XAT Syllabus 2023 PDF: Pattern, Section wise Syllabus with key topics

XAT Syllabus 2024 PDF: Pattern, Section wise Syllabus with key topics

XAT 2024 exam date is January 7, 2024. XAT exam has five sections and the XAT Syllabus 2024 is also divided into following 5 sections

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension;
2. Decision Making,
3. Quantitative Aptitude
4. General Awareness
5. Essay Writing Test

Except the General Awareness and Essay Writing Test, all the other three sections are core sections that determine the XAT percentile score as well as XLRI shortlisting criteria. The score of General Awareness and Essay Writing sections is taken into account at the time of personal Interview round.

Conducted by XLRI on behalf of XAMI for the last 72 years, XAT 2024 is an important MBA entrance test leading to MBA admission 2024 in XLRI, IMI, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI, LBSIM, XIME and other 150 MBA colleges in India. As the XAT is for admission to all the Xavier institutes, the XAT full form is Xavier Aptitude Test. 

A clear understanding of updated XAT Exam syllabus and XAT exam structure before beginning your XAT preparation is very important. Accordingly, key changes in XAT syllabus 2024 Pdf, important topics in MBA XAT exam syllabus 2024 are some of the important things you should know before preparing as per the XLRI XAT 2024 exam syllabus.  Based on the past pattern and the regular changes introduced by XLRI in the forthcoming XAT exam, the XAT exam syllabus 2024 has six major components which are:

• Overall XAT Syllabus 2024 and Pattern section wise
• XAT Syllabus 2024 for Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning                            
• XAT exam Syllabus for Decision Making
• Syllabus for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 
• Syllabus for General Knowledge
• Syllabus for Essay Writing Test

XAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2024
XAT is online computer based test. The aggregate maximum marks in XAT exam are 100 for 100 MCQ type questions divided in 4 sections and additional 1-3 marks for Essay writing test. Each correct answer for MCQ is awarded +1 mark and each wrong answer will attract the penalty of -0.25 mark. However, General Awareness and Essay Writing sections have No negative marking. Total time duration for the XAT 2023 exam is 3 hours 10 minutes. XAT exam pattern and syllabus 2024 is as below:

Candidate are allowed to go to Part 2 after completing the time duration of 165 minutes in Part 1 Read More

Key Changes in XAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2024  
Keeping pace with time and periodical changes are the key features of XAT exam pattern and syllabus. Each year you can find some or other changes in XLRI XAT exam. Some of the important changes that XLRI has announced for XAT exam pattern and syllabus 2024 are:

• XAT Syllabus 2024 has 5 Sections instead of earlier 4 sections
• Subjective Question on Essay Writing has been restored to XAT exam syllabus 2024
• All the 5 subjects on Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; General Knowledge and Essay Writing Test, will form single question paper in single section instead of two different parts without break
• Total number of questions as per XAT exam 2024 pattern not to exceed 101
• All questions in first 4 sections will be of MCQ type
• Essay Writing test is descriptive type
• 75 Questions with negative marking
• 25 GK questions without negative marking
• Essay Writing Test is without negative marking

You should also be aware how much time is required to cover the complete XAT syllabus 2024 and which are the most important and different sections to be covered first in the syllabus. Your XAT exam preparation should also be devised as per the XAT syllabus and pattern of the exam.

XAT 2024 Exam Syllabus: Overview

XLRI will conduct XAT 2024 as a computer based test in a single session across the country.   Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2024 is one of the largest National level MBA entrance exams to which around one lakh candidates apply.

XAT 2024 syllabus in detail
The fact is that you will find it difficult to prepare for XAT unless you know the key topics in XAT entrance exam syllabus as well as XLRI syllabus. The first thing to note is that XLRI syllabus and XAT exam syllabus are the same. Please remember that XAT syllabus does not leave any study topic untouched in any section. The XAT exam 2024 syllabus shared below is based on revamped and updated Syllabus for XAT, the structure of which stands totally changed.

