Can I prepare for XAT with CAT preparation material?

Yes, you can definitely use CAT (Common Admission Test) preparation material to prepare for XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test), as there is a significant overlap in the syllabus and level of difficulty between the two exams. Both CAT and XAT have sections on Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning, which are common to both exams. However, XAT also has a separate section on Decision Making, and a section on General Knowledge, which is not present in CAT. So, while the preparation material for CAT can provide a good foundation for the common sections of XAT candidates should also practice specifically for Decision Making and General Knowledge sections, using appropriate study material and resources. In addition to CAT preparation material, candidates can also refer to XAT-specific preparation books and study material to get a better understanding of the exam pattern and type of questions asked in XAT. It's important to note that while the preparation material is important, the key to success in XAT is consistent practice and thorough understanding of concepts. So, candidates should focus on building their conceptual clarity, practicing regularly, and analyzing their performance to identify areas of improvement.

What is the duration of the XAT exam?

XAT exam was held for 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, with the revision of exam pattern, it was held for 180 minutes in 2025. There is sectional time-limit in the test. 170 minutes are allotted to Part 1 comprising Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability. Part 2 has General Knowledge section to be solved in 10 minutes. No bio-break is allowed during the exam. Candidates have to finish the test in the given time limit only. The test screen will move from part 1 to part 2 the moment 170 minutes get over and once the 10 minutes of part 2 will be over, the test window will be locked. Candidates must keep saving their entries after every attempt as there is no provision in XAT to go back and review your answers once the time limit for that part is over.

What was the difficulty level of XAT 2025 exam?

XAT 2025 exam was of moderate difficulty level. The students who had appeared for the exam last year, said the XAT 2025 question paper was not much different. Section wise, Quantitative Aptitude questions were on the tougher side, Verbal Ability and Decision Making were easy to moderate and GK was easy. There was one poem for RC as always. Quantitative Aptitude section was dominated by Arithmetic and GK had questions on very recent events.

What is the marking scheme of the XAT exam?

XAT is an MCQ based test and all questions carry equal marks. The total marks of the exam is 100 and every question carries 1 mark. Decision Making carries 22 marks, Verbal and Logical Ability carries 26 marks, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation carries 28 marks and General Knowledge carries 25 marks. There is negative marking too in XAT, that you should be aware of. Check below the marking scheme of XAT. One mark is awarded for each right answer 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer 0.10 marks is deducted for more than eight unanswered consecutive questions There is no negative marking in General Knowledge section Scores of General Knowledge section will not be considered for calculating XAT score The score of Essay Writing will be taken into consideration at the time of PI shortlisting

Is there a sectional time limit in XAT?

Yes, there is sectional time limit in XAT. As per the latest exam pattern, the XAT question paper 2025 will be divided into two sections – Part 1 and Part 2. Candidates have to complete the questions of a given session within the time limit only. Since, XAT is an online test, there will be on screen clock indicating the time and as soon as the time of one section will be over, the screen will automatically move to the next part. Candidates need to ensure that they have answered the required number of questions and saved them within the time limit. Here’s how the XAT question paper is divided as per section and time duration. Part 1- Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (170 minutes) Part 2- General Knowledge (10 minutes)

How can I prepare for XAT by self study?

If you are planning to prepare for XAT exam by self study, you need to start early. At least six months before. XAT exam is conducted on the first Sunday of January every year. So, if you start preparing for the XAT in June or July, you will have good six months to prepare. Make a preparation plan that includes XAT syllabus coverage, problem solving sessions, mock tests and revision. Get hold of best books for XAT. Consult mentors or previous year toppers for selecting the best books for preparation. Join online study groups where you can get the help of mentors and peers for problem solving and clearing of doubts in topics. Work in tough topics first and then move to easier topics. Solve a large number and variety of XAT mock tests to master the syllabus. You will need to do a rigorous work on XAT mock tests as for candidates who opt for self study, have to rely on practice.

What is the XAT section wise weightage?

XAT exam is more Quantitative Ability and Verbal and Logical Ability based. Which is why these two sections have more weightage than rest of the section. And between these two, Quantitative Ability has more weightage. In terms of marks too, the Quantitative Ability has maximum weightage, i.e. 28 marks, followed by Verbal and Logical Ability with 26 marks, General Knowledge carries 25 marks and Decision Making carries 22 marks. XAT Sections Number of Questions Total Marks Decision Making 22 22 Verbal and Logical Ability 26 26 Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 28 28 General Knowledge 25 25 Essay Writing 1 (out of 3 options) To be evaluated at the time of shortlisting

What is the most difficult section of XAT?

XAT is a high difficulty level exam which means all the four sections are of high difficulty level. However, it has been seen that candidates mostly find the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section more difficult than rest of the three sections – Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and General Knowledge. Quantitative Ability of XAT is dominated by Arithmetic. There are usually 2-3 tough Algebra questions too.

