XAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Important Topics & Weightage
Xavier Aptitude Test 2026 ( XAT )
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
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.
- 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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Yes, the XAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking but if there are 8 consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted.
Thus, the candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the XAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. The XAT exam has sectional time limit too, so you may not want to waste time on a question that you cannot solve accurately.
You stand to lose both time and marks. So be careful in selecting questions in the XAT exam. The sectional cut off for XAT is usually 80 percent accuracy. Practice a lot of mock tests to develop this skill.
In XAT, Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from Philosophy, Psychology, History, Art, research articles. Sometime, the XAT RC section also has poems. These areas are chosen to test the candidates, who are largely Science, Commerce and Engineering graduates, on their ability to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Out of 26 questions, about 14-16 questions are based on RC passages or a poem. Candidates must target solving about 10 questions accurately to score well. XAT has negative marking so do not mark an option as your answer if you are not 100 percent sure of it.
There are no non-MCQs in XAT. All the questions are in MCQ format with four options to choose the correct answer from. There are neither Type in the Answer and nor subjective answer type questions. Earlier, there used to be essay writing which required candidates to type a short essay on screen.
As per the latest XAT exam pattern, the question paper has only 2 parts. Part 1 consists of VALR, DM and QA DI questions. Part 2 consists of GK questions. Essay Writing is not a part of the online test. The total time duration is 180 minutes or 3 hours. Part 1 is of 170 minutes and Part 2 is of 10 minutes. Earlier, the XAT exam included essay writing for which extra time was given. The XAT exam used to be of 210 minutes or 3.5 hours.
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.
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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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 21 hours ago
One will need 3-4 hours of preparation if they are planning to complete XAT syllabus in 6 months.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 22 hours ago
The best study materials to prepare for XAT exam include a mix of books, previous years' papers, and mock test. Some books focused at XAT preparation are tabulated below:
| Best Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Jabbing the XAT | RK Jha |
| Analytical & Logical Reasoning | Arihant Publications |
| Target XAT | Disha Publications |
B
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 22 hours ago
Sections in the XAT exam, including Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation remain consistent. However, the exam pattern, question count, and structure may change annually.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 23 hours ago
Important topics from XAT quantitative aptitude section include Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Averages), Geometry & Mensuration, Algebra (Equations, Progressions), Number Systems, and Modern Math (Probability, P&C).
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 23 hours ago
Completing XAT syllabus requires 3 to 6 months, with 6-8 months for thorough preparation, including mock test analysis and practise using previous year XAT question papers.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 23 hours ago
Some of the top books to cover XAT syllabus include
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Jabbing the XAT | RK Jha |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| QA/LR books | Arun Sharma or RS Aggarwal |
For Decision Making, candidates can refer to past papers for XAT preparation
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 23 hours ago
XAT syllabus is considered extensive and challenging. It is often viewed as more comprehensive than other management exams. Sections like Decision Making and an Essay is also included in the XAT exam syllabus.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 23 hours ago
The XAT Decision Making section consists of approximately 21-22 case-based questions designed to evaluate the ability to analyse complex, real-life, and professional scenarios.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 23 hours ago
Some of the important topics for XAT preparation include:
- Decision Making: Managerial/ethical dilemmas
- Quantitative Ability: Arithmetic, geometry, and algebra
- Verbal Ability: Reading comprehension, often with poetic passages.
L
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
Major topics under XAT and CAT syllabus are similar. Common sections include Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. While the sections are same the syllabus is not identical. XAT also includes unique sections, namely Decision Making and General Knowledge.
V
Contributor-Level 6
As per the latest XAT exam pattern, there will be 95 questions in XAT 2025 in MCQ format.
There will be no essay writing this year. It will be conducted during the selection process.
It is not mandatory to solve all the questions. Candidates should solve only those questions which they can solve correctly as there is negative marking in XAT. During the exam preparation, focus on the chapters from which majority of the questions are added. This will help them in achieving the sectional and overall cut offs are required.