Xavier Aptitude Test -(XAT)
What is XAT Exam?
XAT full form is Xavier Aptitude Test. It is the Admission Test for admission to MBA/PGDM programs in XLRI and other top MBA colleges like IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, TAPMI Manipal and 160 other top MBA colleges in India. XLRI will offer admission on the basis of XAT 2021 only and will not accept any other test score. There are more than 70 cities and more than 100 venues where XAT 2021 will be conducted in India.
Popularly known as XAT, Xavier Aptitude Test is one of the important MBA Entrance Exams for admission to XLRI, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI and 150+ MBA Colleges in India. Every year more than 1,00,000 candidates from all disciplines including Engineering, Commerce, Humanities, Science, Law apply and appear in the XAT exam to get into the various MBA programs offered by these top B-schools. XAT 2021 was held on Sunday, January 3, 2021. XAT is conducted annually by XLRI Jamshedpur and is therefore known as XLRI-XAT E-learningadda.com
Xavier Aptitude Test, popularly known as XAT, is one of the largest MBA Entrance Exams for admission to XLRI, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI and 160+ MBA Colleges in India. Every year more than 1,00,000 candidates from all disciplines including Engineering, Commerce, Humanities, Science, Law apply and appear in the XAT exam to get into the various MBA programs offered by these top B-schools. Over the years, XAT has become an easier test but to get a high percentile (90+) in XAT requires 4-5 months of serious preparation.
XAT 2021: Key Changes in Test Pattern:
Following changes have been introduced in XAT by XLRI:
- XAT 2021 application fee increased to Rs.1750/-
- XAT is now changed to a computer-based test from a paper-based test
- Single-slot exam
- Test timing changed – 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM from 10 AM to 1 PM
- Total questions increased to 100 from 99
- No Essay Writing test
- NAT Questions without negative marking introduced
- All questions are of MCQ type
- GK section not counted for percentile calculation
- ¼ Negative Marking for the wrong answer
- Visually impaired candidates with scribe are given additional 25 minutes to solve Part 1 of the exam
- Marks for every correct answer: 1
- No Negative marking for the General Knowledge section in part-2
- All the MCQ type questions have five options with one correct option
| Exam Name | XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test.) |
| Application fee | 1750/- |
| Time Duration | 2 Hours |
| Total questions | 100 |
| Mark Schemes | ¼ Negative Marking, Every Correct Answer 1 Marks |
| General Knowledge | No Negative Marking |
| Question pattern | MCQ type |
| GK | Not counted for percentile calculation |
| Number of MBA colleges under XAT | 160+ |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Online Exam |
| Cut offs for XLRI | 96 to 97 XAT percentile |
| Official Website | https://xatonline.in/ |
XLRI & Other Top MBA Colleges Cut offs, Fee, Intake
Check the fee, number of seats and programmes offered by XLRI and other MBA colleges accepting score of Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) in the table given below:
| Institute Name | Fee (Rs.in Lakhs)* | Seats* | Flagship PGDM Programme |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | 23.60 | 360 | PGDM-BM; PGDM-HR |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | 17.30 | 360 | MBA |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 17.50 | 180 | PGDM |
| IRMA Anand (Gujarat) | 12.10 | 180 | PGDRM |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 20.00 | 180 | PGDM-C |
| TAPMI Manipal | 14.30 | 285 | PGDM |
Exam Details: Pattern, Questions, Scoring
XAT is online computer based test. The aggregate maximum marks in XAT are 100 for 100 questions divided in 4 sections. Each correct answer is awarded +1 mark and each wrong answer will attract the penalty of -0.25 mark. Total time duration for the exam is 3 hours. XAT 2021 exam pattern is as below:
| Sections in Exam | Number of questions | Overall Time Duration |
| Part-1 | 75 Total MCQs | 165 Minutes |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Decision Making | 21 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Part-2 | 25 Total MCQs | 15 Minutes |
| General Knowledge | 25 | |
| Total questions (Part 1 + Part 2) | 100 |
How to Prepare for XAT?
