Are there non-MCQs in XAT?

There are no non-MCQs in XAT. All the questions are in MCQ format with four options to choose the correct answer from. There are neither Type in the Answer and nor subjective answer type questions. Earlier, there used to be essay writing which required candidates to type a short essay on screen.

Can XAT preparation be done with CAT study material?

Candidates can take reference of subjects and topics from CAT study material for Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude, but XAT preparation has to be exam specific and must include exam specific study material. Aspirants can use CAT sample questions too for practice purpose, but that is not enough. They need to practice XAT sample questions and XAT mock tests too, as the nature of questions in XAT is different from CAT.

In how many months can I prepare for the XAT syllabus?

Completing XAT syllabus requires 3 to 6 months, with 6-8 months for thorough preparation, including mock test analysis and practise using previous year XAT question papers.

What is the unique aspect of XAT Verbal & Logical Ability?

XAT Verbal & Logical Ability is unique in the sense that it has Verbal and Critical Reasoning combined with Reading Comprehension. There are 3-4 RC passages and one of them is a short poem. The uniqueness of XAT Verbal & Logical Ability lies in the fact that no other MBA entrance exam has poem. Moreover, critical reasoning questions are based on different perspectives from which the best conclusion is to be drawn.

What type of Reading Comprehension passages are there in XAT?

In XAT, Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from Philosophy, Psychology, History, Art, research articles. Sometime, the XAT RC section also has poems. These areas are chosen to test the candidates, who are largely Science, Commerce and Engineering graduates, on their ability to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Out of 26 questions, about 14-16 questions are based on RC passages or a poem. Candidates must target solving about 10 questions accurately to score well. XAT has negative marking so do not mark an option as your answer if you are not 100 percent sure of it.

Which are the most important topics to focus for XAT preparation?

Some of the important topics for XAT preparation include: Decision Making: Managerial/ethical dilemmas Quantitative Ability: Arithmetic, geometry, and algebra Verbal Ability: Reading comprehension, often with poetic passages.

In how many months can I prepare for XAT?

Ideally, XAT preparation takes six to nine months, but if candidates have prepared for CAT too, XAT preparation can be done in lesser time as one will have to only work on Decision Making and General Knowledge topics. Those who are weak in English Comprehension must start reading practice early on. The ideal time to start XAT preparation is May, so you can cover the whole syllabus by October and dedicate two months to mock test practice. If you start studying for XAT late, by July or so, make sure you complete the syllabus by October only. Remember that XAT syllabus is tough, so you’ll need to study at least 6-8 hours daily from start until the end. Give ample time to yourself to complete the XAT syllabus.

Are XAT Decision Making questions tough?

XAT Decision Making questions can be tricky. Key is to understand what solution is being discussed in it. To crack this section of XAT, practice a variety of Decision Making questions.

What are the important topics for the XAT Quantitative Aptitude section?

Important topics from XAT quantitative aptitude section include Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Averages), Geometry & Mensuration, Algebra (Equations, Progressions), Number Systems, and Modern Math (Probability, P&C).

What is the syllabus of XAT for the Decision Making section?

The XAT Decision Making section consists of approximately 21-22 case-based questions designed to evaluate the ability to analyse complex, real-life, and professional scenarios.

Is the XAT syllabus lengthy?

XAT syllabus is considered extensive and challenging. It is often viewed as more comprehensive than other management exams. Sections like Decision Making and an Essay is also included in the XAT exam syllabus.

Which books are recommended to cover the XAT syllabus?

Some of the top books to cover XAT syllabus include Book Author Jabbing the XAT RK Jha Word Power Made Easy Norman Lewis QA/LR books Arun Sharma or RS Aggarwal For Decision Making, candidates can refer to past papers for XAT preparation

Does the XAT syllabus change every year?

Sections in the XAT exam, including Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation remain consistent. However, the exam pattern, question count, and structure may change annually.

Is XAT syllabus same as CAT syllabus?

XAT syllabus for Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude are same as CAT syllabus. Decision Making and General Knowledge syllabus are not a part of CAT syllabus. Thus, XAT aspirants have to study more than CAT aspirants, which is why one needs to have a XAT specific preparation plan in order to score above 95 percentile.

