XAT 2025: Exam Date, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus, Top Colleges

Xavier Aptitude Test is the Admission Test for admission to MBA/PGDM programs in XLRI and other top MBA colleges like XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, LBSIM Delhi, TAPMI Manipal and 150 other top MBA colleges in India. XLRI will offer admission to its PGDM programs, offered at Jamshedpur and Delhi campuses on the basis of this exam score only, and will not accept any other test score. There are more than 70 cities and more than 100 venues where the exam will be conducted in India. 

Salient Points about the Exam are:

• A computer based test conducted at more than 70 test cities
• For XAT 2025, the exam duration is reduced to three hours from earlier three hours thirty minutes
• The exam is divided into two parts & four sections of  Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; General Knowledge
• Part two which had General Knowledge and Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) sections will have only GK section in XAT 2025 and AEW will not figure in the exam.
• Part two does not count for percentile score calculation
• No Individual time limit to attempt the sections
• XLRI will offer admission 2025 based on XAT 2025 only and will not accept any other test score

XAT is not only one of the largest MBA entrance exams in India, it is the gateway to top MBA colleges. Following are the key XAT 2025 Exam Highlights including XAT Exam Details, XAT Full Form, XAT Form 2025 release date, XAT 2025 Exam Dates, top MBA colleges accepting the exam.

XAT Entrance Exam dates including XAT Registration Date 2025, XAT 2025 Last Date

Important dates including XAT 2025 Exam Dates, form filling dates and timelines for the Exam are as below: 

Dates & Fees are Tentative

Below are the important points that determine XAT eligibility criteria 2025

• A candidate who has passed bachelor’s degree 
• A final year student in graduation is also eligible 
• There is no age limit to apply and appear in the exam

Read & Check your exam Eligibility

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern has been changed significantly. Check details below:

• XLRI has dropped Essay Writing Section from XAT exam
• The GK Section is not counted for percentile calculation
• Marks for every correct answer are +1 and - 0.25 Negative Marking applies for wrong answer
• No Negative marking for General Knowledge section in part-2 of question paper
• All the MCQ type questions have five options with one correct option
• Essay Writing Test shall be conducted by XLRI in its GD-PI round after the candidate is shortlisted for the interview.
• No break between part-1 and part-2

The table below shares the sectional order, number and type of questions in each section, questions for each section in the exam 

Last year exam had got over on January 7, 2024 at 5.30 PM. The exam was a single session computer based test of 3 hours 30 miniute duration as against 3 hours 10 minute duration exam earlier. This year XLRI introduced many aspirant friendly changes in the exam and offered a better test taking experience to the test takers.

XAT 2024 Analysis: Summary

• Exam was conducted from 2.00 PM to 5.30 PM on January 7, 2024
• Total 75 Questions appeared in Verbal, DM, Quant & DI section.
• GK in exam had 9 Questions on Static GK and 16 Questions on Current Affairs 
• Total Questions in 2024 were 101 (Including Essay Writing)
• Exam difficulty level remained similar to last year
• Exam Duration is increased to 3 hrs 30 minutes from earlier 3 hrs 10 minutes
• Test taker was allowed to choose 1 Essay topic out of 3 Options

XAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Analysis

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Section: Analytical Essay Writing

• Essay section had 3 Topics
• Out of three options, the candidate had to choose one option for Essay Writing

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Section: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR)

• There were 15 Reading Comprehension questions and 11 Verbal Ability/Reasoning questions.
• The Verbal ability/Verbal Reasoning questions were a fair mix of grammar, vocabulary, and reasoning-based questions (Critical Reasoning and Jumbled Paragraphs).
• The 15 RC questions were distributed among five passages (of 300 – 450 words each) and one poem.

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Section: Decision Making

• All the questions were in sets
• There was no question set based on Quantitative problem in Decision Making
• The section consisted of 7 sets of 3 questions each.

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Section: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

• Out of the 28 questions in the section, 17 were on Quantitative Ability and 11 were on Data Interpretation. 
• There were three sets of Data Interpretation with 3 questions each and two sets with two questions each.

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Section: General Knowledge

The General Knowledge section comprised 25 questions. 

XAT Exam Syllabus is divided into two parts and five sections. In Part-1, it tests the candidate on Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. In part-2 it tests General Knowledge.

• The revised syllabus includes 95 MCQ type questions 
• Except the General Knowledge Test, all the other three sections are core sections that determine the percentile score as well as XLRI shortlisting criteria
• The score of General Knowledge section is taken into account at the time of XLRI personal Interview round. 
• The Analytical Essay Writing Test (AEW) is no more a part of XAT exam. Instead it will be conducted by XLRI in its GD-PI round

7.1 XAT Syllabus Section-Wise

Part-1 Syllabus

Part-2 Syllabus

Part-2 in XAT covers General Knowledge and Essay Writing Test.

