
XAT question papers - Candidates must practice XAT question papers of previous years. Aspirants should solve atleast XAT previous year papers of last 10 years to prepare for exam specific questions in a better way. Get here previous years' XAT question papers PDFs for XAT 2026 preparation.
XAT question papers are an important component of exam preparation. Practice of previous years' XAT question papers helps the candidate in developing the skill of solving all types of questions – tough, easy, lengthy, tricky - with ease and confidence in limited time. It is extremely critical to practice previous years' XAT question papers because they are the only reliable source of preparation for the Reading Comprehension and Decision Making section of the XAT exam.
Q: How was XAT 2025 different from XAT 2024?
XAT 2025 exam had only 2 sections in the question paper, Part 1 had Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making and Verbal Ability. Part 2 consisted of General Knowledge section. Essay Writing has been removed from the entrance test. It is a part of XLRI PI selection process. The total time duration of XAT exam now is 180 minutes. Part 1 is for170 minutes and Part 2 is for 10 minutes. There is no sectional time limit within the section.
XAT 2024 had Essay Writing and the exam duration was 3.5 hours. Essay Writing was clubbed with GK.

Q: Is solving XAT question paper helpful in exam preparation?
Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management.
Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.

Q: How many questions were there in XAT 2025?
As per the latest XAT exam pattern, there will be 95 questions in XAT 2025 in MCQ format.
- Verbal Ability section of XAT will have 26 questions
- Decision Making section of XAT will have 21 questions
- Quantitative Ability section will have 28 questions
- GK section will have 20 questions
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.

Q: Which section of XAT question paper is lengthiest?
It depends upon each candidate which section of XAT exam paper they find lengthy. It also depends on the questions chosen for the exam in that particular year. However, it has been seen that Data Interpretation questions are usually lengthy. Overall, the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section has the maximum number of questions i.e. 28 and candidates have to solve at least 22-24 questions to meet the desired cut off. So, this section may appear lengthy to the candidate.
To some candidates, the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section appears to be lengthy, because of dense reading comprehension passages and reasoning questions based on analogy, series, etc. The fact that both these sections are from the Part 1 of the XAT exam which is of 175 minutes makes it manageable as along with Decision Making, one can solve a decent number of QA-DI and VA-LR questions in 175 minutes.

- Why Solve XAT Question Papers?
- XAT 2025 Question Paper
- XAT Questions Papers PDFs
- XAT Preparation Guides
- XAT Question Paper 2024
- Previous Year XAT Question Papers (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
- XAT Mock Test and Preparation
- FAQs on XAT Question Papers
Why Solve XAT Question Papers?
A good performance in a speed based test like XAT exam is the result of good practice. Candidates must have the exposure of previous 10 years' XAT question papers so that they know how to use the time given to attempt maximum questions accuratety. Solving the XAT question papers also helps immensely in preparation of unique sections of XAT 2026- Decision Making and Reading Comprehension (the poem).
Top Reasons to Solve Previous Years' XAT Question Papers
Practice of XAT question papers is necessary also because it not only improves time management skills but also boosts candidate's confidence. Listed below are a few benefits of solving XAT question papers.
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Practicing XAT previous year papers will give you an idea of the types of questions asked in the exam. You will also know the weightage of topics, i.e. from which units most of the questions are asked.
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XAT has a unique section called Decision Making, study material for which in not readily available. Thus to prepare for this section, previous year XAT question papers are the best source.
- Every year, there is one poem in the XAT Reading Comprehension section. To know what type of poems are there and what type of questions are asked candidates should solve XAT question papers of previous years.
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By practicing XAT question papers candidates will also get to know their strength and weakness viz. XAT syllabus so as to study accordingly. They will know which topics have more weightage and which ones have less weightage. They can cover the XAT syllabus accordingly.
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By practicing XAT previous year question papers and mock tests, candidates will be able to discover tricks and shortcuts to solve questions faster with 100 per cent accuracy.
- GK is a vast field, so to be able to do focused preparation, candidates must practice GK questions from previous year XAT papers. It will help them zero in on GK topics from which questions are mainly asked.
