XAT Exam 2024 Analysis

Verbal and Logical Ability Section (26 questions) 

 

In the Verbal and Logical Ability Section, there were a total of 26 questions, with 15 focusing on Reading Comprehension and 11 on Verbal Ability/Reasoning. The Verbal Ability/Verbal Reasoning questions included a variety of grammar, vocabulary, and reasoning-based tasks such as Critical Reasoning and Jumbled Paragraphs. The 15 Reading Comprehension questions were divided among five passages and one challenging poem. The passages ranged from 300 to 450 words in length, with a mix of medium to difficult questions, many of which required inference and application skills.

 

 

Area/Questions	No. of Qs.
Grammatically correct sentence	2
Grammatically incorrect sentence	1
Fill in the blanks (2 blanks)	2
Jumbled Paragraphs (5 statements)	2
Critical Reasoning	3
Summary	1
Passage 1 (Beauty – 300 words)	2
Passage 2 (The problem of unrecognized ignorance – 400 words)	3
Passage 3 (Simplified moral frames – 450 words)	3
Passage 4 (Reductive instinct and realist storytelling – 300 words)	2
Passage 5 (Mass vaccination and herd immunity – 300 words)	3
Passage 6 (Poem – A Missing Person by Jayanta Mahapatra)	2

 

 

 

 

 Decision Making (21 questions)

 

 

The Decision Making section comprised 21 questions and did not include any Quantitative Decision Making set in this year's exam. The questions were organized into 7 sets of 3 questions each and were generally of medium difficulty. Therefore, candidates' choices regarding which sets/questions to attempt were primarily influenced by their individual preferences and strengths.

 

Area/Questions	No. of Qs.	Question Type
1. HR Caselet – Experience Credentials	3	Ethical Dilemma
2. ABC Business School policies	3	Ethical Dilemma
3. Competition between taxi drivers	3	Business Decisions
4. Car Sales	3	Business Decisions
5. Wrongful termination of domestic help	3	Ethical Dilemma
6. HR Caselet – ‘Symbolics’ IT firm	3	Business Decisions
7. Deep Sea Natural Gas Extraction	3	Business Decisions

 

 

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (28 questions)

 

The Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section consisted of 28 questions, with 15 focusing on Quantitative Ability and 13 on Data Interpretation. In the arithmetic category, there was one question on Time Speed Distance and two questions on profit and loss. Algebra questions included one on polynomials, three on simultaneous equations, and one on linear equations. Geometry questions exclusively focused on triangles. In Modern Mathematics, there was one question each on Logarithm, Progressions.

 

Data Interpretation comprised three sets of three questions each and two sets of two questions each. The sets covered topics such as Statistics, Cricket match scores, and Discount coupons at a shop.

 

Quantitative Ability (15 questions)
Arithmetic	2
Geometry	3
Modern Math	3
Algebra	5
Numbers	2
Data Interpretation (13 questions)
Statistics based set	3
Average based set	3
Algebra	3
Algebra	2
Set theory	2

 

 

 

General Knowledge

 

The General Knowledge section included 25 questions, with 16 focusing on current affairs and 9 on static GK topics. As usual, the questions spanned various areas and did not favor specialists in any particular field.

 

To optimize their score in this section, candidates were advised to seriously attempt 12-14 questions. Furthermore, since there was no penalty for incorrect answers, it was recommended to attempt all remaining questions as well.

 

 

Essay Writing

 

For the Essay Writing task, candidates were given three topics to choose from. They were required to select one topic and compose an essay of approximately 250 words.

 

The essay topics provided were:

 

1. The failure of tech prediction often stems not from incorrect models or a lack of imagination but rather from a reluctance to acknowledge uncertainty about the future with humility.

 

2. Enforcing stricter regulations on social media platforms is essential to effectively counter the spread of fake news.

3. Priority should always be given to what matters most, ensuring that it is not overshadowed by less significant matters.