XAT 2025 PATTERN & SYLLABUS
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XAT Exam Pattern 2023 has been revised by XLRI. This year, XLRI has introduced a mock keyboard test of 5 minutes in part 2 and shifted the GK and essay writing sections in part 3 of the paper. Also, the number of questions is increased in the DM section from 21 to 22.
XAT Exam Pattern has been updated and as per the new paper pattern, there are 3 parts in XAT 2023 exam. XAT Exam pattern has undergone the below-mentioned important changes:
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XAT Verbal Ability Preparation | XAT Decision Making Preparation | XAT Quant Preparation |
Feature | Details |
---|---|
XAT Exam Mode | Computer Based Test |
Total Number of Questions | 105 |
Total Marks | 100 (Essay writing section will be evaluated only if the candidates get shortlisted for the PI round) |
XAT Exam Sections | Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
|
Duration of XAT Exam | 210 minutes (3.30 hours) |
Sectional Time Limit | Yes, Part 1- 175 minutes, Part 2- 5 minutes, and Part 3- 30 minutes |
Medium of XAT Exam | English |
Type of Questions | MCQs |
Number of Answer Choices | 5 |
XAT Marking Pattern |
|
Questions without Negative Marking | No Negative Marking for GK Section |
XAT Exam Sections Included in Percentile Calculation | 3 sections only: GK is not considered for percentile calculation |
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As per XAT paper pattern, XAT test paper is divided into three parts.
The sectional XAT exam pattern is given below including the number of questions and the time duration:
Part | Section Name | Max. Questions | Max. Marks | Time Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Part 1 | Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 | 175 minutes |
Decision Making | 22 | 22 | ||
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | ||
Part 2 | Mock Keyboard Testing | - | - | 5 minutes |
Part 3 | General Knowledge | 25 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Essay Writing | 3 (1 to be attempted) | Essay will be evaluated after the candidates is shortlisted for the PI round. | ||
Total | - | 105 | 100 | 210 minutes |
The Verbal and Logical Ability section of XAT 2023 comprises 26 objective-type questions.
Considered one of the prominent sections in XAT exam pattern, candidates should score fairly well in decision making to make it to XLRI.
Check XAT Syllabus for Decision Making
A total of 28 questions will be asked from the Quant and DI section as per the latest XAT exam pattern. There will be individual questions along with DI sets.
Check XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
XAT GK section is the most dynamic as there is no defined set of questions that can be asked. The scope of XAT GK questions is vast and needs rigorous preparation.
CheckXAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
XAT Essay Writing section was reintroduced in 2022 after 3 years. XLRI had removed the essay section in 2019.
Year | XAT Exam Essay Topics |
---|---|
2022 |
|
2018 | Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist? |
2017 | Globalization and Jingoism always coexist |
2016 | Technology and Nature are natural enemies |
2015 | Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply. |
2014 | The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt |
2013 | Corruption is the root cause of economic slowdown in India |
2012 | Government is not addressing the root cause of poverty Or, Government is not able to implement the policies properly due to the huge magnitude of poverty |
2011 | The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it. |
2010 | Earth provides enough to satisfy everybody's need but not everybody's greed |
2009 | The Inherent vice of Capitalism is unequal sharing of blessings and the inherent virtue of Socialism is equal sharing of misery |
2008 | Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War |
2007 | Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a reality |
2006 | India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products |
2005 | More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities |
2004 | Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he choose as his master piece, Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect answered, "The next one" |
2003 | To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity and integrity |
XAT exam marking scheme 2023 is the same as last year. Candidates must make note of the following points regarding XAT Marking Scheme 2023:
Number of Questions | 100 |
---|---|
Marks awarded for every correct answer | +1 |
Marks deducted for every wrong answer in XAT VALR, QADI, and DM sections | -0.25 |
Marks deducted for unattempted questions | -0.10 per question for 8 unattempted questions |
Part | Section | Overall & Sectional Exam Duration |
---|---|---|
1 | Verbal & Logical Ability | No Sectional Time Limit |
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | No Sectional Time Limit | |
Decision Making | No Sectional Time Limit | |
Overall Part 1 | 175 minutes | |
2 | Mock Keyboard Testing | 5 minutes |
3 | General Knowledge | No Sectional Time Limit |
Essay Writing | No Sectional Time Limit | |
Overall Part 3 | 30 minutes |
Ques. Is there any negative marking in XAT exam?
Ans. Yes, there is a provision of negative marking in XAT exam. For every incorrect response, 0.25 marks are deducted. However, negative marking is applicable only to the 76 questions in part 1 of the paper. GK section does not have negative marking.
Ques. In which languages is XAT exam conducted?
Ans. XAT exam is conducted only in the English language. All the question in XAT question paper are in english only.
