XLRI Jamshedpur conducts the Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT annually, and its scores are accepted by over 100 colleges to shortlist candidates for admission. Among all MBA entrance exams, XAT is considered the most challenging. Therefore, having a well-planned strategy is essential to succeed. Read the article to discover the top 10 tips to crack the XAT exam. XAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted on the first week of January 2026.
XAT preparation is not much different as compared to CAT. However, it is considered that the CAT question paper is more difficult than the XAT exam, considering the syllabus and CAT exam pattern. You must have to manage your time in the right way during the examination.
XAT 2026 exam total duration is 180 minutes or three hours. It comprises five main sections, that is Verbal & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, and Analytical Essay Writing. Every question carries one mark, with a penalty of 0.25 marks for incorrect answers and 0.10 marks deducted for more than eight un-attempted questions. The complete XAT exam pattern is discussed in the table below:
| Exam Structure | XAT Exam Pattern |
| No. of Sections | 5 Sections along with Mock Keyboard Testing to test typing speed Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning Decision-making Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation General Knowledge Analytical Essay Writing |
| Exam Duration | 205 minutes (+5 mins) PwD candidates will get an additional 20 minutes for every hour. |
| No. of Questions | 95+1 AEW |
| XAT Total Marks | 95 |
| Language of Paper | English |
| No. of Answer Choices | Five |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for a correct response -0.25 marks for incorrect response -0.10 marks for over 8 un-attempted consecutive questions No negative marking for the GK section |
Understanding the new marking pattern of XAT exam is essential before you start your preparation for it. The exam duration has been reduced to 180 minutes from the previous 210 minutes and is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Aptitude Test (170 minutes)
Part 2: General Knowledge (10 minutes)
Unlike previous years, the essay writing section has been removed from the exam but will be conducted during the XLRI selection process. The table below summarises the section-wise marks distribution of XAT 2026.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time (minutes) |
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) | 26 | 170 |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 20 | 10 |
| Total | 95 | 180 |
Vandan Shah, who secured 99.7 percentile in XAT 2020, shared his section-wise preparation strategy. Check out the table below for the section-wise XAT preparation strategy:
For VALR: This section of the XAT exam is considered to be tougher than other sections. Lots of questions are inference based as you can see from the past year?s trends. Here is a sample of VALR question of XAT 2025 for your understanding:
Question:
Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence:
"Neither the manager nor the employees is willing to accept the proposed changes."
A) No error
B) Neither the manager nor the employees
C) is willing to accept
D) the proposed changes
Answer: B (It should be "are willing" instead of "is willing" since "employees" is plural.)
For DM: Try solving past year?s questions regularly and analyse how your thinking is different from or aligns with the answer key. Here is a sample of DM question of XAT 2025 for your understanding:
Question:
A company has recently experienced a decline in employee morale due to a new policy limiting remote work. As an HR manager, which of the following would be the most balanced response?
A) Repeal the policy immediately to restore morale.
B) Conduct a survey to gather employee feedback and analyse the concerns.
C) Enforce the policy strictly, emphasizing productivity benefits.
D) Offer incentives to employees who comply without complaint.
Answer: B (A survey helps gather insights and allows for a balanced decision.)
For QA & DI: This section is quite similar to the other management examinations, such as CAT. You just have to practice questions, which will help you to get the job done. Here is a sample of QA & DI question of XAT 2025 for your understanding:
Question:
A train travels 240 km in 4 hours and then reduces its speed by 20 km/h, covering the next 160 km in 4 hours. What was the train's initial speed?
A) 50 km/h
B) 60 km/h
C) 55 km/h
D) 70 km/h
Answer: B (Initial speed = 240 km / 4 hours = 60 km/h)
For GK: The GK section will consist of 8 questions covering static GK, while the other 12 will focus on current affairs. Here is a sample of GK question of XAT 2025 for your understanding:
Question:
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023?
A) Maria Ressa
B) Narges Mohammadi
C) Malala Yousafzai
D) Abiy Ahmed
Answer: B (Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023.)
To prepare for the XAT 2026, you must refer to the books below, suggested by experts and toppers:
These are some best books to prepare for the XAT QA & DI:
| Books for XAT QA & DI | Authors |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination | R.S. Aggarwal |
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation | Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination | Abhijit Guha |
These are some best books to prepare for the XAT VA & LR section:
| Books for XAT VA & LR | Authors |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | Ajay Singh |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Analytical Reasoning | MK Pandey |
These are some best books to prepare for the XAT DM section:
| Books for XAT DM | Authors |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | Arihant Publications |
| Target XAT 2025 (Past papers & Mock tests) | Disha experts |
| Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) | R.K Jha |
You should focus on History, Geography, Politics, Science & Technology, etc. You can read newspapers, magazines, and journals while preparing for the General Knowledge section of XAT.
Ans: Time management is crucial for XAT 2026 candidates given the challenging structure of the exam with multiple sections that assess different skills within a limited timeframe. Here’s why it matters:
1. Efficient Coverage of Sections: Managing your time well ensures you cover all sections — Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Knowledge — without neglecting any part.
2. Improved Accuracy and Speed: Practicing with time constraints helps you enhance both speed and accuracy, reducing the chances of errors during the actual exam.
3. Balanced Sectional Performance: Since each section has its own weightage, proper time allocation during practice ensures you don’t overinvest time in one section at the expense of another.
4. Better Decision-Making: Effective time management allows you to decide which questions to attempt first and which ones to skip, maximizing your score.
5. Stress Reduction: Having a structured time management strategy reduces anxiety and enhances confidence, allowing you to remain calm under exam pressure.
6. Mock Test Optimization: By timing your practice tests, you can simulate real exam conditions and refine your strategy for better results.
In short, mastering time management during your XAT preparation can significantly boost your chances of achieving a competitive score.
Ans: Although both CAT and XAT are challenging, XAT is often considered slightly tougher due to its distinct sections like Decision Making and General Knowledge, along with longer and more complex passages in the Verbal section compared to CAT.
Here's a more detailed analysis on why XAT is perceived as tougher than CAT:
Decision Making Section: This section is unique to XAT and requires a strong logical and analytical approach, which can be challenging for some candidates.
Longer Passages in Verbal: The XAT's verbal section features longer passages compared to CAT, which can be time-consuming and require better comprehension skills.
Quantitative Aptitude: Some find the quantitative aptitude section of XAT to be more challenging than CAT.
General Knowledge Section: XAT includes a General Knowledge section, which requires a broader understanding of current and static affairs, unlike CAT.
Ans: Try solving a minimum of 4 to 5 papers of all types of questions. You can also start shortcut ways to solve your programs. It helps to complete all the questions within the given time.
Ans: You should be confident while attempting the questions of XAT 2026. You should start with the sections that you are most comfortable with. This exam has negative markings for wrong answers, so it will be better to skip the questions than to guess and risk losing marks. Make sure to check and recheck the answers in each section.
Ans: You must prepare various multiple-choice questions from all four sections of XAT. You can refer to the mock test paper and the previous year’s question paper to know what type of questions will be asked.
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