The XAT paper usually comprises around 95 questions, and the test duration is 180 minutes. The exam is conducted in CBT mode and more than 250 B-Schools in India accept XAT scores. The XAT question paper covers 4 subjects, namely Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK).
Candidates planning to take the exam should review the XAT exam pattern and marking scheme. This helps identify the test criteria and plan their strategy accordingly. This blog covers the XAT question pattern, weightage, marking scheme, and other relevant details.
XAT Exam Pattern Overview
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is organised by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI members. It is one of India’s top national-level entrance tests for admission to MBA/PGDM programs. XAT scores are accepted by over 250 top business schools in India. Here is a quick overview of the XAT exam pattern and syllabus highlighted below:
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Question Format | MCQs |
| Medium of Paper | English |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 95 |
| Total Marks | 95 |
| Subject | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 marks for every wrong answer and -0.10 marks for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions. |
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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 Section-Wise Weightage
The XAT exam structure is divided into two time-bound parts, i.e. Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 covers 3 papers: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI). Part 2 covers 1 section: General Knowledge (GK). VALR comprises about 26 questions; DM has about 21, QA & DI have around 28, and GK has about 20. The test duration will be 170 minutes for Part 1 and 10 minutes for Part 2. The medium of the exam will be English. Based on the past trends, the sectional weightage for the XAT exam pattern is below.
| Section | Number of Questions (Approx) | Duration (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 26 | 170 minutes |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 20 | 10 minutes |
| Total | 95 | 180 minutes |
XAT Marking Scheme
The next thing the candidate should check is the XAT marking scheme. It helps them understand marks per question and the penalty system. As per the official marking scheme, aspirants are awarded 1 mark for each correct response. There shall be negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in Part 1. Additionally, negative marking will be awarded for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions. No negative marks will be deducted for incorrect responses in the GK (Part 2) section. Find out more about the XAT marking scheme in the table below:
| Part | XAT Marking Scheme |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | +1 mark for each correct answer-0.25 marks for each incorrect answer-0.10 marks for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions |
| Part 2 | +1 mark for each correct answer No negative marking |
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XAT Exam Pattern: Time Duration
The total XAT exam duration will be 180 minutes. The test duration for Part 1 (Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) will be 170 minutes. The overall exam duration for Part 2 (General Knowledge) will be 10 minutes. PwD candidates will be given an additional 20 minutes for every hour. Check the complete details of XAT question paper pattern below:
| Section | Duration (minutes) |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 170 minutes |
| Decision Making (DM) | |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 10 minutes |
| Total | 180 minutes |
Total Questions in XAT 2027
A total of 95 multiple-choice questions are expected to be asked in the XAT 2027 question paper. In the GK section, 8 questions will be on static GK, while the remaining 12 will be about current affairs. Candidates should plan the right approach for maximum attempts with high accuracy. They should also check if there are any XAT paper pattern changes to stay on track. We have shared below the number of questions expected in XAT pattern 2027.
| Section | Number of Questions (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 26 |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 20 |
| Total | 95 |
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XAT Exam Pattern: Topic-Wise Breakdown
Along with the XAT paper pattern, candidates should also be familiar with the XAT exam syllabus and topic-wise weightage. This helps them focus on the areas that actually matter in the exam. VARC covers topics like reading comprehension, vocabulary, parajumble, etc. DM section is focused on problem-solving, critical thinking, and related questions. QA & DI comprises questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, etc. GK section is focused on static knowledge and current affairs. Given below is a glimpse of the subject-wise XAT syllabus for reference:
| Subject | Important Topics (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) | Reading Comprehension (poems, cartoons, passages)Cloze tests Vocabulary Analogy Grammar Parajumbles Critical & analytical reasoning, etc |
| Decision Making (DM) | Scenarios from personal & professional life Problem-solving Critical thinking Prioritization, etc |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | Arithmetic AlgebraModern math Geometry Mensuration Data interpretation, etc |
| General Knowledge (GK) | Economy Sports Awards Politics Business World events Science Constitution of India, etc |
Will There be Negative Marking in XAT 2027?
Yes. As per the latest XAT paper pattern, there will be negative marking in Part 1. No negative marking will be applied in Part 2 of the paper. Check the complete details of the XAT paper pattern and cutoff below:
- Part 1: Negative marking of -0.25 marks for every wrong answer and -0.10 marks for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions.
- Part 2: No negative marking for wrong answers.
Important Resources for MBA Aspirants
| CAT 2026 Details | FMS Delhi Cut Off |
| CAT Cut Off | ISB Hyderabad Eligibility |
| MAH MBA CET Colleges | MAH MBA CET Result |
CAT vs XAT Exam Pattern
Candidates planning to take both the CAT and XAT exams should compare their exam patterns to understand the overall structure and marking scheme. Talking about the major differences, the XAT exam has an additional section, i.e. Decision Making (DM). XAT comprises MCQs, while the CAT exam has both MCQs and Non-MCQs. Both exams have a negative marking scheme, but they still differ in criteria. Below is the CAT vs XAT exam pattern for reference:
| Parameters | CAT Exam Pattern | XAT Exam Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Online | Online |
| Question Format | MCQ & Non MCQs | MCQs |
| Exam Duration | 120 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 68 | 95 |
| Subject | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK) |
| Negative Marking | -1 mark for every wrong answer in MCQs | -0.25 marks for every wrong answer and -0.10 marks for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions. |
FAQs on XAT Exam Pattern
The paper pattern of XAT 2026 featured around 95 multiple-choice questions. The exam duration is 180 minutes.
Yes. Negative marking is given for wrong answers in Part 1 of the XAT exam.
The XAT exam pattern covers 4 subjects: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK).
Based on past-year analysis and trends, the XAT exam is usually moderately difficult.
The XAT question comprises multiple-choice questions. Each MCQ will feature five options, with one correct choice.
The total XAT exam duration will be 180 minutes. Part 1 is conducted for 170 minutes, and the overall exam duration for Part 2 will be 10 minutes.
The XAT exam is expected to carry 95 marks overall.