The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of the most reputed national-level aptitude tests conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. It is one of the oldest and the second-largest exams for MBA/PGDM admissions in India. The XAT exam is conducted in 80+ cities across India to facilitate the candidates and is known for selecting some of the most suited candidates for management. The scores of the XAT will be valid for admissions at XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM Bhubaneshwar, XISS Ranchi and other Xavier Associate Management Institutes. Apart from these, the scores are accepted by over 160 premium B-schools across the country. Premium management Institutes such as IMT, KJ Somaiya, D.Y. Patil, IRMA, Goa Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute, MICA etc.
The aspirants who aim to study at these premier management institutes are likely to be in dilemma as to when and how they should proceed with their preparation in order to give the best possible performance. As the old saying goes, “a good start is half the race”. If students are clear with the plan in their heads then there is no looking back. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is another point that plays an important role. Focus on your weaknesses and take advantage of your strengths.
Eligibility
Like any other management aptitude test, Xavier Aptitude Test which is XAT also has eligibility criteria for application. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree that took 3 years or more to complete in any discipline from a recognized Institute. Students in the final year of their graduation are also eligible to appear for the XAT exam. Lastly, this exam does not require a minimum pass percentage for graduation. The test is designed to select candidates with managerial acumen and does not call for a set percentage of marks in graduation.
XAT is one of the tougher MBA entrance exams. The difficulty level of the XAT question paper is usually moderate to high. The XAT 2024 question paper was of moderate difficulty level. The Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section is usually tougher than other sections. Verbal and Logical Reasoning section is usually moderate. However, some candidates find the Verbal Ability section tough as it has questions based on Reading Comprehension passages and poem. Decision Making and General Knowledge sections are moderate to easy.
Out of 100 questions, about 70-75 attempts with 70 to 80 per cent accuracy is considered a good attempt in the XAT exam. The test takers must strive to attempt 2/3 rd of the total questions in each section for a decent overall score. If a candidate scores 95 percentile, they will be in a position to get a good college.
Ideally, candidates should start preparing for XAT from March onwards so that they have ample time to cover the syllabus and practicea good number of mock tests. However, starting preparation in June-July is also fine. About a minimum of six are required to prepare well for the XAT exam as it is one of the tougher MBA entrance tests. Candidates can also opt for coaching classes for XAT as per their convenience. Candidates must study for about six to eight hours daily to be able to cover the syllabus and have enough time for practicing mock tests. Yes, they will need to strike a balance between exam coverage and mock test practice.
However, the capacity of every student is different so, they must decide upon hours of study according to their own capacity and their control over the main topics of XAT. Making a workable plan is very important for XAT preparation, no matter when they start it.
XAT Pattern
It is crucial for the students to analyze the previous year’s question paper. It has been proven time and again that students who have relied on the previous year’s paper-solving and mock tests have performed better. If you have just 3 months in hand then this is the smartest way to prepare. Smart work is better when time is limited. The XAT question paper consists of questions from four sections namely:
- Decision Making
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge
It is a computer-based test and the time available is 3 hours and 10 minutes. The medium of the paper is English and there are 100 MCQs and an essay writing. However, the essay writing section is only reviewed in the later rounds and is not included in the cut-off scores. The marking scheme is like +1 for each right answer and -0.25 for every incorrect answer. The essay question is evaluated separately after being shortlisted.
Plan of action
For three months compact preperation dedication and execution are equally important. It needs a lot of focus and clarity of thought. There need to be a good plan of action with details as to how much time for what. Another thing is that the candidate should know his strengths and weaknesses so that the efforts are channelized properly. The 5 points agenda helps in preparing for XAT :
The nearest airports to Jamshedpur are Kolkata and Ranchi. The Journey will take approximately 3.5 hours to 4 hours to reach Jamshedpur from Kolkata by train and 2.5 hours to 3 hours from Ranchi by road.XLRI Campus is about 7 kms from the Tatanagar Railway Station and can safely be reached by auto - rickshaws or taxis round-the-clock at a reasonable charge of INR 120 and INR 200 respectively (approximate rates). XLRI is located near the Jubliee Park in the Circuit House Area (East). The campus has two gates - one opens to the Marine Drive and the other to CH Area. XLRI campus can be approached from either of the gates.
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.
- Focus on weaknesses - With only 3 months to spare, you really need to optimize the prep based on you as a person, take mocks to see where you exactly stand in each section, solve previous papers and compare your score to the toppers listed on the website. It is much easier to go from 80 to 95 percentile than it is to go from 99 - 99.9 in a single section.
- Pick topics and only aim to solve those - Similarly, pick topics that suit you, if you are bad at quant, stick to only arithmetic it’s more than 50% of the paper, if you just solve those without a mistake you’ll be ahead of the curve if you’re poor in English, there is not point wasting time on poem RC.
- Measure yourself in topics instead of hours spent - Instead of pacing yourself in hours of study, set topics, for example, instead of saying I will study for 4 hours today, say I will complete this topic today.
- Practice practice and more practice - Keep giving mocks to hone your exam-taking strategy, take as many as you need, and don’t feel pressurized by peers, one mock taken and analyzed well is better than a hundred random attempts.
For doing better on the day of the XAT exam, you have to prepare for all four sections individually by following effective strategies, that will help you to have a better understanding and knowledge of the subject, which will allow you to qualify for the exam with good scores.
Note: The views expressed in this article are that of XLRI Xavier School of Management and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha
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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.