XAT 2027 Section Wise Marking Scheme & Negative Marks

It is the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur to determine admission into various MBA and PGDM programs. In order to pass the test, applicants must know the exam pattern of XAT 2027 and marking system. Exams are conducted in the computer-driven mode in over 100 test centers located in India.

The XAT test has more than 95 multi-choice tests Each question has five answers The total length of the test will be 180 minutes. The test is split into two sections and has different sections and time limit.

The XAT 2027 exam is divided into Part 1 and Part 2. Candidates are given 170 minutes to complete Part 1, which consists of three main sections. Part 2 contains the General Knowledge (GK) section and must be completed within 10 minutes. Additionally, a 5-minute keyboard check is conducted between the two parts of the exam.

Candidates can freely switch between sections in Part 1. However, once they proceed to Part 2, they cannot return to the previous sections of the exam.

Section-wise Exam Pattern

The XAT 2027 exam consists of four sections. However, only the first three sections in Part 1 are used to calculate the final XAT percentile. The General Knowledge (GK) section is evaluated separately and is usually considered during the final admission process and personal interview stages.

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR)

This section contains 26 questions and evaluates a candidate’s English language proficiency, comprehension ability, and logical reasoning skills. Common topics covered include:

• Reading comprehension passages
• Vocabulary-based questions
• Analogies
• Jumbled paragraphs
• Critical reasoning and thinking

Reading comprehension passages may also include cartoons, poems, or unconventional writing styles, which makes this section unique in the XAT exam.

Decision Making (DM)

The Decision Making (DM) section contains 21 questions and is considered one of the most distinctive features of the XAT exam. It tests a candidate’s ability to analyze professional and business situations and make balanced decisions.

Most questions are case-based scenarios where candidates must evaluate different options while considering ethical values, fairness, priorities, and practical business judgment.

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QADI)

This section includes 28 questions and evaluates numerical ability, mathematical understanding, and analytical thinking.

Common topics include:

• Arithmetic
• Algebra
• Mensuration and Geometry
• Modern Mathematics

The Data Interpretation portion requires candidates to interpret data presented through graphs, charts, and tables.

General Knowledge (GK)

The General Knowledge section appears in Part 2 and consists of 20 questions.

Typically:

• About 8 questions come from static GK
• Around 12 questions focus on current affairs

Topics can include politics, economics, sports, science, awards, global events, and the Indian Constitution.

The XAT exam follows a structured marking scheme that includes positive marks for correct answers, negative marking for incorrect responses, and penalties for leaving too many questions unanswered.

Correct Answers

Candidates receive 1 mark for every correct answer in both Part 1 and Part 2.

Wrong Answers (Part 1)

For each incorrect answer in Part 1, 0.25 marks are deducted from the candidate’s score.

Unattempted Questions (Part 1)

XAT also imposes penalties if a candidate leaves too many questions unanswered.

• Candidates can skip up to 8 questions without any penalty.
• If more than 8 questions remain unanswered, a penalty of 0.10 marks is applied for each additional unattempted question.

General Knowledge Section

The GK section does not have negative marking. Additionally, GK scores do not affect the overall XAT percentile. However, they are considered later during the final selection process and interview rounds at institutes such as XLRI and other participating colleges.

Penalty for Excessive Unattempted Questions

The XAT exam allows candidates to skip a limited number of questions without penalty. Once the limit of 8 skipped questions is exceeded, the penalty rule applies.

Example:

• If a candidate leaves 9 questions unanswered, the 9th question results in a 0.10 mark deduction.
• If a candidate leaves 18 questions unanswered, the first 8 questions carry no penalty, while the remaining 10 questions lead to a deduction of 0.10 marks each.

In this case, the candidate would receive a total penalty of 1 mark due to excessive unattempted questions.