What type of Reading Comprehension passages are there in XAT?

In XAT, Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from Philosophy, Psychology, History, Art, research articles. Sometime, the XAT RC section also has poems. These areas are chosen to test the candidates, who are largely Science, Commerce and Engineering graduates, on their ability to come out of their comfort zone and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Out of 26 questions, about 14-16 questions are based on RC passages or a poem. Candidates must target solving about 10 questions accurately to score well. XAT has negative marking so do not mark an option as your answer if you are not 100 percent sure of it.

How can I cover the XAT syllabus by self study?

If you are planning to appear for the XAT exam by self study, you must start early as the syllabus is vast and tough. To cover the XAT syllabus by self study, candidates must refer to the books recommended for XAT preparation. You can take help from the following books to cover the XAT syllabus but do join a study forum to get help from mentors and peers when need be: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha/Arihant Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis Objective General English by Dr RS Agarwal and Vikas Agarwal High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma

How many questions are mandatory to solve in XAT?

There is no minimum number of questions to be solved in XAT. There are 95 questions in the question paper and candidates can attempt whichever question they think they solve. There is negative marking in XAT so candidates must not fall in the trap of solving maximum questions. However, to score well in XAT, one should aim for solving nearly 2/3rd of the total questions asked in every question. For example, if the Decision Making section has 21 questions, candidate must attempt about 14-15 questions.

Where can I find study material for Decision Making syllabus for XAT?

Since Decision Making section is unique to XAT, study material for the same in not readily available. Thus the best source of preparation material for Decision Making section is XAT previous years’ question papers. This section has passages related to business situations. Candidates have to select the closest solution to the given situation from the list of four options. You have to make an informed decision regarding the decision which has be in favour of the larger good. This section essentially tests your ability to take objective decisions regarding various business situations and activities. Candidates can practice Decision Making questions from XAT question papers of previous years to know the types and difficulty level. In a way, this section is similar to Reading Comprehension and requires same skills as that.

What is the XAT section wise weightage?

XAT exam is more Quantitative Ability and Verbal and Logical Ability based. Which is why these two sections have more weightage than rest of the section. And between these two, Quantitative Ability has more weightage. In terms of marks too, the Quantitative Ability has maximum weightage, i.e. 28 marks, followed by Verbal and Logical Ability with 26 marks, General Knowledge carries 25 marks and Decision Making carries 22 marks. XAT Sections Number of Questions Total Marks Decision Making 22 22 Verbal and Logical Ability 26 26 Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 28 28 General Knowledge 25 25 Essay Writing 1 (out of 3 options) To be evaluated at the time of shortlisting

In how many months can I prepare for XAT?

Ideally, XAT preparation takes six to nine months, but if candidates have prepared for CAT too, XAT preparation can be done in lesser time as one will have to only work on Decision Making and General Knowledge topics. Those who are weak in English Comprehension must start reading practice early on. The ideal time to start XAT preparation is May, so you can cover the whole syllabus by October and dedicate two months to mock test practice. If you start studying for XAT late, by July or so, make sure you complete the syllabus by October only. Remember that XAT syllabus is tough, so you’ll need to study at least 6-8 hours daily from start until the end. Give ample time to yourself to complete the XAT syllabus.

Is it easy to score in GK section of XAT?

GK section of XAT is memory based, so it is very easy to score in this section, if you know the answer and tough if you don't know the answer. Guess work or permutation-combination rarely work in GK as questions are mostly straightforward. There are 20 question, around 12 are from current affairs and 8 are from static GK. Questions are mainly asked from business, economy, politics, Science & tech, sports, awards and recognitions, global events.

What is XAT syllabus?

XAT syllabus includes all important topics related to Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. You can check below subject wise important topics included in the XAT syllabus. Majority of the questions are asked from these topics. XAT Verbal and Logical Ability syllabus: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Antonym/Synonym, Parajumble, Para Completion, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Series Completion, Fill in the Blanks, etc. XAT Decision Making syllabus: Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation syllabus: Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc. XAT General Knowledge syllabus: Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc.

Is there any negative marking in the XAT exam?

Yes, the XAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking but if there are 8 consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted. Thus, the candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the XAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. The XAT exam has sectional time limit too, so you may not want to waste time on a question that you cannot solve accurately. You stand to lose both time and marks. So be careful in selecting questions in the XAT exam. The sectional cut off for XAT is usually 80 percent accuracy. Practice a lot of mock tests to develop this skill.

What is the XAT question paper pattern?

