XAT Entrance

What is XAT Entrance Exam?

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level management entrance examination conducted by Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur. It is a computer-based test conducted annually for admission to management programs offered by XLRI and other participating institutes. The XAT exam assesses candidates on various parameters such as quantitative ability, English language skills, logical reasoning, and decision-making ability. The exam is usually conducted in the month of January, and candidates can apply for it online. Apart from XLRI, various other top management institutes in India also accept XAT scores for their admission process.

Exam Name	Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
Conducting Body	Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur
Exam Level	National Level
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Mode	Computer-based test (CBT)
Sections	4 sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge
Total Questions	100
Duration	3 hours
Marking Scheme	+1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer
Exam Fee	Rs. 1800 to Rs. 2000 (varying as per the year)
Eligibility	Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university; final year students can also apply
Score Validity	1 Year
Accepting Institutes	Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur

Selection Process for XAT Entrance

Stage	Description
XAT Exam	Computer-based test consisting of multiple-choice questions
Result Declaration	Candidates are shortlisted based on their performance in the XAT exam
Group Discussion (GD) or Writing Ability Test (WAT)	Shortlisted candidates are called for a group discussion or writing ability test, depending on the institute's selection criteria
Personal Interview (PI)	Candidates who clear the GD or WAT round are further invited for a personal interview, which is the final stage of the selection process
Final Selection	Institutes prepare a final merit list based on the candidate's performance in the XAT exam, GD or WAT, and PI. Candidates are offered admission based on their ranks in the list

Exam Paper Pattern

Sections	No. of Questions	Marks Per Questions	Total Marks
Verbal and Logical Ability	26	1	26
Decision Making	21	1	21
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	28	1	28
General Knowledge	25	1	25
Total	100		100

Note:

The XAT exam also includes an essay writing section, which is used for the evaluation of the candidate’s writing skills. However, this section is not scored and does not affect the candidate’s overall XAT score.
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions beyond a certain limit.
The number of questions and marks per question are subject to change as per the discretion of the exam conducting body.

Syllabus for the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) Exam:

Section	Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Sentence Completion, Summary Questions, Sentence Correction, Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases, Vocabulary, Grammar
Decision Making	Ethical Dilemmas, Caselets, Analytical Reasoning, Data Arrangements, Decision-Making Scenarios
General Knowledge	Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Probability, Time and Work, Statistics, Data Interpretation
Verbal and Logical Ability	Current Affairs, History, Geography, Politics, Business and Economics, Sports, Science and Technology, Awards and Honors

List Of Some Of The Top Institutes That Accept XAT Scores

XLRI Jamshedpur
SPJIMR Mumbai
IMT Ghaziabad
XIM Bhubaneswar
TAPMI Manipal
Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai
Goa Institute of Management
FORE School of Management Delhi
MICA Ahmedabad
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Mumbai

Key Preparation Strategies That Students Should Follow To Clear The XAT Entrance Exam

Understand the Exam Pattern: The first step is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus of the XAT exam. This will help in creating a study plan and in understanding which sections need more attention.
Time Management: The XAT exam has a time limit of 180 minutes and consists of four sections. It is important to manage time effectively during the exam to ensure that all sections are completed within the time limit.
Practice Mock Tests: Practicing mock tests is an essential part of XAT preparation. It helps in understanding the exam pattern and also helps in identifying weak areas that need more attention.
Focus on Conceptual Clarity: XAT tests the conceptual clarity of the candidate, so it is important to focus on building strong fundamentals in each section.
Read Newspapers and Current Affairs: General knowledge and current affairs are an important part of the XAT exam. Students should read newspapers and current affairs magazines to stay updated on current events.
Develop a Reading Habit: The reading comprehension section is an important part of the XAT exam. Developing a reading habit will help in improving reading speed and comprehension.
Solve Previous Year Question Papers: Solving previous year question papers will help in understanding the exam pattern and also provide an idea about the type of questions that are asked in the exam.
Join a Coaching Institute: Joining a coaching institute can be helpful in getting guidance from experienced teachers and also in clearing doubts.
Stay Motivated and Positive: XAT preparation can be stressful, so it is important to stay motivated and positive throughout the preparation period.

By following these preparation strategies, students can increase their chances of clearing the XAT exam and getting admission into a top business school.