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XAT Exam

 

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national MBA admission exam administered by the Xavier Labor Relations Institute (XLRI) in Jamshedpur on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). XLRI has been conducting XAT at the national level for the past 70 years to identify the best-qualified candidates for its management programs. XAT results are approved for admission to MBA/PGDM programs at 11 XAMI member institutes, 83 associate institutes, and 600+ additional B-schools, making it one of the most difficult entrance tests.

Overview

The XAT exam is intended to assess certain quantitative, verbal & reading comprehension, decision-making, and writing skills of the aspirants of graduate management programs such as PGDM/MBA programs. According to the Xavier School of Management, XAT assesses critical and analytical thinking skills that it believes are essential to the making of business leaders.

The test has existed since 1949 when it was created to give business schools a standardized way to assess applicants in addition to their CQPIs/CGPAs/GPAs. It has been taken about 73 times in the seventy-four years of XLRI’s existence. The test was administered by paper-and-pencil before 2017; however, after switching formats in 2017, the test is now administered online.

XLRI Jamshedpur offers the following management programs:

- Business Management (BM)
- Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Global Business Management(GBM)
- General Management Programme (GMP)

 

Particulars

XAT Details 

 Conducting  Body

 XLRI, Jamshedpur

 Exam Level

 National

 Exam  Frequency

 Once a year

 Exam Mode

 Online

 Exam  Duration

 3.30 hours

 Exam  Syllabus

Decision Making

Verbal & Logical Ability

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

General Knowledge

Essay Writing

 

 100 questions in MCQ format

 Language

 English

 Exam Fees

 INR 2,000 (all categories)

 Exam  Purpose

 Admission to 1,000+ MBA colleges

 Course  Offered

 MBA/PGDM

 No. of test  takers

 Nearly 98,000

 No. of Test  Cities

 79 (in 2023)

 Exam  Helpdesk  No.

 18002674008

 Exam  Website

 https://xatonline.in/

 

Syllabus

The XAT paper consists of 26 questions from the VALR section. Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning consist of questions on Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning. The table below gives the detailed XAT Syllabus of the VALR section.

 

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

Sentence Correction

Fill in the Blanks

Synonyms and Antonyms

Analogy

Error Identification

Reading Comprehension

Para Jumbles, Word Usage

Contextual Vocabulary

Sentence Completion

Word Usage

 

Decision Making

The portion on Decision-Making is unique to the XAT Entrance Exam. Neither the CAT nor other MBA entrance exams have a decision-making chapter. Candidates will be examined in this section on making decisions in certain situations as specified in the exam paper. There are 22 questions in the XAT Decision-Making section. The following is a complete XAT Syllabus for Decision Making:

  • Numerical and Situation Caselets

  • HR Decision Making

  • Appropriate Decision 

 

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

Arithmetic

  • Percentage
  • Profit and Loss
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Speed Distance Time
  • Time and Work
  • SI and CI
  • Mixtures and Allegations

Algebra

  • Progression (AP GP HP)
  • Quadratic Equations
  • Linear Equations
  • Inequalities
  • Logarithms
  • Binomial Theorem
  • Functions & Graphs

Geometry & Mensuration

  • Trigonometry
  • Coordinate Geometry

Number System

  • Surds and Indices
  • HCF and LCM

Modern Math

  • Venn Diagrams
  • Probability
  • Permutation & Combination

Data Interpretation

  • Tables
  • Pie Charts
  • Line Graph
  • Bar Diagrams

 

GK

The XAT Syllabus of General Knowledge consists of Static and Current Affairs questions. The topics to be covered to prepare XAT 2024 Syllabus for GK are listed below.

  • Economics

  • National and International Current Affairs

  • History

  • Geography

  • Business Affairs

  • Sports

  • Business Affairs

  • Business Affairs

 

Essay

The Essay section of the XAT 2024 Syllabus is not defined. After the year 2018, this section was revived. The XAT Essay Syllabus covers three (argumentative) questions, with candidates answering only one in 250 words. The themes covered in the XAT Essay Writing section are typically focused on abstract concepts. Candidates might expect essay themes linked to the headings listed below.

  • Capitalism and democracy are incompatible.

  • Institutions produce stellar academic performance in the South, but such people make average managers.

 

XAT General Awareness sources (2016-2020)

The General Knowledge section in XAT comprises majorly of questions from the following areas:
1. History
2. Eminent personalities
3. Science and Technology
4. Economy
5.  Politics
6. Sports
7. Prizes and Awards
8. World
9. Government
10. Constitution

It is important to be aware with the current affairs daily. Following is the list of topics from the past
years that will help you prepare effectively for the upcoming examination.