Ques. Which section will have the maximum questions in XAT 2023 question paper?
Ans. Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation section will have the maximum questions in XAT question paper, i.e. 28. VALR, DM, and GK sections will have 26, 22, and 25 questions respectively.
Ques. What will be the format of questions in XAT 2023 exam?
Ans. XAT question paper will comprise 101 MCQs and 1 descriptive essay question. Each question will have 5 options out of which only 1 will be correct.
Ques. What is considered a good attempt in XAT exam?
Ans. The number of good attempts depends on the difficulty level of the exam and XLRI XAT Cut off is generally in the range of 91 to 95. Hence, attempting 60+ questions will be considered a good attempt in a moderate-difficult exam to clear the cut offs.
Changes have been introduced in XAT test pattern and syllabus and hence, It is extremely important to go through the entire syllabus and exam pattern for XAT 2023 to understand the important topics and devise a preparation strategy accordingly. Given below is the section-wise XAT Syllabus 2023:
Sections | Important topics |
---|---|
Decision Making | Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Arrangement of data, Grouping, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Number System, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc. |
Verbal and Logical Ability | Para jumbles, Verbal reasoning, Critical Reasoning, Error Detection, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Fill in the Blanks |
General Knowledge | Management, Important personalities, Science & Technology, Economy, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prizes and Awards, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc |
Essay Writing | A short essay of 250 word on any topic- abstract, social & economic affairs, business & management, current events around the world, national policies, and decision making. |
Check XAT Syllabus 2023 in detail
Books play an important role in preparation for XAT exam. It is very important to choose the right books for preparing according to the latest XAT exam pattern and ensure comprehensive preparation for XAT 2023 test. Given below are some recommended books as per the updated paper pattern and syllabus for candidates preparing for XAT 2023.
Book name | Author |
---|---|
How to Prepare for VARC for CAT | Arun Sharma |
Verbal Ability and Comprehension for XAT | Bharat Patodi |
MBA (XAT, IIFT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT) | Gautam Puri |
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R S Aggarwal |
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
Koncepts of LR – Logical Reasoning for CAT, XAT, CMAT, Bank PO & Other Aptitude Tests | Gajendra Verma |
Book name | Author |
---|---|
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R S Aggarwal |
How to Prepare for QA for CAT | Arun Sharma |
Quantitative Aptitude Simplified for XAT | Deepak Agarwal |
Concepts of Numbers for XAT and Other Aptitude exams (Old Edition) | Gajendra Kumar |
Quantum CAT | S K Verma |
Books play an important role in the life of students. It is very important to choose the right books for proper preparation. Given below are some recommended books for candidates preparing for XAT 2023:
Book name | Author |
---|---|
Lucent’s Objective General Knowledge | Lucents |
General Knowledge | Arihant |
IIFT & XAT (GK Compendium) | Career Launcher |
Target XAT (Past Papers + 5 Mock Tests) | Disha Publications |
XAT Solved Papers 2008-2022 | Career Launcher |
Jabbing the XAT | R.K Jha |
Reading magazines is a fun way to boost your vocabulary and stay updated with topics for general awareness.
Check Best Books for XAT Preparation 2023 (Section Wise)
Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Questions | 101 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 98 | 98 | 104 |
Duration | 3 hours 10 minutes | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
Mode of Exam | Online | Online | Online | Online | Online | Offline | Offline |
Type of Questions | 100 MCQs + 1 Descriptive Essay | 100 MCQs | 100 MCQs | 99 MCQs | 97 MCQs + 1 Descriptive | 97 MCQs + 1 Descriptive | 103 MCQs + 1 Descriptive |
Answer Options | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Level of Difficulty | Moderate to High | Moderate to High | Moderate to High | Moderate to High | Moderate to High | Moderate to High | High |
Total Sections | 3+2 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 3+2 | 3+2 | 3+2 |
Distribution of Questions | VALR- 26 DM- 21 QADI- 28 GK- 25 Essay- 1 | VALR – 26 DM – 21 QA & DI – 28 GK – 25 | VALR - 26 DM - 21 QA & DI - 28 GK - 25 | VALR - 26 DM - 21 QA & DI - 27 GK - 25 | VALR - 24 DM - 21 QA & DI - 27 GK - 25 Essay- 1 | VALR - 24 DM - 21 QA & DI - 27 GK - 25 Essay- 1 | VALR - 26 DM - 23 QA & DI - 29 GK - 25 Essay- 1 |
Marks deducted for unattempted questions | 0.10 marks per question are deducted for more than 8 unattempted questions | 0.10 marks per question are deducted for more than 8 unattempted questions | 0.10 marks per question are deducted for more than 8 unattempted questions | 0.05 marks per question are deducted for more than 8 unattempted questions | 0.05 marks per question are deducted for more than 8 unattempted questions | 0.05 marks per question are deducted for more than 12 unattempted questions | 0.05 marks per question are deducted for more than 13 unattempted questions |
Going through the analysis of XAT paper is essential to get an idea of the difficulty level of every section, XAT paper pattern, and the number of good attempts:
Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | Suggested Time (in minutes) |
---|---|---|---|
Verbal & Logical Ability | Moderate | 14-15 | 35-40 |
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Moderate-Difficult | 16-18 | 40-45 |
Decision Making | Moderate | 11-14 | 40-45 |
General Awareness | Moderate | 9-11 | 10-15 |
Essay | Moderate | - | 15-20 |
Total | Moderate | 50-58 | 210 |
Check the detailed section-wise analysis of XAT previous years’ paper
Check XAT Preparation Tips and Study Plan
Important Instructions for XAT 2023 Exam
Candidates have to follow the instructions while taking the XAT Exam. The instructions are important for the changed XAT exam pattern and will help you to take the computer-based exam easily.
