XAT 2025: Last Week Preparation Tips and Time Management Strategy

XAT 2025 is a moderate to high difficulty level exam. The vast XAT syllabus demands preparation until the last day. Take a look at some of the top last week preparation tips for XAT exam 2025 and time management to maximize scoring.

XAT 2025 exam is scheduled on January 5, 2025. One week before the exam, candidates must start planning out a strategy for the test day. The last week before exam is not for studying new topics or learning new concepts. This is the time for one final mock test and strategizing the possible scenarios of scoring well in the exam on the basis of your knowledge. 

After CAT exam, XAT is the only entrance test which is a gateway to some of the top MBA colleges in India. Candidates who don’t think they performed well in CAT 2024, must utilize the opportunity that XAT 2025 offers. Let’s have a look at some of the top last week tips for XAT 2025 preparation to maximize scoring.

XAT 2024 Last Week Preparation Tips

Tackling Decision Making and Reading Comprehension

It is a known fact that XAT is one of the tougher MBA entrance exams. Over the years, it has been seen that Decision Making and Reading Comprehension sections have had challenging passages. Thus, it is very important that one not only masters Quantitative Aptitude formulas but also practice enough number of Decision Making questions. The Decision Making section of XAT exam has passages on ethical dilemma and business decision. To answer questions on such passages, one should not look for the correct answer but for the option they think they will choose in real life. In some questions, one may find that their personal opinion may be completely opposite to the given scenario. In that case, one should go for the option which is for the greater good. Keep in mind, that the option selected, must be the one that benefits the maximum number of people or stakeholders.

For Reading Comprehension, always read passages or poems given in the XAT question paper slowly to understand the hidden meanings. In case of fact based passages, write down the data on a rough paper while reading. This will help in answering the questions faster as one will not have to skim through the passages repeatedly. For inference based passages, understand the underlying theme. Break the passage in parts for better clarity. Don’t do speed reading or reverse reading of the passages.

Attempt a XAT Mock Test to Know Your Final Prep Status

Last week before the exam is no time to study a new chapter. Attempt a mock test. It's performance will give an idea of how many topics one is in control of. Attempt a high difficulty level XAT mock test and analyze the scoring pattern. This will help in making a strategy for types of questions to attempt in XAT 2025. Also, for the one final time, it will help in evaluating speed and accuracy in solving the questions.

Shiksha XAT Mock Tests (Free)

Focus on Section-Wise Revision

In the last week before XAT 2025 exam, spend about two to three hours in the night in revising important concepts, formulae, theorems, shortcut tricks, Maths tables, square, square roots, cubes, etc. Spend considerable time on each chapter of every topic of all the four sections of XAT. Practice a few questions with pen and paper to have a better memory of it. It’ll be easier to recall the formula or its explanation during the exam.

Go Through General Knowledge Notes

For the General Knowledge section of XAT, need not worry much. Go through static GK books and read year-enders being published in newspapers and magazines. Since, XAT exam coincides with the New Year, year-enders are a good source of knowledge about current affairs. It is readily available too. Take out an hour for GK every day in the last one week before XAT exam and that'll be enough.

Make a Time Management Strategy for XAT 2025

The total time duration of XAT 2025 exam will be 180 minutes and there will be 95 questions. The question paper is divided into two parts and there is sectional time-limit for both parts. Part 1 of XAT question paper includes Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. Time limit for Part 1 is 170 minutes. Part 2 of XAT comprises General Knowledge time limit for which is 10 minutes.

There will be an onscreen clock showing time. As soon as 170 minutes are over for Part 1, the clock will go back to zero and the screen will move to Part 2. So, XAT aspirants basically need to divide 170 minutes among the three tougher sections justly. There are provisions like marking questions for review before final submission so that a candidate can manage them time accordingly. Go through the official XAT mock test to see how the online question paper will move to determine a strategy. Important to note is that, you don't have to solve all 95 questions. Select questions that you can answer correctly to avoid negative marking. Aim for sectional cut offs in all four sections of XAT and if time permits attempt more questions. 

Relax and Stay Confident

Lastly, put all the apprehensions aside and relax in the last few days before XAT exam 2025. You have worked really hard in the last few months, so trust your abilities. Do not let your performance in CAT 2024 make you either nervous or over confident. Be relaxed during your revision session and focus only on choice of questions in the exam. Strive to achieve sectional cut offs in each section of XAT first, capitalize in the same later if time permits.

Read More:

• How To Prepare for XAT 2025: Tips from Toppers
• XAT 2025: Exam Day Checklist
• Last Minute Tips for XAT 2025