XAT Preparation

Every question of XAT carries 1 mark and a score of 38 to 42 usually covert into 99 percentile, so candidates should aim for the same number of correct attempts in the exam. XAT has negative marking so they should not attempt any question, if they are not sure of, otherwise it will affect the overall raw score. 

It is not suggested to attempt a XAT mock test a day before exam. That time should be devoted in revision of important formulas and concepts, revisiting exam day strategy and relaxing. Attempting a mock test can be mentally tiring and may shake your confidence in case you don't score well. You wouldn't want to go into the exam with a doubtful mind.

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 some revision for the rest of study time and pick up another mock test next day or later.

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 tests only. XAT syllabus coverage is necessary before starting XAT mock test practice.

Ideal time to start XAT mock test practice is after covering the 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 practice in November and dedicate two months to it.

"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 most logical and ethical course of action, which tests your managerial judgment under pressure. Excelling here is a huge advantage, as it demonstrates the exact kind of practical mindset that top B-schools like GIBS highly value in their future leaders. It's a direct test of your management potential.

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 section. Think of it as the final dress rehearsal. This kind of focused preparation is exactly what helps successful candidates crack the exam and secure admission into top B-schools like GIBS. It's the key to turning your knowledge into a great score.

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.

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.

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.