XAT 2025 Exam Analysis and Review (Available): Check Difficulty Level of Paper, Expected Cut Offs

Xavier Aptitude Test 2026 ( XAT )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 10 Jul '25 - 5 Dec '25

Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Jan 5, 2025 20:18 IST

XAT 2025 exam analysis and review is now available. The XAT exam was of moderate difficulty level. It had quite a few DI questions, which is unusual for this exam. Check out in-depth XAT 2025 analysis and expected cut offs here.

XAT 2025 exam analysis

XAT 2025 exam analysis

XAT 2025 exam analysis - The question paper of XAT 2025 exam was of moderate difficulty. Decision Making questions were slightly lengthy but doable. Quantitative Aptitude questions were moderate, VALR and GK were easy. 

The in-depth XAT analysis, has been shared below. It includes detailed review of sectional difficulty level, topic wise weightage, types of questions, number of good attempts and expected XAT cut offs for XLRI admission. The XAT exam analysis 2025 will help XAT candidates in assessing their performance and evaluating their admission chances to XLRI and other top B Schools.

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Table of content
  • XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Highlights
  • XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Sectional Weightage
  • XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Number of Good Attempts
  • XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Decision Making
  • XAT Exam Analysis 2025: VALR
  • XAT 2025 Analysis: Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
  • XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: General Knowledge
  • Expected XAT Cutoffs 2025: Percentile VS Raw Score
View More

XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Highlights

Check below key highlights of XAT 2025 exam:

  • XAT 2025 question paper had 95 questions in MCQ format
  • Part 1 (English, Quantitative Ability, Decision Making) of the paper was of 170 minutes.
  • Part 2 (GK) of the test was of 10 minutes
  • Quantitative Ability had moderately tough questions
  • Decision Making questions were lengthy but moderate
  • English and LR questions were easy

Also Read:

Q:   How can I cover the XAT syllabus by self study?
A:

If you are planning to appear for the XAT exam by self study, you must start early as the syllabus is vast and tough. To cover the XAT syllabus by self study, candidates must refer to the books recommended for XAT preparation. You can take help from the following books to cover the XAT syllabus but do join a study forum to get help from mentors and peers when need be:

  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
  • Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha/Arihant
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • Objective General English by Dr RS Agarwal and Vikas Agarwal
  • High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
  • Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
Q:   Is XAT tough for candidates from non-Engineering background?
A:

Yes, XAT is slightly tougher for candidates with non-Engineering background as the Quantitative Aptitude section is of higher difficulty level. However, they can crack it if they work on the fundamentals of Math and practice questions of all difficulty levels. It will take time but they will be able to crack XAT's quant section if they dedicate extra hours to it. Aspirants can find XAT study material online in various online study groups. Students’ groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. share study material with each other. One can also download MBA exam preparation apps to get relevant and useful study material.

The good part about XAT is that, it has different cut offs for candidates belonging to different academic backgrounds. As part of its commitment to academic diversity, the institute has lower cut offs for candidates from non-engineering background than candidates from engineering background.

Q:   What was the difficulty level of XAT 2025 exam?
A:

XAT 2025 exam was of moderate difficulty level. The students who had appeared for the exam last year, said the XAT 2025 question paper was not much different. Section wise, Quantitative Aptitude questions were on the tougher side, Verbal Ability and Decision Making were easy to moderate and GK was easy.

There was one poem for RC as always. Quantitative Aptitude section was dominated by Arithmetic and GK had questions on very recent events.

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XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Sectional Weightage

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section has the maximum weightage in XAT with 28 questions and 28 marks. And GK has minimum weightage. Given below is the sectional break-up of the XAT 2025 question paper.

XAT Sections

No. of Questions

Total Marks

Level of Difficulty

Decision Making

21

21

Moderate to Difficult

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

26

Moderate

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

28

Moderate to Difficult

General Knowledge

20

20

Easy

Total

95

95

Moderate

Also Read:

Q:   Are six months enough to prepare for XAT?
A:

There is no set time limit to prepare for XAT exam, but you need a minimum of six months for preparation. Ideally candidates need to start XAT preparation by April, however, if they start by June or July too, they can complete the syllabus within time and have ample time for practice of sample papers and mock tests. In order to utilize six months that you have for XAT preparation, do the following:

  • Make monthly, weekly and daily time tables to study and don’t deviate from that routine.
  • Start with subjects which you are your weak spots. We suggest start with studying Quantitative Aptitude and English.
  • For Reading Comprehension, read editorials of newspapers and magazines every day. Read fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, etc. for strengthening English vocabulary and comprehension.
  • Download MBA exam preparation apps on your phone so that you can revise topics, solve reasoning or English puzzles anywhere when you get time.

 

XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Number of Good Attempts

Check below section wise number of good attempts in XAT exam 2025:

XAT sections

Number of good attempts

VALR

13-14

Decision Making

11-12

QA DI

18-19

GK

10-11

XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Decision Making

There were no Quant based DM questions this year. There were 7 sets of 3 questions each. Some of the questions were tricky and inference based. The difficulty level can be considered as moderate. About 11-12 questions with 75-80% accuracy will be considered good in this section.

XAT Exam Analysis 2025: VALR

As per the XAT 2025 exam analysis, this section was moderately difficult. Out of 26 questions, 17 were Reading Comprehension based and 9 were Verbal Ability/Reasoning based. There were 5 RC passages including a poem. The poem-based RC was difficult. Check below the break of VALR section of XAT question paper 2025.

VALR Section

No. of Questions

RC Passages – 5 (300-450 words)

15

Grammatically correct sentence

2

Fill in the blanks (4 blanks)

1

Jumbled Paragraphs (5 statements)

2

Critical Reasoning 

3

Main idea/message of the given image

1

Poem-based passage

2

XAT 2025 Analysis: Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation

In the QA DI section of XAT 2025 question paper, 16 questions were on Quantitative Ability and 12 were on Data Interpretation. Arithmetic and Mensuration dominated QA, while DI had four sets of three questions each. Check below topic wise break up of XAT 2025 QA DI section:

Quantitative Aptitude/Data Interpretation

Total

Arithmetic

3

Geometry

5

Modern Math

3

Algebra

3

Numbers

2

Scatter Plot / Line Graph (observation) based set

3

Arithmetic based set

3

Average based set

3

Number-matrix based set 

3

Total QA-DI

28

XAT 2025 Exam Analysis: General Knowledge

There were 20 easy questions in GK questions. This year, more questions were asked on current affairs. Many questions were on recent events. The break up was:

Current Affairs: 12 questions

Static GK: 8 questions 

 

Expected XAT Cutoffs 2025: Percentile VS Raw Score

Given below is the table indicating how much XAT score will convert into how much XAT percentile.  XAT cut offs 2025 are expected to be in the same range.

XAT Percentile

VA & LR

DM

QA & DI

Overall XAT score

99

16-17

14-15

16-17

42-44

95

13-14

12-13

12-13

35-37

90

11-12

11-12

11-12

30-32

75

8-9

9-10

7-8

25-27

Read More:

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
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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