Sciences syllabus, exam pattern, books and preparation tips.
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About GATE Exam
GATE Exam is jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven IIT’s (IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, Roorkee, Madras and Kharagpur).
GATE 2025 will be organized by IIT Roorkee.
Qualifying in GATE is a mandatory for admission and/or financial assistance to:
- Doctoral programs and Master’s programs in Engineering/Technology/Architecture
- PhD in relevant discipline of science, in institutions that are supported by the MHRD and other Government agencies.
- Even in some institutions and colleges, which admit students without MHRD assistantship/scholarship, qualifying in GATE is a mandatory.
- Many PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) use GATE Exam score in their recruitment process.
Eligibility for GATE 2025 Exam
A candidate who is currently studying in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program
OR
Candidate who has already completed any government approved degree program in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts is eligible.
Age Limit: No age limit
To know about GATE latest updates and application process – GATE
GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam Schedule
GATE 2025 exam will be held on February 1, 2, 15 & 16, 2025.
Exact Date for GATE 2025 Life Sciences will be announced later.
Scheme of GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam
GATE 2025 exam will be in ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
In GATE Life Sciences Exam there will be 65 questions of total 100 marks and exam will be of 3 hours
Virtual Scientific Calculator will be available on the computer screen During the examination. Wristwatches, calculators, mobile phones, Personal or any other electronic devices are NOT allowed in the exam hall.
For rough work Scribble pads will be provided to the candidates.
| Mode of Examination | Online Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 100 |
Pattern of GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam
GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam Marking Scheme
There will be two section containing 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
| Section | Distribution of Marks | Total Marks | Types of questions |
| General Ability | 5 questions of 1 mark each 5 questions of 2 marks each | 15 marks | MCQ |
| XL-P – Chemistry (compulsory) | 5 questions of 1 mark each 10 questions of 2 marks each | 25 marks | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
| (Any two) XL-Q – Biochemistry XL-R – Botany XL-S – Microbiology XL-T – Zoology XL-U – Food Technology | 10 questions of 1-mark each 10 questions of 2-marks each | 2 x 30= 60 marks | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
Types of Questions in GATE Life Sciences 2025 Exam
There will be three types of questions – MCQ, MSQ, NAT.
Details of these types of questions is as follows –
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
These questions carry 1 or 2 marks each. These questions will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select (mark), the correct answer.
Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
These carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have choice of four answers, out of which ONE or MORE than ONE choice(s) are correct.
There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer for these questions. Also NO partial credit for choosing partially correct combinations of choices or any single wrong choice.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
These questions carry 1 or 2 marks each. The answer is a signed real number for these questions, which needs to be entered by using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor (computer’s keyboard will be disabled).
The answer can be an integer only such as 10 or -10. The answer may be in decimals as 10.1 or 10.01 or -10.001.
The candidates need to make an answer upto the said decimal point as instructed in question.
Appropriate range will be considered for numerical answer type questions so that the candidate is not penalized due to round-off errors.
It is better to give NAT answer up to three decimal places wherever required and possible.
GATE Life Sciences 2025 Negative Marking Scheme
Negative Marking in GATE Life Sciences exam will be as follows –
| Type of question | Negative marking for Each wrong answer |
| MCQ | 1/3for 1 mark questions 2/3 for 2 marks questions |
| MSQ | No negative marking |
| NAT | No negative marking |
GATE General Aptitude Syllabus
Syllabus for General Aptitude section is common for all subjects of GATE Exam.
This section contains questions from
| Verbal Aptitude |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
| Analytical Aptitude |
| Spatial Aptitude |
For complete details of this section and syllabus pdf visit – GATE General Aptitude
GATE Life Sciences 2025 Syllabus
GATE Life sciences 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
Structure of GATE Life Sciences syllabus
XL-P Chemistry Syllabus (compulsory)
| Section 1 | Atomic Structure and Periodicity |
| Section 2 | Structure and Bonding |
| Section 3 | s, p and d Block Elements |
| Section 4 | Chemical Equilibria |
| Section 5 | Electrochemistry |
| Section 6 | Reaction Kinetics |
| Section 7 | Thermodynamics |
| Section 8 | Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Organic Reaction Mechanisms |
| Section 9 | Chemistry of Biomolecules |
XL-Q Biochemistry Syllabus
| Section 1 | Organization of life |
| Section 2 | Enzyme kinetics |
| Section 3 | Biochemical separation techniques |
| Section 4 | Cell structure and organelles |
| Section 5 | DNA replication, transcription and translation |
| Section 6 | Immune system |
XL-R Botany Syllabus
| Section 1 | Plant Systematics |
| Section 2 | Plant Anatomy |
| Section 3 | Plant development; cell and tissue morphogenesis |
| Section 4 | Plant physiology and biochemistry |
| Section 5 | Genetics and genomics |
| Section 6 | Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing |
| Section 7 | Economic and applied Botany |
| Section 8 | Plant Pathology |
| Section 9 | Ecology and Environment |
XL-S Microbiology Syllabus
| Section 1 | Historical Perspective |
| Section 2 | Methods in Microbiology |
| Section 3 | Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity |
| Section 4 | Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function |
| Section 5 | Microbial Growth |
| Section 6 | Control of Micro-organisms |
| Section 7 | Microbial Metabolism |
| Section 8 | Microbial Diseases and Host Pathogen Interaction |
| Section 9 | Chemotherapy/Antibiotics |
| Section 10 | Microbial Genetics |
| Section 11 | Microbial Ecology |
XL-T Zoology Syllabus
| Section 1 | Animal Diversity |
| Section 2 | Evolution |
| Section 3 | Genetics |
| Section 4 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| Section 5 | Cell Biology |
| Section 6 | Gene expression in Eukaryotes |
| Section 7 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology |
| Section 8 | Parasitology and Immunology |
| Section 9 | Development Biology |
| Section 10 | Ecology |
| Section 11 | Animal Behavior |
XL-U Food Technology Syllabus
| Section 1 | Food Chemistry and Nutrition |
| Section 2 | Food Microbiology |
| Section 3 | Food Products Technology |
| Section 4 | Food Engineering |
For detailed syllabus – GATE Life Sciences Syllabus
GATE Life Sciences Books and Study Material
Choose best Study Material and Books which will be very useful for you in qualifying the exam.
Check Books for GATE Life Sciences Preparation & Study Material
GATE Life Sciences Previous Years Question Paper PDF
Previous years questions papers will be very useful for understanding the exam pattern, finding important topics and for practice.
Here at Zero Vigyan Life Sciences we provide the previous year’s question papers of GATE Life Sciences and Mock Test Papers.
Check here the GATE Life Sciences Previous Years Question Papers