Xavier Aptitude Test 2026 ( XAT )
Exam On - 4 Jan '26
Quantitative Aptitude section of XAT is usually of higher difficulty level. Scoring in this section can be tough, if fundamentals are not clear. Find out how to crack Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section of XAT 2026 exam. Read key tips and tricks to solve XAT QA-DI questions.
In XAT exam 2026, the Quantitative Ability (QA) & Data Interpretation (DI) topics will be clubbed together which makes it tricky to prepare as candidates need to cover the entire syllabus of both Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation but they don't know from which topic more questions will be asked. Although the QA-DI section is usually dominated by Quant questions, one can’t take the chance of preparing only QA topics. Data Interpretation needs equal amount of focus.
Based on ,MBA
The XAT Data Interpretation questions are in sets and usually lengthy, while the Quants questions are not. Due to this reason, the Quantitative Ability section of XAT exam is moderately difficult. It takes about 3-4 months to complete the XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation syllabus from scratch. If you've appeared for XAT before, you might need less time.
Detailed guidelines will be mentioned in the XAT admit card. Here are a few general guidelines for you to know:
XAT aspirants must follow guideline as mentioned in the XAT admit card and the exam day instruction document
XAT Dos
XAT Don’ts
As part of XAT 2026 exam preparation, candidates need to work on all the topics equally. Go through the XAT Quant syllabus and make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Start with topics that are your weak areas. Gain proficiency in them through study material and problem solving sessions. Practice sample questions and practice papers to know where your stand and what more needs to be done. XAT mock test practice and analysis will further help you in identifying gaps and fissures. Apply the same approach for strength areas. In this article, we will discuss how to prepare for XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation.
30 Sep '25 - 30 Dec '25
30 Dec '25
9 Jan '26
5 Jan '26 - 10 Jan '26
29 Nov '25 - 11 Jan '26
13 Jan '26
22 Jan '26
15 Dec '25 - 23 Jan '26
23 Jan '26
Presented below is the topic-wise break up of QA-DI section of XAT 2025 question paper. Candidates can expect the XAT 2026 question paper to have questions on the same pattern.
| Type of Question |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Linear Equation |
2 |
| Quadratic Equation |
1 |
| Logarithm |
1 |
| Time, speed, distance |
1 |
| Profit and loss |
1 |
| Arithmetic progression |
1 |
| Geometry |
2 |
| Number system |
3 |
| Data Sufficiency |
1 |
| PnC |
1 |
| Polynomials |
1 |
| set theory |
2 |
| DI 1: T-20 Match |
3 |
| DI 2: Statistics - Hinge No. |
3 |
| DI 3: Discount Coupon |
3 |
| DI 4: Aman Buy Vegetables |
2 |
| Total |
28 |
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There is no short cut for XAT exam preparation. Each section of the XAT requires quality time. QA and DI too require focus and dedication.
| VARC preparation tips for MBA | DILR preparation tips for MBA | Quantitative Ability preparation tips for MBA |
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Check the table below for the best books recommended for preparation of Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation of XAT.
| Best Books for XAT QA-DI |
Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude - Quantum CAT |
Sarvesh K Verma |
| Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations |
Guha Abhijit |
| Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency |
Ananta Ashisha/Arihant |
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XAT exam is conducted in online mode so you don’t have to carry any stationary item apart from a blue/black ball point pen which is to be used for signing the attendance sheet.
Candidates should not carry to the examination centre, electronic items such as phone, watch, IPad, calculator, pager, etc. They should also not carry any metal items. Clothes and accessories having metal and metal jewellery are also prohibited inside the examination centres. Caps, headgears, sunglasses, clothes with pocket and hoodies are not allowed at the XAT exam centre. Candidates must also not carry bags and any other valuable item as candidates will not be allowed to carry anything inside the exam centre apart from a pen and documents. There will be no arrangement for depositing the bag at the exam centre.
XAT is conducted on the first Sunday of every January so the XAT 2026 exam date is January 4, 2026. Official announcement was made by XLRI Jamshedpur on July 9, 2025. The exam will be held in a single shift and the duration will be 3 hours. The exam timings will be 2 pm to 5 pm.
XAT exam fee is not refundable. Candidates cannot request refund of XAT fee under any circumstances. They should fill XAT application fee with correct details and with no errors. If they make a mistake in entering details, they will have to fill the form again with a new ID and pay the fee again.
We have mentioned below some XAT questions to provide you an idea of what type of Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation questions are asked in the exam.
Q: Find the value of the expression: 10 + 103 + 106 + 109
Q: Abdul, Bimal, Charlie and Dilbar can finish a task in 10, 12, 15 and 18 days respectively. They can either choose to work or remain absent on a particular day. If 50 percent of the total work gets completed after 3 days, then, which of the following options is possible?
(A) Each of them worked for exactly 2 days.
(B) Bimal and Dilbar worked for 1 day each, Charlie worked for 2 days and Abdul worked for all 3 days.
(C) Abdul and Charlie worked for 2 days each, Dilbar worked for 1 day and Bimal worked for all 3 days.
(D) Abdul and Dilbar worked for 2 days each, Charlie worked for 1 day and Bimal worked for all 3 days.
(E) Abdul and Charlie worked for 1 day each, Bimal worked for 2 days and Dilbar worked for all 3 days.
Q: If the diagonals of a rhombus of side 15 cm are in the ratio 3:4, find the area of the rhombus.
(A) 54 sq. cm.
(B) 108 sq. cm.
(C) 144 sq. cm.
(D) 200 sq. cm.
(E) None of the above
Q: A courier service has offices at three locations: Jamshedpur, Kharagpur and Howrah. Its employees travel by trains from one location to another for pick-up and delivery. It takes 40 minutes for an employee to travel from any railway station to the nearest office (and another 40 minutes for coming back); the paperwork to deliver the parcel at the respective office takes additional 10 minutes. Assume employees do not waste any time.
Employees have the option to choose from any of the trains, whose time-table is given in the table below. Assume all trains travel on time and there is no time gap between arrival and departure of a train. Further, assume that the employee boards the train as soon as it arrives at the station.
An employee, starting from Kharagpur station, has to deliver one parcel at Howrah office and another parcel at Jamshedpur office. His task starts the moment he boards the train at Kharagpur station, and gets completed immediately after delivering the second parcel. Which of the following trains should he board at Kharagpur station to minimize the time required to complete the task?
(A) T102
(B) T103
(C) T202
(D) T203
(E) Both Option B and Option D
Download:
XAT 2024 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
XAT 2021 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
XAT 2020 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
XAT 2019 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
XAT 2018 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
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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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 21 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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GIBS accepts scores from all major management entrance exams, including:
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Beginner-Level 5
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Every candidate is informed by XLRI Jamshedpur about their selection via email. The interview round is held in February-March and the offer letter are sent to selected candidates in April-May. Those who would not receive the confirmation letter, may consider that they are not selected for admission. Candidates must keep a check on their emails. They must keep checking spam folders too. It is also very important use the correct and fully functional email ID for XAT registration as that is the main contact point for communication from the institute.
The admission authorities will consider both sectional and overall XAT score while shortlisting candidates for group discussion and personal interview round of XLRI admission. Candidates must perform well in all the sections of XAT exam as well as in the for group discussion and personal interview to be selected for admission.