What is the latest change in XAT exam pattern?

As per the latest XAT exam pattern, the question paper has only 2 parts. Part 1 consists of VALR, DM and QA DI questions. Part 2 consists of GK questions. Essay Writing is not a part of the online test. The total time duration is 180 minutes or 3 hours. Part 1 is of 170 minutes and Part 2 is of 10 minutes. Earlier, the XAT exam included essay writing for which extra time was given. The XAT exam used to be of 210 minutes or 3.5 hours.

What is the XAT syllabus?

XAT syllabus includes all important topics related to Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.

What is the duration of the XAT exam?

XAT exam was held for 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, with the revision of exam pattern, it was held for 3 hours in 2025. There is sectional time-limit in the test. 170 minutes are allotted to Part 1 comprising Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability. Part 2 has General Knowledge section to be solved in 10 minutes. No bio-break is allowed during the exam. Candidates have to finish the test in the given time limit only. The test screen will move from part 1 to part 2 the moment 170 minutes get over and once the 10 minutes of part 2 will be over, the test window will be locked. Candidates must keep saving their entries after every attempt as there is no provision in XAT to go back and review your answers once the time limit for that part is over.

How can I get the XAT syllabus PDF?

XLRI, Jamshedpur, releases XAT syllabus every year with the exam notification. Candidates can find XAT syllabus PDF on the official website.

Is there any negative marking in the XAT exam?

Yes, the XAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking but if there are 8 consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted. Thus, the candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the XAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. The XAT exam has sectional time limit too, so you may not want to waste time on a question that you cannot solve accurately. You stand to lose both time and marks. So be careful in selecting questions in the XAT exam. The sectional cut off for XAT is usually 80 percent accuracy. Practice a lot of mock tests to develop this skill.

Is the syllabus for XAT and CAT same?

Major topics under XAT and CAT syllabus are similar. Common sections include Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. While the sections are same the syllabus is not identical. XAT also includes unique sections, namely Decision Making and General Knowledge.

Is solving XAT question paper helpful in exam preparation?

Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management. Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.

XAT 2027 Syllabus PDF: Check Important Topics with Weightage & Marking Scheme

XAT 2027 registration

15 Jul '26 - 6 Dec '26

Updated on May 22, 2026 13:02 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

XAT syllabus is prescribed by XLRI, Jamshedpur. It includes five subjects - Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QADI) and General Knowledge (GK). Candidates preparing for the XAT 2027 exam must cover the syllabus extensively so that they can attempt maximum questions in the exam. The key topics of XAT are Arithmetic, Equations & Progressions, Modern Math, Probability, Coding-Decoding, Cloze Test. In English section, RC and Parajumbles are most important. Read on this page, all about XAT 2027 syllabus.

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XAT 2027 exam to have four sections

XAT Syllabus PDF 2027

XLRI does not release a detailed syllabus for the XAT exam. However, candidates find a PDF file for the XAT overview that indicates the themes of all sections in the question paper. XAT exam overview PDF also hosts the section-wise weightage of questions and the marking scheme. Candidates can find XAT syllabus PDF by Shiksha, comprising topics based on past question papers. Find the download link for the XAT syllabus PDF and exam overview PDF below:

Download XAT Syllabus PDF

Shiksha has created a downloadable document for the XAT syllabus for candidates. Download it from the link below for free.

Access the official XAT overview and unofficial syllabus guide below.

Also Read: XAT books for preparation 2027

XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude

The Quantitative Ability portion is largely based on 10th-standard mathematics with an emphasis on application-oriented problems. Some of the important topics under the XAT QADI syllabus are as follows:

