One of India’s premier management exams is the Xavier Aptitude Test, or XAT, administered by XLRI. Candidates take the XAT to be admitted to XLRI’s flagship MBA and PGDM programmes, as well as those of other XAMI Member Institutes. Its MBA-HR programme is thought to be the best in Asia. We will go over the whole XAT syllabus, the XAT section-by-section syllabus analysis, and the XAT exam pattern for 2024 in this post.
XAT Exam Pattern 2024
Let’s start by understanding the XAT Exam Pattern before diving into the whole XAT Syllabus. The XAT exam pattern has been modified from the past few years, where it was separated into three sections and three parts specifically.
| Section | XAT Subjects | No. of Questions | XAT Exam Duration |
| Part- I | Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 175 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | ||
| Decision Making | 22 | ||
| Part- II | Mock Keyboard Testing | – | 5 Minutes |
| Part- III | General Knowledge | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| Essay Writing (250-300 words) | – |
- The 210-minute XAT is a computer-based test with 105 questions that must be answered.
- Each right answer is worth one mark, while each wrong answer is worth -0.25.
- Additionally, if eight or more questions remain unanswered, -0.10 marks will be subtracted.
- Except for the essay writing section, every question on the XAT exam will be multiple choice.
XAT Exam Syllabus 2024
Although XLRI does not formally disclose the XAT Syllabus, it is substantially comparable to the CAT syllabus. Understanding the Exam Pattern is crucial before delving into the XAT exam syllabus. There are five main portions of the XAT Exam:
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
- Decision Making
- General Knowledge
- Essay Writing
When calculating the XAT Percentile, the results from the first three of these five parts are taken into account. The evaluation of your essay writing marks will only occur if you are selected for additional XAT interview rounds.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Critical Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning |
| Decision Making | Analytical Reasoning, Situational Judgement, and Decision Making |
| Quantitative Ability | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Data Interpretation, and Data Sufficiency |
| General Knowledge | Current Affairs, Business, Economics, Politics, History, and Geography |
| Essay Writing | Candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic |
Now let’s examine the whole XAT Syllabus 2024 Section Wise:
XAT Syllabus for Verbal and Logical Ability
The verbal ability, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning components are combined in this section. There are a total of 26 MCQ-style questions in this section of the XAT 2024. This section’s subjects are divided into three categories:
1. Verbal Ability:
- Vocabulary
- Fill in the Blanks with Correct Words
- Synonyms/ Antonyms
- Contextual Usage
- Jumbled Paragraphs
- Completion of Paragraphs
- Completion of Sentences
- Correction of Errors
- Correct use of words
2. Reading Comprehension:
- RC Passages based on Abstract topics, Literature, Social and Economic Issues; Science and Culture, Fiction and History
- Author’s View type of question
- True/False Statements based on the Passage
- Explanation of Words/Phrases in the Passage
3. Logical Reasoning:
- Analogy
- Binary Logic
- Facts and Judgement
- Inference
- Logical Sequence
XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation are the two main CAT parts included in the XAT’s QADI Section. There are a total of 28 MCQ-style questions in this section of the XAT 2024. This section divides the subjects included in the XAT curriculum into two categories: data interpretation and quantitative aptitude.
XAT Syllabus for Decision-Making
The most distinctive part of the XAT is the decision-making section, when candidates must answer a number of highly situational questions that call for adaptive thinking. There are a total of 22 MCQ-style questions in this section of the XAT 2024. Among the potential subjects for the section on decision-making are:
| Decision-Making in a Situation | Data Arrangement Sets | Complex Data Arrangement |
| Conditions and Grouping | Case lets | Assumptions |
| Premises | Conclusion |
XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
The XAT’s GK Section is rather vast since it covers a lot of topics. However, when determining the XAT Percentile, the results of this section are ignored. To ace the GK Section of the 2024 XAT, you need to be up to speed with the major events and happenings in the nation on a regular basis. Some of the topics include:
| National & International Current Affairs | Capitals & Currencies | Indian Constitution and Law |
| Famous Personalities | Books & Authors | Different Economic Policies & Agendas |
| Conventional GK | Organizations & their Headquarters |
XAT Syllabus for Essay Writing
After 2018, the Essay Writing Section was added back to the XAT Exam Pattern for XAT 2022. The XAT Exam contains just one descriptive section. You must select one of the three questions and write a brief essay, no more than 300 words.
It would be necessary to submit both original ideas and definite opinions for this part. Only after an applicant is selected for further consideration in the XAT admissions process is the essay writing section reviewed.
A few XAT topics from the previous year included:
| Year | XAT Essay Topics |
| 2022 | Capitalism and Democracy cannot co-exist |
| 2018 | Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they coexist? |
| 2017 | Globalization and Jingoism always coexist |
| 2016 | Technology and Nature are natural enemies |
XAT Score VS. Percentile
One of the hardest management exams in India is the XAT. Additionally, the XAT’s distinct exam pattern and scoring contribute to the exam’s low score. Let’s see how to calculate the derived percentile for an individual XAT score.
| Raw XAT Score | Percentile |
| 39- 40.5 | 99 |
| 33-34 | 95 |
| 31-32 | 93 |
| 29-30 | 90 |
| 27-28 | 89 |
Top Colleges to Target with XAT 2024
More than 160 B-Schools in India recognise the XAT Score in addition to the XAMI Member Institutes. Following up on the XAT test syllabus, the following is a list of some of the best B-Schools you may aim for with your 2024 XAT score:
| College Name | Fees (in lakhs) | Average Pkg | XAT Cut-off Percentile |
| Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur | 27 | 30.7 LPA | 93 to 95+ |
| Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneshwar (XIMB) | 20 | 17.54 LPA | 90+ |
| Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad | 21 | 19 LPA | 86 to 90+ |
| Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad | 19.5 | 17.35 LPA | 88 to 90+ |
| International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi | 21.3 | 15.48 LPA | 87 to 90+ |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Chennai | 18.75 | 12.5 LPA | 85 to 90+ |
| Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand | 11.7 | 14.33 LPA | 82 to 86+ |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi | 16.9 | 14.04 LPA | 82 to 85+ |
Where to Prepare for XAT 2024?
Regular practice and persistent preparation are essential for acing the XAT in 2024. Exampay can help you determine the best plan of action. You can enroll yourself in their XAT mock test series
Process & Eligibility
How to Take the XAT Mock Test
Step 1: Fill out the application form for XAT 2024.
Make sure you have submitted your application for XAT 2024.
Step 2: Mock Test Portal
Following application submission, the mock test portal link will become active in your application dashboard.
