The paper pen based Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2016 to be held on January 3, 2016 has increased its test duration by 30 minutes. Now XAT 2016 will have a time duration of 3½ hours instead of only 3 hours. XLRI the XAT 2016 convening institute shares ‘The duration of the test will be of three and a half hours (3 ½) i.e. from 10:00am to 01:30pm on Sunday, January 3, 2016’.
During the past few years XAT had kept the exam duration of 3 hours (180) minutes from 10.30 AM to 1.30PM. However, it is a pleasant surprise for the aspirants that XAT 2016 will allow the test takers to solve the test paper in three and half hours from 10 AM to 1.30PM.
Notification with no structural changes
XAT 2016 notification, instructions as well as the important notes share no information about any proposed change in exam structure despite the proposed increase of 30 minutes in test duration.
The XAT 2016, as shared by XLRI will have 2 parts divided in 5 sections. The first part will consist of 3 sections comprising MCQs on Verbal and Logical Ability; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation. The second part will consist of multiple choice questions (MCQs) on General Knowledge followed by descriptive essay writing test. The same XAT exam structure has continued since last 3 years.
Earlier there was no GK or essay writing test in XAT but it has produced desired positive result for the last many years, hence XLRI is in no mood to remove it from the written exam structure of XAT 2016 or future XAT exams.
Composition of 180 minute XAT in earlier years
The first 3 sections in part 1 of XAT account for calculation of percentile and arriving at the merit to shortlist the candidates. The second part is meant to be given weightage in the PI round after shortlisting the candidates at first stage. While XLRI considers and evaluates GK and Essay writing skill in the second part of XAT in GD/PI round, a few of the institutes considers only the first part to shortlist the candidates and have their own criteria to award weightage in PI round.
Out of 180 minutes’ XAT till 2015, 140 minutes were supposed to be devoted to attempt and answer the MCQs in 3 sections of the first part and out of the rest 40 minutes 10 were to be spent to answer questions in General Knowledge section and 30 minutes were separately allotted for essay writing test.
XAT 2016 with 210 minutes now; aspirant friendly or surprising
With the increase of 30 minutes in XAT 2016, will XLRI increase number of questions or will add more essays to write or plans to allow more time to the candidates to solve the same number of 114 MCQs and write one essay despite increasing the time, is something that XLRI is yet to share.
XAT 2016 is the gateway to more than 141 highly ranked B schools in India including XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT among others. Registration for XAT 2016 opened on September 4, 2015 and will close on November 30, 2015. The registration process is online but the payment of registration fee can be made online or in cash or by demand draft. XAT 2016 registration and application fee has been increased to Rs.1500/- from Rs.1000/- in XAT 2015. Those who wish to apply for XLRI programmes need to pay an additional fee of Rs.250/- for each programme.
XAT 2016 is scheduled to be held on January 3, 2016 as the conventional paper pen based test in a single session from 10 AM to 1.30 PM in 47 test cities across the country with 2 test cities abroad in Kathmandu and Dubai
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on XAT 2016
