Read all about XAT 2018 question paper including difficulty level, topic-wise weightage and RC topics. Download free XAT 2018 question paper.
XAT 2018 question paper has 100 questions in total from Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge and Essay Writing. Until 2018, XAT had Essay Writing as a part of the test. Topic of the essay was – Ethical practices and sustainability: do they co-exist?
Overall, the XAT 2018 question paper is a good mix of tough and easy questions. Verbal questions are tough just like they are in this exam, while Decision Making questions are tricky as usual. Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation questions are moderately difficult and so are GK questions. Let’s take a look at the XAT 2018 question paper in detail.
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- XAT 2018 Question Paper Break Up
- XAT Question Paper 2018: Verbal & Logical Ability
- XAT 2018 Question Paper: Decision Making
- XAT 2018 Question Paper: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- XAT 2018 Question Paper: General Knowledge
XAT 2018 Question Paper Break Up
| XAT Question Paper |
Section |
No. of Questions |
Optimal Time in Minutes |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 |
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning |
26 |
55 |
Difficult |
17-19 |
| Decision Making |
21 |
45 |
Moderate |
16-17 |
|
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
27 |
70 |
Moderate |
18-19 |
|
| Part 1 |
General Knowledge |
25 |
15 |
Moderate |
15-17 |
| Essay writing |
1 |
20 |
- |
|
|
| Total |
100 |
|
Moderate - Difficult |
65-70 |
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XAT Question Paper 2018: Verbal & Logical Ability
The Verbal & Logical Ability section of XAT 2018 question paper has a total of 26 questions – 15 from Reading Comprehension and 11 from Verbal Ability and Reasoning.
The Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning questions are reasoning-based – Critical Reasoning and Jumbled Paragraphs. Apart from that, there are three vocabulary and usage-based questions and only one grammar-based question.
Most of the questions in this section are moderate, but some such as the Critical Reasoning question on identifying logical fallacies in arguments, or the Fill in the Blanks question can be challenging.
In the Reading Comprehension part, there are five passages including one short poem. There are 15 questions distributed among all the five passages. Nearly all the questions are inference based.
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XAT Verbal Ability and Reasoning sectional break up:
| XAT Area/Questions |
No. of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence Correction |
1 |
Moderate |
| Fill in the blanks (4/5 blanks) |
3 |
2 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Jumbled Paragraphs |
2 |
1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Critical Reasoning |
5 |
1 Easy, 3 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Passage 1 – Poem |
2 |
2 Difficult |
| Passage 2 – Doubts and Beliefs |
4 |
1 Easy, 2 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Passage 3 – Why study history? |
3 |
2 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Passage 4 – Problem of consciousness |
3 |
2 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Passage 5 – Labour and capital |
3 |
2 Moderate, 1 Difficul |
Also Read:
XAT 2018 Question Paper: Decision Making
The Decision Making section of XAT 2018 question paper consists of 21 questions, out of which three questions (one set) is based on Mathematics while the remaining 18 questions are Non-Mathematical in nature.
The non-mathematical part of Decision Making has eight sets of two to three questions each. Most of the passages are short and easy to read, but some questions are ambiguous in nature. Overall, the questions were of medium level of difficulty. The Mathematical set is very easy.
XAT Decision Making sectional break up
| XAT Decision Making Topics |
No. of Questions |
Question Type |
Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case 1: Collection officers |
3 |
Ethical nature of questions |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Case 2: Three company business |
3 |
Ethical nature of questions |
2 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Case 3: Four neighbouring kingdoms |
3 |
Business decision |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Case 4: Nephew of CEO |
3 |
Business decisions |
1 Easy, 2 Difficult |
| Case 5: Three people living on one hill |
2 |
Business decisions |
1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Case 6: Dead employee's family |
2 |
Ethical decision |
1 Moderate, 1 Difficult |
| Case 7: Apartment lock |
2 |
Ethical decision |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Case 8: Train timetables and delivery persons |
3 |
Mathematical question |
3 Easy |
XAT 2018 Question Paper: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
The Quantitative Ability-Data Interpretation section of XAT 2018 Question Paper comprises 27 questions – 19 on Quantitative Ability, two on Data Sufficiency and six on Data Interpretation.