XAT exam full form – Xavier Aptitude Test comprises 3 major sections which are very important for shortlisting and determining your merit position. The 4th section on GK is not taken in account to determine the merit. The XAT preparation should be in accordance with revised pattern of entrance exam and as per its syllabus. The exam calls for special preparation for Decision Making section apart from other XAT topics. You need to focus on following while preparing for XAT:
- Follow the XAT Pattern: Thoroughly understand the structure, number and type of questions
- Scan thoroughly XAT Syllabus
- Decide, if you need Online XAT preparation with coaching or wish to self-prepare for the exam
- Get best Books for XAT preparation
- Attempt XAT Mock Tests& XAT Previous Test papers
- Devise strategy to crack XAT with 95+ percentile
XAT Score Accepting Colleges
There are 160+ MBA colleges who will accept XAT score. Some of the top MBA colleges accepting XAT score for MBA admission 2021 are:
- XLRI Jamshedpur
- IMT Ghaziabad
- XIM Bhubaneswar
- TAPMI Manipal
- XIME Bangalore, Kochi, Chennai
- BIMTECH, Greater Noida
- FORE School of Management, New Delhi
- GIM Goa
- Great Lakes, Chennai
- LIBA Chennai
XAT 2021: Offers Level Playing Field
XLRI conducts XAT on behalf of XAMI. XLRI believes that single testing session with same difficulty level will provide level playing field to all the XAT test takers without any discrimination. Around 90 thousand to 1 lakh candidates explore admission opportunities in XLRI and other member and associate MBA colleges accepting XAT scores.
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT full form) is the second largest MBA entrance test to pursue MBA/PGDM in 11 member institutes and 150 Associate institutes accepting XAT scores. Till 2017 XAT remained a paper based test. With effect from 2018, XAT has become an online computer based test. XLRI – the XAT conducting authority has announced the XAT 2021 exam date as January 3, 2021.
The XAT date is same across the country. On a single date, the exam will be held in 72 XAT test cities in India. However, the 2 cities abroad namely, Kathmandu and Dubai are no longer the XAT test cities.
Prepare as per XAT Detailed syllabus
Section-1: Syllabus for Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning
Number of Questions: The revamped pattern in XAT exam syllabus for VARC & LR section shows that there are 26 MCQs in this section of XAT exam.
Major topics covered in XAT detailed syllabus 2021 for VARC & LR are:
Part-1: Verbal Ability
Topics on which VA questions are based:
- English Vocabulary based questions – fill in the blanks with correct words; synonyms/antonyms; contextual usage on vocabulary words
- Jumbled Paragraphs
- Correction of errors in sentences, correct use of words
- Completion of sentences
- Completion of paragraph
Part-2: Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Share of Reading Comprehension in VARC&LR section is very high
- Topics on which RC passages are based: Abstract topics, Literature, Social and Economic issues; Science & Culture; history & fiction among others.
- There is no clear cut definition of RC topics in XAT exam syllabus. RC passage on any topic under the Sun can be placed in XAT exam.
- Type of RC passages: Moderate and short
- Type of Questions: All MCQ type
Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; explanation of the words & phrases as used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; Author’s view on various issues raised in the RC passage; Inference from the passage; main idea of RC passage; Purpose of the RC passage
Part-3: Syllabus for Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Share of LR questions in XAT syllabus is not very high. Usually there are few critical reasoning and a few LR based questions in XAT exam. All questions are of MCQ type.
- Topics covered in XAT syllabus on which LR questions are based: Analogy, Clocks, calendars, Fact, Inference, Judgement, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, assumption, premise, conclusion among others.
- XLRI entrance exam syllabus defines that questions on Logical Reasoning can be individual or can be in the sets.
Section-2: Syllabus for Decision Making
Section Highlights: XAT detailed syllabus 2021 on Decision Making is unique as neither CAT nor any other national level entrance exam has Decision Making as one of its exam sections.
Number of Questions: There are 21 questions in this section.
Major Topics: Decision Making is the problem or case solving expertise of a candidate. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) measures such skills broadly on following topics:
- Conditions and Grouping Test;
- Data Arrangement Test;
- Complex Arrangement;
- Decision Making in a situation;
- Case lets
Section-3: Syllabus for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
Section Highlights: XAT detailed syllabus 2021 for Quant and DI section is very wide. QA & DI is the 3rd and last section in the revamped XAT exam pattern. This section in XAT is taken into account for XAT percentile calculation. Syllabus of XAT 2021 for Quant is vast and covers everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect.
Number of Questions: There would be 28 MCQs on Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section in XAT 2021.