 

XAT 2020 XAT 2019 XAT 2018 XAT 2017 XAT 2016
Awards and
Honours CA
World Geography Cryptocurrency States and Official Indian Geography(
Highest forest
cover)
Leaders Info Financial Market
terminologies
Noble Prize Winner
CA
Important
Organisation and
Headquarters
Important
Personalities
Organs function Indian states and
Capital History
Business
terminologies
Unions and
member countries
World Geography
Business CA Agreements CA Constitution Acts

Important

Agreements

Business CA
Banking Protocols Adopted Articles of
Constitutions
Important days of
India
Budget CA
Mascots Important Leaders

Geography( Ex-
Landlocked

Countries)

Mountain ranges Diseases
Animals and their
names
Books and Authors Industries and
definitions
Important terms
related to Indian
Constitution
Country with
highest production
of any commodity
Indian Geography Indian Geography States and Heads

Indian movies in

Oscar CA

Miscellaneous GK
Agreements CA World Bank
Statistics
Civilisations,Vallies
and Locations
Business reports
published
Financial CA
Important days

Awards given by

States

Business CA

Indian companies and subsidiaries

Indian Cities and
their association
with Industries
States CA

Heads of Financial

Institutions of India

Science CA Chronology of battles Important
Personalities and
their fields
States and culture Business CA Awards CA Country and
Currencies
 
Space centres and
their Locations
Major Football
Clubs and Unions
World Heritage Sites Banking CA  
Books and Authors Innovations CA

States and Music

Festivals

Solar system  
Civilisations

Chemistry( ex-
Common name of

acids)

World Geography Media Indusrty CA  
Business CA Media Houses and
Channels
associated
Spaces agencies and
their missions
Country and
Capitals
 
World Geography

UN Mmebrs and

changes

Sports Winners CA Different Walls in the world  
Important
Personalities
States and dance
features
Companies and their
Headquarters
Extinct and
Endagered
animalsCA
 
Articles of
Constitution
India's Import-
Export Statistics
Indian Award
Winners( Ex- Indian
Origin Abel prize
winner)
Awards CA  
Awards and
Honours CA
Sports around the
world
Financial
Instruments and
other Terminologies
Leaders and their
nations
 
Organisation and
Founders
History Chronology Countries and    
Foreign Travelers
and Rulers
Articles of
Constitutions
Indian sports clubs
CA
   
Indian States and
Capital
Parliaments
sessions,
Houses,etc
Brands and Parent
Companies
   

 

Eligibility Criteria 

The candidates must satisfy the following criteria before appearing for the XAT:

  1. Must hold a bachelor’s degree of a minimum of three years of duration or equivalent in any discipline.

  2. The degrees should be issued by competent authorities, and recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

  3. Candidates in their final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification can apply for the test. However, if selected, they are required to submit a certificate of degree completion issued by the director/principal/ registrar of their university/college, institute, latest by June 30, 2023.

  4. International students can appear for XAT interviews by submitting their GMAT scores.

 

Registration Process 

The XAT registration process is the first step to appear for the exam. Aspirants have to fill out the online XAT application form and pay the requisite fees to register for the test. Given below is the XAT 2024 registration and application process:

  • Candidates need to fill in the following information in the registration process:

  • Preliminary information (Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, Category and Phone Number etc.)

  • Mailing (communication) address and permanent address

  • Educational qualification from Class 10 onwards

  • Work experience starting from the latest job

  • Choose the XAT test city

  • Upload a scanned digital photograph and signature less than 1 MB (Click here for the process of uploading the photograph and signature).

 

Mode of Payment

Online Payment Gateway: Through VISA/Master Credit/Debit Cards (American Express Card is inadmissible). IDBI Net banking (this option is available only for IDBI account holders)

Cash Payment: Please take a printout of the XAT Pay-In-Slip visit the nearest IDBI bank and make the payment.

Candidates are allowed to select a maximum of the four cities listed in the XAT application form. The examination body will allot the exam center to candidates in the city selected as first preference basis of availability. If a seat is not available at the test center in the first city, the allotment will be made in the city of the next preference.

 

Exam Pattern

XAT is a computer-based exam, with 100 MCQ-type questions in a time duration of 3 hours (180 minutes). This year, the Essay Writing section is reintroduced, and hence the duration is increased by 10 minutes for writing the essay.

In the XAT exam, there is no sectional time limit for the sections Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, and Decision Making, however, for the GK and Essay Writing sections there will be sectional time limits.

Here’s what the XAT exam pattern looks like:

 

XAT Sections

Number of Questions

Total Marks

Decision Making

21

22

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

26

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

28

General Knowledge

25

25

Essay

1

(To be evaluated upon shortlisting)

Total

100

100



XAT Marking Scheme

Part I

  • +1 mark is awarded for EACH correct answer

  • -0.25 marks are awarded for EACH incorrect answer

  • -0.10 marks are awarded to EACH un-attempted question after EIGHT un-attempted questions

Part II

  • +1 mark is awarded for EACH correct General Knowledge answer

  • Negative marking does not apply to the General Knowledge questions (GK)

  • Negative marking does not apply to the Analytical Essay Question (AEW)

 

Admit Card

Candidates must follow the methods outlined below while downloading their XAT hall ticket to avoid issues. On the day of the XAT exam, participants must bring a printed copy of their XAT admission card as well as one valid Government-issued picture ID.

