XAT Syllabus 2026 - Overview
The XAT exam syllabus is just as extensive as the CAT Syllabus. Similar to CAT, it does not have an official XAT syllabus 2026, which gives the convening body some flexibility while setting the paper. Before covering the XAT 2026 syllabus, it is advisable for all XAT takers to be aware of the XAT Exam Pattern 2026, which has to be carefully looked at.
XAT Exam Syllabus 2026 is comprised of four main sections that are to be looked at thoroughly:
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge
As mentioned above, the XAT Syllabus has not been explicitly released by XLRI Jamshedpur, which convenes the XAT. However, the previous XAT papers can be used as a guideline for the types of questions asked as well as the topics that are generally tested in the XAT Exam. To prepare according to the XAT Syllabus, we need to look at the syllabus according to the sections.
Here is the breakdown of the XAT syllabus 2026 for your reference:
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XAT Exam Syllabus 2026
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XAT Exam Sections
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Relevant Topics
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Verbal and Logical Ability
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Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc.
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Decision Making
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Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc.
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
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Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc.
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General Knowledge
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Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc.
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XAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The XAT marking scheme for XAT 2026 is expected to be on similar lines as of XAT 2025, which is as follows:
- +1/-0.25 for every correct and incorrect attempt.
- For every unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions, 0.10 marks are reduced per unattempted question.
Due to this rule of not leaving more than 8 questions unattempted, the candidates must be extremely strategic in the questions they decide to leave.
XAT Syllabus 2026 - Tentative Exam Timeline
The XAT 2026 exam date will be announced by XLRI on the official website with the release of XAT notification 2026. However, based on the previous trends, we have jotted down the tentative schedule, and important dates of XAT 2026 are mentioned in the table below for your reference:
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XAT 2026 Events
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XAT Exam Dates (Tentative Timeline)
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XAT 2026 registration starts
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Second week of July 2025
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XAT 2026 registration ends
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First week of December 2025
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Release of XAT admit card 2026
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Last week of December 2025
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XAT exam 2026
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First Sunday of January 2025
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XAT 2026 answer key release and challenge
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Second week of January 2025
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XAT 2026 result announcement
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Third week of January, 2026
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To stay updated on all the latest information on XAT 2026, visit XAT 2026 Notifications
XAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics
Understanding the XAT exam syllabus is crucial for effective preparation. Similar to other management entrance tests, the XAT syllabus 2026 comprises four main sections:
- General English
- Analytical and Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative, DI, and Data Sufficiency
- General Knowledge
This understanding allows candidates to practice effectively for the exam. Here is the section-wise analysis of the XAT syllabus 2026 given below:
XAT Syllabus For Verbal & Logical Ability 2026
This section is a combination of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) & Logical Reasoning. It consists of three distinct sections for preparation purposes:
XAT Verbal Ability Syllabus
This part of the Verbal & Logical Ability Section is similar to the VA section in CAT Exam. Thus, the topics that are generally tested in the XAT Exam and hence are considered part of the XAT 2026 syllabus are:
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XAT Syllabus For Verbal Ability
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Vocabulary Based Questions
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Fill in the blanks
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Synonyms/ Antonyms
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Contextual Meaning of Words
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Jumbled paragraphs
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Correction of Errors in Sentences
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Correct Usage of Words
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Completion of Sentences
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Completion of Paragraph
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Cloze Test
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Poem
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XAT Syllabus For Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension holds less weight in the XAT exam than in the VARC section of the CAT exam, but it remains significant. As with CAT, all topics are included in XAT Exam, and passages are constrained by a limited word count. However, this brevity doesn't necessarily make the passages easier to read.
The types of questions asked in the RC section according to XAT VARC syllabus are as follows:
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XAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus
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Information-Based Question
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Author's View type of question
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Inference based Question
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Main Idea and Purpose of the Passage
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True/False Statements based on the Passage
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Explanation of Words/Phrases in the Passage
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XAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus
The Logical Reasoning section in the XAT 2026 Syllabus is mostly covered by the CAT Syllabus. There are generally few questions for this section in the XAT Exam. It also includes some Critical Reasoning Questions, which are generally not asked in the CAT Exam.
The topics generally tested in the Logical Reasoning part according to the XAT Syllabus 2026 are:
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XAT Syllabus For Logical Reasoning
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Clocks & Calendars
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Analogy
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Fact, Inference and Judgment
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Binary Logic
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Seating Arrangement
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Blood Relations
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Logical Sequences
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Assumption, Premise and Conclusion
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Note: The Logical Reasoning Questions in XAT 2026 Exam could be in the form of sets or individual questions.
XAT Syllabus For Decision Making 2026
The Decision Making section is unique to the XAT Exam in comparison to all other MBA Entrance Exams. It tests the candidate on their presence of mind and ability to read the situation so that the candidate's problem-solving/case-solving skills can be tested. The number of questions in this section varies from paper to paper.
