XAT Exam Pattern 2026 (Latest): Total Marks, Marking Scheme, Exam Format & Duration
Xavier Aptitude Test 2026 ( XAT )
Exam On - 3 Jan '27
XAT Exam Pattern 2027: XLRI, Jamshedpur designs XAT exam pattern. Typically, XAT exam pattern does not go through major changes every year. The question paper is divided into two sections. The first part of XAT question paper comprises Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (170 minutes); the second part has GK section of 10 minutes. This year too, there will be no Essay Writing. Total time duration of the exam will be 180 minutes. The format of questions in XAT 2027 will be MCQ. Read all about XAT 2027 paper pattern below.
- XAT Exam Pattern 2027: An Overview
- Section Wise XAT 2027 Exam Pattern
- XAT Marking Scheme 2027
- XAT Syllabus 2027: Detailed Breakdown
- Changes in XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years
- XAT Preparation 2027: Tips and Strategy
- FAQs Regarding XAT Exam Pattern 2027
XAT Exam Pattern 2027: An Overview
XAT exam has some unique aspects to it. While preparing for the exam, candidates must keep in mind those unique aspects. Take a look at the key highlights of latest XAT paper pattern.
XAT Exam Structure |
XAT Exam Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sections |
4 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge) |
| XAT time limit |
3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Number of questions |
95 |
| Total marks |
95 |
| 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 consecutive un-attempted questions No negative marking in GK section |
Section Wise XAT 2027 Exam Pattern
XAT question paper has MCQs spread over four main sections. There are a total of 95 questions and maximum are asked from Quantitative Aptitude. It is not mandatory to attempt all questions but candidates must attempt about 2/3rd of it, to get a good score. Check below section-wise break-up of questions and marks allotted to each section of XAT:
XAT sectional breakup
XAT Exam Pattern 2027: Sectional Break-Up of Questions
No change has been announced in the XAT 2027 exam pattern. However, actual composition of the XAT 2027 question paper will be known on the exam day. Check below expected break up of the question paper:
| XAT Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Marking Scheme 2027
XAT has a unique marking scheme in which not only there is negative marking on incorrect attempt but also on the number of incorrect attempts. Candidates must understand the XAT marking scheme well to optimise their peformance. Check below the key highlights of XAT marking scheme 2027:
- 1 mark will be awarded for every correct answer
- 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 0.10 marks will be deducted for more than 8 consecutive unanswered questions
- There will be no negative marking in General Knowledge section
- Scores of General Knowledge section will not be considered for calculating XAT percentile
Also Read:
XAT Syllabus 2027: Detailed Breakdown
Check here detailed breakdown of XAT syllabus to understand what and how to prepare:
Section 1: Decision Making
XAT Decision Making is all about interpreting business scenarios and case studies to arrive at the most correct solution. This is a section which tests, the candidate’s problem solving and decision making skills. Questions are situation based requiring candidates to choose the best business decision in favour of greater good.
Section 1: Verbal and Logical Ability
Having RC passages and poem for the Reading Comprehension XAT Verbal Ability section may seem different but it is not. Apart from regular RC questions, it has vocabulary and grammar based questions. The Logical Ability sub part has verbal, non-verbal, abstract and critical reasoning questions.
Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
This section consists of questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Interpretation. Most of the questions are asked from Arithmetic, so do not ignore that topic.
Section 4: General Knowledge
General Knowledge section of XAT is a mix of static GK and Current Affairs. Candidates need to be well aware of dates and events from history, geography, and business and economics, sports, science and tech. etc.
Also Read: XAT Syllabus 2027
| DOWNLOAD |
Changes in XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years
The XAT question paper has not seen many changes in the last eight years, apart from Essay Writing being scrapped in 2018, reintroduced in 2022 and scrapped again in 2025. Given below is a table comparing the XAT exam pattern and difficulty level of the questions of previous years:
| XAT Exam Year |
Total Number of Questions |
Section-wise number of questions |
Marking Scheme |
Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAT 2026 |
95 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 20 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Expected to be moderate |
| XAT 2025 |
95 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 20 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Expected to be moderate |
| XAT 2024 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 22 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2023 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 22 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2022 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2021 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2020 |
100 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2019 |
99 |
VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.5 for more than 8 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2018 |
97 |
VARC: 24 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 12 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2017 |
97 |
VARC: 24 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 12 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2016 |
103 |
VARC: 26 DM: 23 QA & DI: 29 GK: 25 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 13 unanswered questions |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2015 |
114 |
VARC: 28 DM: 23 QA & DI: 33 GK: 30 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer |
Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2014 |
113 |
VARC: 28 DM: 24 QA & DI: 31 GK: 30 One essay topic |
+1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer |
Moderate to difficult |
XAT Preparation 2027: Tips and Strategy
Read listed below article to prepare for XAT 2027:
| XAT Exam Preparation Articles | |
|---|---|
Free XAT Mock Test by Shiksha
Check out free XAT mock test by Shiksha to know your preparation level. It has been prepared from previous years' XAT questions for optimum practice.
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | XAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
FAQs Regarding XAT Exam Pattern 2027
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