How to Prepare for XAT 2025 in 3 Months: Tips and Tricks
Xavier Aptitude Test 2025 ( XAT )
XAT 2025 preparation three months - The last three months of XAT preparation are very crucial. Aspirants need to focus on practice questions and mock sessions. Know how to prepare for XAT exam in 3 months. Read here the tricks and tips by toppers and experts.
XAT Preparation in Three Months
XAT 2025 preparation in 3 months - tips and tricks
The XAT 2025 question paper will consist of four sections:
- Decision Making
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge
To prepare for XAT in three months, start with the important topics of each subject. Assess your strength and weaknesses viz. the four XAT sections, and start with preparation of the toughest topic/subject.
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- First of all, check the XAT syllabus. Pick out sections which you think are your strong points. Next, check the XAT exam pattern. Now analyse the weightage of topics in the previous years' XAT question papers that are strong areas. This will give you an idea of which sections to focus on.
- Make an exam strategy. Watch videos or read interview of previous years XAT toppers and take inspiration in making a plan of three months. Dedicate more than six hours in a day on XAT preparation. Join online study groups for doubt clearing sessions and mentorship.
- Divide three months into three phases - completing XAT 2025 syllabus, practising XAT mock tests and revision of important topics. Starting from October 1 spend 45 days on completing the syllabus. Use the next 30 days in practicing previous years XAT question papers, sample papers and mock-tests. Spend the remaining 15 days on revision of important topics, concepts, formulae and theorems.
| XAT preparation: October-December |
Number of days to dedicate |
|---|---|
| XAT syllabus |
45 days |
| Mock test practice |
30 days |
| Revision |
15 days |
Free XAT Mock Test by Shiksha
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
- XAT exam is all about accuracy. If you achieve that, you are safe. But how can you achieve that? The answer is - Mock Test Series. The more you practice XAT mock test series and XAT sample paper the better your understanding will grow about the type of questions, variety of questions, short cuts and tricks to solve them thereby improving your speed and accuracy. But remember, only solving mocks is not enough. Analyse your performance at each juncture and work on areas you are lacking in. Attempt at least 25-30 XAT mock tests of different types.
- Decision Making section of XAT exam is unique but not unusual. The questions of this section typically require you to apply critical thinking. So, work on critical reasoning and practice this section from previous years’ XAT question papers and mock tests to build confidence.
- To score in General Knowledge section of XAT exam read newspapers and stay in touch with current affairs. Prepare static GK from Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review.
Also Read:XAT Question Papers with Solutions
Q: In how many months can I prepare for XAT?
Q: Is XAT tough for candidates from non-Engineering background?
Yes, XAT is slightly tougher for candidates with non-Engineering background as the Quantitative Aptitude section is of higher difficulty level. However, they can crack it if they work on the fundamentals of Math and practice questions of all difficulty levels. It will take time but they will be able to crack XAT's quant section if they dedicate extra hours to it. Aspirants can find XAT study material online in various online study groups. Students’ groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. share study material with each other. One can also download MBA exam preparation apps to get relevant and useful study material.
The good part about XAT is that, it has different cut offs for candidates belonging to different academic backgrounds. As part of its commitment to academic diversity, the institute has lower cut offs for candidates from non-engineering background than candidates from engineering background.
Q: How can I prepare for XAT by self study?
If you are planning to prepare for XAT 2025 exam by self study, you need to start early. At least six months before. XAT exam is conducted on the first Sunday of January every year. So, if you start preparing for the XAT 2025 in June or July, you will have good six months to prepare. Make a preparation plan that includes XAT syllabus coverage, problem solving sessions, mock tests and revision. Get hold of best books for XAT. Consult mentors or previous year toppers for selecting the best books for preparation. Join online study groups where you can get the help of mentors and peers for problem solving and clearing of doubts in topics. Work in tough topics first and then move to easier topics.
Solve a large number and variety of XAT mock tests to master the syllabus. You will need to do a rigorous work on XAT mock tests as for candidates who opt for self study, have to rely on practice.
XAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
To perform well in the exam, choosing the right question to attempt is crucial. Since there is negative marking for wrong questions in XAT, you need to be extremely careful in choosing questions. Attempt a question only when you are sure of solving it with 100 per cent accuracy. Check the marking scheme of XAT below:
| XAT sections |
Number of questions |
Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Making |
21 |
+1 for each right answer and -0.25 for each wrong answer. -0.10 marks will be deducted for more than 8 unanswered questions. |
| Verbal & Logical Ability |
26 |
|
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
|
| General Knowledge |
20 |
|
| Total |
95 |
Most of the XAT toppers say that key to getting a good XAT percentile is meeting the sectional cut offs even if the overall cut off score is compromised. So, what you need to do is focus on meeting the sectional cutoffs while writing the XAT exam. Do this and half the battle is won.
Apply these tips for XAT 2025 preparation strategy and maximise your exam preparation. All the best for XAT 2025!
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Q: Are six months enough to prepare for XAT?
