XAT 2018: In-depth exam analysis by expert and expected cut-offs

XAT 2018 was held on January 7, 2018 from 10 am to 1:35 pm; but unfortunately at some centers the exam was delayed due to technical glitches. The XAT 2018 exam was held today in online mode for the first time and hence the technical glitches at some centers. However, the exam was conducted across the country without any major hassle. 

The XAT 2018 question paper consisted of 98 questions divided into five sections.

 This year’s XAT question paper was of moderate difficulty, easier than previous years. According to MBA expert Rahul Singh, CATKing, good attempts with 85-90% accuracy would enable the students to meet XLRI’s cut-offs.

Here’s a detailed XAT 2018 exam analysis by our expert Rahul Singh.

XAT 2018, conducted online today for the first time, posed a series of glitches at various centers with the exams starting an hour late and most candidates stuck with computer systems hanging which was disappointing for the students who were already worried about XAT. Technical glitches added to their woes.

XAT has always been known to be a difficult exam with time consuming and tricky questions unlike the CAT. However the XAT 2018 paper was easier than always. The reduction in number of questions was good for the students viz. better attempts, as XAT has always been an exam to be tested on the skill of leaving out difficult questions and focusing on high accuracy.

Section	Number of Questions	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
QA and Data Interpretation	27	Moderate	18-20
Verbal Ability	26	Difficult	18-20
Decision Making	21	Moderate to Difficult	15-18
Total	74		54-58

Good attempts with 85-90% accuracy would enable the students to meet XLRI’s expected cut-offs.

Let’s look at section-wise analysis of XAT 2018.

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation:

The overall section was moderate to difficult with basic questions of Arithmetic and Modern Maths like Progressions, Time Speed Distance and Geometry. Although this section was definitely easier that last few years, the Geometry questions were tricky.

Data Interpretation had 2 sets only; but they were difficult. One question was tricky and the other was calculation intensive.

Verbal Ability:

This section of XAT 2018 was slightly difficult than usual. The Reading comprehensions dominated the paper. The passages were from philosophy. The critical reasoning questions were of moderate difficulty. The key was to attempt them with a calm mind. People who did not invest time in these road blocker questions have done well.

Grammar section had easy questions like spot the error, to vocabulary usage in fill in the blanks, etc. Parajumbles was little time consuming but manageable.

Decision Making:

This section of XAT has always been the trick area with close answer options making the student’s life difficult. But this time, it was indeed difficult as compared to previous year. The situational conventional type of decision making questions dominated the section with 18 questions and just 3 were based on numerical, analytical approach. This was easy to crack unlike last year’s calculation intensive set.

The XAT 2018 GK section was fairly doable with a major focus on economic and business GK. This is considered only for XLRI.

The Essay topic was “Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist?”

Overall summarizing the XAT 2018 paper, we witnessed happy faces post the exam.

Good Attempts: 40-42 with 85-90% accuracy

XLRI cut-offs: BM 33-35 and HR 30-32

XIMB cut-offs: BM 29-31 and HR 28-30

SPJIMR cut-offs: 32-34

All the Best for the results!

Also read:

Read what XAT 2018 test takers have to say about the question paper

XAT 2018 results expected on January 31

About the Expert:

Rahul Singh is the Director of CATKing, a premier MBA Coaching institute of Maharashtra. Rahul Singh completed his MBA from SPJIMR and is a Master of Information Technology from Virginia Tech. He has also pursued SPNM from Havard Business School. Among numerous awards, he's been honoured with Digital Indian of the Year 2016 and Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2015.