Will Decision Making Be the Toughest Section in XAT 2027? Check Previous Year Trends
Xavier Aptitude Test 2027 ( XAT )
XAT 2027 Registration
15 Jul '26 - 6 Dec '26
XAT 2027 will be conducted by XLRI on January 3, 2027. XAT registration are closing on December 6, 2026. Check XAT 2027 exam details, key dates, registration deadlines and decision making section analysis.
XAT Decision Making Section
XAT 2027: XLRI Jamshedpur will conduct XAT 2027 on January 3, 2027, in computer based mode in a single shift. XAT exam registration window is currently open. Last day for XAT registration December 6, 2026. Application fee is INR 2300.
Candidates find decision making as most unusual but hardest section in XAT. In XAT 2026 Decision Making was rated as moderate. Everything depends 2027 paper setting.
- XAT 2027 Key Dates
- What Is Decision Making Section in XAT?
- XAT Exam Pattern
- Why Do Candidates Find Decision Making Tough?
- Will Decision Making Be Toughest Section in XAT 2027?
- Best Books for XAT Decision Making
XAT 2027 Key Dates
Candidates can check XAT important dates below
| Event |
Date |
|---|---|
| Registration start |
July 15, 2026 |
| Registration last date |
December 6, 2026 |
| Admit card release |
December 20, 2026 |
| XAT 2027 exam |
January 3, 2027 |
| Result |
January 17, 2027 |
⚡ XAT Cut Offs (Last 10 Years)
Get XLRI XAT cut offs for MBA Business Management and MBA Human Resource Management courses, category wise.
What Is Decision Making Section in XAT?
Decision Making is a unique section oin XAT. It tests how you think through business and ethical situations.
Topics covered in XAT Decision Making include:
- Analytical reasoning
- Data arrangement
- Situations
- Logical reasoning
- Caselets
- Assumptions
- Complex arrangement
- Conditions and grouping
Commonly asked questions
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).
As per the latest XAT exam pattern, there will be 95 questions in XAT 2025 in MCQ format.
- Verbal Ability section of XAT will have 26 questions
- Decision Making section of XAT will have 21 questions
- Quantitative Ability section will have 28 questions
- GK section will have 20 questions
There will be no essay writing this year. It will be conducted during the selection process.
It is not mandatory to solve all the questions. Candidates should solve only those questions which they can solve correctly as there is negative marking in XAT. During the exam preparation, focus on the chapters from which majority of the questions are added. This will help them in achieving the sectional and overall cut offs are required.
A candidate should practice at least 35 to 40 XAT mock tests during preparation. They should attempt mocks of various varieties and difficulty levels.
In the last two weeks before XAT exam, they must practice at least five mock tests and analyse performance. It is most likely that by the end of exam preparation, candidates will be scoring 98 plus percentile in mocks. If that happens, they will score well in exam too.
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.
XAT Exam Pattern
Candidates can check XAT exam pattern below:
| Section |
Questions |
|---|---|
| Decision Making |
21 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability (VALR) |
26 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA-DI) |
28 |
| General Knowledge (GK) |
20 |
| Total |
95 |
Also Read: XAT exam syllabus
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Why Do Candidates Find Decision Making Tough?
Candidates find decision making section tough because
- There is no fix formula
- Options look same
- Passages are long
- Too much time pressure
Will Decision Making Be Toughest Section in XAT 2027?
There is no one particular answer to this question. But preparing for Decision Making is tough. In previous years, QA-DI and VALR was hardest. So, this time also decision making can be moderate. XLRI has not changed decision making pattern or format.
So, we can expect that decision making wil be moderate and lengthy with few tricky sets..
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Best Books for XAT Decision Making
Candidates can check these for preparing Decision making
| XAT Books for Decision Making |
Author Name |
|---|---|
| Jabbing XAT |
RK Jha |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
Arihant Publications |
| Target XAT (Past papers & mock tests) |
Disha Publication |
You can also refer to different types of questions compiled and created by subject matter experts.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
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.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates can apply by selecting the course and campus option while filling out the XAT application form. There is no separate application form for XLRI courses.
E
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, the XAT application form cannot be filled offline. Candidates must submit their application and pay the required exam fees online through the official website.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates holding a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised university can apply for XAT exam. Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
The last date to fill the XAT application form 2027 is December 6, 2027. Candidates must complete registration and fee payment before this deadline.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
The time required for XAT Verbal Ability depends on candidate's current level. A daily combination of reading, vocabulary revision and question practice can help build consistency.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
XAT VALR section has around 26 questions. Based on previous year trends, around 9 to 11 questions can be from Verbal Ability, although exact breakup can change in exam.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes. RC is an important part of XAT VALR section. It has contributed a significant number of questions in previous years. Candidates should practise factual, analytical, philosophical and abstract passages.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The important topics for XAT Verbal Ability include Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Vocabulary, Grammar, Para Jumbles, Para Completion, Fill in the Blanks and Sentence Correction.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
XLRI Xavier school of managment XAT cutoff 2026 has been released. The cutoff for overall section was a score of 95 percentile that was minimum requirement for a candidate to be eligible for admissio.
R
Contributor-Level 6
XAT Notifications
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