The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to XLRI and other top MBA colleges in India. The exam is considered one of the toughest MBA entrance exams in India due to its unique question types and difficulty level.
Key Topics Covered in XAT 2025
The XAT exam is divided into two parts—Part 1 (Aptitude + Decision Making) and Part 2 (General Knowledge + Essay Writing). Here is a detailed section-wise breakdown of the topics covered:
1. Verbal & Logical Ability (VA & LR)
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Inference-based RCs
- Tone and theme identification
- Critical reasoning
- Fact vs. assumption vs. judgment
- Summary-based questions
- Critical Reasoning & Logical Ability
- Assumptions and conclusions
- Strengthen/weaken arguments
- Cause & effect relationships
- Vocabulary-Based Questions
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Fill in the blanks with appropriate words
- Analogies
- Sentence Correction & Grammar
- Spotting errors
- Sentence improvement
- Parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement
- Para Jumbles & Sentence Rearrangement
- Finding the correct sequence of sentences
- Odd-one-out sentence
- Cloze Test
- Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate word
- Sentence Completion
- Identifying the best-suited sentence ending
- Poetry Comprehension (Unique to XAT)
- Sometimes XAT asks questions based on poems
Difficulty Level: Moderate to High
2. Decision Making (DM)
This is a unique section in XAT that tests your problem-solving and ethical reasoning skills. It consists of situational caselets requiring logical thinking, ethical considerations, and data-based decisions.
Topics Covered:
- Ethical dilemmas & business decisions
- Situational problem-solving
- Corporate scenarios & policy decisions
- Team management & conflict resolution
- Personal moral dilemmas
- Financial decision-making based on profit/loss & data interpretation
- HR-related case studies (layoffs, promotions, salaries, conflicts, etc.)
Difficulty Level: Moderate to High
✅ Tip: No formulas are needed, but logical and ethical thinking is required.
3. Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
This section is math-intensive and requires strong conceptual understanding and problem-solving speed.
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic
- Profit, Loss, and Discount
- Percentage
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Time, Speed, and Distance
- Time and Work
- Ratio and Proportion
- Mixtures and Alligation
Algebra
- Linear and Quadratic Equations
- Inequalities
- Functions and Graphs
- Logarithms
Number System
- Factors, Multiples, HCF & LCM
- Remainder Theorem
- Divisibility Rules
- Surds & Indices
Geometry & Mensuration
- Lines and Angles
- Triangles (Pythagoras Theorem, Properties)
- Circles (Chords, Tangents, Area, Circumference)
- Coordinate Geometry
- Polygons, Cubes, and Cylinders
Modern Math
- Permutation & Combination
- Probability
- Set Theory
- Venn Diagrams
Data Interpretation (DI)
- Bar Charts
- Pie Charts
- Line Graphs
- Caselets
- Tables
Difficulty Level: Moderate to High
✅ Tip: The section is calculation-heavy, so practice mental math and shortcut techniques.
4. General Knowledge (GK)
This section is not counted in percentile calculation, but is considered in the final selection by XLRI and some other institutes.
Topics Covered:
Static GK
- Indian History, Geography, Economy
- Constitution & Polity
- Important International & National Organizations (IMF, UN, WTO, RBI, etc.)
- Business & Corporate GK
- Awards, Books, and Authors
- Science and Technology
Current Affairs
- Business & Economy News
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Government Schemes & Policies
- Sports & International Events
- New Appointments & Agreements
Difficulty Level: Moderate
✅ Tip: Reading newspapers (The Hindu, Business Standard, Financial Express) and monthly GK compilations will help.
5. Essay Writing
Since XAT 2022, the essay writing section has been reintroduced. It appears in Part 2 of the exam.
Topics Covered:
- Business & Economy (e.g., "Impact of AI on the workforce")
- Social Issues (e.g., "Is social media a threat to democracy?")
- Abstract Topics (e.g., "The paradox of choice")
- Philosophical Topics (e.g., "Success is a journey, not a destination")
✅ Tip: Essays are evaluated in the second stage of selection (not during percentile calculation). The content, structure, and clarity of thought matter the most.
Overall Exam Pattern for XAT 2025
| Sections | Number of Questions | Time Duration |
|-------------|----------------------|-----------------|
| Verbal & Logical Ability (VA & LR) | 26 | 165 mins (Combined) |
| Decision Making (DM) | 22 | |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 25 | 15 mins |
| Essay Writing | 1 (Out of 3 choices) | 10 mins |
Marking Scheme:
- ✅ +1 for every correct answer
- ❌ -0.25 for every wrong answer (except GK & Essay)
- ❌ -0.1 penalty for more than 8 unattempted questions
Conclusion: How to Prepare for XAT?
- 📖 Focus on Decision Making: Since it’s unique to XAT, practice past year papers and case studies.
- 📚 Strengthen Quant and DI: Focus on geometry, algebra, arithmetic, and number systems.
- 📖 Improve RC and Critical Reasoning: Read editorials, articles, and practice inference-based questions.
- 📰 Stay Updated for GK: Read business newspapers, monthly GK magazines, and use apps like Inshorts.
- ✍️ Practice Essay Writing: Write 250-word essays on abstract and business topics weekly.