XL or Life sciences for GATE has Aptitude and Chemistry as common subjects.1. Aptitude includes basic quantitative questions and English (undergraduate level) questions. You can prepare it from R.S. Aggarwal book. The concept tested here are high school level and going once through the main questions in the book is enough for quants. The toughness of English tested in GATE will depend on your overall English sense. If you have a good knowledge and you read a lot, I think it will be okayish for you. Otherwise, I would not suggest you waste a lot of time for this section.You can also check out the Aptitude Course on EduRev - https://edurev.in/courses/5594_General-Aptitude-for-GATE-20172. Chemistry: A lot of my friends gave XL and their preparation mode was 11th and 12th esoteric chemistry books. If you are through with the chemistry syllabus from these classes, I think chemistry would be okay too score in.You needn't buy these books, there are class-wise courses of all classes, subjects on EduRev. Just try using the EduRev search. 3. Food Technology: I searched for coaching centers online that provides study material for GATE’s food technology but to no success. The last resort was to rely on the previous years' question papers and to predict the type of questions for the final exam. In the final exam there were a lot of direct questions from food microbiology (like name of organisms e.g. name of the mold for spoilage of some vegetable) and from food engineering (direct formula-based questions e.g. heat transfer for a food material with package for double heating surface p.s. you can refer to 2014 GATE question paper for XE). I would very strongly suggest that you collect all the previous years papers and find the pattern of questions but DO NOT rely on the question pattern, sometimes they surprise you with different questions (like if you see food tech GATE papers before 2014 you will find there are not many questions from microbiology and a lot from enzymes but after that the trend changed).You can find all GATE Past Year Papers in this course of EduRev - https://edurev.in/courses/5620_GATE-Past-Year-Papers-for-Practice-All-Branches-Here are some of the important books that I used for my GATE preparation (some of them are very expensive, so I got them issued from my college library or maybe can find online but these books are very general and I think all the food technology colleges must have them in their library)-1. Food Microbiology- Fraizer (Food Microbiology (English) 5th Edition. This is the go to book for food microbio for any post grad paper. Cram it up ! It will not disappoint you.2. Food Engineering- Introduction to food process Engineering by P.G. Smith3. Dairy Technology- Handbook of Milk Processing, Dairy Products and Packaging Technology (English)4. Other books- Food Science, 5/e PB (English) 5th Edition 5. OUTLINES OF DAIRY TECHNOLOGY (English) 1st Edition

Recommended Books for GATE XL Chemistry Preparation

Preparing for the GATE XL exam in the field of Food Technology requires a comprehensive understanding of various subjects, including chemistry. Here are some recommended books that can aid you in your preparation for the chemistry section of GATE XL:

1. Organic Chemistry:
- "Organic Chemistry" by Paula Yurkanis Bruice: This book provides a clear and detailed explanation of organic chemistry concepts, reactions, and mechanisms. It also includes numerous practice problems to enhance your understanding and problem-solving skills.

2. Inorganic Chemistry:
- "Concise Inorganic Chemistry" by J.D. Lee: This book covers all the essential topics of inorganic chemistry, including atomic structure, periodic properties, coordination compounds, and more. It also offers a wide range of practice questions to help you grasp the concepts effectively.

3. Physical Chemistry:
- "Physical Chemistry" by P.W. Atkins: This book is highly recommended for a thorough understanding of physical chemistry concepts such as thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, chemical kinetics, and spectroscopy. It includes comprehensive explanations and examples to strengthen your problem-solving abilities.

4. Analytical Chemistry:
- "Quantitative Chemical Analysis" by Daniel C. Harris: This book focuses on analytical chemistry principles and techniques, including quantitative analysis, spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemistry. It provides detailed explanations and numerous practice problems to enhance your analytical skills.

5. General Chemistry:
- "General Chemistry" by Darrell D. Ebbing: This book covers the fundamental concepts of general chemistry, including atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, and equilibrium. It also includes practice problems and illustrations to aid your understanding.

Tips for Effective Preparation:
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- Make a study plan and allocate sufficient time for each subject.
- Read the recommended books and take notes to revise important concepts.
- Solve previous years' GATE question papers and mock tests to become familiar with the exam pattern and improve time management.
- Join online forums or study groups to discuss doubts and exchange knowledge with fellow aspirants.
- Regularly revise the topics you have studied to strengthen your understanding and retention.
- Stay updated with current affairs related to food technology and chemistry.

Remember, consistent and focused preparation is the key to success in the GATE XL exam. Good luck with your preparation!