XAT Exam Pattern 2025: An Overview
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CL Team September 24 2024
The XAT exam features a unique pattern that distinguishes it from other MBA entrance tests in India. Attracting over 75,000 candidates annually, the exam comprises four core sections:
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge
XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Key Highlights
Understanding the XAT exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation. Here’s a detailed look at the structure:
|
Exam Detail |
Description |
|
Number of Sections |
4 |
|
Total Duration |
180 minutes |
|
Total Questions |
95 |
|
Mode of Examination |
Online |
|
Marking Scheme |
+1 mark for correct answer |
XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Detailed Analysis
The XAT exam is divided into three parts with an estimated total of 102 questions. Here’s how the questions are distributed:
|
Part |
Section |
Total Questions |
Time Allotted |
|
Part 1 |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
170 minutes |
|
Decision Making |
21 |
||
|
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
28 |
||
|
Part 2 |
General Knowledge |
20 |
10 minutes |
|
Total |
95 |
180 Minutes |
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XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer: +1 mark
- Incorrect Answer: -0.25 marks
- Unattempted Questions: A penalty of 0.10 marks for each unattempted question beyond 8
- General Knowledge Section: No negative marking
The XAT exam's strict marking scheme, especially the penalty for unattempted questions, adds to its challenge. Effective exam strategy and extensive practice are crucial for success.
XAT Exam Pattern: Recent Changes
The XAT exam pattern has evolved over the years. Key changes include:
- 2018: Transition from Paper-Based Test to Computer-Based Test.
- 2019: Reduction in the number of allowed unattempted questions from 12 to 8.
- 2020: Reintroduction of Essay Writing.
- 2022: Reintroduction of Essay Writing section with three topics to choose from.
- 2023: Total questions increased to 102 and exam duration extended to 210 minutes.
XAT Exam Pattern: Section-Wise Analysis
Section 1: Verbal and Logical Ability
- Combines elements from VARC and LR sections
- Topics include Vocabulary, Paragraph Jumbles, Critical Reasoning, and Statements-Assumptions.
Section 2: Decision Making
- Unique to XAT; involves analyzing case studies and ensuring logical consistency in responses.
Section 3: Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
- Includes questions from both Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation.
- Topics cover Time & Work, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Equations, and Data Interpretation sets.
Section 4: General Knowledge
- Covers a broad range of topics including current affairs and general trivia. There is no fixed syllabus, so preparation should be comprehensive.
- XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Difficulty Level
Based on previous years, the XAT 2025 exam is expected to be moderately challenging. The difficulty levels for each section are anticipated to be:
- General English: Moderate to Difficult
- Analytical & Logical Reasoning: Moderate to Difficult
- Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency: Moderate to Difficult
XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Sectional Weightage
The sectional weightage for XAT 2025 is expected to be as follows:
|
Section |
Weightage |
|
Decision Making |
21% |
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
26% |
|
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) |
27% |
|
General Knowledge |
25% |
Important Updates:
· General Knowledge (GK) Score: The score from the General Knowledge (GK) section will be exclusively utilized by XLRI Jamshedpur for its final selection process.
· Analytical Essay Writing (AEW): This year, the Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) will be administered during the Group Discussion & Personal Interview (GD / PI) processes.
XAT Exam: Previous Year Patterns
Here is a summary of the XAT exam patterns from 2015 to 2024:
|
Year |
Number of Questions; Duration |
Questions per Section |
Marking Scheme |
|
2024 |
100 questions; 3 hours 30 minutes |
VA-26, DM-22, QA-28, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.10 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2023 |
102 questions; 3 hours 30 minutes |
VA-26, DM-22, QA-28, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.10 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2022 |
101 questions; 3 hours 10 minutes |
VA-26, DM-21, QA-28, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.10 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2021 |
100 questions; 3 hours |
VA-26, DM-21, QA-28, GK-25 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.10 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2020 |
100 questions; 3 hours |
VA-26, DM-21, QA-28, GK-25 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.10 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2019 |
99 questions; 3 hours |
VA-26, DM-21, QA-27, GK-25 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.05 for each unattempted question beyond 8 |
|
2018 |
98 questions; 3.5 hours |
VA-24, DM-21, QA-27, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.05 for each unattempted question beyond 12 |
|
2017 |
98 questions; 3.5 hours |
VA-24, DM-21, QA-27, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.05 for each unattempted question beyond 12 |
|
2016 |
104 questions; 3.5 hours |
VA-26, DM-23, QA-29, GK-25, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, -0.05 for each unattempted question beyond 13 |
|
2015 |
115 questions; 3 hours |
VA-28, DM-23, QA-33, GK-30, Essay-1 |
+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
This overview provides insight into the evolving structure and marking schemes of the XAT exam over the years.
Summary:
The XAT exam pattern offers a distinctive challenge compared to other MBA entrance tests in India, with its comprehensive sections and specific marking schemes. For XAT 2025, candidates must navigate through a diverse set of sections, including Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, and the reintroduced Essay Writing section. Understanding the detailed structure and marking scheme is essential for effective preparation.
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