The topics which are generally tested in this section according to the XAT Syllabus 2026 are:
- Conditioning and Grouping Tests
- Data Arrangement Test
- Complex Arrangement
- Decision Making in a situation
- Caselets
To prepare for the Decision Making Section of the XAT Exam Syllabus, the candidates are encouraged to solve as many XAT Exam Papers of the Past as possible. This will ensure that the candidates are familiar with not only the topics of the section but also the language of the XAT Exam.
XAT Syllabus For Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation 2026
This section is a combination of two sections of CAT: Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. This is basically to check your analytical and problem-solving skills.
XAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus
The XAT Syllabus for the Quantitative Ability section is similar to that of the CAT Syllabus. According to the previous XAT Papers which determine the XAT Syllabus, the topics generally tested are:
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XAT Syllabus For Quantitative Ability
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LCM and HCF
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Percentages
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Profit and Loss
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SI & CI
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Time, Speed & Distance
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Time and Work
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Averages
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Ratio and Proportion
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Number System
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Algebra
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Geometry
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Mensuration
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Venn diagrams
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Modern Maths
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Complex Numbers
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Logarithm
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Progressions
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Binomial Theorem
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Surds and Indices
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Inequalities
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Permutation and Combination
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Probability Functions
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Set Theory
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Mixtures & Allegations
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Linear Equations
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Quadratic Equations
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Trigonometry
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Given the extensive nature of the XAT Exam Syllabus in the Quantitative section, it is important to start the preparation as soon as possible. The level of difficulty of the XAT questions is tougher than that of the CAT questions, which is why knowing the basics is not enough.
Candidates would benefit if they study for the Quantitative Ability section with XAT in mind rather than CAT so that they can get accustomed to that level of difficulty.
XAT Syllabus For Data Interpretation
The Data Interpretation section of the XAT syllabus is an essential part of the exam. This assesses the candidate's ability to understand, analyze, and interpret data presented in various forms. Below mentioned is the XAT Syllabus for the Data Interpretation section, which generally consists of the following:
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XAT Data Interpretation Syllabus
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Data Tables
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Data Charts
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Bar Diagrams
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Pie Charts
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Graphs
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Data Analysis and Comparison
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The Questions are generally in the form of sets, like in CAT; however, individual questions may also be asked on occasion.
XAT Syllabus For General Knowledge (GK)
This is another section that CAT does not test. However, despite the presence of the section, the XAT percentiles are calculated based on the first 3 sections. The XAT syllabus in this section is extremely vast, including current affairs and conventional GK (trivia). The topics which are regularly asked in this section include:
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XAT General Knowledge Syllabus
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Economics and Finance
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National and International Current Affairs
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Constitution of India and Laws
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Capitals and Currencies
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Famous Personalities
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XAT Preparation Tips 2026
Preparing for XAT 2026 isn't a piece of cake; it will require proper time and commitment. Although there aren't any hard and fast rules for acing any exam, it totally depends on the capability of the test taker. However, in order to enhance and expedite your XAT preparation 2026, we have curated a few tips suggested by top CAT experts, as follows:
- Candidates should start preparing six to eight months before the exam date.
- Much like CAT, candidates should first lay the foundation of the various concepts and complete the XAT exam syllabus.
- After the candidates are more confident in their XAT preparation, they should begin giving mock exams to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
- Another habit that candidates must inculcate in their routine is staying up to date with current affairs, garnering general knowledge and polishing writing skills.
- Candidates can also rely on the most recent XAT study material and coaching classes to understand the paper properly and gather insights.
Best Books For XAT Preparation 2026
Books can indeed be invaluable companions, especially when preparing for an entrance test with no specific syllabus. Finding the right books is crucial for effective preparation in such cases.
Therefore, here are some of the books that you can refer to for your XAT 2026 preparation:
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Best Books For XAT Preparation 2026
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XAT Prepaartion Books
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Author
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High School English Grammar
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Wren and Martin
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A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
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R.S. Aggarwal
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
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Ajay Singh
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9th and 10th Grammar Books
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A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning
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R.S. Aggarwal
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
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Gautam Puri
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Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations
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RS Aggarwal
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Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations
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Abhijit Guha
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Conclusion
The XAT Exam is recognized as one of the toughest MBA Entrance Exams due to its high difficulty level. This difficulty can benefit candidates in preparing for other MBA entrance exams. The first three sections carry the most weight in terms of pattern and percentile calculation. All sections are equally important due to their similar numbers of questions and sectional cutoffs. Many candidates consider the Decision Making section to be crucial as its preparation is quite challenging. Therefore, thorough preparation according to the XAT syllabus is vital for clearing the XAT cutoff.
