XLRI Jamshedpur defines the XAT Syllabus 2025. The syllabus is the same as last year. It includes Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, and General Knowledge. In 2023, XLRI reintroduced essay writing as part of exam.
The presence of decision making, GK and essay makes it difficult compared to other MBA entrance examination. As a XAT aspirant you will require a separete skill set for decision making to ace the exam.
| 2023 Question Paper with Solutions | 2022 Question Paper with Solutions | 2021 Question Paper with Solutions |
To help you with this, we have provided here topic-wise weightage of the last 2-3 years. On analyzing the trends, in Verbal & Logical Ability, RC and critical reasoning account for about 80% weightage or 20-21 questions out of 26. Looking at the trends for Quant & DI, arithmetic has the highest weightage with 8-9 questions. Attempt Free Mock Tests by Collegedunia.com
Latest Updates:
What's the XAT Exam Syllabus?
Ans- XLRI Jamshedpur releases XAT eaxm syllabus and it requires unique skillset to solve decision making, DI. The Syllabus is divided into three parts 1) Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 2) GK 3) Essay.
Can I switch between sections during exam?
Ans. The exam pattern includes 3 parts - Part 1 comprises the 3 main sections of Quant & DI, Verbal & Logical Ability, and Decision Making; Part 2 is just a mock keyboard test of 5 minutes, and Part 3 consists of GK and Essay questions. Now, do not confuse between sections and parts. While you can switch in between the sections in a part, switching from one part to the other is not allowed till the sectional time limit concludes.
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XAT Syllabus 2024 Highlights
XAT Syllabus 2024 will be divided into 5 sections. The key highlights of these sections of XAT 2024 Syllabus are tabulated below.
| Part | Section | Number of Questions | Topics | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | Critical and Analytical Reasoning, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Logical Deductions | 175 minutes |
| Decision Making | 22 | Caselet study, Data Arrangement, Decision making in a given scenario, Ethical Dilemma | ||
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 27 | Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Arithmetic | ||
| Part 2 | Mock Keyboard Testing | - | - | 5 minutes |
| Part 3 | General Knowledge | 25 | Static GK and Current Affairs | 30 minutes |
| Essay | 1 |
XAT Syllabus 2025: Is There Any Changes?
XAT Syllabus 2025 is same like previous year.The syllabus consists of 5 sections having questions from the major topics defined in the syllabus. Let’s check this out:
- XAT Syllabus will have only these 5 sections:
- Verbal & Logical Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
- Decision Making
- General Awareness
- Essay
- As per the updated exam pattern, the maximum number of questions in exam has been fixed to 101.
- The Essay will be evaluated only for candidates shortlisted for the PI round.
- 76 Questions in Part 1 will have a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
- 25 GK questions in Part 3 will not have any negative marking.
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Check Section-wise Syllabus
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 28 Questions will be asked from this section from topics like mensuration, algebra, geometry, number system, etc. The difficulty level of this section is usually high, and for this reason, an accuracy of 70% is considered good.
- Verbal & Logical Ability (VA & LR): Questions in this section are mostly from topics like critical and analytical reasoning, vocabulary, reading comprehension, logical deductions, etc. 26 questions of moderate-high level of difficulty will be in Verbal & Logical Ability section.
- Decision Making (DM): 22 questions will be asked from this section. This section is an interesting feature of exam and consists of questions from topics such as caselet study, data arrangement, decision making in a given scenario, ethical dilemma, etc.
- GK: The section is usually of moderate difficulty and there is no negative marking for wrong answers. A total of 25 questions carrying 1 mark each will be asked in this section.
- Essay: 3 topics will be given out of which the candidates will be required to choose 1 and write a short essay of not more than 250 words.
Syllabus for each section has been mentioned in the table given below.
| Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
| Decision Making | Ethical Dilemma, Business Decision Making, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Arrangement of data, Grouping, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Number System, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation. |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Para jumbles, Verbal reasoning, Critical Reasoning, Error Detection, Fill in the Blanks |
| General Knowledge | Management, History, Important personalities, Science & Technology, Economy, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prizes and Awards, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc |
| Essay | Essay topics include current affairs, social & economic issues, business & management-oriented topics, abstract topics, etc. |
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Check Syllabus for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
Syllabus for Quant & DI is vast and covers almost all the topics of maths. Candidates need to give more attention and extra effort while preparing for this section. Topics covered are from that of the 10th standard syllabus.
