XAT Exam 2025 syllabus: Sunstone's Guide for XAT Exam Preparation

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  • 14 October 2024
xat exam 2025

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XAT Exam registrations are Open and students can apply now. The Exam is conducted in 100+ Cities and is accepted in 250+ B-schools. The Exam has revised the syllabus for 2025, and the test duration has been reduced to 180 Minutes one of the sections has been removed from the entrance exam and will now be part of the selection process i.e. the Essay writing section. The GK questions in the exams will be 20 instead of 25 this year. The Mock XAT Exam will be conducted on September 25, 2025. Please note that the last date to Apply is November 30, 2024.

XAT 2025 Overview

XAT full form is Xavier’s Aptitude Test, which XLRI conducts. XAT is accepted by numerous colleges and universities, to name some XLRI - Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, XIM University Bhubaneswar, and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad among others. 

The exam Contains Three sections: Decision-making, quantitative aptitude, and essay writing. Unlike other exams, essay writing is one of this exam's most unique features. 

XAT 2025 Highlights

Particulars

Details

Name of Exam

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

XAT Conducting Body

XLRI, Jamshedpur

XAT Official Website

https://xatonline.in/

Exam Level

National Level - MBA Entrance Test

XAT Registration Start

July 15, 2024

XAT Registration Deadline

November 30, 2024 (tentative)

XAT Admit Card Download

December 20, 2024 Onwards

XAT Exam Date

January 5, 2025

Exam Frequency

Once a year

XAT Exam Mode

Online

XAT Exam Duration

3 hours 30 mins

Language

English

XAT Exam Syllabus & Test Pattern

100 questions in MCQ format:

  • Decision Making
  • Verbal & Logical Ability
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
  • General Knowledge
  • Analytical Essay Writing

XAT Exam Fees

Rs. 2200/-,

Rs. 200/- Per XLRI programme

Course Offered

MBA/PGDM

Exam Helpdesk No.

18002674008

XAT Important Dates

XAT Important Dates are mentioned in the table below:

Dates

Upcoming XAT Events

15 - 30th  Nov '24

XAT 2025 Exam Registration

25th Sep '24

XAT 2025 mock test

Oct '24

XAT Mock Test by XLRI

(tentatively)

20 Dec '24

XAT 2025 admit card download starts

05 Jan '25

XAT 2025 Exam

Jan '25

The XAT 2025 response sheet released

(tentatively)

Jan '25

XAT 2025 result

(tentatively)

Jan '25

XAT 2025 Cut-Offs Release

(tentatively)

XAT Registration Process 2025

Aspirants can fill up the XAT Form and pay the required fee to register for the exam. The form is available on the official website. To apply for the XLRI admission students need to pay INR 2002 as the fee. For GMAT students need to pay INR 2500. 

The XAT Application Process:

  • Go to the official website: xatonline.in
  • Click on the New Registration Icon, and enter all the details. 
  • You will get a unique ID and to use that you need to log in. 
  • Click on the link to verify your registration. 
  • Go to the XAT Homepage and log in to open the application form with your credentials. 
  • Fill in the mandatory fields.
  • Pay the required fees, the application fee of INR 2,200 through credit/debit, UPI or Net Banking. 

XAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

The XAT Eligibility criteria are the minimum qualifications required for students to be able to take the exam. 

  • Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university, or an equivalent. 
  • Students in their final year of study can also apply. 
  • Students do not need a minimum graduation score to be eligible to apply; they just need to pass the exam. 
  • People who are working professionals or studying for professional degrees like CA/CS can appear in the exam. 
  • There are no age restrictions for the exam.
  • Eligible candidates can apply using their GMAT scores.

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The XAT Exam contains three major sections, among these the decision-making section is the one that stands out. The section with the number of questions and time duration to complete them is given in the table below: 

Section

Number of Questions

Time Duration

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

175 minutes

Decision Making

21

175 minutes

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

175 minutes

General Knowledge

25

30 minutes

Essay Writing

1 essay

Part of the interview assessment

Notes: 

  • Negative Marking: The exam has a negative marking of 0.25 marks, which will be deducted for each incorrect answer, and 0.10 for not answering the questions. 
  • Mock Keyboard Testing: Students are given 5 extra minutes to get accustomed to the keyboard. 

XAT 2025 Syllabus

The XAT Syllabus consists of the following sections:

  • Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)
  • Decision Making
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
  • General Knowledge
  • Essay Writing

Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)

This section assesses the candidate’s language proficiency and logical reasoning skills. Key topics include:

  • Reading Comprehension: Inference-based and fact-based questions.
  • Critical Reasoning: Arguments, conclusions, assumptions.
  • Grammar & Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, sentence correction

Decision Making

Unique to XAT, this section tests your ability to solve complex problems in business and ethical scenarios. It evaluates analytical reasoning and ethical decision-making based on hypothetical situations​.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

This section covers a mix of mathematical concepts and data analysis. Some of the main topics are:

  • Arithmetic: Profit & Loss, Speed & Distance.
  • Geometry: Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry.
  • Data Interpretation: Pie charts, bar graphs, tables​.

General Knowledge

Although this section is not included in the final percentile, it plays a crucial role in the interview round. It covers:

  • Business & Economics: Current affairs, awards, famous personalities.
  • Static GK: History, geography, sports​(

Essay Writing

This section was made obsolete earlier but has now been entered into the exam again. For this section, students need to write an essay on one of the three topics which range from abstract ideas or contemporary issues. However, one thing to note is that these essays are evaluated only once the candidate qualifies for the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD-PI) stage​.

Preparation Tips for XAT 2025

To prepare students need to follow these steps:

  • First and foremost students need to understand the syllabus components like Aptitude, General Knowledge, and Unique Sections. 
  • Practicing Mock tests: An exam is a lot more than just writing the answers, it is also about managing time and handling yourself under pressure. Mock tests are the best way to understand that. Along with that students should also solve the past year's papers. 
  • Keeping up to date with the daily news and General Knowledge to ace the Gk section. 

Conclusion

Overall XAT is a Top MBA Entrance Exam that is challenging and demanded by a lot of TOp MBA Institutes. Like any other Exam, it focuses on Gauging overall understanding of the aspirants with the help of sections like Decision Making and Essay Writing. Aspirants can ace the exam by emphasizing deeper understanding and regular understanding. You can visit this page for all the further exam-related news and updates here. 

FAQ

What is the XAT exam used For?

The XAT Exam is used for getting admission into private MBA institutes like XLRI, SPIJMR, and many more. 

Is XAT tougher than CAT?

CAT is the most recognised MBA Entrance Test, XAT on the other hand is used to take candidates into the MBA courses in private colleges like XLRI, SPJIMR, and more. The reading comprehension part in the XAT Exam is often considered tougher than the CAT’s reading comprehension. But ultimately it depends upon the individual's prep and abilities.

Is XAT accepted in IIM?

No, XAT Scores are not accepted in IIMs. To get into IIMs students need to write and pass the CAT exam with the Desired percentile. 

Is it hard to crack XAT?

Yes, XAT is considered one of the toughest exams for MBA entrance. It gets you admission into 100+ institutions and has some unique sections to pass that are not present in other exams.

Is XAT only for MBA?

Yes, XAT is an MBA Entrance Exam conducted by XLRI.

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