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If a candidate has solved 25-30 XAT mock tests and a series of previous years' question papers, he/she will be more confident in the actual exam as he/she will be familiar all types of questions and their solutions.
- Having practice of previous years' XAT question papers will instill confidence. One will feel more at ease because of familiarity with the question type.
Also Read:
- XAT 2026 exam pattern and test structure
- Section wise XAT exam syllabus 2026
- XAT score vs percentile: How to calculate?
- XAT cut offs for XLRI and other colleges
- XAT answer key and response sheet
- XAT result download link and process
Explore subject-wise topics asked in XAT
Select your preferred subject
XAT 2025 Question Paper
XAT 2025 question paper was divided into two parts. The difficulty level was same as 2024. Total number of questions was 95. Check here for a brief overview of XAT question paper 2025.
XAT Question Paper 2025 | Sections | Sectional Time Limit |
---|---|---|
Part 1 | QA-DI, VA-LR, Decision Making | 170 minutes |
Part 2 | GK | 10 minutes |
XAT 2025 Question Paper: Sectional Difficulty Level
XAT 2025 question paper was released along with the candidate response sheet and answer key. Check below section wise composition and difficulty levels of XAT question paper 2025.
XAT Sections |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
Level of Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|
Decision Making |
21 |
21 |
Moderate |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
Moderate |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
Moderate to Difficult |
General Knowledge |
20 |
20 |
Easy |
Total |
95 |
95 |
Moderate |
Also Read:
Download previous year XAT question papers and sample papers. Use them for practice and improve your speed and accuracy. You can download XAT previous year question papers and the preparation guides for free.
XAT Questions Papers PDFs
Previous Year XAT Question Papers
Question Banks for XAT Preparation
XAT Preparation Guides
XAT Question Paper 2024
The XAT question paper 2024 was divided into three parts which inlcuded an essay writing section. Total time given to candidates for completing the test was 3.5 hours. Difficulty level of XAT 2024 question paper was moderate to tough. Check this table for the latest XAT question paper pattern structure.
XAT Exam Structure |
XAT Exam Details |
---|---|
Number of sections |
5 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge and Essay Writing) |
Duration of exam |
Part 1- Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation - 175 minutes Part 2- Mock key board testing - 5 minutes Part 3 - GK and Essay Writing - 30 minutes |
Number of questions |
105 |
Total marks |
105 |
Language of paper |
English |
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 un-attempted consecutive questions No negative marking in GK section |
XAT 2024 Question Paper: Sectional break up
The sectional break up of XAT 2024 question paper was was same as XAT 2023 question paper. Check the table below for section wise number questions in the XAT question paper 2024. It was not mandatory to solve all the MCQs.
XAT Sections |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
---|---|---|
Decision Making |
21 |
22 |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
General Knowledge |
25 |
25 |
Essay Writing (250 words) |
1 |
To be evaluated after PI shortlisting |
XAT 2024 Essay Writing Topics
Candidates where given the following topics to write an essay:
- Tech prediction often fails not because of wrong models or lack of imagination but due to a lack of humility in admitting uncertainty about the future.
- Implementing more stringent restrictions on social media platforms is crucial to effectively combat the proliferation of fake news.
- Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.
