XAT Exam Pattern 2025 (Available): Check Latest Paper Structure, Total Marks, Marking Scheme, Exam Duration

Xavier Aptitude Test 2025 ( XAT )

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Vipra Shrivastava

Vipra ShrivastavaSenior Manager - Content

Updated on Jan 5, 2025 13:09 IST

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. 

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 details 

XAT 2025 Registrations Open- Register Now

Also Read:

XAT 2025 question paper and answer key (memory based) PDF download

XAT 2025 exam analysis and expected cut offs

XAT 2025 response sheet 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

Explore subject-wise topics asked in XAT

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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 2025 exam pattern

XAT 2025 sectional breakup

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

Also Read:

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

Also Read:

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

How to prepare for XAT 2025 in 6 months

How to Prepare for XAT exam? Tips from Toppers

How to Prepare for XAT 2025 in 3 months

XAT 2025 preparation: Tips to crack QA-DI

XAT 2025 preparation: Tips to crack Verbal Ability

XAT 2025 preparation: Tips to crack Decision Making

Expert speak: How To Prepare for XAT Exam?

Best Study Material for XAT preparation

How to Prepare for XAT 2025 in 1 Month

XAT Exam: Revision Tips for Last Two Weeks

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. 

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: 

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

Check XAT cut offs and predict calls from XLRI and other colleges accepting XAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all XAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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FAQs Regarding XAT Exam Pattern 2025

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