XAT question paper is similar to other MBA entrance exams, i.e. it has a limited number of MCQs. Check the table below for the pattern of XAT question paper: XAT Exam Structure XAT Exam Details Mode of examination Online XAT sections Part 1- Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Part 2- General Knowledge Duration of exam 3 hours Number of questions 95 Total marks 95 Number of answer choices Five XAT marking scheme 1 mark awarded for every correct answer 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer - 0.10 mark deducted for more than 8 un-attempted consecutive questions No negative marking in GK section Candidates must check out previous years' XAT question papers to have an understanding of the paper pattern, topic-wise weightage and types of questions. These official XAT question papers are available in PDF format for free download. They can download the question paper PDFs for practicing XAT questions.

What is the difficulty level of the Quantitative Aptitude questions in XAT?

The difficulty level of the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section in XAT varies from year to year, but generally, the QA section is considered to be moderately difficult to difficult. The questions in this section are designed to test a candidate's mathematical and analytical skills, and they cover a wide range of topics, including arithmetic, Algebra geometry, Trigonometry Probability and Statistics. The QA section of XAT often includes questions that are complex and require a high level of mathematical proficiency. The questions may be in the form of data interpretation or require candidates to use logical reasoning and critical thinking skills to arrive at the correct answer. To score well in the QA section of XAT it is important to have a strong foundation in mathematics and practice a wide variety of questions from different sources. Candidates should focus on developing their problem-solving and time management skills and work on improving their speed and accuracy in solving QA questions. Overall, the QA section of XAT can be challenging, but with proper preparation and practice, candidates can improve their performance and score well in this section. Please upvote if it was helpful.

Is XAT tough for candidates from non-Engineering background?

Yes, XAT is slightly tougher for candidates with non-Engineering background as the Quantitative Aptitude section is of higher difficulty level. However, they can crack it if they work on the fundamentals of Math and practice questions of all difficulty levels. It will take time but they will be able to crack XAT's quant section if they dedicate extra hours to it. Aspirants can find XAT study material online in various online study groups. Students’ groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. share study material with each other. One can also download MBA exam preparation apps to get relevant and useful study material. The good part about XAT is that, it has different cut offs for candidates belonging to different academic backgrounds. As part of its commitment to academic diversity, the institute has lower cut offs for candidates from non-engineering background than candidates from engineering background.

When should I start practicing XAT mock tests?

Aspirants should start practicing XAT mock tests after completing the syllabus. The ideal time duration to solve XAT mock tests is October to December. Avoid practicing mock tests before completing the syllabus. The official mock test is released a week before the exam, so candidates must attempt it at least once before the exam. The official and unofficial mock tests are same as the actual XAT exam so that the candidates can get familiar with the exam pattern, test structure of the question paper and get used to handling the exam pressure. It is important to practice XAT mock tests so that you have prior experience of XAT exam. Both official and unofficial XAT mock tests helps in improving accuracy of solving questions because in an exam like XAT all that matters is speed with accuracy.

Is it helpful to solve XAT question papers in the last week before exam?

Yes, solving XAT question papers of previous years, just a week before the exam will be helpful. By the last week of the exam, you would have completed your preparation and doing revision. While, doing revision, solving previous years' XAT question papers will be helpful in assessing strong and weak areas, as well as understanding which type questions have been asked previously and what can you expect. Basis that, and your strength and weakness, you can decide which questions to attempt and which to skip. Solving past years' XAT question papers will also boost your confidence.

XAT Question Paper 2025, Previous Year Papers with Solutions (Available); PDF Download

1.7K Students Q&A

Updated on Apr 22, 2025 18:11 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Table of content

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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:

Explore subject-wise topics asked in XAT

Select your preferred subject

Quant

VARC

DILR

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

XAT-2024 Question Paper

XAT 2023 question paper

XAT 2022 question paper

XAT 2021 question paper

XAT 2020 question paper

XAT 2019 question paper

XAT 2018 question paper

XAT 2017 question paper

XAT 2016 question paper

XAT 2015 question paper

XAT 2014 question paper

XAT 2013 question paper

XAT 2012 question paper

XAT 2011 question paper

XAT 2010 question paper

Question Banks for XAT Preparation

Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice

VARC Questions with Answers for Practice

DILR Questions with Answers for Practice

XAT Preparation Guides

Important MBA Entrance Exams You Should Not Miss

How to prepare for Xavier Aptitude Test

Preparation Guide for MBA Entrance Exam - Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Preparation Guide for MBA Entrance Exams- Quantitative Aptitude

Preparation Guide for MBA Entrance Exams- Verbal Ability

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

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

There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
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 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:

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
How to Prepare for XAT in 3 months	How to prepare for XAT 2026? Tips from toppers
Expert speak: How to prepare for XAT exam	XAT preparation in six months: Tips and tricks
How to prepare for XAT in 1 month	Best study material for XAT preparation

Check XAT cut offs and predict calls from XLRI and other colleges accepting XAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all XAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict XAT Admission Calls