What to Expect in XAT?

Yash Dhamija

Updated On: January 08, 2024 03:15 pm IST | XAT

XAT 2024 was successfully conducted on January 7, 2024. Candidates preparing for the next XAT exam can scroll down to find out the expected questions and difficulty level of the XAT exam.

What to Expect in XAT?

Understanding what to expect from the XAT examis crucial as it enables candidates to plan their preparation efficiently and develop effective strategies. The exam pattern for XAT has remained consistent with the previous year's structure, comprising three parts: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. The second part included mock keyboard testing, while the final part covered General Knowledge questions and Essay Writing.

The total duration of the XAT 2024 was 210 minutes out of which Part 1 continued for 175 minutes, Part 2, which was the Mock Keyboard Testing was for 5 minutes, and Part 3 was 30 minutes. It's essential to note that percentile calculations were considered scores from Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. The overall difficulty level of the XAT 2024 exam ranged from moderate to easy.

In preparation for the XAT exam, it is important to practice using XAT previous year question papers and XAT mock tests. Furthermore, in this article, we will be delving into an analysis to understand what to expect from the XAT exam including the anticipated difficulty level and important strategies to help you succeed in the examination. Which in turn can help aspiring candidates select appropriate study materials, and optimize their performance. 

Also Read:XAT 2024: What to Do 1 Week Before Exam

What is the XAT?

XAT, short for Xavier Aptitude Test, is one of India's largest MBA entrance exams, attracting over 100,000 candidates from various academic backgrounds like Engineering, Commerce, Humanities, Science, and Law, who aspire to join programs at renowned B-schools. It is the primary entrance exam for getting into MBA/PGDM programs at XLRI and several other prestigious MBA colleges like XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, LBSIM Delhi, TAPMI Manipal, and more than 150 other top MBA colleges in India

While XAT has become more manageable over the years, achieving a high percentile (90+) requires dedicated preparation spanning around 4-5 months. For over 72 years, XLRI has conducted this important exam nationwide on behalf of XAMI, helping select the most suitable students for management education. Last year, XLRI held the exam in 72 cities across India.

Highlights of XAT Exam Pattern

The table provided below will help you know the sectional weightage and other aspects of the XAT exam pattern.

Part

Sections

No. of Questions

Total No. of Questions

Duration

Part 1

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

75

175 minutes

Decision Making

22

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

Part 2

Mock Keyboard Testing

-

-

5 minutes

Part 3

General Knowledge

25

25

15 minutes

Essay Writing

1

1

15 minutes

Total

-

102

210 minutes

What to Expect in XAT Question Paper

In XAT, candidates can expect a higher number of questions from Arithmetic and Geometry in the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Analysis section. The Decision-Making section will cover 4-5 sets of high-difficulty. We have provided the expected number of questions from the major topics of the XAT exam in the table below. The table is prepared based on the past year's trends and difficulty level:

Section

Topics

No. Questions (Expected)

Expected Difficulty Level

Verbal and Logical Ability Section Analysis

Reading Comprehension

12

Moderate-Difficult

Critical Reasoning

5

Moderate-Difficult

Para Jumbles

2

Easy-Moderate

Fill in the blanks

2-3

Easy-Moderate

Decision Making

Decision Making Sets

21

Difficult

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Geometry

5-6

Moderate-Difficult

Arithmetic

7-8

Moderate-Difficult

DI Sets

4-5

Easy-Moderate

Modern Maths

1-2

Moderate

Number System/ Arithmetic

7-8

Moderate-Difficult

General Knowledge

National Events/ Sports/ Geography/ Current Affairs

25

Moderate-Difficult

Essay

Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist?

1Moderate

Globalization and Jingoism always coexist

Technology and Nature are natural enemies

Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply.

What to Expect in XAT: Difficulty Level

The difficulty level of the XAT is expected to be moderate to difficult. Candidates can expect the difficulty level of the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section to be higher than the other two sections. The GK section will cover questions from National Events, Sports, Geography, and Current Affairs. Candidates are advised to answer the questions carefully since there will be a negative marking of 0.25. Besides this, if the total number of unattempted questions is higher than 8 then there will be a deduction of 0.10 marks for every unattempted question. The table below shows the expected difficulty level of all the sections of XAT:

Section

Difficulty Level

Verbal and Logical Ability Section Analysis

Moderate-Difficult

Decision Making

Moderate

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Moderate-Difficult

General Knowledge

Moderate

Essay Writing

Moderate

Preparation Guidelines to Ace XAT Question Paper

Since the difficulty level of the XAT is comparatively higher than other MBA entrance exams, good preparation is required to clear the exam. Some of the preparation strategies for XAT 2024 are listed below.

  • You should revise the maximum number of mock test papers to get familiar with the exam structure and marking scheme

  • It would be best if you went through the previous years’ question papers of XAT to get an idea about the difficulty level of the exam

  • You should check the XAT preparation strategies provided by the experts to know tips to score 99 percentile in the XAT exam

  • You should refer to the XAT best books suggested by the previous years’ toppers. You can also download the notes provided by them

  • You should solve the maximum number of questions from some of the important topics of the exam such as Critical Reasoning, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Modern Maths

  • To perform well in the Decision-Making section, you should try to solve the maximum number of XAT sample papers.

