XAT 2025 exam preparation - Check out best section-wise XAT preparation strategy for Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation and VARC.
XAT 2025 preparation cannot be done in a short time or with quick tricks. We all know, XAT is very different from other MBA entrance exams. It is also one of the most difficult MBA entrance exams to crack. For XAT 2025, aspirants will find it comparatively easier to prepare as the essay writing has been scrapped from the written test.
As per the XAT 2025 pattern, there will be 95 questions on English, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation and Decision Making and General Awareness. The number of questions in General Awareness section has been reduced form 25 to 20.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.The duration of XAT exam 2025 will be 180 minutes with sectional time limit. The good part about the sectional time-limit of XAT is that one will get 170 minutes to solve Verbal Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation sections, whereas 10 minutes have been allotted to the General Awareness.
Q: In how many months can I prepare for XAT 2025?
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.
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: How can I prepare for XAT 2025 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.
The time distribution in XAT makes it easy to handle as its Reading Comprehension section has lengthy passages and a poem. A lot of time goes in Decision Making also as it requires deep logical reasoning. Read below, section-wise preparation strategy for XAT 2025 which will be held on January 5, 2025.
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Conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur, XAT is a gateway to over 800 B-schools in India and taken by around 50 thousand candidates every year. The number of questions is distributed fairly between the four sections, with the Quantitative Ability section having the largest portion of the pie. The distribution of questions in XAT 2025 question paper will be as follows:
| XAT Sections |
Number Of Questions |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability |
26 |
| Decision Making |
22 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
27 |
| General Awareness |
20 |
Click here for complete XAT exam pattern and XAT syllabus
XAT has sectional cut-offs which is determined on the basis of marks scored by all the students in the previous years and the difficulty level of the questions in the current year exam. Last year, the XAT cut off for XLRI admission was between 92-94 percentile. The difficulty level of XAT exam is always at least a few notches higher than that of other MBA entrance exams.
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
Q: When is the best time to begin XAT preparation?
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: What is the difficulty level of the Quantitative Aptitude questions in XAT?
Q: What is the difficulty level of the XAT exam?
XAT is one of the tougher MBA entrance exams. The difficulty level of the XAT question paper is usually moderate to high. The XAT 2024 question paper was of moderate difficulty level. The Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section is usually tougher than other sections. Verbal and Logical Reasoning section is usually moderate. However, some candidates find the Verbal Ability section tough as it has questions based on Reading Comprehension passages and poem. Decision Making and General Knowledge sections are moderate to easy.
Out of 100 questions, about 70-75 attempts with 70 to 80 per cent accuracy is considered a good attempt in the XAT exam. The test takers must strive to attempt 2/3 rd of the total questions in each section for a decent overall score. If a candidate scores 95 percentile, they will be in a position to get a good college.
Download:
- XAT 2024 Question Paper
- XAT 2023 Question Paper
- XAT 2022 Question Paper
- XAT 2020 Question Paper
- XAT 2019 Question Paper:
- XAT 2018 Question Paper
XAT Marking Scheme
Each XAT question carries one mark for correct attempt and a penalty of 0.25 in case of incorrect answer. It must be noted that there is no negative marking in GK section. There is no differential marking in XAT so it is easier to make the choice of questions. However, 0.10 marks will be deducted if you skip 8 consecutive questions. For excellent scores, read below preparation strategy for XAT 2025:
Preparation strategy for XAT 2025: Quantitative Ability
For cracking the Quantitative Ability (QA) section of XAT which is regarded as one of the toughest quants sections of any MBA entrance exam, it is absolutely vital for you to get familiar with the kind of questions asked in this section.
In the QA section of XAT, sitters are rare, and the margin for error is little. You need to pick your questions wisely because unlike other examinations where it is imperative to attempt maximum questions, XAT requires you to attempt only those questions which you can solve with 100 per cent accuracy. Same is the case with the Decision Making and the Verbal Ability sections.
Since the questions are many and time is less (you have to solve Data Interpretation questions too), not to mention the hiked difficulty levels, someone completely oblivious to the XAT exam pattern might be caught unawares. So, it is very important that you rigorously solve the actual XAT question papers at least from the previous five years (one paper in every three days including proper analysis of the same) and online XAT mock tests.
This will improve your ability to adapt to 'XAT type of questions'. Moreover, it will help you in timing yourself better in the actual exam. It will also help you gauge the level to which the time constraint multiplies the difficulty, enabling you to make changes in your approach, if required.