Candidates can change their response to another option if needed. Also, you can answer the questions in any sequence but you can see only one question at a time. There are a few more instructions that should be taken into consideration are:
On-Screen Feature | Interpretation |
---|---|
Yellow | The question hasn't been answered and kept for review |
Purple | The question has been answered and marked for review |
White | The question hasn't been answered |
Green | The question has been answered |
Most of the selections made by the candidate will be in autosave mode. You must make sure that questions marked for review or attempted will be considered attempted unless you use the ‘erase’ option on them. After finishing the exam you can use the ‘Preview Submit’ Button to view their responses. Candidates can only leave the exam hall after the completion of 190 minutes.
XLRI releases the official XAT 2023 mock test on the official website. The questions give a fair idea about what can be expected in XAT exam. This paper has a time duration of 210 minutes. The sections include Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, and Essay Writing. Practicing XAT 2023 Mock Paper, along with the sample papers, helps you enhance your speed and accuracy. They help you manage your time properly.
Check XAT Mock Test
Ques. Have any changes been introduced in the overall XAT exam pattern compared to last year?
Ans. The overall exam pattern for XAT has undergone certain changes like:
Ques. What is the syllabus for the GK section of XAT? How do I prepare for it?
Ans. GK questions for XAT can be based on Politics, History, Sports, Nation and States, Business, Literature, Economics, International Relations, Society. To prepare for the same, candidates must devote some time to current affairs every day, leaving the GK to section preparation for the last is a mistake that most candidates commit and it causes unnecessary stress. Candidates can read newspapers or watch daily current affairs on various news channels to remain updated. Good command over GK will be immensely helpful for the Group Discussion round. Check XAT Syllabus
Ques. Will the candidates be able to choose the order of attempting sections during XAT exam?
Ans. Yes, the applicants can choose any section in Part 1 of XAT question paper, to begin with. However, the GK section can be attempted by the candidates after they’re done with the first 3 sections in part 1.
Ques. Will there be an essay section in XAT 2023?
Ans. Yes, XAT 2023 will have the essay writing section. Essay Section was removed from XAT Exam Pattern in 2019 but it was reintroduced in XAT 2022 exam.
Ques. What will be the duration of XAT 2023 exam?
Ans. XAT 2023 exam duration will be 3 hours 30 minutes- 175 minutes for Part 1 (VARC, DM, and Quant), 5 minutes for Part 2, and 30 minutes for Part 3 comprising GK & Essay Writing sections. Candidates must note that there will be no sectional time limit for the 3 sections in Part 1 of XAT question paper 2023.
Ques. Will there be any sectional time limit as per the latest XAT test pattern?
Ans. First, 3 sections have to be completed in 175 minutes, while 30 minutes will be given for the GK & Essay section. Apart from this division in time, there is no separate time limit for VARC, DM, and Quant sections in Part 1 of the paper.
Ques. Will the candidates have access to an on-screen calculator?
Ans. No, the candidates will not be given access to the on-screen calculator. Hence, candidates must practice calculations well and make sure that they go through the short tricks for faster calculation. Being thorough with topics like Divisibility, squares & square roots, cubes & cube roots, ratio-percentage conversions, profit & loss formulas, alligations, and Number system concepts help in doing calculations in a short amount of time.
Ques. What sections will be there in XAT 2023 exam?