Also Read: XAT 2024 question paper analysis
Previous Year XAT Question Papers (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
XAT Question Paper 2023
XAT 2023 question paper was of moderate difficulty level. it had the Essay section also, which was brought back in 2022. There were three essay topics and candidates had to write on one topic of their choice. Evaluation of the essay was done at the time of candidate shortlisting. Check below the structure of XAT 2023 question paper:
XAT 2023 Sections |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
Level of Difficulty (expected) |
---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Decision Making |
22 |
22 |
Moderate |
Part 1: Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
Moderate to Tough |
Part 1: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
Tough |
Part 2: General Knowledge |
25 |
25 |
Moderate |
Part 2: Essay Writing |
3 (candidate had to choose 1 topic) |
To be evaluated after shortlisting |
Moderate |
Also read:
- XAT 2023 student reactions and reviews
- XAT 2023 question paper solutions and answer key
- XAT 2023 response sheet download PDF
- XAT 2023 review and paper analysis
XAT Question Paper 2022
XAT 2022 question paper was similar to XAT 2021 question paper in terms of difficulty level. However, there was a new addition to the paper this year - the reintroduction of Essay Writing. Candidates had to write a 250-word essay on one of the two given topics in Part 2 of the paper. Check the sectional break up and difficulty level of the XAT question paper 2022 below:
XAT 2022 Sections |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
Level of Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Decision Making |
21 |
21 |
Moderate |
Part 1: Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
Moderate |
Part 1: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
Moderate |
Part 2: General Knowledge |
25 |
25 |
Tough |
Part 2: Essay Writing |
1 |
To be evaluated after shortlisting |
Moderate |
XAT 2022 Question Paper: RC Topics
- Stupidity
- Lifestyles
- Conformism
- Conformism
- Poem
- Poem
Also Read: XAT 2022 question paper analysis
XAT Question Paper 2021
XAT 2021 question paper was of overall moderate difficulty. Similar to XAT previous year papers. However, the Verbal section was easier than previous year. Check the section wise difficulty level of XAT question paper 2021 below:
XAT Sections |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty level |
---|---|---|
Decision Making |
21 |
Moderate |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
Easy |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
Moderate |
General Knowledge |
25 |
Moderate |
Overall |
100 |
Moderate |
XAT 2021 Question Paper: RC Topics
- Multitasking and Distraction
- Uncertainty in Life
- Importance of the Ability to Process Numbers in Animals
- Microsoft and Windows Phone
- Realization of Truth of Life
- Gender Data Gap
- Poem - 'Sit' by Vikram Seth
Also Read: XAT 2021 question paper analysis
XAT Question Paper 2020
XAT 2020 question paper was of overall moderate difficulty. However, the VARC section was tougher than previous year. Check the section wise difficulty level of XAT question paper 2020 below:
XAT Sections |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty level |
---|---|---|
Decision Making |
21 |
Moderate |
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning |
26 |
Difficult |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
Moderate |
General Knowledge |
25 |
Moderate |
Overall |
100 |
Moderate |
XAT Marking Scheme
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There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
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There will be deduction of 0.5 marks incase of eight consecutive unanswered questions
- There is no negative marking for unanswered questions
Also Read:
- XAT 2020 question paper analysis
- XAT 2020 - Student reactions and reviews
- XAT 2020 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
XAT Question Paper 2019
XAT 2019 question paper was of moderate difficulty and the Essay Writing section was scrapped. The Quantitative Ability section was easy but Decision Making section was tricky. English and Reasoning sections were easy. Take a look at the XAT 2019 question paper break-up:
XAT Sections |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
---|---|---|
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
Difficult |
Decision Making |
21 |
Moderate |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
27 |
Easy-Moderate |
General Knowledge |
25 |
Moderate |
Total |
99 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Also Read:
XAT Mock Test and Preparation
Solving only the official XAT question papers will not be enough to master XAT. One needs to practice time bound XAT mock tests as well. Practicing mock series are essential to gain control of subject, topics, time and accuracy. Shiksha has created XAT mock tests based on previous years' questions. Practice these free XAT mock tests to assess your preparation level. After taking the test, you can immediately check your score:
XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
Check the below given links for solve questions for practice:
- Verbal Ability (VA) solved questions
- Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions
- Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions - Part 2
- Logical Reasoning (LR) solved questions
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) solved questions
XAT Preparation 2026
For XAT exam preparation 2026, candidates need to make a long term as well as a short term strategy. While the long term strategy includes XAT syllabus coverage and Reading Comprehension practice, short term strategy includes XAT mock test practice. One should ideally start preparation for XAT, nine months before. However, one can prepare in less time as well, but that will require a focused plan and full-time dedication. Given below are some top read articles for XAT exam preparation 2026.
XAT Exam Preparation Articles | |
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FAQs on XAT Question Papers
Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to XAT Question Paper:
Get prep tips, practice papers, exam details and important updates
1114 Institutes accepting XAT
XLRI Xavier School of Management
Jamshedpur • Private
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
Kanchipuram, Chennai • Private
Goa - Other • Private