Exam On - 4 Jan '26
XAT 2025 exam is three weeks away. It is time to start revision of important topics and concepts along with practice of their application. It is also the the time to go through tricks and shortcuts for solving the XAT questions speedily. Here are a few tips on XAT exam preparation in the last 10 days.
XAT 2025: Revision tips for last 10 days - XLRI Jamshedpur, will conduct XAT 2025 on January 5, 2025. The XAT exam is conducted by the institute on behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). The XAT exam is very popular among MBA aspirants. Apart from XLRI Jamshedpur, XAT score is accepted by over 800 institutes across India including Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), SP Jain Institute of Management and Research.
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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.
Detailed guidelines will be mentioned in the XAT admit card. Here are a few general guidelines for you to know:
- Candidates are supposed to be at the centre at least an hour before the commencement of exam. Reach the XAT exam centre at the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
- Affix your recent passport size photo in colour with preferable white background on the admit card.
- Do not carry electronic items, valuables and bags to the exam centre. These items are prohibited.
- Carry two copies of the XAT admit card and the original copy of a valid ID proof such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID card, Passport, PAN card, Driving License or University ID card.
- After entering the test lab, locate your seat and computer system. Do not start the computer system until the invigilator makes an announcement for the same.
Like any other competitive exam, the key to excel in XAT also lies in preparation in the last few days before the exam. Therefore, Shiksha has compiled a list of XAT 2025 revision tips for the last 10 days. Read on.
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1. XAT Mock Tests
The most important thing for the XAT aspirants right now is to continue to practice official XAT mock tests so that they are thorough with the latest pattern of the XAT question paper. They should also practice one or two unofficial mock test to keep your confidence level high. In the last few days, they must not start with a new topic as it will only lead to stress. What they need to do is strengthen the knowledge they have acquired so far. Also, this is the time when they must revise the basics of all the topics, short notes they made earlier and memorise formulas and theories.
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
2. General Knowledge
Amid preparation for XAT Quantitative Ability, Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Reasoning, candidates must not miss out on the General Knowledge section. The GK score may not be cosidered while calculating the XAT score but it comes into play at the time of PI shortlisting. So, you must not ignore it. Read newspaper daily and keep a track of the most recent events. In the last few days, take out time to go through static GK, regularly. Questions in this section of XAT 2025 exam paper will be based on topics such as Awards and Winners, Business, Economy, Government and Politics, Science, Famous, Personalities, History, Geography, Current Affairs and Static GK, etc.
XAT aspirants must follow the guideline as mentioned in the XAT admit card and the exam day instruction document
XAT Dos
- Carry a ballpoint pen, two copies of admit card, photo ID and a passport size photos.
- Be present at the XAT exam centre as per the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
- Wear simple outfits like cardigans and sweaters without pockets.
- Submit a copy of XAT admit card and rough sheets to the invigilator before leaving the test lab.
XAT Don’ts
- Don’t carry paper, notebook, book or such items.
- Don’t carry electronic items such as mobile phones, pager, watch, ipad and calculator.
- Don’t carry eatables inside the exam venue (allowed for diabetic students with permission).
- Don’t reach the exam centre late. Gates will be closed 30 minutes before the commencement of exam.
- Don’t wear jewellery or any meta accessory on the exam day.
- Don’t carry leave the test lab before time or without permission.
- Don’t resist frisking or identification procedures at the exam centre.
XAT is conducted on the first Sunday of every January so it can be XAT 2026 exam date is likely to be January 4, 2026 (if the trend doesn't change). Official announcement will be made by XLRI Jamshedpur in the second week of July 2025. The exam will be held in a single shift and the duration will be 3 hours.
XAT exam fee is not refundable. Candidates cannot request refund of XAT fee under any circumstances. They should be sure that they wish to appear for XAT before filling the exam form. Also, they should fill the 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.
