How to Prepare for XAT 2027 from Scratch?

The XAT exam is conducted for a duration of three hours and is divided into two parts. Part 1 evaluates the candidate's core aptitude and determines the XAT percentile, while Part 2 consists of General Knowledge questions that are considered during the interview stage of the admission process.

Note: The number of questions may change slightly every year, but the overall exam structure generally remains similar.

The marking scheme of XAT is slightly different from other MBA entrance exams. Candidates need to attempt questions carefully and follow a smart strategy while answering them.

• +1 mark is awarded for every correct answer in Part 1.
• 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
• Candidates are allowed to leave the first eight questions unattempted without any penalty.
• 0.1 marks are deducted for every question left unanswered beyond the first eight questions.
• Random guessing can be risky and may lead to penalties. If a candidate is completely unsure about the answer, it is usually safer to leave the question unattempted.

The XAT exam consists of four major sections. Many participating colleges also set sectional cut-offs, so candidates must prepare for every section instead of focusing on only one.

Decision Making (DM) Preparation Tips

The Decision Making section is one of the most distinctive and challenging parts of the XAT exam. It evaluates a candidate’s ability to handle real-life ethical and business situations.

• Questions often focus on business strategies, HR situations, and ethical dilemmas.
• Choose answers that maintain a balance between ethical values and business practicality.
• Avoid making decisions based on personal emotions or biases.
• Practising previous years’ XAT Decision Making questions helps understand the logic expected by examiners.
• Books such as Target XAT by Disha Publications can also help in preparation.

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) Preparation Tips

The VALR section includes reading comprehension passages, grammar questions, logical reasoning problems, and occasionally poem-based comprehension.

• Reading comprehension passages are often lengthy and may cover topics like philosophy or economics.
• For poem-based questions, read the poem once, check the options, and then read it again carefully before selecting the answer.
• Parajumbles can be complex and sometimes contain sentences taken from different parts of the same article.
• Practising past XAT papers helps in understanding the structure and difficulty level of questions.
• Reading newspaper editorials and articles daily for about 30 minutes improves vocabulary and comprehension.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QADI) Preparation Tips

This section evaluates mathematical concepts and analytical problem-solving skills.

• Build a strong foundation in arithmetic and algebra.
• Study additional topics such as statistics, trigonometry, and heights & distances.
• Memorise important formulas related to geometry, algebra, and other quantitative topics.
• Since calculators are not allowed, practise mental calculations and approximation techniques.
• Prepare topics like remainder theorem, cyclicity, and data sufficiency, which are commonly asked in XAT.
• For preparation, candidates can refer to Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal and educational channels like Rodha for conceptual clarity.

General Knowledge (GK) Preparation Tips

The GK section does not affect the XAT percentile but plays an important role during the final interview and selection stage at XLRI.

• Around 70% of questions are from static GK while 30% are based on current affairs.
• Focus on topics such as awards, important personalities, and global developments.
• Reading daily news and staying updated with current affairs is recommended.
• Lucent’s General Knowledge is a widely used book for preparing static GK topics.