XAT 2027 Marking Scheme: Negative Marking, Unattempted Questions and Section-Wise Weightage

XAT 2027 Marking Scheme each correct answer carries +1 mark while each incorrect response attracts -0.25 marks in Part 1 which has VALR, Decision Making, and QADI section.

• XAT 2027 conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur follows a three level marking system that rewards correct answers while discouraging excessive guessing and leaving too many questions unanswered.
• Candidates can leave up to eight questions unanswered in Part 1 without any penalty but every additional unattempted question beyond the first eight results in a 0.10 mark deduction.
• Part 1 consists of 75 questions from VALR, DM and QADI carrying a maximum of 75 marks.
• The General Knowledge section awards one mark for every correct answer and does not have negative marking while its score is not considered for XAT percentile calculation and is used separately by participating institutes during the admission process.
• XAT 2027 registration opened on 15 July 2026 and the examination is scheduled to be conducted on 3 January 2027.

Related Links:

• XAT 2027: Registration Opens on 15th July 2026, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and XLRI Cutoff
• XAT Exam Dates 2027: Expected Registration Date, Exam Dates, and Admit Card Schedule
• XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF Download: Section-wise Weightage, Exam Pattern, and Best Books

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Key Summary

• Candidates should avoid random guessing in Part 1, as every incorrect answer reduces the net score, making accuracy and question selection more important than attempting a large number of questions.
• The General Knowledge section does not contribute to the XAT percentile, but a good GK score may strengthen a candidate's profile during the admission process at XLRI Jamshedpur and several other XAT-accepting institutes.
• Candidates can estimate their expected XAT 2027 score after the response sheet and answer key are released by applying the official marking scheme before the final result is declared.
• Regular mock test analysis, balanced attempts across all three scored sections, and improving section-wise accuracy can help candidates maximise their XAT 2027 score while reducing the impact of negative marking.

XAT 2027 Marking Scheme Overview

The table below summarises the complete XAT 2027 marking scheme applicable to all sections of the exam.

Source: Youtube

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Section-Wise Question Distribution and Weightage

XAT 2027 Part 1 consists of 75 questions distributed across Verbal and Logical Ability (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QADI), with every question carrying one mark.

• XAT 2027 is conducted in computer-based mode with a total duration of 180 minutes, including 170 minutes for Part 1 and 10 minutes for Part 2.
• The Essay Writing section is assessed qualitatively by participating B-schools during the admission process and does not contribute a numerical score to the XAT 2027 result.

Source: Hitsbullseye

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Negative Marking Rule for Wrong Answers

XAT 2027 deducts 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer only in Part 1, which includes Verbal and Logical Ability (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QADI).

• The General Knowledge (GK) section does not have any negative marking, and incorrect answers in this section do not reduce a candidate's score.
• Every incorrect answer in Part 1 effectively results in a loss of 1.25 marks, as candidates miss the +1 mark for the correct answer and also incur a 0.25 mark penalty.
• Candidates should avoid blind guessing and attempt a question only when they can confidently eliminate at least two options, as this improves the chances of making a correct choice.
• The example below explains how the XAT 2027 marking scheme works for a candidate attempting 60 out of 75 questions in Part 1.

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Unattempted Questions Penalty Rule

XAT 2027 follows a unique unattempted question rule, allowing candidates to leave up to eight questions unanswered in Part 1 without any penalty, while every additional unattempted question beyond the eighth attracts a 0.10 mark deduction.

• This rule applies only to Part 1, which includes Verbal and Logical Ability (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QADI), whereas unanswered questions in the General Knowledge (GK) section do not attract any penalty.
• The 0.10 mark deduction is calculated based on the total number of unattempted questions in Part 1 and does not depend on leaving eight consecutive questions unanswered.
• The purpose of this marking rule is to discourage candidates from leaving a large number of questions blank while still allowing them to skip a limited number of difficult questions as part of a planned examination strategy.

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XAT 2027 Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation Chapter-Wise Weightage

GK Section: Marking and Percentile Impact

The General Knowledge (GK) section in XAT 2027 is expected to include 20 questions, with one mark awarded for every correct answer.

• The GK section does not have any negative marking, and incorrect answers do not reduce a candidate's score.
• General Knowledge marks are not included in the XAT percentile calculation, as the percentile is prepared only from the scored sections in Part 1.
• XLRI Jamshedpur and several other XAT-accepting institutes may consider the GK score separately during the shortlisting and final selection process, making good performance in this section beneficial for candidates.

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XAT 2027 Expected Cutoff for XIMB, XIME and Other Top Colleges

How XAT 2027 Score is Calculated

Candidates can calculate their XAT 2027 net score by adding the marks for correct answers and then subtracting the penalties for incorrect answers and unattempted questions beyond the permitted limit.

• XAT 2027 Score = (Correct Answers × 1) − (Wrong Answers × 0.25) − (Unattempted Questions beyond 8 × 0.10).
• After the examination, XLRI Jamshedpur converts the Part 1 raw scores into percentiles through the normalisation process to ensure fairness across all candidates.
• The XAT percentile reflects a candidate's relative performance compared with all other XAT 2027 test takers, and most leading XAT-accepting B-schools use both the overall percentile and section-wise percentiles during the admission process.

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Strategy Tips Based on XAT 2027 Marking Scheme

The marking scheme directly shapes how candidates should approach the XAT paper. Keep these points in mind during preparation and on exam day:

• Use the Eight Free Skips Wisely: Candidates should use the eight penalty-free skips across VALR, Decision Making, and QADI instead of exhausting them in one section.
• Avoid Blind Guessing: With a 0.25 mark deduction for every incorrect answer in Part 1, candidates should attempt questions only after eliminating at least two options.
• Maintain the Right Attempt Strategy: Candidates should target around 67 or more attempts in Part 1 to stay within the eight unattempted questions limit and avoid the additional 0.10 mark penalty.
• Focus on Decision Making: Decision Making questions test judgement, ethics, and stakeholder analysis, making regular practice of previous years' XAT questions essential.
• Attempt Every GK Question: Candidates should attempt all General Knowledge questions, as a good GK score can strengthen admission chances at institutes such as XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB Bhubaneswar.
• Track Accuracy Through Mock Tests: If section-wise accuracy remains below 60–65%, candidates should focus on improving accuracy rather than increasing attempts.

Also Read

XAT 2027 Expected Cutoff for XLRI Jamshedpur: Minimum Percentile for BM and HRM

XAT 2027 Marking Scheme: Reddit Discussion

• The discussion focused on the XAT marking scheme, with candidates seeking clarification on how negative marking is applied for unattempted questions after the permitted limit of eight skipped questions.
• Another Reddit user explained that from the ninth unattempted question onward, a penalty of 0.1 mark per question is applied, and the deduction is distributed proportionately across the sections based on the number of unanswered questions, noting that the overall impact on the final score is generally minimal.