The XLRI Admission Test, popularly known as
XAT, is a well-known exam that is renowned for its difficulty
level. The exam has been rated tougher than the CAT entrance
exam.
If your dream is enter the campuses of XLRI,
XIMB, then this is the right time to start preparing for the
exam that will now be held in 2012. This article presents to
you all the information on XAT and also brings to you an analysis
of the XAT exam over the last 5 years, including this year’s
exam.
XAT, the MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI
Jamshedpur, is differentiated from the other exams due to the
presence of a question on Essay Writing. XAT paper asks the
candidates to write an essay of 20 minutes duration. This
20 minutes is excluding the 120 minutes of the paper.
XAT comprises of following sections (excluding
the Essay Writing):
-- Data Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
-- Analytical Reasoning & Decision Making
-- Verbal Ability & Logical Ability
XAT is usually scheduled for the first Sunday
of January. XAT aspirants are never sure what to expect
out of the paper. Some of the recent surprises have been:
-- 5 answer options, instead of 4 options for
each question
--Introduction of 'Management Decision Making' questions involving
Case studies
--Certain questions in the Logical Reasoning section having
true/false statements, which effectively removed the elimination
process
XAT analysis: Over the last 5 years
| Year |
Sections |
No.
of Questions |
Difficulty
Level |
| 2007 |
Data
Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
& Decision Making
Verbal & Logical
Ability |
130 |
Difficult |
| 2008 |
Data
Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
& Decision Making
Verbal & Logical
Ability |
120 |
Difficult |
| 2009 |
Data
Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
& Decision Making
Verbal & Logical
Ability |
104 |
Difficult |
| 2010 |
Data
Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
& Decision Making
Verbal & Logical
Ability |
101 |
Difficult |
| 2011 |
Data
Interpretation & Quantitative Ability
Analytical Reasoning
& Decision Making
Verbal & Logical
Ability |
101 |
Difficult |
XAT 2011 Analysis
XAT 2011 was held on Sunday, January 2, 2011. Rated
as the toughest of all MBA entrance exams, this year’s
XAT was held across various test centers across India. There
were 101 questions among the three sections. The surprise element
of this paper was the Analytical Caselet (earlier called Essay
Writing) to be analyzed in the additional 20 minutes, which
was provided at the end of the main exam.
There was no progressive negative marking.
There was ¼ negative marking this time. There was differential
marking system for each question which demanded the candidates
to look at the marks of each of the questions. Marks per question
ranged from one to five. Most of the questions were time consuming
and difficult in nature. Hence, selection of the question was
important.
The Verbal Ability section had questions on
Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary
and English Usage.
The Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making
section had questions on caselet and decision making. The topics
of the questions were Linear, Matrix and Circular Arrangements,
Codes, Puzzles, Directions etc.
The questions on Quantitative Ability and Data
Interpretation section had questions on the topics of Percentage,
Ratio, Geometry, Modern Math etc. Data Interpretation questions
were on Tables, Line Graph and Bar Graph.
In the Analytical Caselet section, there was
a statement given and one had to make a judgement on it. The
test taker had to write a word analysis on the given argument
in 250 words.
XAT Eligibility
Candidates must have a bachelors degree under 10+2+3 system
from a recognized university or a deemed university. Candidates
completing final year examination are also eligible to apply.
XAT Application
The candidates would first have to wait for the XAT Bulletin
which is generally released in September every year. To apply
for XAT, a candidate has to first register for XAT at the XAT
website, www.xlri.net.in, and then only the candidate can purchase
the XAT Application Form to proceed further. The Vouchers containing
application form are available at various branches of banks
across different cities of India.
Important Dates for XAT 2012
XAT 2012 Exam Date: Sunday, January 8, 2012
XAT 2012 Registration Window opens on: Tuesday, September 20,
2011
Participating Institutes
There are more than 70 plus B-schools that select students on
the basis of XAT scores. The top B-schools under the XAT umbrella
are: Xavier Labor Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur; Xavier
Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME) Bangalore;
Xavier Institute of Development Action and Studies (XIDAS) Jabalpur;
Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) Ranchi; Loyola Institute
of Business Administration (LIBA) Chennai; SP Jain Institute
of Management and Research (SPJIMR) Mumbai; Goa Institute of
Management (GIM) Goa, to name a few.