Most Important Sections in XAT 2024 Syllabus
XAT syllabus 2023 will overall test the candidate on Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning; Decision Making; Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation as the key sections to determine your percentile and merit position. The other sections on General Awareness (GK) and Essay Writing do not have any pre defined XAT syllabus 2024 nor it is counted for percentile calculation. XAT syllabus covers all the major topics on all the above test sections.

Section-1: XAT 2024 Syllabus for Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning

Section Highlights: Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) exam Syllabus for Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning section in XAT 2024 is divided in 3 parts. The 1^st part of XAT 2024 syllabus covers questions based on Verbal Ability; 2^nd part of XAT 2024 exam syllabus on the 1st section covers Reading Comprehension passages and the 3^rd part on VARC & LR section is based on questions on different topics on Logical Reasoning.

Number of Questions: The revamped pattern in XAT exam syllabus for VARC & LR section shows that there are 26 MCQs in this section of XAT exam.

Major topics covered in XAT detailed syllabus 2024 for VARC & LR are: 

Part-1: XAT 2024 Syllabus for Verbal Ability

Topics on which VA questions are based:

• English Vocabulary based questions – fill in the blanks with correct words; synonyms/antonyms; contextual usage on vocabulary words
• Jumbled Paragraphs
• Correction of errors in sentences, correct use of words
• Completion of sentences
• Completion of paragraph

Part-2: XAT 2024 Syllabus for Reading Comprehension (RC)

• Share of Reading Comprehension in VARC & LR section is very high
• Topics on which RC passages are based: Abstract topics, Literature, Social and Economic issues; Science & Culture; history & fiction among others.
• There is no clear cut definition of RC topics in XAT exam syllabus. RC passage on any topic under the Sun can be placed in XAT exam.  
• Type of RC passages: Moderate and short
• Type of Questions: All MCQ type 

Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; explanation of the words & phrases as used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; Author’s view on various issues raised in the RC passage; Inference from the passage; main idea of RC passage; Purpose of the RC passage

Part-3: XAT Exam 2024 Syllabus for Logical Reasoning (LR)

• Share of LR questions in XAT syllabus is not very high. Usually there are few critical reasoning and a few LR based questions in XAT exam. All questions are of MCQ type.
• Topics covered in XAT syllabus on which LR questions are based: Analogy, Clocks, calendars, Fact, Inference, Judgement, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, assumption, premise, conclusion among others.
• XLRI entrance exam syllabus defines that questions on Logical Reasoning can be individual or can be in the sets.

Section-2: XAT 2024 Syllabus for Decision Making

Section Highlights: XAT detailed syllabus 2024 on Decision Making is unique as neither CAT nor any other national level entrance exam has Decision Making as one of its exam sections.

Number of Questions: There are 21 questions in this section.

Major Topics: Decision Making is the problem or case solving expertise of a candidate. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) measures such skills broadly on following topics:

• Conditions and Grouping Test;
• Data Arrangement Test;
• Complex Arrangement;
• Decision Making in a situation;
• Case lets 

Section-3: XAT exam 2024 Syllabus for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Section Highlights: XAT detailed syllabus 2024 for Quant and DI section is very wide. QA & DI is the 3^rd and last section responsible for percentile calculation, in the revamped XAT exam pattern. Syllabus of XAT 2023 for Quant is vast and covers everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect.

Number of Questions: There would be 28 MCQs on Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section in XAT 2024.

