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Read all about XAT 2018 question paper including difficulty level, topic-wise weightage and RC topics. Download free XAT 2018 question paper.

XAT question paper 2018

XAT question paper 2018

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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Table of content
  • 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

Also Read:

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.

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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.

Also Read:

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

Mensuration

2

1 Easy, 1 Moderate

Circles

1

Difficult

Quadrilaterals

1

Easy

Trigonometry

1

Moderate

Progressions

1

Difficult

Probability

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

XAT_2020_question_paper XAT_2015_question_paper
XAT_2019_question_paper XAT_2014_question_paper
XAT_2018_question_paper XAT_2013_question_paper
XAT_2017_question_paper XAT_2012_question_paper
XAT_2016_question_paper XAT_2011_question_paper
  XAT_2010_question_paper

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

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XAT Mock Test will help you to get an idea about the type of questions asked, the exam pattern and marking scheme. After taking the test, you can immediately check your score. You can also download the Question Paper along with answers and their explanations for Free. Click below to start the free online test now.

Free XAT Mock Test

Check XAT cut offs and predict calls from XLRI and other colleges accepting XAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all XAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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Vipra Shrivastava
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Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. Read Full Bio
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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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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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Nishtha Shukla

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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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Nishtha Shukla

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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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Nishtha Shukla

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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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Aarushi Hazarika

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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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Nishtha Shukla

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