XAT Syllabus 2026 (PDF Available): Check Section-wise Syllabus & Topics

Q: Are there non-MCQs in XAT?

There are no non-MCQs in XAT. All the questions are in MCQ format with four options to choose the correct answer from. There are neither Type in the Answer and nor subjective answer type questions. Earlier, there used to be essay writing which required candidates to type a short essay on screen.

Q: Can XAT preparation be done with CAT study material?

Candidates can take reference of subjects and topics from CAT study material for Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude, but XAT preparation has to be exam specific and must include exam specific study material. Aspirants can use CAT sample questions too for practice purpose, but that is not enough. They need to practice XAT sample questions and XAT mock tests too, as the nature of questions in XAT is different from CAT.

Q: What is the unique aspect of XAT Verbal & Logical Ability?

XAT Verbal & Logical Ability is unique in the sense that it has Verbal and Critical Reasoning combined with Reading Comprehension. There are 3-4 RC passages and one of them is a short poem. The uniqueness of XAT Verbal & Logical Ability lies in the fact that no other MBA entrance exam has poem. Moreover, critical reasoning questions are based on different perspectives from which the best conclusion is to be drawn.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: How much time is allotted to the decision-making section in XAT?

Part 1 of XAT question paper comprise Decision Making, Verbal Ability Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation sections to be completed within 170 minutes. Candidates can jump from one section to another in the first part within the 170 minutes duration. There was no sectional time limit for Part 1 of XAT. But the total time available for XAT Part 1 was 170 minutes, Part 2 was to be completed in 10 minutes and included only GK questions.

Q: What is the latest change in XAT exam pattern?

As per the latest XAT exam pattern, the question paper has only 2 parts. Part 1 consists of VALR, DM and QA DI questions. Part 2 consists of GK questions. Essay Writing is not a part of the online test. The total time duration is 180 minutes or 3 hours. Part 1 is of 170 minutes and Part 2 is of 10 minutes. Earlier, the XAT exam included essay writing for which extra time was given. The XAT exam used to be of 210 minutes or 3.5 hours.

Q: Is XAT syllabus same as CAT syllabus?

XAT syllabus for Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude are same as CAT syllabus. Decision Making and General Knowledge syllabus are not a part of CAT syllabus. Thus, XAT aspirants have to study more than CAT aspirants, which is why one needs to have a XAT specific preparation plan in order to score above 95 percentile.

Q: 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 3 hours 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.

Q: 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.

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Registration - 10 Jul '25 - 5 Dec '25

Updated on Sep 26, 2025 11:46 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

XAT syllabus is prescribed by XLRI Jamshedpur. The XAT exam syllabus 2026 includes Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. The topics included in these subjects are same as that of other MBA entrance exams, except Decision Making. To score good marks in XAT 2026, candidates must cover every topic of the XAT syllabus. Take a look at the complete XAT 2026 syllabus along with best books and study material required to prepare for XAT exam.

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Table of content

XAT Syllabus 2026: Detailed Breakdown
XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude (QA) & Data Interpretation (DI): Key Topics
XAT Syllabus for Verbal & Logical Ability Key Topics
XAT Exam Syllabus for Decision Making (DM) Key Topics
XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge (GK) Key Topics
Best Books for XAT Preparation 2026
XAT Exam Pattern and Preparation 2026
FAQs on XAT Syllabus 2026

XAT Syllabus 2026: Detailed Breakdown

Check the table below for key topics of XAT syllabus 2026. Candidates must focus more on these topics as most of the questions will be asked from these in the XAT 2026 exam.

XAT Sections	XAT syllabus: Important Topics
Verbal and Logical Ability	Reading Comprehension (including a poem), Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc.
Decision Making	Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc.
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc.
General Knowledge	Current Affairs and Static GK (Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc.)

Download XAT Syllabus PDF

Shiksha has created a downloadable document for XAT syllabus for candidates. Download it from the below link for free.

To crack the XAT 2026 exam, prepare the important topics mentioned in the free XAT Syllabus PDF linked below.

XAT Syllabus 2026

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Commonly asked questions

Q: Which section of XAT question paper is lengthiest?

Q: What is the XAT section wise weightage?

XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude (QA) & Data Interpretation (DI): Key Topics

The Quantitative Aptitude section of XAT is usually moderate to high in terms of difficulty level. Arithmetic dominates this section with about 8-9 questions. The questions can be calculation intensive. The key topics of Quantitative Aptitude (QA) & Data Interpretation (DI) section of XAT exam syllabus are listed below:

XAT syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
Percentage	Tables and Caselets	Linear and Quadratics Equations
Profit and Loss	Probability	Surds and Indices
Ratio and Proportion	Critical Path	Inequalities
Variation	Averages and Partnerships	Logarithms
Time and Work	Alligations and Mixtures	Numbers
Time, Speed and Distance	Algebra	Mensuration
LCM and HCF	Simple and Compound Interest	Geometry
Pure Maths	Venn Diagram	Trigonometry
Data Tables	Data Charts	Bar Diagrams
Graphs	Pie Charts	Data Analysis

Here are some key highlights of Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section of XAT syllabus 2026:

There will be 28 questions in this section
The difficulty level of XAT Quantitative Aptitude will be high
Each question will carry one mark
There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer
The questions will be asked mostly from Arithmetic, Algebra, Co-ordinate Geometry, Data Sufficiency, Time Zone and Mixed Graph
Format of the question will be MCQ with five options to choose the correct answer from
Solving all questions is not mandatory, but candidates must keep in mind that meeting XAT sectional cut off is essential for XLRI selection

Commonly asked questions

Q: How can I cover the XAT syllabus by self study?

Q: Is solving XAT question paper helpful in exam preparation?

XAT Syllabus for Verbal & Logical Ability Key Topics

The XAT English section is on par with the CAT exam, however the number of RC passages are less. There are 2-3 RC passages of upto 500 words. In the last few years, it has been seen that one RC is a poem. Overall, there are about 10 questions on RC passages. Key topics included in Verbal Ability section of XAT exam syllabus are given below:

XAT syllabus for Verbal & Logical Ability
Reading Comprehension	Fill in the Blanks	Antonyms/Synonyms
Jumbled Paragraphs	Contextual Usage of Vocabulary	Correction of Errors in Sentence
Word Usage	Sentence Completion	Paragraph Completion

The Verbal Ability syllabus for XAT is similar to CAT. See below for sectional composition in the exam:

There will be 26 questions in the VA section of XAT 2026
Each question of this section will carry one mark
There will be a deduction of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
The format of XAT Verbal Ability questions will be MCQ
RC passages are not too long but needs deep yet quick reading
Attempting all questions is not mandatory, but candidates should keep in mind the sectional cut off

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the unique aspect of XAT Verbal & Logical Ability?

Q: What type of Reading Comprehension passages are there in XAT?

XAT Exam Syllabus for Decision Making (DM) Key Topics

There is no specific syllabus of XAT Decision Making. This section is similar to Logical Reasoning wherein one has to choose the best solution to a given business situation. Candidates have to choose the closest option as the right answer. The Decision Making passages pertain to ethical decisions taken for larger good. Key topics of Decision Making section of XAT exam syllabus 2026 are given below:

XAT syllabus for Decision Making
Analytical Reasoning	Logical Reasoning	Complex Arrangement
Data Arrangement	Caselets	Conditions and Grouping
Situations	Assumptions	Decision Making

Here are some key points related to Decision Making section of XAT 2026:

There will be 21 questions in this section
All the questions of this section will be situation-based
They will be based on business situations to assess the candidate's leadership/management skills
Candidates will have to choose the best solution from four options given
One mark will be awarded for correct attempt and 0.25 mark will be deducted for incorrect attempt.m
It is not mandatory to attempt all the questions, but candidates should keep in mind the XAT sectional cut off

Also Read:

VARC preparation tips for MBA

DILR preparation tips for MBA

QA preparation tips for MBA

Commonly asked questions

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

Q: How much time is allotted to the decision-making section in XAT?

XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge (GK) Key Topics

General Knowledge section of XAT may seem easier but it is not as there is vast area to cover. You need to read a lot about events from various fields- both historical as well as current events. When preparing for General Knowledge section of XAT, study the following topics included in the syllabus.

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XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
Awards and winners	History and Geography	Static GK
Business and Politics	Constitution of India	Personalities
Government and Economy	World Events	Current Affairs

Highlights of XAT GK section:

There will be 20 MCQs in General Knowledge section of XAT 2026
Each question will carry one mark and there is no negative marking in GK section
GK is memory based question so it is easy to prepare, but the topic pool can be vast.
Thus, refer to the previous years' XAT question papers to note down the GK/Current Affairs topics to prepare in a focused manner.
XAT GK score is not considered for percentile calculation.