Also Read: XAT Preparation 2025 - How to Crack QA-DI Section
Preparation strategy for XAT 2025: Decision Making
Another way to ensure that you do well in XAT 2025 is to lay stress on the Decision Making, a section which is unique to XAT. It carries sectional cut-off which can be useful in improving the overall score. Apart from practicing Decision Making questions from the previous years’ XAT question papers, read sample cases to enhance your knowledge and also to arch your thinking in a way to facilitate better reasoning ability.
Also Read: XAT Preparation 2025- All About Decision Making – Tips and Tricks
Preparation strategy for XAT 2023: Verbal Ability
The Verbal Ability section is the first section of XAT question paper and is divided into two sections – English Usage and Reading Comprehension. Since, XAT’s English section requires a lot of reading, you must practice reading fast. Read at least two Reading Comprehension passages a day. If your grammar and vocabulary are weak, take help from recommended books, read journals and newspapers and solve XAT sample papers. Cracking verbal section depends on how well you understand and use English language.
Also Read: XAT Preparation 2025-Tips to Crack Verbal Ability
Preparation strategy for XAT 2025: General Awareness
Though the General Knowledge section of XAT 2025 will not be included in determining the XAT percentiles and the XAT cut-offs in the first stage of the selection process, it is still an important section. Keeping abreast with the latest happenings in the business world will help your chances of scoring big in this section of XAT exam.
Preparation Strategy for XAT 2025: Essay Writing
In this section, you need to be quick in presenting your thoughts and opinions in the concise and cohesive manner. You will be given three topics from which you can choose one to write on. Remember, that performance in essay writing will not be evaluated at the time of XAT score calculation but at the time of PI shortlisting. Thus, you have practice essay writing throughout XAT preparation.
Free XAT Mock Test by Shiksha
Shiksha has created a free XAT mock test for candidates to practice and evaluate their performance level. These free XAT mock tests are based on official XAT question papers of previous years.
| XAT_Mock_Test_Questions_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_Solutions_1 |
| XAT_Mock_Test_Question_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_Solution_2 |
| Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice | Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice | Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice |
Read More:
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
No, a college ID card is not considered valid for identity verification in the XAT 2025 exam. Acceptable documents typically include a government-issued photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, passport, or driving license. Ensure your ID is original, valid, and matches the name on your
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) admits students through XAT and GMAT scores other than the CAT scores for their MBA (International Business) program. Here are the respective :-
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test):
The candidate using XAT can apply at IIFT for the MBA (IB). XAT is one of the tests
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Sandip University accepts various national-level exams for MBA admissions, including XAT. The XAT 2025 dates have been released. As per that, the exam is scheduled to be held on 5 Jan, 2025. Moreover, the applications for the same are expected to be released in the middle of December 2024.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, candidates can apply for SAGE University MBA through the XAT exam. The registrations for the exam are open and will go on till Nov 30, 2024. The exam will take place on 5 Jan 2024. Candidates can apply and appear for the exam to get a seat in the university's MBA programme.
In addition to that,
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
SNU Noida accepts a wide range of national-level entrance tests for admissions to its MBA programme, including XAT. Those who wish to get admission via XAT, must register and appear for the exam. As per the official website, XAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on 5 Jan, 2024.
Note: The above-mentioned
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
XAT is one of the selection criteria for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at DES Pune University. Other selection criteria include:
CAT, NMAT, GMAT, PERA, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, DES PU Entrance Exam, Group Discussion (GD), and Extempore.
To be eligible for the MBA program, candidat
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks ago
As per the latest XAT schedule, the exam is scheduled to be held on Jan 5, 2025. This paper generally consists of three sections, namely Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation. The tentative last date to register for this exam is Nov 30, 2024.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
If we compare the entrance exams required for admission to DY Patil Talegaon, SB Patil Institute of Management and SIOM, we will see that only DY Patil Talegaon does not conduct admissions through XAT score and only uses the MAHCET score for admission.
SB Patil Institute of Management and SIOM conduc
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
There are no specific factors considered when calculating the XAT cutoff. However, to qualify for admission into the PGDM, PGDM Business Analytics, and MBA programmes at Globsyn Business School, prospective students need to hold a Bachelor’s degree (10+2+3) or equivalent from a recognised university
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
XAT 2025 will be held on the first Sunday of January 2025, which is January 5. The exam date was officially announced by XLRI Jamshedpur on July 15, 2024. The announcement was made at the XATONLINE website. The exam will be held in 72 cities from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. The registration process will go on
V
Contributor-Level 10
I graduated in 2024. Can I use College ID card during identity verification in XAT exam 2025?