- Quantitative Ability: XLRI brought significant changes in this section last year. Numbers, Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry questions have become more prominent and around 50% of the Quant questions are based on these areas. Mensuration, Venn diagrams, Numbers are other favorite topics on which questions are formed in the exam.
- Data Interpretation: Data tables, graphs, charts, bar diagrams, data analysis & comparison are the major topics for DI, and the questions are majorly asked in sets.
- Quant & DI section is meant to test the student’s calculation and implementation power.
- 28 questions will be asked from this section and candidates are advised to spend not more than 2 minutes and 17 seconds to solve each question.
- QA and DI section is considered to be of the highest difficulty level among all sections.
- For DI, 4- 5 questions and for QA, 13-15 questions would ideally be considered a good attempt.
Check XAT Preparation Tips for Quant & DI
You Should not Miss Important topics from Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (Quant & DI)
| Geometry | Mensuration – 2D and 3D |
| Probability | Algebra Functions |
| Profit and Loss | Speed & Distance |
| Quadratic Equations | Linear Equations |
| Logarithm | Surds and Indices |
| Statistics | Table |
| Trigonometry | Graphs |
| Arithmetic | Heights & Distance |
| Direction Sense & Time | Clocks |
| Data Interpretation – Table, Combination | Complex Numbers |
Here is the Syllabus for Verbal and Logical Ability
Verbal & Logical Ability Syllabus for is divided into 3 parts viz. Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning.
- Verbal Ability: You need to cover in this part includes questions based on English vocabulary like fill in the blanks, synonyms, antonyms, correction of sentences, use of right words, etc.
- Reading Comprehension: RC forms about 50% of the VALR paper. This part will take more time to attempt as it involves more concentration and good reading and analytical skills. The topics for RC could be politics, economics, social awareness, literature, or abstract.
- 4-5 questions will be based on critical reasoning and will involve analytical reasoning.
- 26 questions of the objective type will come from this section.
- Since there is no sectional time limit, candidates must on an average spend around 50 minutes on this section.
- The section can have moderate to high difficulty level questions.
- 18-20 questions would ideally be considered to be a good attempt from this section.
Check Preparation Tips for Verbal & Logical Ability
Important Topics from Verbal & Logical Ability
| English Usage Topics | Reading Comprehension Topics |
| Grammar | Culture |
| The contextual meaning of words | Economy |
| Para completion and para jumble | Psychology and social issues |
| Error correction | Literature and fiction |
| Vocabulary (Antonyms and Synonyms) | Science |
| Critical Reasoning | Narration of Incidents |
| Arguments | - |
Ques. Where I can get detailed XAT Syllabus?
Ans. You will not get detailed syllabus as XLRI does not explicitly release any detailed XAT syllabus. It only defines the sections that will form a part of the exam. However, questions asked in previous year papers act as a guide in providing insights on the important topics in each section and the type of questions asked.
Ques. Is the syllabus similar to that of CAT exam?
Ans. XAT Syllabus for QA, DI, and VARC is similar to that of CAT exam syllabus. The exam has 2 other sections that do not form part of CAT syllabus. These are Decision Making and GK.
Ques. What is the best source to prepare for Decision Making?
Ans. Decision Making section does not have a definite syllabus and is unique to the exam. Hence, the best way is to solve as many questions from sample papers, mock tests, and previous year question papers.
Ques. Will the authority release officialmock tests?
Ans. Yes, the authority releases official mock tests every year before the exam. The mock test will be released by XLRI. The mock test is a replica of the actual exam and helps the candidates in getting familiar with the actual exam environment.
Decision Making (DM) Syllabus
Decision Making section is unique to the exam because this section is not included in most of the MBA entrance exams. But there is no need to worry as this section is not going to be very difficult.
Salient features of syllabus for Decision Making are mentioned below:
- The syllabus for this section is decision making in a situation, data arrangement tests, etc.
- There will be 22 questions in this section.
- The difficulty level of the DM section is moderate.
- Decision Making section has negative marking. Answering 16 – 17 questions will be a good attempt.
Check Preparation Tips for XAT Decision Making
Important Topics for Decision Making
| Arithmetic | Analytical Reasoning |
| Situational | Conditions and Grouping Test |
| Data Arrangement Test | Reading Comprehension |
| Case lets | Decision Making in a situation |
General Knowledge (GK) Syllabus: Check the Key Feature
To score in this section, a candidate needs to remain in constant touch with GK on a daily basis. Important features of General Knowledge are mentioned below:
- Topics to be covered in this section are history, politics, author names, business, economy, current affairs (national and international), etc.
