Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Dec 29, 2025 14:55 IST
XAT 2026 exam is a few days away. As part of your exam preparation strategy, check below latest exam pattern, important topics and weightage. XAT 2026 question paper will be divided into two parts. First part will be of 170 minutes which will include VA-LR, QA-DI and DM. Part 2 will be of 10 minutes. Make your XAT exam day strategy accordingly.

XAT 2026 exam pattern is same as previous year. There will be 95 question in MCQ format and candidates will get 180 minutes to solve them. Check below all about XAT exam pattern, section wise weightage and important topics to study.

XAT 2026 important topics

XAT 2026 important topics

In the final few days before the XAT 2026 exam, be thorough with the exam pattern, sectional weightage and important topics so that you can make the best use of your knowledge. Since, XAT is a speed based test, it is more important to know what to attempt than the whole syllabus. The XAT question paper pattern is usually the same as previous years, with certain topics having more questions than the rest.

Table of contents
  • XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
  • XAT 2026 Important Topics
  • XAT 2026 Weightage: Section Wise

XAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Check the table below for key highlights of XAT 2026 exam pattern:

XAT Exam Structure

XAT Exam Details

XAT sections

Decision Making

Verbal & Logical Ability

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

General Knowledge

XAT time limit

3 hours (180 minutes)

Number of questions

95

Total marks

95

Number of answer choices

Five

Mode of examination

Online

XAT marking scheme

+1 mark for correct answer

- 0.25 marks for incorrect answer

- 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions

No negative marking in GK section

XAT 2026 Important Topics

Check below, section wise important topics of XAT from which questions can be asked in XAT 2026:

  • Verbal Ability: Most commonly asked questions are from RC passages, Poem, Sentence Correction, Para Jumble, Fill in the blanks, Conclusion/Inference.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Based on last year’s XAT question papers, the questions can be expected from  - Linear Equation, Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Probability, Surds, Averages, Circles, Grid, Numbers, Height & Distance, Log, Data Interpretation
  • General Knowledge: Current affairs and static GK from History, Geography, Economics and Business, Personality and awards Science and Tech, Sports, Entertainment

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XAT 2026 Weightage: Section Wise

XAT 2026 question paper will be divided into two parts. First part will be of 170 minutes which will include VA-LR, QA-DI and DM. Part 2 will be of 10 minutes having GK questions only. Check below sectional weightage:

XAT Sections

Number of Questions

Total Marks

Decision Making

21

21

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

26

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

28

General Knowledge

20

20

Total 

95

95

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About the Author
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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8

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Answered 4 hours ago

Every question of XAT carries 1 mark and a score of 38 to 42 usually covert into 99 percentile, so candidates should aim for the same number of correct attempts in the exam. XAT has negative marking so they should not attempt any question, if they are not sure of, otherwise it will affect the overal

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Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 7 hours ago

The CCSU MBA Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the MBA programme via the XAT, MAT and CAT entrance examinations. The CCSU XAT Cutoff 2025 was 50 for the Gender-Neutral Candidates under the All India quota. In the case of CCSU MAT Cutoff 2025, the qualfying cutoff percentile was 75 for t

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Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

GIBS accepts scores from all major management entrance exams, including:

  • CAT

  • XAT

  • MAT

  • CMAT

  • GMAT

  • ATMA

  • State CET

This gives students multiple options to apply. Along with entrance exam scores, GIBS also looks at the overall profile, communication skills, and interest in management, which makes the admission pr

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A

Ahmedbasha

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a week ago

Yes, apart from CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/ATMA, PIBM conducts its own entrance exam called PMAT (PIBM's Online Aptitude Test). Shortlisted candidates from PMAT then appear for the Written Test, Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) as part of the selection process.

R

Ruchika Chouhan

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a week ago

Yes, if you have secured an 82nd percentile in XAT, you can get the scholarships for pursuing an MBA course at FOSSTIMA Business School. The concessions on fees that the school provides are:

  • A scholarship of INR 3 Lacs for a percentile holder from 80 to 85.

A

Abhishek Hazarika

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

No. Scores in CAT/XAT/GMAT is not mandatory for admission into BITS Pilani MBA in Business Analytics. However, those who have appeared for these entrance exams will get their score considered in the selection criteria. Appearing for BAAT exam is mandatory for MBA Business Analytics admission.

D

Dhanya Shekhar

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a week ago

The XAT Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/ PGDM programme for Gender-Neutral candidates belonging to the All India quota. The Rajagiri Business School XAT Cutoff 2025 was 15 percentile for admission to the PGDM course. Candidates needed to secure at least 15 percentile to avail admis

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Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

XAT VARC is moderately tough and requires adequate practice. This section has about 27 questions and some are based on RC passages including a poem. To be able to understand and attempt RC questions, good control on English comprehension is required. Verbal Ability, Grammar and Vocabulary questions

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Anya B

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

There is no change in the XAT exam pattern 2026. The structure of XAT 2026 question paper will be same as XAT 2025 question paper. There will be no essay writing this year.  Candidates will get 180 minutes to solve about 95 questions in MCQ format.

A

Anyam Kalra

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

Rajagiri Business School XAT Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM courses. In 2024, the XAT cutoff was 70 percentile for admission to the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course for the General category candidates under the All India quota. 

As in the case for the OBC AI c

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Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10