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XAT 2025 pattern - This year, the XAT paper pattern has been revised. Essay Writing section has been removed from XAT. Essay Writing will be conducted during PI selection process. Additionally, the number of questions have been reduced in GK section. GK scores too will be taken into consideration during PI selection process.
The XAT 2025 exam will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm without break. As per the revised XAT exam pattern 2025, there will be two parts to the question paper. The first part of the XAT 2025 question paper will comprise Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (170 minutes); the second part will have GK section of 10 minutes. The total time duration will be 180 minutes and candidates will have to complete Part 1 first and then Part 2. However, they can move between sections/questions within the Part 1.Â
Each section of XAT 2025 will have 20-28 question in MCQ format having five options to choose the right answer from. The score of GK section will be used for the final selection process. It will not be added to XAT result 2025. Read all about XAT 2025 paper pattern below.
Important: Scientific calculator to be allowed in XAT 2025, check detailsÂ
XAT 2025 Registrations Open- Register Now
Also Read:
XAT 2025 question paper and answer key (memory based) PDF download
XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Highlights
XAT paper pattern has been revised and the exam is back to being a 180-minute test. Marking scheme however has remained unchanged. Take a look at the key highlights of latest XAT exam pattern.
XAT Exam Structure |
XAT Exam Details |
---|---|
Number of sections |
4 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge) |
XAT time limit |
3 hours (180 minutes) |
Number of questions |
95 |
Total marks |
95 |
Number of answer choices |
Five |
Mode of examination |
Online |
XAT marking scheme |
+1 mark for correct answer - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No negative marking in GK section |
Also Read: XAT exam analysis
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Section Wise XAT 2025 Exam Pattern
XAT question paper has MCQ format questions spread over the four main sections. Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section has the maximum weightage. However, it is not necessary to attempt all the questions, but candidates must attempt about 2/3rd of the total test, to get a good score overall. Check below section-wise break-up of questions and marks allotted to each section of XAT:
XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Sectional Break-Up of Questions
There will be no essay writing in XAT 2025 so the exam is expected to be less time taking but the difficulty level is expected to remain high. Given below is the sectional break-up of XAT 2025 question paper:
XAT Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
---|---|---|
Decision Making |
21 |
21 |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
General Knowledge |
20 |
20 |
Total |
95 |
95 |
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XAT 2025 Pattern: What is the Marking Scheme?
Although the XAT exam pattern is similar to other MBA entrance exams, marking scheme is slightly different. Candidates must understand the XAT marking scheme well to optimise their peformance. Check below the key highlights of XAT marking scheme 2025:
- 1 mark is awarded for every correct answer
- 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer
- 0.10 marks are deducted for more than 8 consecutive unanswered questions
- There is no negative marking in General Knowledge section
- Scores of General Knowledge section are not considered for calculating XAT percentile
XAT 2025 Registrations Open- Register Now
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XAT Preparation 2025
XAT 2025 preparation includes thorough understanding of the exam syllabus, pattern and test structure. Practicing XAT sample questions and XAT mock tests is mandatory for a good performance. Candidates must refer to XAT books and study material recommended by experts. Read the articles listed below to prepare for XAT 2025:
XAT Exam Preparation Articles | |
---|---|
Free XAT Mock Test by Shiksha
Check out free XAT mock test by Shiksha to know your preparation level. This XAT mock test has been prepared from previous years' XAT questions for optimum practice.Â
XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
Changes in XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years
The XAT question paper has not seen many changes in the last eight years, apart from Essay Writing being scrapped in 2018, reintroduced in 2022 and scrapped again in 2025. Given below is a table comparing the XAT exam pattern and difficulty level of the questions of previous years:Â
XAT Exam Year |
Total Number of Questions |
Section-wise number of questions |
Marking Scheme |
Level of Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|---|
XAT 2025 |
95 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 20 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Expected to be moderate |
XAT 2024 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 22 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2023 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 22 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2022 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2021 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2020 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2019 |
99 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.5 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2018 |
97 |
VARC: 24 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 12 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2017 |
97 |
VARC: 24 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 12 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2016 |
103 |
VARC: 26 DM: 23 QA & DI: 29 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 13 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2015 |
114 |
VARC: 28 DM: 23 QA & DI: 33 GK: 30 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2014 |
113 |
VARC: 28 DM: 24 QA & DI: 31 GK: 30 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer |
Moderate to difficult |
FAQs Regarding XAT Exam Pattern 2025
Check here Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to XAT exam pattern:
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