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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Jan 6, 2020 13:38 IST

Read here detailed XAT exam analysis 2020 and expected cut offs for top institutes accepting XAT score for admission.

XAT 2020 analysis

XAT 2020 exam was held on January 5 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Initial reactions to XAT exam paper suggest that the difficulty level of XAT 2020 was same as last year but decision making section was tricky as expected. The cut offs are expected to remain low this year at 33. The XAT 2020 analysis will explain section wise difficulty level, topic-wise distribution of questions, number of good attempts and expected sectional & overall cut offs. 

Also Read: XAT 2020 - Student Reactions and Reviews

XAT question paper had the same number of questions as last year. Given below are key highlights of XAT 2020 exam pattern.

XAT sections

Number of Questions

Marks Allotted

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

26

Decision Making

21

21

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

27

27

General Knowledge

25

25

Table of content
  • XAT 2020 Analysis: Marking Scheme and Sectional Time-Limit
  • Section-wise XAT 2020 Analysis
  • WATCH VIDEO:
  • Expected XAT 2020 Cutoffs (XLRI, Jamshedpur)
  • Expected XAT Cut Offs 2020 (Other Institutes)

XAT 2020 Analysis: Marking Scheme and Sectional Time-Limit

  • Each right question will carry 1 mark and each wrong question will carry -0.25 marks
  • In case of 8 consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted
  • Part 1 of the XAT question paper is to be solved in 165 minutes
  • Part 2 of the XAT question paper is to be solved in 15 minutes

Section-wise XAT 2020 Analysis

Of all the sections, VALR turned out to be the toughest. DM and Quant-DI were of moderate difficulty, while GK was easy, as always. Take a look at section-wise XAT 2020 analysis below.

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XAT 2020 Analysis: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

  • The section was time consuming and students could have taken about 50 minutes to solve it.
  • This section of XAT exam 2020 was tougher than last year. The Reading Comprehension section had 12 questions with four passages of three questions each.
  • Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section also had a poem this year with 2 questions. The poem was of moderate difficulty level.
  • There were two parajumble questions, which were of moderate difficulty level.
  • Fill in the Blanks, Critical Reasoning and Vocabulary were on the tougher side.
  • A good attempt of 15-17 questions with 70% accuracy can fetch decent marks in this section.

Topic-wise break-up of questions:

Topic

Number of questions

Difficulty Level

Reading Comprehension

12

Moderate - Difficult

CR

6

Moderate

Poem Comprehension

2

Easy - Moderate

Grammar - Correct the sentence

2

Easy - Moderate

Parajumble - 5 sentence

2

Moderate

Fill in the blanks -3

2

Moderate - Difficult

XAT 2020 Analysis: Decision Making and Analytical Reasoning

  • The difficulty level of Decision Making section in XAT 2020 was moderate. The level of the Decision Making was similar to last year but was extremely boring.
  • There were no questions from Mathematical or Analytical Reasoning. All the questions were situational.
  • There were no singlets in this section which was a relief to students.

Topics-wise break up of Decision Making section:

Section

No. of questions

Difficulty Level

Decision Making

21

Moderate

Analytical

0

Moderate

XAT 2020 Exam Analysis: Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

  • The questions in Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section of XAT 2020 was marginally easier than last year’s.
  • There were 20 questions of QA and most of them were from Geometry and Arithmetic. 
  • DI had three sets of eight questions. In this section too, the questions were from Arithmetic and Geometry.
  • The DI questions were based on tables and bar graphs. There were also two questions on Set Theory.
  • An attempt of 4-5 DI questions and 13-15 Quant questions in about 65-70 minutes can fetch the candidates good marks.

Topic-wise break-up of questions in this section:

Topic

Number of questions

Difficulty Level

Arithmetic

8

Moderate

Algebra

3

Easy-Moderate

Coordinate Geometry

1

Moderate

Geometry

5

Moderate-Difficult

Modern Maths

1

Difficult

Number system

2

Easy

DI (Set theory)

2

Moderate

DI (Bar Graph)

3

Moderate

DI (Table based)

3

Easy-moderate

Total

28

Easy-moderate

XAT 2020 Exam Analysis: General Knowledge

  • The overall difficulty level of General Knowledge section was same as last year – moderate
  • This section comprised 25 questions asked from static GK (Economy, Geography, Science and Technology) and Current GK (Business economy, personalities, and awards).
  • An attempt of 12-14 questions fetching a score of 7-8 can be considered good.

Topic-wise break-up of questions in GK section

Section

No. of questions

Difficulty Level

Current Affairs

3

Moderate

History

4

Moderate

Economy & Business

4

Moderate

Geography

5

Moderate

Personality & Awards

2

Moderate

Science & Tech

5

Moderate

Polity

1

Moderate

Books & Authors

1

Moderate

Sports

0

Moderate

Total

25

Moderate

WATCH VIDEO:

XAT 2020 Student Reactions and Reviews

Expected XAT 2020 Cutoffs (XLRI, Jamshedpur)

Given below are section-wise expected XLRI cut offs for admission to 2020 batch of its Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) programmes.

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Sections

2020 Cut Offs (Expected)

BM

HRM

Verbal & Logical Ability

7.5

8.25

Decision Making

8.75

8.25

Quantitative Ability

11

6.25

Total Aptitude

33

31

Expected XAT Cut Offs 2020 (Other Institutes)

Take a look at institute-wise expected XAT cut off percentiles for admissions this year.

XAT colleges

XAT score

XAT percentile

XIMB-Bhubaneswar

30.5-32.5

90-93

SPJIMR-Mumbai

32.5-34.5

93.50-95

IMT-Ghaziabad

30.5-32

90-92

GIM-Goa

27.5-30.5

85-90

TAPMI-Manipal

26-27.5

80-85

IRMA-Anand

26-27.5

80-85

MICA-Ahmedabad

26-27.5

80-85

Great Lakes Institute of Management

26-27.5

80-85

LIBA-Chennai

26-27.5

80-85

KJ Somaiya-Mumbai

27.5-30.5

85-90

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:

Predict XAT Admission Calls

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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
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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Answered a month 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

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a month 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. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a month 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

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a month 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

...Read more

A

Aarushi Hazarika

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month 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

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month 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

...Read more

A

Anya B

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

No, the XAT entrance exam 2025 has already been concluded for PGDM admissions at SOIM. However, the registration dates for the XAT 2026 entrance exam are soon getting announced. Candidateswho are interested in appearing for XAT to gain admissions in the PGDM course at SOIM are advised to visit the o

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

XAT cut off different for male and female candidates to promote diversity in the candidate pool. However, the difference in cut offs is not too big. There's usually a difference of 1 or 2 percentile between XAT cut offs for male candidate and female candidate. Infact, the difference is not limited t

...Read more

E

Esha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

XAT score is the only examination score accepted for domestic candidates for admission to full-time MBA programmes offered by XLRI Jamshedpur. Check below the stages of XLRI MBA admission through XAT.

1. Apply for XAT exam

2. Appear for XAT exam

3. Participate in AEW/PI round

3. Final selection list rel

...Read more

M

Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, you can apply for Jagannath University, Haryana MBA 2025 using XAT scores. Students first need to ensure that they qualify for the eligibility criteria for MBA programme and XAT exam. Secondly, register yourself for the XAT exam. Generally, the registration window starts in July and is availabl

...Read more

M

Ms Shruti Gupta

Contributor-Level 10