Major Topics: Quantitative Ability

Syllabus on Quant is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration, Trignometry among others. Major topics covered in XAT syllabus for Quant are as under

• LCM and HCF
• Percentages
• Profit and Loss
• Interest (Simple and Compound)
• Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
• Number System
• Algebra
• Geometry including Co-ordinate Geometry
• Mensuration
• Pure Math
• Venn diagrams
• Linear Equations
• Quadratic Equations
• Complex Numbers
• Logarithm
• Progressions
• Binomial Theorem
• Surds and Indices
• Inequalities
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability Functions
• Set Theory
• Mixtures and Alligations
• Trigonometry

XAT Exam 2024 Syllabus for Data Interpretation (DI)
Questions in Data Interpretation in XAT exam are in sets in most cases. Sometimes individual questions are also asked. All the questions are of MCQ type. DI questions in XAT exam are in the set of 4 questions. Questions on interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, are asked. Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs. In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.

Major Topics Covered:

• Data Tables
• Data charts
• Bar diagrams
• Pie charts
• Graphs
• Data analysis and comparison

Section-4: XAT Exam Syllabus 2024 for GK

Section Highlights: Syllabus for second part in XAT exam consists of General Awareness (GK) section. The score in this section is not taken into account for percentile calculation in XAT exam. Questions can be based on current as well as conventional GK.  In-depth and regular reading of GK helps more as sometimes a few GK questions in XAT appear more tricky and need intensive reading

Number of Questions: As per the changed pattern of XAT exam, there would be 25 questions of Multiple Choice type in XAT 2024 exam.

Major Topics Covered: Economics, finance, national and international current affairs are a few of the many topics on which questions are placed in this section in XAT exam.

• Economics, finance,
• National and International current affairs
• Conventional GK
• Constitution of India
• Company profiles, logos,
• Business & Economy
• Who’s who
• Books & Authors
• Capitals & Currencies

Section-5: XAT Exam Syllabus 2024 for Essay Writing Test

Section Highlights

• Essay writing is the descriptive online computer based test in XAT
• This test was scrapped in 2019 but was restored in 2022
• Essay writing in XAT is the test of writing skill of an aspirant
• The test requires that the test taker should write a coherent and logical essay on the given topic. The XLRI entrance exam syllabus on Essay Writing test is not limited to any particular type of topic
• Past trends in XAT reveal that it needs a well worded essay on the contemporary or abstract topic.

Number of questions: 1 Descriptive

• Test taker has to write essay on one topic but sometimes there is choice to choose between 2 topics and sometimes there is no choice at all.
• The test taker is supposed to write after giving a thought and produce a better piece of writing.
• Total time available for part-2 of XAT exam is 35 minutes which include GK and Essay Writing sections. You need to complete both sections during this time.
• Essay in XAT plays important role in the Personal Interview round as questions are based on what you have written in your XAT Essay

Major Topics for Essay Writing Test
Below are some of the past and expected XAT essay topics, which should be prepared and understood well

• Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist?
• Globalization and Jingoism always coexist
• Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply.
• The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt
• Corruption is the root cause of economic slowdown in India
• Earth provides enough to satisfy everybody's need but not everybody's greed
• Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War
• Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a reality
• India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products
• More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 a good step
• Establishing Bad Bank to improve Economy
• Building Central Vista will improve India’s Global image
• Covid Pandemic derailed Economic growth
• Unity in Diversity is more relevant now in India
• Blues of Demonetization still haunt the economic growth
• Unless Agriculture is practiced as business, it will not improve the face of Rural India
• Sensitivity of Sensex has nothing to do with economic growth
• Society bears the burn of terrorism which has no religion
• Democracy will lose meaning without social activism
• GST is no magic band to push faster economic growth
• Home buyers remain homeless, no teeth given to RERA
• Making business lobbying legal can reduce corruption
• Political interests and Uniform civil code cannot go hand in hand  

XAT MBA Syllabus: Yearly Modifications
The syllabus for XAT changes every year. For example, the pattern of XAT exam during last 3-4  years has changed tremendously. On the one hand, number of questions in syllabus are reduced, on the other hand the exam has restored the essay writing test which was scrapped earlier in 2019. With the changed number of questions, more focus has shifted to first three sections which are accounted for determining the merit position in written XAT exam. More updated topics are now contained in XAT exam syllabus 2024.