The questions on Quantitative Ability are majorly from Geometry, Numbers Systems and Arithmetic. One of the two Data Sufficiency questions has reference to concepts in Statistics.
In the Data Interpretation part, there are two sets with three questions each. One set is a logical Data Interpretation based on a hockey tournament and the other set is based on four graphs with multiple datasets.
XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation sectional break up
| XAT QA-DI Topics |
No. of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Data Sufficiency |
2 |
Easy |
| Question based on Fibonnaci series |
1 |
Moderate |
| Question based on units place of a power |
1 |
Moderate |
| Miscellaneous questions on properties of numbers |
2 |
Easy |
| Time-Speed-Distance |
2 |
1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Ratio-Proportions |
1 |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Percentages |
1 |
Easy |
| Time & Work |
1 |
Easy |
| Quadratic Equations |
1 |
Moderate |
| Inequalities |
1 |
Moderate |
| 2 |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
|
| Circles |
1 |
Difficult |
| Quadrilaterals |
1 |
Easy |
| 1 |
Moderate |
|
| Progressions |
1 |
Difficult |
| 1 |
Moderate |
|
| A logical DI set containing Table |
3 |
Difficult |
| An observation-Calculation based DI set containing 4 graphs |
3 |
Difficult |
XAT 2018 Question Paper: General Knowledge
In the GK section of XAT 2018 question paper, 25 questions include eight Current Affairs and 17 static GK questions. 17 questions are on national topics and eight questions are on international topics. Questions range from History, Geography, Business and Economy, names of political personalities, etc.
Download XAT Previous Year Question Papers
Prepare well for XAT exam by practicing questions asked in last 10 years. Download Official XAT question papers of previous years and strengthen your XAT preparation. Click below to download free XAT question papers
Free DownloadRead More:
- How to prepare for XAT exam online
- How to prepare for XAT: Tips from toppers
- How to prepare for XAT Verbal & Logical Ability
- How to prepare for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- How to Prepare for XAT Decision Making
- Best books to study for XAT preparation
- How to prepare for XAT in 1 month
- How to prepare for XAT in 3 months
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Student Forum
Answered a week ago
GIBS Business School, Bangalore accepts various national-level examinations for admission to the PGDM and MBA programs. The scores of CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, and GMAT are accepted by the institute. Besides these, GIBS also accepts all the state-level management entrance examinations if their scor
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
XLRI Jamshedpur considers XAT scores for admission to PGDM programmes. Those who are seeking admission in PGDM BM, PGDM HRM and Double Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management and logistics (PGDM & MS) requires XAT scores. Aspirants can also apply for admission to General Management programme (PGDM
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Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates who are applying for XAT have to pay an application fee. Aspirants have to pay INR 2,200 to apply for XAT. Candidates can pay the fee via any of the online payment modes. Aspirants have to pay INR 200 each for every additional programme of XLRI.
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Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 months ago
XLRI Delhi accepts XAT scores for admission to PGDM programme. Aspirants seeking admission in PGDM Business Management are offered seat only via their XAT scores. For PGDM IEV, candidates can also take admission without XAT based on their scores in CAT, MAT, GMAT, etc. Candidates have to register on
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Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 months ago
No, you cannot use the score of XAT 2025 for admission to 2026 batch at XLRI as the validity of exam score is one year only. Thus, you will have to appear for XAT 2026 exam if you plan to pursue MBA from XLRI in 2026. The registration process for XAT 2026 is open and the last date to apply is Decemb
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The total course fee of full time MBA at XLRI is INR 28 Lacs according to Shiksha. The fee is to be paid semester wise. The first installment is to be paid at the time of admission. The XLRI course fee includes tuition fees, hostel and mess charges, caution money, library chargers and other miscella
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
There is no process of applying for multiple XAT accepting colleges through one form because there is no common counselling for XAT. Candidates have to apply to the colleges of their choice individually. They must keep in mind the application last date so they don't miss out on it. Also, they must c
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Contributor-Level 6
Registration - 10 Jul '25 - 5 Dec '25