“XLRI has changed XAT Pattern to Align with Required Competencies for Management Education and Leadership,” XAT Convener Dr Rahul Shukla Tells MBAUniverse.com

Conducted by XLRI, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025, an important MBA entrance exam is scheduled on January 5, 2025.  For XAT 2025, XLRI has announced many changes in the exam pattern and duration including reduction in number of questions, dropping Essay Writing Test, Reduced number of GK questions, reducing XAT exam time duration. To seek clarification on the rationale why these changes are announced and how they will benefit the test takers, MBAUniverse.com approached XAT 2025 Convener and faculty at XLRI Dr Rahul Shukla who has shared in detail the rationale behind these changes in XAT exam.

But before going through the responses by XAT 2025 convener, clarifying the rationale behind announcing key changes in XAT exam pattern, let us understand what are those changes which you will see in XAT 2025 exam

Reduction in Number of Questions: So far Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) used to have 101 questions. But XAT exam 2025 will have only 95 questions. All the questions will be of MCQ type

No AEW in XAT 2025: The Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) which used to be part of XAT exam till 2024, will not be conducted for XAT 2025. This component will be administered during the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI) stages of the XLRI selection process instead of as part of the XAT 2025

Fewer GK Questions: The General Knowledge section will comprise 20 questions in XAT 2025. Earlier this section used to have 25. There will be 12 questions on current affairs and 8 questions from static GK, allowing for a balanced evaluation of candidates' awareness of both ongoing events and foundational knowledge.

Reduced Time Limit for XAT 2025: The total XAT 2025 exam time is reduced to 180 minutes (3 hours) instead of earlier 210 minutes (3 hours 30 minutes in XAT 2024).

XAT Exam 2025 in Two Parts: The XAT 2025 examination will be divided into two distinct parts. Part One of the exam is allocated a duration of 170 minutes. Part Two, focused solely on the General Knowledge section, will be a concise 10- minute segment.

So, What is the rationale behind introducing these changes in XAT? Let’s know responses shared by XLRI Admission Chair & Faculty and XAT 2025 exam convener Dr Rahul Shukla with MBAUniverse.com

MBAU: What is the key reason and the thought behind dropping AEW from XAT 2025?
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: The decision to remove the Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) section from XAT 2025 is part of an effort to streamline the examination process and address candidate challenges.  

MBAU: What were the challenges faced by candidates due to AEW Test? Please share
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: Some candidates face the challenges with keyboard usage during the initial exam. This change will address these challenges ensuring that the candidates can express their thoughts without any hardware glitches.

MBAU: Will the removal of AEW from XAT impact other MBA colleges also? 
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: Since AEW is pertinent only to those shortlisted for XLRI interviews, it will now be integrated into the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) stages, where it can be handled more diligently by the candidates. 
MBAU: What is the Reason for Reducing the Number of GK Questions? Please share
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: The reduction in General Knowledge (GK) questions is a minor adjustment aimed at optimizing the exam's structure. The GK section will now contain 20 questions, allowing for more efficient use of the 10-minute time slot.

MBAU: Does it mean that Importance of GK is reduced in XLRI Selection Process?
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: No, although the number of questions has been reduced, GK remains a crucial component in the selection process of XLRI, significantly influencing the final merit list. 

MBAU: Will XAT 2025 be conducted in afternoon session or forenoon session?
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: The XAT 2025 exam is scheduled for the afternoon session, tentatively from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

MBAU: What are the advantages of these changes?
XAT Convener Dr Shukla:  The above-mentioned adjustments help streamline the overall examination duration to 3 hours. These changes are part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the examination process and enhance the evaluative components that align more closely with the core competencies required for management education and leadership.

MBAU: How will these changes in XAT 2025 benefit the test takers?
XAT Convener Dr Shukla: These modifications are designed to ensure that XAT remains a robust and efficient tool for assessing the potential of candidates seeking admission to our various management programs.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is an important MBA entrance exam for admission to XLRI and 160 other top B-schools. XLRI accepts only XAT exam score for admission to its various management programmes. XAT Exam 2025 Registration Process has started from July 15, 2024 at a fee of Rs.2200/- You can apply to XLRI admission also at a nominal fees of Rs. 200.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on XAT 2025