XAT Exam Preparation can be done in self preparation mode through Books, Mocks or through coaching as per your convenience. You need to devise your own XAT exam preparation strategy. One of the important points which differentiate the exam preparation from other exams is the Decision Making Preparation and the strategy to prepare for this important section. Shared below are the details of best preparation books section wise, how to prepare with Coaching, how to prepare with self preparation, Preparation with Mocks, toppers’ tips and more:

8.1 XAT Preparation Books for VALR, QADI, DM

The Best Books for Preparation should keep pace with the changing exam pattern. Most of the preparation books in the market are based on the previous exam pattern but the best books shared here are the updated books which have incorporated changes with the anticipated question type in the exam. Every year different types of questions appear in the exam. During the last few years, the exam pattern has been modified completely. So, while choosing the best books for exam preparation, it should be kept in mind that the books are conversant with the changed exam pattern and difficulty level. Few things to check in the books are:

• Should Provide conceptual clarity on the relevant topic
• Rich on the exercises, practice questions and Mocks given after each topic
• Caters your need to focus more on the weak areas with variety of practice questions  
• Latest edition of preparation Book offers the updated exam pattern and syllabus also

8.1.1 Section-Wise 10 Best books for XAT Preparation

If you are self-preparing for the exam or are preparing with the support of coaching institute, in both the cases, the latest edition of the books for preparation as shared below section wise will help you in getting more conceptual clarity, practice questions and attempting the sample papers

8.1.2. Preparation Books for VALR

• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

8.1.3 Preparation Books for QADI

• How to prepare for Quantitative for the CAT by Arun Sharma, published by MGH Education
• Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)

8.1.4 Preparation Books for Decision Making

• Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers)-RK Jha
• Focus on Situation Analysis: Understanding the motives behind the test will help you align your thinking process with the expectations of the test setter. Thus before answering a question you need to first analyse the situation from the different perspectives, i.e., the economic as well as the social perspective.
• Frame the answer in your mind: Read, understand and try to gauge the motive behind the question. Once you have done this try to frame the answer within your mind without looking at the options, as sometimes the options can be misleading and lead you to a different outcome.
• Eliminate incorrect options: Not all the five options are relevant. After a basic reading of the question you can start eliminating the options and in most cases, you would be able to eliminate at least two options.

8.2. XAT Preparation with Top Coaching Institutes
A few months of devoted preparation can enable you to crack the exam as it requires ‘Smart Preparation.’ You can join a coaching as it offers expert guidance.

8.3 Self & Coaching Mixed Preparation
If you have good basics in Maths and English, you can also do self-preparation for XAT Exam by using books, online resources like MBAUniverse.com and videos from YouTube. Read XAT Topper Interviews on MBAUniverse.com of students studying at XLRI on how they cracked CAT and XAT exams. XLRI Student Nipun Garg Cracks XAT 2023 with 99.95%.   

8.3.1 Preparation for VALR, DM, QADI
The section wise preparation strategy is very important. Key tips to prepare for each section is as below:

8.3.1.1 Preparation for VALR

• Go through the Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning Syllabus 
• Choose the Best books
• Read the strategy for Verbal Ability Preparation of past toppers

Section-1: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR): Composition

Section-3: Preparation for QADI

• Go through the complete syllabus of Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section
• QADI questions in XAT are designed to assess the quantitative aptitude of candidates
• The students are expected to possess a foundational understanding of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern maths, etc.
• The questions on DI are about clear interpretation, summarization, and insightful analysis of the data

Section-3: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation: Composition

Section-2: Preparation for Decision Making

• Decision Making (DM) section in Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) tests you not on your ability to learn concepts or remember formulas, but on your ability to holistically view a situation and propose a solution to a problem. 
• DM also tests you on your ethical standing and asks you to take a decision in a conflicting situation. Prepare as per the three different types of questions asked in Decision Making section.
• Prepare for Data Based Problems: Data given and the answer is to be based on analyses of the data,
• Prepare for Situation Based Problems: A scenario wherein you will be tested on your ethical standing,
• Prepare for the Mixture of both type of Problems: A mixture of both of the above

Section-2: Decision Making: Composition

Toppers are of the view that taking Mocks is of utmost importance as it is a very important preparation tool. If you are seriously preparing for the exam and wish to score high percentile, it is necessary to attempt atleast 10-20 XAT Mock Tests to get ready for the exam day. Check XAT Mock Tests available for free on MBAUniverse.com. 