There is no specific dress code for XAT exam, but candidates must keep the following in mind:
· Should not wear jackets and hoodies
· Should not wear caps and headgears
· Should not have metal in their clothing
· Should not were accessories having metal
· Should not wear high boots
· Candidates with implants should seek special permission
No candidates will be allowed to carry a calculator or any electronic item inside the XAT exam hall. However, they can use the on-screen calculator available on the computer system. The on scree calculator can be used during the exam for all types of calculation. Candidates who are more comfortable using pen and paper for calculations can opt for that too.
Also Read:
3. Practice to Improve Accuracy and Speed
XAT exam is all about attempting maximum questions in minimum time. The students are expected to answer 95 questions in 3 hours. The test is divided into four sections. Also, there is negative marking for unanswered/wrong questions. Thus, the students have to take care of accuracy in the test along with taking care of the timer. XAT toppers suggest that if you will target meeting sectional cut offs in each section, then you will be safe. Be sure to solve questions which you know you can solve accurately.
In the last few days before XAT 2025, focus on solving questions quickly. This is the time to practice and practice more. Time yourself and see how much time do you take in solving each type of question. Evaluate and improve the speed if need be.
4. XAT Topper Interviews
Watch videos, read interviews of past year XAT toppers to take inspiration from their strategy for the exam day. Learn how they approached the XAT question paper, chose questions, handled surprise questions as weel as maintained speed and accuracy to top the exam. Also Read: How to Prepare for XAT 2025? Tips from Toppers
Read More:
Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
It is not recommended to attempt a XAT mock test a day before the exam. That time should be best left for revision of important formulas and concepts, revisiting the exam day strategy and relaxing. Attempting a full-day mock test can be mentally tiring and may shake up your confidence in case you do
N
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 4 days ago
One should attempt only one XAT mock test in a day. A full length XAT mock test is of three hours. After which you will have to spend some time analyzing your performance and revisiting problem areas. About 4-5 hours will be spent in this and you mind will already be exhausted. Thus, best is to do s
S
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 4 days ago
If a candidate has appeared for the XAT exam before and is only attempting again for score improvement, then they can prepare for it with mock tests only. But if a candidate is appearing for the XAT exam for the first time and is not familiar with the syllabus, they cannot prepare with XAT mock test
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
The ideal time to start XAT mock test practice is after you've covered the exam syllabus. When you're thorough with all the concepts and formulae, you will be able to solve all types of questions in the XAT mock test. XAT exam is conducted in January first week, so one should start mock test practic
J
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 5 days ago
For a student starting from scratch, a dedicated 3-4 months is a healthy timeframe. This isn't about stressful, hours-long cramming sessions. Instead, it's about cultivating a habit. Think of it as spending just 20-30 minutes each day getting to know the world better—reading a good newspaper, browsi
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
What makes it so tough isn't complex formulas or obscure vocabulary; it's the ambiguity. The DM section doesn't test what you know, it tests who you are as a leader and a person. It throws you into a minefield of ethical dilemmas, business conflicts, and personnel issues where every option seems par
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Digital copy of the XAT admit card is not accepted for identification so candidates must ensure they carry print out of their hall ticket. The print out of the XAT admit card should have a recent passport sized photo affixed on it (preferably the same as uploaded in the XAT application form). It is
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 6 days ago
"Tough" isn't quite the right word; "tricky" is more accurate. The Decision Making questions are unique because they don't have a single, formula-based right answer. They present you with complex business and ethical dilemmas where all the options seem very close.
The real challenge is to pick the mo
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No questions are technically 'mandatory' in XAT, but there's a crucial catch. You get penalized with negative marking if you leave more than 8 questions unattempted across the main sections (Verbal, DM, and Quant).
So, the real strategy isn't just about accuracy; it's about making smart attempts to a
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Absolutely! In the final week, it's less about learning new topics and all about perfecting your strategy.
Solving past XAT papers is the best way to get into the "exam zone." It helps you master time management, build stamina for the full duration, and get comfortable with the unique Decision Making
G
Contributor-Level 10
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.