Ans. As per the updated XAT Exam Pattern, the 2023 exam will comprise these sections:
Ans. If your profile is suitable for the specialization that you have opted for and you didn’t get a call based on your profile, then a CAT score of 95-96 can get you a call. But it is not necessarily true that everyone with a score of around 96+ will get a score-based call. They evaluate profiles too for shortlisting. 96-97 is a decent score for XAT. A score above 98 in either of these two should get you a call. Read more
Ans. Some XAT aspirants might have already been receiving calls from IIMs before they write XAT. While the others who did not will be all the more determined to qualify XAT. Yes, it will be an advantage to all students appearing for XAT because they will know where they stand. Most of the people who get really good scores in CAT rarely sit for XAT. Read more
Ans. Yes, as the questions are a bit more difficult than CAT in both quant and English. VARC can be a bit difficult, if you have not focussed on topics of critical reasoning and decision making in your class. Quant sees a number of questions from inequality, progression, boolean algebra, PnC and the general level is higher than CAT. The percentile-score balance and cut-offs for top 5 colleges which accept XAT scores, have low requirements. People aren't able to get those scores also because the exam is tough. XAT is easier because it is largely predictable. CAT is famous for being very unpredictable. So XAT is tougher than CAT by the level of questions asked. But as their paper is largely predictable it makes it comparatively easier to attempt. Read more
Ans. JBIMS is a well-known management institute located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The cut-off for JBIMS through CAT, XAT, and CET for Maharashtra people varies each year and depends on various factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, etc. Here are some approximate cut-off scores for JBIMS through CAT, XAT, and CET for Maharashtra people: CAT: The approximate cut-off percentile for JBIMS through CAT for Maharashtra candidates is 95+ percentile. XAT: The approximate cut-off percentile for JBIMS through XAT for Maharashtra candidates is 85+ percentile. CET: The approximate cut-off score for JBIMS through CET for Maharashtra candidates is 135+ out of 200. These are approximate cut-offs, and the actual cut-offs may vary from year to year. Also, meeting the cut-off is just the first step towards getting into JBIMS, and the selection process involves several other factors such as academic performance, work experience, group discussion, and personal interviews. It is advisable to prepare well and aim for a high percentile or score to increase your chances of getting admission to JBIMS. Read more
Ans. SPJIMR According to the information available, the expected cutoff for SP Jain Institute of Management for both profile-based and normal calls through CAT and XAT is not released yet. So I will base the answer on last year's cutoff XAT: 93.5 percentile CAT: 85 percentile However itâs important to note that for more certainty of admission, one must score around 93-95%ile score and a 680-690 min on GMAT. XIMB The XLRI admission cut-off is directly influenced by the difficulty level of the XAT question paper. XAT 2023 exam was held on January 8, 2023. The question paper was of moderate difficulty level, the same as last year. Given below are the section-wise XAT cut-off for XLRI admission 2023: General Engineers (BM) 95 Male 92 Female General Non Engineer (BM) 95 Male 92 Female General Engineers (HRM) 93 Male 91 Female General Non Engineers (HRM) 90 Male 88 Female XIMB CAT cutoff for the previous year was 91 percentile for Business Management and HRM cutoff hasnât been released yet. Read more
Ans. JBIMS, Mumbai is a highly respected management institute in India that offers a variety of programs including MHRD, MMS, M.Sc Finance, and Part-time MBA. Admissions to JBIMS MMS are divided into two categories: "Maharashtra State Candidates" and "Other than Maharashtra State Candidates." For candidates from Maharashtra, the MAH CET score is considered, while for candidates from outside Maharashtra, JBIMS accepts CAT/MAH CET/CMAT/GMAT scores. Shortlisted candidates are required to attend the CAP conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell. JBIMS only accepts valid MAH-CET scores for admission to its full-time MMS course, which is affiliated with Mumbai University. In the previous year, the highest cutoff for MAH-CET 2021 was 99.97%, recorded by JBIMS. For round 2 of MAH-CET, the score was recorded as 99.95%. MAH-CET releases cutoffs with merit lists for two distinct categories, the Maharashtra State (MH) category and the All India (AI) category, following a normalization method. Read more
Ans. IMI Delhi accepts only CAT/GMAT scores. The expected XAT cutoff for the rest of colleges are as follows: B-School Expected XAT cutoff IMI Kolkata 60 Fore Delhi 86.5 KJ Somaiya 70-73 TAPMI 85 Read more
Ans. There are no such qualifying marks for XAT. You need to clear the required cutoff of the particular institutes to be shortlisted. Here is the XAT cutoff 2022 for various institutes. Institute XAT cutoff percentile XLRI BM- 90-93 HRM - 87-92 XIMB 90-93 SPJIMR Mumbai 93-95 KJ Somaiya 85-90 IMT Ghaziabad 90-92 TAPMI Manipal 80-85 GIM Goa 85-90 MICA Ahmedabad 80-85 Grate Lakes Institute of Management 80-85 These are the expected cutoff based on last years cutoff trends. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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