Also Read:How to Prepare for XAT 2024 Without Coaching?

Colleges Accepting XAT Score and Expected Cutoff

The XAT Cutoff will be released after the release of XAT result 2024, which is scheduled to be declared on January 31, 2024. The table provided below will help you know the expected cutoff of some of the XAT participating colleges

College

XAT Cutoff Percentile(Expected)

XIM Bhubaneswar

90+

XLRI Jamshedpur

96+

SPJIMR Mumbai

90+

IIHMR University, Jaipur

75+

ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad

80+

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

85+

International Institute of Business Studies, Bangalore

80+

Amity University, Mumbai

85+

BIMTECH Greater Noida

75+

XIME Bangalore

75+

Candidates should also check out the articles mentioned below to learn more about XAT! Success in XAT requires dedicated preparation, spanning several months. The article has also highlighted key strategies for preparation, emphasizing the importance of mock tests, previous year's question papers, and expert guidance. The analysis above has provided valuable insights into what candidates can expect from the XAT examination, including its structure, expected question patterns, and the anticipated difficulty levels in each section. The XAT exam presents both challenges and opportunities for MBA aspirants, and with the right preparation and strategy, candidates can navigate this milestone with confidence and strive for success in their pursuit of management education.

Related Articles:

XAT Last-Minute Tips and Exam Day Guidelines

How to Prepare for XAT Exam in 1 Month

XAT Score vs Percentile 2024

Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT 2024 Score


If you have any queries related to the XAT exam, you can ask them on the Collegedekho QnA Zone. For admission-related assistance, fill out our Common Application Form

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FAQs

How many questions will be asked from General Knowledge in XAT 2024?

The General Knowledge section comprises of 25 MCQ-style questions. The questions are drawn from the most pertinent areas of business, economics, and current affairs, among others. Along with the other three categories, XAT GK questions will be a significant component of the XAT 2024 computer-based online test and the application procedure for XLRI.

What is the overall difficulty level of XAT 2024 exam?

In comparison to XAT 2023, the level of XAT 2024 is anticipated to be a little more challenging. If the XAT's surprise aspect was discussed in relation to Bulls Eye's XAT analysis from the previous year, it would be that the essay writing portion had been reinstated. Data Interpretation (DI) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were both moderately challenging.

What are the preparation strategies for XAT 2024?

To thoroughly prepare for the XAT 2024 exam, it is necessary to go over the whole curriculum for each of the four exam sections—General Knowledge (GK), Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QADI). Following are some general preparation suggestions:

  • To fully comprehend the exam format and degree of difficulty, solve the problem set.
  • To correctly respond to the questions, fully assess your strengths and limitations.
  • Divide the time allotted for each portion of the exam in your XAT preparation program.
  • Know the XAT Exam Pattern well and out. To gain a general idea of how much time will be allotted for each section of this exam, look through the table below.

Is there any specific order in which one has to answer questions in XAT 2024 exam?

In each part of the XAT 2024, there will be 22–27 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with five possible answers. The General Knowledge (GK), Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QADI) sections of the XAT 2024 question paper must be finished in Part 1 within 175 minutes, and the GK questions and essay must be finished in Part 2 within 30 minutes. In the first phase, candidates may move between sections at any time during the allotted 175 minutes.

Is XAT tougher than CAT?

The different subjects and parts are one of the main distinctions between the CAT and XAT syllabuses. DM and GK are different components on the XAT exam, however, neither is present in the CAT exam. The XAT Vs CAT difficulty level is another significant distinction. XAT is thought to be a little more challenging than CAT.

What type of General Knowledge questions are asked in the XAT exam?

Most of the questions in the General Knowledge section of XAT are from Static GK. Questions in the XAT General Knowledge part are based on both static GK and contemporary current affairs, including questions on business, economics, organizations, and science and technology. The past XAT GK exams show that the XAT GK portion assesses both your static GK and your current affairs knowledge.

Are 6 months enough for XAT preparation?

The amount of preparation time needed for the XAT exam varies vastly from one aspirant to another. We all know that the Xavier Aptitude Test, or XAT, is one of the most difficult MBA entry examinations, and six months of preparation may not be sufficient. Having said that, even six months might be plenty with diligent labor and astute planning.

What is a good number of attempts in the XAT exam?

The XAT exam paper analysis and good attempts are provided by many top coaching institutes and experts for the XAT exam. Here is the expected number of good attempts in XAT 2024:

  • Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) - 13-14
  • Decision Making (DM) - 12-13
  • Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QADI) - 16-18

What is the required XAT percentile for admission to XLRI?

The cutoff trends for XLRI will be similar to that of XAT 2023. For the PGDM BM program, the XAT cutoff for male candidates in 2023 was 93 percentile, compared to 90 percentile for female candidates. The XAT sectional cutoffs for each category ranged from 72 to 80 percentile. Those who fulfill the XAT 2024 cutoffs are eligible to participate in the PI round of XLRI admission.

Is cracking the XAT 2024 exam possible without coaching?

It is possible to pass the XAT exam without using any coaching facilities. Following some preparation suggestions can make preparation successful at home. It is possible to prepare for the XAT 2024 exam without coaching if a candidate is consistent with their study routine and follows an effective examination strategy that works for them during XAT 2024.

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