Also Read:

Commonly asked questions

Q: Are there non-MCQs in XAT?

Q: Can XAT preparation be done with CAT study material?

Best Books for XAT Preparation 2026

For an effective preparation candidates must refer to only the expert recommended XAT books. Shiksha has compiled a list of best books for XAT preparation for the benefit of candidates. Many CAT books are recommended for XAT too as both exams have same topics.

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Best books for XAT Syllabus Coverage: Quantitative Aptitude

To cover the XAT 2026 syllabus for QA & DI, candidates must refer to the books listed below. These XAT preparation books are easily available online as well as offiline. They have detailed coverage of XAT topics and a good number of sample questions for practice.

Books for XAT Preparation	Author/Publisher
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT	Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests For Admission into IIMs	Sarvesh K Verma
Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations	Guha Abhijit
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency	Ananta Ashisha/Arihant

Best books for XAT Syllabus Coverage: Verbal Ability

To cover the XAT 2026 syllabus for Verbal Ability, candidates must refer to the books listed below. These XAT preparation books are easily available online as well as offline. Candidates will get in these XAT books, detailed discussion of topics with examples and practice questions.

Books for XAT Preparation	Author/Publisher
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis
Objective General English	Dr RS Agarwal and Vikas Agarwal
High School English Grammar	Wren & Martin
The Students' Companion Book	D Best

Best books for XAT Styllabus Coverage: Decision Making

To cover the XAT 2026 syllabus for Decision Making, candidates must refer to the books listed below. These books are easily available online as well as offiline. They have a good number of practice sets which will help you in cracking the Decision Making section of XAT, well.

Books for XAT Preparation	Author Name/Publisher
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	Gautam Puri
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT	Nishit K. Sinha
Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency	Ananta Ashisha
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT	Arun Sharma

Best XAT Study Material for General Knowledge

XAT General Knowledge questions are usually easy and can be completed in 10 minutes. Subscribe to year books for memorising important events. Students should also subscribe to daily newspapers and journals such as:

Newspapers and Journals
The Hindu	Economic Times
Financial Express	Hindu Business Line
Wall Street Journal	The Financial Times
Business Today	Business World
Competition Success Review	Management Compass Career Launcher

Commonly asked questions

Q: Are XAT Decision Making questions tough?

Q: In how many months can I prepare for XAT?

View list of Books

XAT Exam Pattern and Preparation 2026

Mentioned below is the latest XAT exam pattern, including the number of questions in each section and marks allotted to them. While studying for the XAT exam 2026, candidates must make a plan as per sectional weightage. It can be seen in the table below that there is not much difference in the weightage of several sections, so one needs to focus on all four of the equally. Sectional cut offs as they play a crucial role in XLRI shortlisting, so one should not be ill prepared for any section.

XAT sections	Number of questions	Marks allotted
Decision Making	21	21
Verbal and Logical Ability	26	26
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	28	28
General Knowledge	20	20
Total	95	95

Also Read:

XAT Exam Pattern 2026

XAT Question Paper PDFs

XAT Preparation 2026: Tips and Strategy

Six to eight months are enough for XAT exam preparation. During this duration, a candidate must first complete the XAT syllabus and then move to solving mock test series and previous years question papers. Last few days before the exam should be dedicated to solving XAT mock test series, tracking progress and revision. Take help from the below given XAT preparation articles to prepare well for the exam:

XAT Exam Preparation Articles
XAT Preparation 2026: Tips to Crack Verbal Ability	XAT Preparation 2026: All About Decision Making – Tips and Tricks
XAT Preparation 2026: Tips to Crack QA and DI	How to Prepare for XAT exam 2026? Tips from Toppers
Expert speak: How To Prepare for XAT Exam 2026?	XAT Exam: Revision Tips for Last Two Weeks
How to Prepare for XAT in 1 Month	Best Study Material for XAT Preparation
How to Prepare for XAT in 3 Months	Last Minute Tips for XAT

Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice

Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice

Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice

Free XAT Mock Tests for Practice

Once you've complete the XAT exam syllabus 2026, you must start practicing XAT mock tests. Shiksha has prepared free XAT mock tests, check the table below:

XAT_Mock_Test_1	XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
XAT_Mock_Test_2	XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions

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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