XAT 2014: Only 2 days to register; how to prepare

The last date of the registration for XAT 2014 is just 2 days away as the registration process for the XLRI Aptitude Test will end on December 2, 2013. Earlier the last date of the registration for XAT 2014 was November 22, 2013 but it was extended to December 2, 2013. The exam will be held on January 5, 2014.

According to XLRI admission chairperson Dr Vishwa Ballabh, till now more than 84, 0000 students have got themselves registered. Last year a total of 92,000 students got themselves registered for XAT 2013.

XAT is a common test for admission into academic programmes of XLRI and XAT Associate Member Institutes.

While CAT is the gateway to 13 IIMs and other top B schools for their full time MBA programmes, XAT conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to its various management programmes is the most sought after MBA admission test after CAT, the scores of which are accepted by most of the top 100 B schools of India. A total of 116 institutes including XLRI, XIMB, LIBA, SP JAIN, TAPMI, XIMR, GIM, XIME, BIMTECH, IMT-Ghaziabad and many others accept the XAT scores.

XAT 2014 will have the same pattern like that of XAT 2013 consisting of two parts to be attempted during three hours duration from 10.30 A.M. to 1.30 P.M. XAT 2014 Exam Pattern.

XAT is a pen paper based test. According to Prof.  Vishwa Ballabh admission chairperson XLRI, “This test in pen paper mode is conducted to ‘ensure that all candidates are tested on exactly the same set of questions, and not on different sets’.

XAT 2014 - How to prepare Verbal and Logical Ability

XAT 2014 is less than 45 days away. How can the aspirants best utilize this period to prepare for a very good score in Verbal Ability section?  The prompt answer is that you can do still better, if you meticulously follow the well designed study schedule and few do’s during this period. MBAUniverse.com Verbal expert Prof SK Agarwal, who also coaches thousands of students for CAT/XAT/IIFT/MAHCET tests every year, offers you the guidance and important tips on “ Do’s” which will be a great help in substantially improving the score in XAT 2014.

Split the Verbal section
Verbal and Logical Ability section is expected to have 30-32 questions in all including the Logical Ability questions which are very few in number. The most important thing to be immediately done is to divide the Verbal Ability section in four parts - Reading Comprehension passages (Most important with 16-18 questions out of 30-32 questions in VA+LA section); Jumbled paragraphs ( App. 3-4 questions);  usage of Vocabulary (3-4 questions); error corrections in sentences ( 3-4 questions). This division is as per the current trend of XAT.

Prepare General Awareness section for XAT 2014

To score high marks in General Awareness section of XAT 2014, click here to practice GK questions:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/general_awareness/general_awareness.php

Frame your study schedule now
Your study schedule for next 30 days must cover more understanding of concepts followed by 10 days of rigorous practice exercises based on all the above topics.

 Focus on punctuality and time consumed on various practice questions. You will have to change the mindset likewise and adhere to this schedule.

Further strengthen the strong areas in Fundamentals
Unlike CAT, XAT places more emphasis on basic understanding of English Language. Articles, Prepositions, Usage of adjective, adverb, verbs, nouns and pronouns play an important role in the questions on error corrections and fill in the blanks. So you have to build the conceptual understanding on fundamentals-like parts of speech in grammar, time zones, punctuations etc. Following the fundamentals, in fact is a consistent process and is time consuming also.  Therefore, the next step is to find out the strong areas in each section and then practice more to strengthen them. You may have some good understanding of, at least some basic concepts -for example – what is a parallel structure, usage of ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’; what verb should follow singular or plural. Devote more time to practice exercises of mixed type error corrections in sentences and fill in the blanks type.  It will improve your skills with very little effort.

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Practice more on Reading Comprehension
Concentrate on Reading Comprehension; practice more with clear and conceptual understanding of phrases, sentences and key words, as it is the most important part. Solve two to three passages a day. You may form questions on passages and try to answer the same. There is greater number of questions based on RC in XAT than in CAT. More than half of Verbal Ability questions belong to this part. Passages in XAT are shorter than in CAT although they have rich and literary language. Aspirants are advised to regularly read the editorials, good literature and philosophy books. Difficult words should be written down separately; their contextual usage should be understood. Unlike CAT aspirants may find the questions a little more direct in XAT Reading comprehension part.

Practice core Vocabulary
It is high time that you understood and practiced the Vocabulary words in right context. An aspirant may have good stock of vocabulary words but their correct synonyms, antonyms with understanding of contextual use are very much required. All the mugging will be irrelevant if correct usage are not known or the confusion still persists where to place the said word.

If we can distinguish between ‘Avarice and Miser’, ‘ Pretty and Handsome’, ‘skilled and consummate’, and thousands of other such pairs and can put them to correct usage, cracking the questions in vocabulary section will be easier and nothing will leave you flummoxed. The best way to understand correct contextual usage is to practice more questions with two blanks, to be filled in with correct vocabulary words preferably synonyms. This will equip you with appropriate understanding in a week’s time and you may utilize another week with yet more difficult practice questions.

Prepare General Awareness section for XAT 2014
To score high marks in General Awareness section of XAT 2014, click here to practice GK questions:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/general_awareness/general_awareness.php

Have fun with Jumbled Paragraphs
Maintain your cool while solving the Jumbled paragraphs. The strategy to solve the surprising jumbled paragraphs is to go for more and more practice.  The important tip is to find out the connectors to sentences e.g. conjunctions, personal or relative pronouns (He/ she/ it /they /their /who / whose/that/which etc.) as they indicate that they must have been used in place of some nouns. So find the link between the sentences.

One is required to link the sentences in accordance with the information provided in the paragraph. It is necessary to ensure that the idea and action expressed in the jumbled paragraph move in the same line, any sentence expressing different idea and differing the coherent formation of the paragraph cannot be the next sentence. Three to four such questions should be solved every day and get them analyzed by some expert, whom you trust.

Click here to score high marks in GD PI WAT at Top B school for Admission 2014:
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Reading editorial in Newspaper is a must
Regular and attentive reading of newspapers especially the editorial part and articles is a must for next 30 days. Try to prepare summary of them, find out important words used in context- grab the opportunity to use them. It will help you in all the four segments of Verbal ability.

Need is the Regular revision
Revise whatever you have learnt and follow the tips to solve the questions based on various topics instead of going for something new. The need is to pay attention on the analysis of practice exercises that you have solved.  Follow the expert’s tips given in analysis as they are meant to guide you in sorting the problem out.

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MBAUniverse.com offers a comprehensive preparation package coupled with interactive online interactive classes and reading material with Top XAT experts including from XLRIs for XAT 2014 preparation. 

Visit the link below for more information and new batch schedules:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/xat_preparation/xat_preparation_package.php

Stay tuned to MBAuniverse.com for more news and updates on XLRI and XAT 2014