XAT 2025 Form Filling process is online. You can register & apply online only on the XAT exam official website XAT online.in. The registration fee is Rs. 2100 /-. The exam fee should be paid online only. The application process for the exam remains open from July to November. You can complete registration and application process in following steps:

XAT Registration: Step by Step Process

10.1 Key Points to Note during Exam Registration & Application Process

• During registration, the mobile number and email address provided by the you will be verified through an OTP sent to that mobile number and email address
• Once the OTP is verified, the User ID and the Password will be sent on the registered email address and or on the registered mobile number to complete the registration process.
• You can complete the application form in a single session or in multiple sessions
• Save your current completed application pages and login later to complete the remaining Application Form
• Once the payment is made and the Application Form is submitted, you cannot make any changes
• You can only view and print the Application Form after submitting it

10.2 XLRI XAT: Application Trends Over the Years

1.35 lakh candidates had applied for XAT 2024 registering an increase of 40% over last year. The rising number of registrations signify that candidates have to compete with more candidates in the exam and need to score high to get shortlisted by XLRI and other top B-schools.

The Admit Card download will start from December 2024 third week. XLRI will upload the Admit card on official XAT exam website 2025 onlinexat.in  The admit card release date may be extended by a few days. The last date to download the Admit Card is exam date. 

Three Steps to Download XAT 2025 Admit Card

• Go to XAT 2024 website onlinexat.in
• At login page enter XAT ID and password to view and download the XAT Admit Card
• Save the Admit Card and take print on A4 size paper

The exam will be held in 70+ test cities having around 400 exam centres across the country. List of State Wise Test Cities is given below in the Tabular Form

XAT Exam Cities

XLRI releases XAT answer key to maintain transparency in exam and to help candidates to check their responses with the correct answers. The Answer key 2025 will be released 3-4 days after the exam date on official website. You can download your answer key from official website by login with your login ID and password.  The candidate response sheet will be released separately to enable the exam takers to raise & file objection to the answers which appear wrong to the test takers. XLRI releases the XAT answer keys along with the question paper with all the important instructions

Top XAT Accepting MBA Colleges include XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, MICA, IMI, IMT, XIME, IRMA, TAPMI, Great Lakes, FORE, LIBA, BIMTECH among others. The required CAT cut off percentile in all these IIMs for admission 2025 is shared above.

XAT 2025 exam official result declaration date is last week of January 2025. However, XLRI releases the result in the second or third week of January. Immediately after the result declaration, XLRI and other top B-schools start announcing their shortlist on the basis of XAT scores and other parameters in their shortlisting criteria for final selection round. The final admission offer will be made to the candidates in the months of April/May 2025

The admission process in XLRI depends upon your performance in three major areas – Your exam score; your academic record and performance in Personal Interview round. There are three stages through which XLRI Admission Process is completed, they are:

• Stage-1: Performance in XAT Exam
• Stage-2: Shortlisting by XLRI for PI round
• Stage-3: XLRI Final Selection Process 2025 comprising PI Round

Your final admission offer depends upon your performance in all the above three stages of XLRI selection process.

Q: When XAT is Conducted?
A: The exam is conducted annually preferably on the first Sunday of January every year

Q: What is Mode of XAT?
A: It is a computer based entrance test of three hours thirty minutes duration

Q: When to look for XAT Notification and complete XAT Information?
A: XLRI releases all the details about the exam in leading news papers in mid July. The process to register and apply for the exam starts simultaneously.

Q: How difficult is XAT?
A: Despite being a highly competitive and most important MBA entrance exam in India, the difficulty level of the exam is considered moderate to high.

Q: What is the Scoring Pattern in XAT
A: Each correct answer in the exam is awarded with +1 mark. The raw score obtained in the exam is converted to scaled score and then converted to percentile score after allowing for equating and normalizing the scores for all the question paper sets. XLRI and other top MBA colleges consider percentile awarded in the exam to shortlist the candidates for final selection round.

Q. How many Questions are expected in XAT 2025?
The exam is expected to consist of 95 MCQs 

Q. Does XLRI provide any document and guide how to attempt XAT Exam?
A. XLRI conducts official Mock test and also releases previous papers on the official website xatonline.in. You can familiarize yourself with the functionality and navigation of the actual exam. You can also attempt Mock Tests and Previous Years Question Papers with answers at MBAUniverse.com

Q. Quant and DI questions require too much calculations. Can I take a calculator to the testing centre?
A. No, but the onscreen calculator is available throughout the exam. You can use that

Q. Do the wrong answers carry any penalty of negative marking?
A. The MCQs carry a penalty of -0.25 mark for each wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking for GK questions and Essay Writing Test.

Q. Can I choose the order of sections while attempting the XAT question paper?
A. Yes, you can attempt any question in any section of the question paper within the overall exam time duration.

Q. Can I submit the paper early and leave the test center before the exam time is over?
A. No, the paper cannot be submitted before the test duration is over. You can neither leave your seat, nor can leave the test centre early