- 25 questions will be asked in total. You will be given 30 minutes to complete this section and the essay writing section.
- The difficulty level is moderate. Most questions are on current affairs and some on GK.
- 60:40 breakup is expected for GK and Current Affairs.
- Candidates can go for guesswork as negative marking is not applicable in this section.
- 12 – 14 questions would ideally be considered to be a good attempt.
Check Preparation Tips for GK
Important Topics from General Knowledge
| Politics | Nation and States |
| History | Literature |
| Sports | Awards and Recognitions |
| Business | Economics |
| International Relations | Society |
| Merger & Acquisitions | -- |
Previously asked questions from GK: Don’t Miss Important Topic
Although, questions in the general knowledge section hold no bounds to a particular topic. Still, we have mentioned some of the sample questions to have an understanding of the type of questions been asked in the GK section.
- Who acquired Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Healthcare?
- Which of the following is not part of VIACOM 18
- Highest import to India
- Which Indian bank was the first to issue “Green Bonds” for financing renewable and clean energy projects?
- Giga fiber to be launched by which company
- Who is the SBI Chairman?
- What are the names of Parliament Budget Sessions
- Name of Liquid for dissolving Gold
- Name of Rajasthan Snake Dance
Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | January 5, 2025 |
| XAT Exam Duration | 210 minutes |
| Total No. of Questions | 105 |
| Type of Questions | 101 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) + Essay |
| Number of Answer Choices | 5 |
| Sections in XAT 2023 exam |
|
| XAT 2024 Marking Scheme |
|
| Negative Marking | Yes |
Best Books for Preparation
Books play an important role in preparation for any competitive exam as they provide the latest syllabus for the exam. It is very important to choose the right books which have been updated as per the revised syllabus for comprehensive preparation. Given below are some section-wise recommended books for candidates preparing for exam:
| Book name | Section | Publisher / Author |
|---|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Nitish K. Sinha |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Gautam Puri |
| Wiley's ExamXpert XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Wiley India (Author) |
| Jabbing the XAT Mock Tests & Solved Papers | Comprehensive | R K Jha |
| Verbal Ability Comprehension for CAT/ XAT/ IIFT/ CMAT/ MAT | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning | Bharta Patodi and Aditya Choudhary |
| How to Prepare for VARC for CAT | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning | Arun Sharma |
| Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning | R S Aggarwal |
| Target XAT (Past Papers + 5 Mock Tests) | Comprehensive | Disha Experts |
| Objective General Knowledge | General Knowledge | Lucent’s |
| General knowledge | General Knowledge | Arihant |
What Should be Your Preparation Strategy
As the syllabus has no defined boundary, candidates appearing for the exam are suggested to practice as many sample papers and previous years' question papers as possible. Listed below are major takeaways for Preparations:
- Before starting the preparations, it is advised to go through all the previous years’ papers to get an idea about all the questions asked in the exam. Doing this will help a candidate to know about the level of questions that are asked from Syllabus.
- The importance of solving papers cannot be stressed enough. Go through free Mock Tests for advanced preparation.
- Candidates must make sure to give equal importance to all the sections in order to fetch maximum marks to clear the sectional cut-off set by the conducting authority.
- As the level of exam is difficult, so managing the time in an efficient way will prove to be an asset.
- For the GK section, it is important to keep oneself updated with both static and current happenings around the world. As per the trends, knowing about the past 6 months' news will be sufficient for preparation for this section.
- Due to the coronavirus pandemic which resulted in a lockdown, it is recommended that candidates consider online coaching for which is as helpful as the traditional coaching centers.
Read more Preparation Tips
FAQs
Ques. Can you give me a list of all the topics that are added to XAT 2025 Syllabus over 2023 syllabus?
Ans. Well, there are no additions that are officially announced in the XAT 2025 syllabus. However, the weightage of topics may change every year. Candidates must go through the paper analysis of previous years to get insights into the questions asked.
Ques. How to prepare for XAT 2025?
Ans. Follow the detailed road map we have provided above to ace at XAT 2025. You can also take help of useful resources like mock test, important books to preapare for the exam.
Ques. Is XLRI possible with low academics?
Ans. People with execellent academic record do not get any extra benefit during exam. So, low academics is not an issue for XLRI (XAT).
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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