The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of the most well-known MBA entrance exams out there. XLRI Jamshedpur conducts the XAT exam on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). This exam opens doors to more than 150 top business schools in the country.
Various sections of the XAT exam require students to be well-prepared to take it. XAT preparation is not an easy task. Students have to cover a lot of syllabus and be prepared for what the exam will bring to the table. Students start the XAT preparation months in advance.
XAT Exam Pattern
Before starting with the preparation for any competitive exam, it is essential to know the exam pattern. This helps students prepare better, as they can have a strategy in mind of how they want to begin their preparation.
The XAT exam is 190 minutes. There is an additional penalty for leaving more than 8 questions unanswered. There is also a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
The XAT exam is divided into 2 parts:
Part 1 consists of :-
- Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)
- Decision Making (DM)
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
Part 2 consists of the following:-
- General Knowledge (GK)
- Essay Writing
Overall Strategy For The XAT Exam
The XAT exam is different from other MBA entrance exams. The paper is set in the following pattern:
- Concept driven
- Practice intensive
- Environment sensitive
These are the focus areas that the XAT preparation should be based on. The XAT exam preparation should be based on all these aspects. Students need to realise that XAT is not just an entrance exam that will test their analytical and reasoning abilities; rather, the XAT exam covers all the possible aspects of the students' ability to crack the exam. The XAT exam is different in that it has completely separate sections on Decision Making and Essay Writing. XAT preparation goes into cracking these sections, too.
The XAT exam is concept-driven in the way that there are many concepts that are a part of the exam. The questions that the exam has are all heavily based on the concepts of the syllabus. Students need to focus on how to crack the XAT exam easily. XAT preparation should be done accordingly by the students.
XAT papers are easy for students who practice intensively. The XAT exam requires students to prepare in a very focused manner. Students cannot take anything lightly while preparing for the XAT exam. Each topic of the syllabus needs to be given attention. Students who practice intensively are the ones who can score well in the exam.
The environment in which the paper is set also matters. XAT preparation doesn't just show results from sitting at home reading the concepts. Students need to be able to understand all the concepts well and then use all these concepts in the exam. This is how the analytical skills of the students are tested. If students understand these points, then they can crack the XAT exam.
How To Crack XAT Exam?
- Students need to have a good grip on vocabulary and grammar. Reading comprehensions dominate the Verbal Ability and Logical Ability section of the XAT exam. It's only when students understand words and questions better that they will be able to answer well in the exam.
- Students should have good decision-making powers in order to crack the decision-making section of the XAT exam. Students should prepare for such real-life-based questions that require students to think in a more practical way. As a part of the XAT preparation tip, students should use elimination methods when they feel stuck. Using their logic students should cancel out other options and choose the right one.
- A solid preparation for the XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section is necessary. Most questions in this section are related to geometry, number systems, algebra, modern maths, etc. These are all topics that actually require preparation.
- The essay writing section also checks the writing style and aptitude of the students. For the XAT preparation of this section, students should read as much as possible. Students can also do written practice because speed also needs to be kept in mind while attempting the exam.
- Reading newspapers, listening to news, observing the world around, and reading magazines can all be very beneficial to attempting the General Knowledge section of the XAT exam. Everything that is happening around the students has elements of general knowledge in it. Students need to be curious enough to gain new knowledge. Until students feel like learning new things, the XAT preparation won't be successful.
Conclusion
Anything that students want in life demands preparation and effort. XAT preparation also has the same thing that works for it. Students need to cover the entire syllabus and should start solving sample papers, mock tests, sectional tests and other helping aids that are available to the students. Students should not leave any section unprepared, as sectional cut-offs can also matter during the admission process. XAT preparation is indeed not easy, but with consistent and regular efforts, students can achieve their goal of cracking the XAT exam.
XAT 2026 preparation for the entrance level exam is not easy. Students have to push their boundaries a little extra every day so that they can let the best come out of them. Students have to look at their goal and prepare themselves for that goal. Cracking the XAT exam to get admission in the best colleges is not an easy task but students who have the focus for it can achieve it really well. Not giving up when it seems like a lot of pressure is built over the students is crucial. If students leave the preparation half done then the results will not be fruitful. Students should take the XAT preparation tips seriously and work towards getting good percentiles in the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who conducts the XAT exam?
The XAT is conducted on an annual basis by XLRI Jamshedpur. The exam is usually held in the month of January.
- What is the eligibility criteria for the XAT exam?
Students who aim to give the XAT exam should have their Bachelor’s degree from any recognised university.
- Is there negative marking in the XAT exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. If students leave more than 8 questions unanswered then 0.10 marks are deducted.