Topic	Description
Arithmetic	Fundamental mathematical domain covering percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, averages, time and work, and speed, time, and distance.
Algebra	Mathematical domain including linear and quadratic equations, functions, progressions, logarithms, and inequalities.
Geometry	Mathematical domain including shapes, spatial problems, lines, circles, polygons, and trigonometric applications like heights and distances.
Mensuration	Mathematical domain focusing on 2D and 3D figures, covering area, volume, and related geometric calculations.
Modern Math	Mathematical domain including topics such as probability, permutations and combinations, set theory (Venn Diagrams), and binomial theorem.
Number System	Mathematical domain covering number properties, surds and indices, and other foundational numerical concepts.
Bar Diagrams	Specific data visualisation type using rectangular bars to compare different categories through visual representation and analysis.
Pie Charts	Specific data visualisation type using circular statistical graphics divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions and data distribution.
Tables	Specific data visualisation type where data is presented in rows and columns, requiring insightful analysis, summarisation, and comparison.
Graphs and Charts	Specific data visualisation types, including line graphs, scatter plots, and data charts used for insightful analysis and observation-based sets.

XAT QADI Section Overview

Check important highlights of the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section of the XAT syllabus 2027:

QADI section includes around 28 questions
The difficulty level of XAT Quantitative Aptitude will be high
Topics with high weightage in QADI section of XAT exam include Arithmetic, Algebra, Co-ordinate Geometry, Data Sufficiency, Time Zone and Mixed Graph
XAT QADI questions will be MCQ type with five options having one correct response.
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for incorrect responses.
There is a negative marking of 0.10 marks for questions left unattempted

XAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability

The XAT English section is at par with the CAT exam difficulty; the number of RC passages are less. Check important areas from XAT VALR syllabus below:

Reading Comprehension: It is based on diverse themes like politics, economics, or abstract topics. It uniquely includes poems and cartoons.
Verbal Ability: Topics include vocabulary, grammar, fill-in-the-blanks, analogies, and sentence correction.
Logical Reasoning: This covers parajumbles, critical reasoning, and cloze tests.

Topic	Question Types	XAT Important Topics	Typical Question Count
Reading Comprehension	Passages (300-450 words), Poem-based passage, Image-based questions	Main Idea, Purpose, Inference, Author's View, Words/Phrases explanation	17
Critical Reasoning	Argument analysis, Inferences, Strengthening/Weakening	Deductive skills, Inference-based judgments, Critical thinking	3
Grammar	Grammatically correct sentence identification, Correction of Errors	Grammar rules, Sentence Correction, Usage of Words	2
Paragraph Management	Para jumbles (5 statements), Para-completion	Logical flow, Paragraph completion, Sentence rearrangement	2
Vocabulary	Fill in the blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms, Contextual Meaning	Word usage, Cloze Test, Analogies, Idioms & Phrases	1
Logical Reasoning	Analytical Reasoning, Analogies	Logical structuring of thoughts, Deductive potential	1

The Verbal Ability syllabus for XAT is similar to CAT. See below for sectional composition in the exam:

There will be 26 questions in the VA section of XAT 2027
Each question of this section will carry one mark
There will be a deduction of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
The format of XAT Verbal Ability questions will be MCQ
RC passages are not too long but needs deep yet quick reading
Attempting all questions is not mandatory, but candidates should keep in mind the sectional cut-off

XAT Syllabus for Decision Making (DM)

XAT Decision Making is similar to Logical Reasoning, wherein one has to choose the best solution to a given business situation. Candidates have to choose the closest option as the right answer. Key topics of Decision Making section of XAT exam syllabus 2027 are given below:

XAT syllabus for Decision Making
Analytical Reasoning	Logical Reasoning	Complex Arrangement
Data Arrangement	Caselets	Conditions and Grouping
Situations	Assumptions	Decision Making

Here are some key points related to Decision Making section of XAT 2027:

XAT Decision Making section has around 21 questions.
All the questions of this section will be situation-based
They will be based on business situations to assess the candidate's leadership/management skills
Candidates get five options for each question with one correction option.
0.25 mark will be deducted for an incorrect attempt.
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect response and 0.10 marks for questions left unattempted.

XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge

General Knowledge section of XAT may seem easier but it is not as there is vast area to cover. When preparing for General Knowledge section of XAT, study the following topics included in the syllabus.

XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
Awards and winners	History and Geography	Static GK
Business and Politics	Constitution of India	Personalities
Government and Economy	World Events	Current Affairs

Highlights of XAT GK section:

There will be 20 MCQs in the General Knowledge section of XAT 2027
Each question will carry one mark, and there is no negative marking in the GK section
GK is memory-based, so it is easy to prepare, but the topic pool can be vast.
Refer to the previous years' XAT question papers to note down the GK/Current Affairs topics to prepare in a focused manner.
XAT GK score is not considered for percentile calculation.

XAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

While studying for the XAT exam 2027, candidates must pay attention to all the sections as there is not much difference in number of questions in each of them. XLRI considers sectional score for PI shortlisting so you cannot ignore one for the other. Check below the sectional break-up of XAT 2027:

XAT sections	Number of questions	Marks allotted
Decision Making	21	21
Verbal & Logical Ability	26	26
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	28	28
General Knowledge	20	20
Total	95	95

Also Read:

XAT Marking Scheme 2027

The table below mentions XAT marking scheme for Part 1 and Part 2 of the exam:

Exam Part	Section Name	Score per Correct Answer	Penalty per Incorrect Answer	Unattempted Question Penalty
Part 1	Verbal and Logical Ability; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	+1	- 0.25	- 0.10 for each question exceeding 8 questions
Part 2	General Knowledge	+1	No negative marking	No negative marking

NOTE: Marks from the General Knowledge section are not considered while shortlisting candidates for selection rounds.

Free XAT Mock Tests for Practice

Once you've completed the XAT exam syllabus 2027, you must start practising XAT mock tests. Shiksha has prepared free XAT mock tests, check the table below:

XAT Mock Test 1	XAT Mock Test 1 Solutions
XAT Mock Test 2	XAT Mock Test 2 Solutions

XAT 2027 Preparation Strategy and Tips

XAT exam preparation requires long term planning and execution. To score 95+ percentile in XAT 2027 aspirants have to start early. It will require about 6-8 months to prepare for XAT extensively. The key resources are XAT books for syllabus coverage, practice questions and mock tests to gain hold on the topics and previous years’ questions to understand the peculiarity of the test. Listed below are some most relevant XAT preparation articles:

FAQs on XAT Syllabus 2027

Check some frequently asked questions on XAT syllabus below:

Q: How can I prepare for XAT by self study?

If you are planning to prepare for XAT exam by self study, you need to start early. At least six months before. XAT exam is conducted on the first Sunday of January every year. So, if you start preparing for the XAT in June or July, you will have good six months to prepare. Make a preparation plan that includes XAT syllabus coverage, problem solving sessions, mock tests and revision. Get hold of best books for XAT. Consult mentors or previous year toppers for selecting the best books for preparation. Join online study groups where you can get the help of mentors and peers for problem solving and clearing of doubts in topics. Work in tough topics first and then move to easier topics.

Solve a large number and variety of XAT mock tests to master the syllabus. You will need to do a rigorous work on XAT mock tests as for candidates who opt for self study, have to rely on practice.

Q: What is the best study material to cover the XAT syllabus?

The best study materials to prepare for XAT exam include a mix of books, previous years' papers, and mock test. Some books focused at XAT preparation are tabulated below:

Best Books	Author
Jabbing the XAT	RK Jha
Analytical & Logical Reasoning	Arihant Publications
Target XAT	Disha Publications

Q: How many hours should I study daily for the XAT exam?

One will need 3-4 hours of preparation if they are planning to complete XAT syllabus in 6 months.

Q: Are six months enough to prepare for XAT?

Yes six months are enough to prepare for XAT if you plan it well. You will need about 8 hours every day for it. Use first four months to cover exam syllabus and last two months for practice.

Q: What is the ideal time to start XAT mock test practice?

Ideal time to start XAT mock test practice is after covering the syllabus. When you're thorough with all the concepts and formulae, you will be able to solve all types of questions in the XAT mock test. XAT exam is conducted in January first week, so one should start mock test practice in November and dedicate two months to it.

Q: Can XAT preparation be done with only mock test practice?

If a candidate has appeared for the XAT exam before and is only attempting again for score improvement, then they can prepare for it with mock tests only. But if a candidate is appearing for the XAT exam for the first time and is not familiar with the syllabus, they cannot prepare with XAT mock tests only. XAT syllabus coverage is necessary before starting XAT mock test practice.