 How to Download the XAT 2024 Admit Card

Candidates should follow the instructions below when downloading their XAT hall ticket 2024:

Step 1: Go to the XLRI Jamshedpur official website.

Step 2 - Select the tab of "Login".

Step 3 - Candidates must now enter their User ID and DOB which they had while registering before clicking on the "Login" page.

Step 4 - Now click on the hall ticket tab.

Step 5 - Now you can select the download option for XAT admit card. Save it in PDF format. 

Taking a printout of it as an extra copy of it on the exam day is always advisable.

The official XAT cut-offs for 2023 are listed here. Candidates that meet the cut-offs indicated below have been selected for the personal interview phase. 

 

XAT Exam Cut-Off 2023: PGDM-BM

Section

Male

Female

VALR

75

75

DM

75

75

QA

85

80

Overall

95

92

 

XAT Exam Cut-Off 2023: PGDM-HRM

Category

VALR

DM

QA

Overall

Male Engineering

90

75

85

93

Female Engineering

90

75

65

91

Male Non-Engineering

90

75

70

90

Female Non-Engineering

75

75

60

88

 

XAT Exam Cut-off
XAT accepting colleges XAT %ile cut-off (expected)
XLRI Jamshedpur 94-96
XIMB Bhubaneshwar 95
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) 85
IMT, Ghaziabad 90 (Profile can go to 80%ile)
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai 80
Goa Institute of Management (GIM) 85
MICA, Ahmedabad 80-85
KJ Somaiya 85
Loyola Insititute of Business Administration, Chennai 90
TA Pai Management Institute, Manipal (TAPMI) 86
Prin. LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and
Research, Mumbai
80
Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) 85
Amity Business School, Noida 85
Xavier Institute of Social Services, Ranchi (XISS) 85
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME) 80

 

XAT Exam Strategy


1.Successfully passing the XAT test involves hard study, commitment, and attention. It
takes about 6-8 months to successfully prepare for the XAT exam. As a result, it's
critical to carefully arrange your study timetable and exam approach.The goal of the
student should be to enhance not only the number of attempts, but also the
accuracy of your answers.

2. Many students prepare for the XAT exam after the CAT exam. They prefer to put off
significant preparation until the last few months, which has a detrimental influence
on their XAT results.

3. Because XAT does not impose segment time restrictions, you must select how much
time to devote to each area. For example, you may devote 55-60 minutes to the
quantitative segment, 50-55 minutes to decision-making, and so on.

Following are the main elements of preparation:

1. Study plan: Divide your study plan into 2-3 stages after you've gone through the
most recent exam pattern and curriculum, starting with idea development and
finishing with frequent mock test practice.
 

2. Mocks and Past Papers:
o  Start taking sectional tests in a timed way once you've mastered the critical
     themes through chapter-by-chapter assessments. Begin taking the previous
     year's XAT papers and practice examinations as soon as possible.

o   You must examine your performance and determine your strengths and flaws
      after each test.

o   Test analysis will allow you to adjust your exam approach and ace the exam,
      wherever feasible, apply shortcuts, approximation techniques, elimination
      strategies, and other comparable methods throughout the test.

 

Verbal, Decision-making & GK

1. Make reading a regular part of your day. This will aid in the development of excellent
    reading and comprehension abilities, as well as a broad vocabulary and general
     knowledge.

2. The most important thing is to read widely from highly regarded books, periodicals,
      newspapers, and websites, among other sources.

3. Furthermore, reading financial and business publications will aid you in answering
     decision-making problems.
     

Quantitative Ability

1. While learning about mathematical ideas, make a list of basic equations, techniques,
      and shortcuts.

2. After reviewing the fundamental ideas and equations, practise chapter-by-
     chapter/topic-by-topic exams.

Reasons why you should appear for the XAT Exam:

Most MBA aspirants only consider giving one exam i.e. CAT, but they do not realize how important it is to appear for most of the MBA entrance exams. XAT is the gateway to some of the top MBA colleges in India, like XLRI Jamshedpur.  XLRI is often considered equivalent to the top 6 IIMs.

So, missing out on this exam doesn’t look like a sound option for the candidates.

Here are 5 reasons why you should appear in the XAT:

  1. Gateway to Top 5 B-Schools. XLRI is one of the oldest B-schools with consistent rankings in the top 5.

  2. Leverage CAT preparation. With a similar syllabus (except for a single section), extensive CAT prep can be effective for the XAT exam.

  3. Bounce Back opportunity. Plan B, in the case of CAT, didn’t go well.

  4. Decision-Making Section. One of the most interesting and practical sections for any Management Aspirant XAT prep will help in B-School.

  5. Other Top Schools accept XAT at a lower percentile than CAT. MICA, XIMB, IMT-G,GIM,JBIMS