By: Abhinaba Parui
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), is the second-largest MBA entrance test to pursue MBA/PGDM in India only after CAT. Question types slightly differ from each other.
Well, at first let’s see the sectional composition of the question set in XAT. There are four sections in the exam, namely Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QDI), and General Knowledge (GK). There is no negative marking in GK.
Here are top last-minute preparation tips you must follow:
- There is only one thing I would like to say and that is to revise the syllabus again and again. Don’t try to complete those chapters which are completely new or which you have completed partially at this time.
- To crack this exam, I think smart work and smart effort both are required rather than doing hard work. For VALR section, don’t try to recall the newly learnt words. There is a possibility to forget these words after a few days if you don’t get in touch with it on a regular basis. So, the smartest way to recall these words is to use these words when writing sentences. This thing will help you to recall the word in your mind for a longer time.
- For DM and QDI sections, you should learn how to manage time. Take your watch when you are practicing. Make sure you do not spend more than a minute solving each question.
- Another thing that is important is accuracy along with efficiency. To enhance these two skills, give mock tests as much as you can. There are few mock question papers which are available online along with its solved paper. Don’t rush to solved papers at first. First, try to collect the question papers, give the mock test and keep a watch along with you to time yourself. Those questions which you are unable to solve can be solved by getting help from the answer papers when your mock test is over.
About the Author:
Kolkata-based Abhinaba Parui is a final year student of FOSTIIMA Business School pursuing his 'Post-graduation Diploma in Management (PGDM)'. At present, he is working as a campus ambassador of Oysterconnect.com.
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Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
No. XAT score is the marks obtained by a candidate in the exam. XAT percentile shows the candidate's relative performance compared with other test takers.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes. XAT has negative marking. Candidates lose 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. A penalty also applies to unattempted questions beyond the first eight.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The XAT score calculator formula is Correct Answers - (Incorrect Answers * 0.25) - Unattempted Question Penalty.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
XAT score is calculated by adding one mark for every correct answer and deducting 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes. XLRI specifies sectional cutoffs along with overall XAT cutoff. Candidates need to meet required percentile in QADI, VALR and DM for respective programme and category.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
For XAT 2026, overall HRM cutoff was 92 percentile for Engineering Male candidates and 90 percentile for Non-Engineering Male candidates. Cutoff was 87 percentile for Engineering Female and Engineering Transgender candidates and 84 percentile for Non-Engineering Female and Non-Engineering Transgende
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
For XAT 2026, overall XLRI BM cutoff was 94 percentile for Engineering Male and Non-Engineering Male candidates. It was 88 percentile for Engineering Female, Engineering Transgender, Non-Engineering Female and Non-Engineering Transgender candidates.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Required XAT score varies every year because the percentile depends on difficulty level of exam and candidate performance. In XAT 2026, overall cutoff for XLRI BM was 94 percentile for Engineering Male and Non-Engineering Male candidates.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The first eight XAT unattempted questions do not attract any penalty. After eight unattempted questions, 0.10 mark is deducted for every additional unattempted question.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Candidates get 1 mark for every correct answer in XAT.
P
Contributor-Level 10