There is no set time limit to prepare for XAT exam, but you need a minimum of six months for preparation. Ideally candidates need to start XAT preparation by April, however, if they start by June or July too, they can complete the syllabus within time and have ample time for practice of sample papers and mock tests. In order to utilize six months that you have for XAT preparation, do the following:
- Make monthly, weekly and daily time tables to study and don’t deviate from that routine.
- Start with subjects which you are your weak spots. We suggest start with studying Quantitative Aptitude and English.
- For Reading Comprehension, read editorials of newspapers and magazines every day. Read fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, etc. for strengthening English vocabulary and comprehension.
- Download MBA exam preparation apps on your phone so that you can revise topics, solve reasoning or English puzzles anywhere when you get time.
Q: Can I prepare for XAT with CAT preparation material?
Q: Which is the best book for the Quantitative Aptitude section of XAT?
Q: When should I start preparing for XAT exam?
Ideally, candidates should start preparing for XAT from March onwards so that they have ample time to cover the syllabus and practicea good number of mock tests. However, starting preparation in June-July is also fine. About a minimum of six are required to prepare well for the XAT exam as it is one of the tougher MBA entrance tests. Candidates can also opt for coaching classes for XAT as per their convenience. Candidates must study for about six to eight hours daily to be able to cover the syllabus and have enough time for practicing mock tests. Yes, they will need to strike a balance between exam coverage and mock test practice.
However, the capacity of every student is different so, they must decide upon hours of study according to their own capacity and their control over the main topics of XAT. Making a workable plan is very important for XAT preparation, no matter when they start it.
Q: How can I cover the XAT syllabus by self study?
If you are planning to appear for the XAT exam by self study, you must start early as the syllabus is vast and tough. To cover the XAT syllabus by self study, candidates must refer to the books recommended for XAT preparation. You can take help from the following books to cover the XAT syllabus but do join a study forum to get help from mentors and peers when need be:
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
- Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha/Arihant
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- Objective General English by Dr RS Agarwal and Vikas Agarwal
- High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
- Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
- How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
Read More:
| XAT Preparation Tips & Strategy |
|
|---|---|
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 18 hours ago
Candidates seeking admission to PGDM in Human Resource Management are required to secure a minimum XAT percentile of 95 for male engineers. For female engineers, the XLRI HRM cutoff 2025 is 90. These are the interview cutoffs released officially for PGDM courses of XLRI based on gender and engineeri
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 18 hours ago
XLRI Jamshedpur announced the XAT 2025 cutoffs for admission to its PGDM courses, including a two-year full-time Business Management course. As per the official website, the XAT cut off 2025 for male engineers for BM is 96 percentile. For the female engineers, the XLRI Jamshedpur XAT 2025 cutoff is
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Surely! Several MBA colleges in India take XAT scores and charge minimal fee structures. Here are some you might want to look into:
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology and Management Offers MBA and PGDM courses with a total fee between INR 1,10,000 and INR 1,80,000.
Abasaheb Garware Institute
T
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, XAT is required for MBA at Shanti Business School.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, XAT is among teh emultiple national-level entrance exams accepted for admission to the PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) courses at Shanti Business School. In addition to XAT, the school also accepts other entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, CXAT, and ATMA for admission to its PGDM progra
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
With a percentile score of 65.5 in the XAT, you have several good options for pursuing an MBA. Here are some top colleges that typically accept candidates within this percentile range:
1. Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB): Known for its excellent faculty and strong industry connecti
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Jiwaji University PGDM admissions are granted based on various national-level exam scores, including XAT. As per the institute's cutoff data for 2023, the XAT cutoff percentile for General All India category students stood at 50.
Students must note that this cutoff can vary depending upon the diffic
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
XAT 2025 exam had only 2 sections in the question paper, Part 1 had Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making and Verbal Ability. Part 2 consisted of General Knowledge section. Essay Writing has been removed from the entrance test. It is a part of XLRI PI selection process. The total time duration of X
P
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 weeks ago
XAT 2025 exam was of moderate difficulty level. The students who had appeared for the exam last year, said the XAT 2025 question paper was not much different. Section wise, Quantitative Aptitude questions were on the tougher side, Verbal Ability and Decision Making were easy to moderate and GK was e
S
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 weeks ago
A XAT percentile of 7.2471 is approximately equivalent to a score of 17-18 out of 100. This score is below the typical cutoff for most top MBA colleges that accept XAT scores. For instance, institutions like XLRI Jamshedpur and MICA Ahmedabad generally require a minimum percentile of 85-90 for cons
A
Contributor-Level 9
Ideally, XAT preparation takes six to nine months, but if candidates have prepared for CAT too, XAT preparation can be done in lesser time as one will have to only work on Decision Making and General Knowledge topics. Those who are weak in English Comprehension must start reading practice early on. The ideal time to start XAT preparation is May, so you can cover the whole syllabus by October and dedicate two months to mock test practice.
If you start studying for XAT late, by July or so, make sure you complete the syllabus by October only. Remember that XAT syllabus is tough, so you’ll need to study at least 6-8 hours daily from start until the end. Give ample time to yourself to complete the XAT syllabus.