XAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
XAT 2020 will help you get into a number of top MBA colleges in India. Know the XAT exam pattern and marking scheme in the article below.
XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level management exam conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur once every year. The exam is held in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode and its duration is 3 hours. Over 75,000 students all over the country take the XAT exam and about 857 colleges accept the XAT score for admission into various MBA courses. Registrations for XAT 2020 are going on. The exam is just 3 months away and scheduled to be held on January 5, 2020. Read this article to understand the XAT exam pattern and marking scheme.
Also Read: Important Dates for XAT 2020
- XAT Marking Scheme
- XAT Exam Pattern and Structure
- XAT question paper explained section-wise
XAT Marking Scheme
XAT exam’s marking scheme is a little twisted. For each correct answer the candidate will get 1 mark and for each incorrect answer 0.25 marks will be deducted. There will also be a deduction of 0.5 marks if more than 8 questions are unanswered. There will be no negative marking for the General Knowledge section, but also marks of this section will not be considered while calculating the overall XAT score.
Check the table below to understand XAT marking scheme:
| Correct answer |
+1 |
| Incorrect answer |
-0.25 |
| More than 8 unanswered questions |
-0.5 |
XAT Exam Pattern and Structure
- XAT 2020 exam pattern is similar to the previous year.
- XAT Exam question paper consists of four sections, i.e. Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
- Each section will have questions in the MCQ form
- The exam will carry 100 questions for one mark each
Also Read: XAT syllabus
XAT question paper explained section-wise
1.Decision Making: This section is the most difficult section of the question paper. The section will focus on Ethical Dilemmas, Financial issues, General Management scenarios and company management issues. Spending good time on preparing this section is advisable.
2.Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning: This section comprises of the comprehension passages, reasoning skills and vocabulary. Thus, this section requires quick reading and a lot of practice.
3.Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation: This section is majorly about the mathematics that you have studies in your school. Number Systems, Geometry, Probability, Functions, etc. is all that this section is made up of. Hence, this section requires you to know the concepts, theorems, and formulas by heart.
4.General Knowledge: Reading newspaper daily and being up-to-date with all the current trends will get you through in this section.
Read More: Tips to Score well in GK
Section-wise XAT exam pattern
Refer to the table below which indicates marks weightage per section.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Making |
22 |
22 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
27 |
27 |
| General Knowledge |
25 |
25 |
| Total |
100 |
100 |
XAT 2020 registrations are going on and the last date to fill the application form is December 8, 2019. Below are some articles that will help you crack XAT 2020.
- How to prepare for XAT 2020 in 3 months
- Last Minute tips for XAT
- XAT preparation 2020: Best Books and Study Material
- How to prepare for XAT? Tips from toppers.
- Expert Speak: How to Prepare for XAT Exam.
- How to prepare for XAT in one month
- Section-wise preparation strategy for XAT
- Is XAT tougher than CAT?
News & Updates
Photos & Videos
+17
Contact Details
Address
XLRI Xavier School of Management, C.H. Area (East)
Jamshedpur ( Jharkhand)
Get details of Similar Colleges
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
To get into the PGDM program at MERI, the process is pretty straightforward but requires a bit of hustle. First off, you need a Bachelor’s degree in any field with at least 50% marks (if you’re in your final year, you can still apply). The real gatekeeper is the entrance exam—they accept scores from
l
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 3 weeks ago
XLRI offers PGDM course. The programme is offered in HR, General Management, Business Management, Innovation and Enterpreneurship, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Students are encouraged to apply theortical learning via case studies and research methodologies.
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
No, candidates do not need to fill separate application form. The XAT application form has an optional field to select the preferred XLRI courses. Candidates have to pay an additional fee for the same.
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
XLRI selects candidates for its MBA full time programme through XAT score. Those who qualify the exam and meet the minimum cut off, are shortlisted for Essay Writing and Personal Interview. Final selection is made on the basis of candidate's XAT score, academic score, work experience and performance
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 months ago
XLRI Jamshedpur provides vibrant placement opportunities to students. For Xavier Institute of Management Jamshedpur placements 2025, the highest packages stood at INR 110 LPA (international) and INR 75 LPA (domestic), respectively. The average package stood at 31.08 LPA, while the median package was
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 months ago
XLRI only offers PGDM courses to all its applicants. The XLRI PGDM courses are 15 months long courses that are offered in full-time mode. Candidates who wish to pursue XLRI PGDM courses must appear for the XAT entrance exam and clear it with an appropriate rank. In addition to the XAT entrance exam,
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 months ago
XLRI Xavier Institute of Management admissions are held on the basis of the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) entrance exam. Interested students must learn about the important dates regarding applications for a smooth admission process. The XAT 2026 registration process starts from July 10, 2025 and ends
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 months 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
N
Guide-Level 15
Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
Read Full Bio