XAT Exam pattern 2021: Key Changes, Sectional Composition, Scoring pattern

XAT 2021 is a computer based test and will be conducted on January 3, 2020 in 72 cities in India.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2021 will be conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for MBA admission 2021 on behalf of XAMI on January 3, 2021 from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM in a single session. XAT 2021 Exam is the Online computer based test. XAT 2021 will be the 4^thcomputer based test in the 70 years history of XAT exam. Till 2017, XAT Exam remained a Paper Based Test. 

XAT Exam Pattern 2021
XAT Exam pattern 2021 has been revised. Now the XAT 2021 exam pattern will consist of four sections instead of earlier five. Number of questions in revised XAT pattern 2021 will be 100.  Below is shared the key changes in XAT 2021 exam pattern:

• Test timing changed - 9.30AM to 12.30PM from 10AM to 1 PM
• Total questions increased to 100 from 99
• No Essay Writing test
• NAT Questions without negative marking introduced
• All questions are of MCQ type
• GK section not counted for percentile calculation
• ¼ Negative Marking for wrong answer
• Visually impaired candidates with scribe are given additional 25 minutes only for Part 1 of XAT exam
• Marks for every correct answer : 1
• No Negative marking for General Knowledge section in part-2
• All the MCQ type questions have five options with one correct option

XAT 2021 Exam Pattern: Sectional Composition & Scoring Pattern

XAT 2021 Pattern Vs Last 2 Years XAT Exam Pattern

Salient Features of XAT Exam Pattern 2021

• XAT pattern: Computer Based Test
• XAT Total Questions: 100
• XAT Question Type: MCQs
• XAT Exam Pattern for MCQs: Each MCQ is followed by 5 answer options
• XAT Scoring Pattern: +1 Mark for Each Correct
• Negative Marking in XAT Pattern 2021: 0.25 (¼) mark deducted for MCQs from Sl. 1 to 75
• No negative marking in XAT Question Pattern: GK questions are free from Negative Marking
• XAT Test Paper Submission: Candidates are allowed to submit test paper after 30 minutes of the test commencement time
• XAT Exam Time Duration: XAT 2021 exam pattern has shared a time duration of 3 hours.
• XAT Exam Pattern 2021 - Percentile Calculation: Only 3 sections in XAT exam are taken into account to calculate the XAT percentile score and XAT merit list for written exam. GK will not be counted for percentile calculation in XAT exam pattern.
• No Sectional Time Limit: XAT Pattern 2021 does not have sectional time limit to solve the question paper. Candidate can attempt any question from any of the three sections within the overall time limit. However, candidate will be allowed to go to Part 2 in XAT 2021 after completing the time duration of Part 1

5 Key Changes in XAT Exam Pattern 2021

1. NAT Questions Introduced: A new type of Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions in XAT pattern has been introduced by XLRI. To answer the NAT questions candidates have to use the virtual key pad appearing on the computer screen and enter the numerical answer.
2. Penalty for Un-attempted Questions: Each un-attempted question beyond 8 questions will carry a negative marking penalty of 0.10 mark per unattempted question in revised XAT exam pattern.
3. No Essay Writing Test: There is no descriptive question on Essay Writing test in the revised XAT pattern.
4. XAT Time Duration Reduced: XAT 2021 exam will have a time duration of three hours instead of earlier three and half hours.
5. 25 Minutes Extra for Visually Impaired Candidates: XAT 2021 offers 25 minutes extra time for the scribe to complete the part-1 (first 3 sections) of XAT exam. No time concession is given for GK section

Syllabus and Exam Pattern for XAT 2021
Syllabus and exam pattern for XAT is changed now. Revamping the XAT exam pattern 2021 and syllabus 2021 last year, XLRI brought about number of changes in number and composition of sections in XAT exam. Apart from removing the essay writing test from XAT, a new type of NAT question pattern has been introduced in XAT exam. 

To cover the XAT exam, candidates have to change their XAT preparation strategy as per the online XAT 2021 exam pattern. Besides, it will be helpful to download XAT pattern Pdf to clearly understand the XAT 2021 exam pattern. The key features of revamped XAT exam are as follows:

VARC & LR: 1^st section
XAT exam 2021 for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Logical Reasoning section comprises the following:

• Total questions: 26
• Type of questions: MCQs
• RC passages: 4
• RC Based questions: 14 to 16
• VA questions: 8 to 10
• VA topics: Vocabulary; Analogy; Para Jumbles, Para completion; Critical Reasoning; Statements-assumptions;
• Lod: Moderate to Very difficult

Decision Making: 2^nd section
Decision Making section in XAT decides the fate of candidates. The XAT syllabus and pattern for Decision Making section consists of short caselets, decision making problems. The questions are mostly in sets.

• Total questions: 21
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Question groups: 7 to 8 sets of decision making problems following by 2 and 3 questions each
• LoD: Moderate to difficult

Quant & DI: 3^rd section
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section in XAT consists of individual questions from all parts of Quant and Data Interpretation problems followed by questions in sets of 3-4.  

• Total questions: 28
• Type of questions: MCQs
• LoD: Moderate to difficult
• Frequently asked topics in Quant & DI Section:

Questions are frequently asked on Time & Work, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Equations, Number system, Clocks, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Venn diagram, Tables, Bar diagram, graphs

GK: 4^th section
There is no pattern for GK in XAT exam. The questions can be based on any topic under the Sun.

• Total questions: 25
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Time Limit to Attempt: 15 minutes
• LoD: Moderate to difficult
• Question topics: GK questions could be based on any topic including Current domestic and international affairs; Business; Economics; social issues, appointments; conventional GK; sports; Constitution of India among others.
• Key highlight: Not taken into account for calculation of percentile in XAT exam.

XAT Exam pattern Pdf: Last 7 years of XAT Pattern
Shared below are the key changes in XAT exam composition during last 6 years.

All questions now carry equal marks in XAT question paper as also revealed in XAT previous years question paper and exam pattern. Each question in XAT 2021 test paper will have 5 answer options. Apart from overall cut-off percentile, the XAT 2021 exam will also have sectional cut-offs.