XAT

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level management aptitude exam conducted by the Xavier School of Management, Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) - Jamshedpur. XLRI administers the test on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). Over 800 institutes use XAT scores for admission to MBA, PGDM, and other management programs.

Frequency- yearly

Mode- Computerised Exam

Exam Pattern

XAT Exam Pattern 2025

The XAT exam has a distinctive format that differentiates it from other MBA entrance exams in India. Attracting over 75,000 aspirants each year, the exam consists of five sections:

Verbal and Logical Ability
Decision Making
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
General Knowledge
Essay Writing (reintroduced in 2022)

The total duration for the XAT 2025 exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Here are the key highlights and structure of the exam:

XAT Exam Structure

Number of sections: 5
Total time: 3 hours and 30 minutes (210 minutes)
Number of questions: 105
Total marks: 105
Answer choices: 5 per question
Mode: Online
Marking scheme:
- +1 mark for each correct answer
- -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer
- -0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive unattempted questions
- No negative marking in the General Knowledge section

Detailed Analysis of XAT Exam Pattern 2025

The XAT exam consists of two parts with a total of 102 questions (expected) overall:

Part	Section	Total Questions	Time Allotted
Part 1	Verbal and Logical Ability	26	175 minutes
	Decision Making	22
	Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	28
Part 2	Mock Keyboard Testing	-	5 minutes
Part 3	General Knowledge	25	30 minutes
	Essay Writing	1
Total		102	210 Minutes

XAT Marking Scheme 2025

Correct answer: +1 mark
Incorrect answer: -0.25 marks
Unattempted questions penalty: -0.10 marks for each question over 8 unattempted questions
General Knowledge: No negative marking

Key Changes in XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years

Shifted from Paper-Based Test to Computer-Based Test in 2018.
Essay-Based Question removed after XAT 2018 and reintroduced in XAT 2022.
The number of unattempted questions allowed was reduced from 12 to 8.
The Decision Making section had 22 questions in XAT 2023, with the exam duration increased to 210 minutes.

Section-Wise Analysis

Verbal and Logical Ability: Tests vocabulary, analogy, paragraph jumbles, paragraph completion, critical reasoning, and statements-assumptions.
Decision Making: Unique to XAT, this section evaluates candidates' clarity of thought through situational questions.
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation: Similar to CAT, includes questions on time & work, percentage, profit & loss, equations, number systems, clocks, geometry, algebra, mensuration, Venn diagrams, tables, and bar diagrams.
General Knowledge: Covers a range of topics from current affairs to trivia, literature, politics, and technology.
Essay Writing: Reintroduced in 2022, candidates choose from three essay topics, usually based on abstract ideas.

Difficulty Level

The anticipated difficulty level of XAT 2025 is expected to be moderately challenging:

General English: Moderate to Difficult
Analytical & Logical Reasoning: Moderate to Difficult
Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency: Moderate to Difficult

Sectional Weightage

Decision Making: 21%
VARC: 26%
QA and DI: 27%
GK: 25%

For a detailed review of the XAT Syllabus 2025, please refer to the official XAT resources.

Eligibility Criteria

XAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025

XLRI Jamshedpur will release the eligibility criteria for the XAT exam 2025 along with the official notification. These criteria outline the minimum requirements candidates must meet to appear for the exam, including academic qualifications, marks in qualifying exams, age limits, and other criteria. Only candidates who meet these criteria will have their applications considered valid.

Key Points of XAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

The XAT is a national-level entrance exam for admission to XLRI's postgraduate programs and other XAT-accepting colleges. Candidates must review the detailed eligibility criteria before applying. The criteria differ for domestic and NRI candidates.

Educational Qualifications
- Candidates must have a three-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Final-year graduation students can also apply, provided they can submit their bachelor's degree certificate and mark sheet by the end of the admission year.
Age Limit
- There is no upper age limit for XAT eligibility, allowing candidates of any age to apply.
XAT and XLRI Eligibility
- XAT exam eligibility criteria are the same as XLRI’s eligibility criteria. XLRI does not impose minimum mark restrictions for the PGDM course, though specific course requirements may vary.
Eligibility Criteria for NRIs
- Domestic candidates must appear for the XAT to be eligible for MBA/PGDM programs.
- NRI and foreign candidates can apply through valid GMAT scores and do not need to take the XAT.

Specific Eligibility Criteria for XLRI Courses

XLRI Jamshedpur offers three management courses: PGDM in Human Resource Management, Business Management, and General Management Programmes. Candidates should check the specific eligibility criteria for the course they wish to apply for.

Programme	Eligibility Criteria
General Management Programme	- A minimum of three years of a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
	- At least five years of managerial/supervisory experience in public, private, or non-governmental sectors.
	- XAT or GMAT score can be used.
Human Resource Management and Business Management	- A bachelor’s degree of at least three years from a recognized university.
	- Final-year students can apply if they complete their degree by June 10, 2025.

Who is Not Eligible for XAT 2025?

Candidates who have not completed their bachelor's degree or equivalent by the specified deadline.
Candidates with degrees from non-recognized institutions.
Those who do not meet minimum eligibility criteria, such as required percentile in the previous XAT or an invalid GMAT score.
Candidates failing to submit necessary documents or information within the stipulated time.
Individuals providing false information or engaging in misconduct during the application process.

XAT Registration 2025

The registration for the XAT exam begins on July 15 in online mode. Eligible candidates can apply on the official website, xatonline.in, by paying an application fee of Rs. 2200.

XAT Admit Card 2025

XLRI will issue the XAT admit card online at xatonline.in. Only candidates who have successfully submitted their registration form can download the admit card using their XAT login ID and password. It is mandatory to carry the XAT admit card along with a government-issued photo ID to the exam center for entry. Candidates are advised to download and print the admit card well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

Category	XAT Exam Fees
Unreserved category	INR 2,200 (+ INR 200 for those interested in XLRI programs)
Reserved category	INR 2,200 (+ INR 200 for those interested in XLRI programs)