Ans. XAT 2026 syllabus consists of three sections that are asked over for 95 questions in total. They are divided as:

• VA & LR: 26 questions
• DM: 21 questions
• QA & DI: 28 questions
• GK: 20 questions

Ans. The GK section is not scored for percentile but is used during final selection by XLRI.

Ans. No sectional time limit exists for Part 1 (VA & LR, DM, QA & DI). GK has a separate 10-minute window.

Ans. In XAT 2026, attempting 18–22 questions with 85–90% accuracy is generally considered a strong performance. Accuracy is more important than attempting all questions because the negative marking is -0.25 per wrong answer, and over 8 unattempted questions incur a -0.10 penalty. Focusing on high-weightage topics like Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning ensures better scoring efficiency.

Ans. Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning typically form 60–65% of the VA & LR section. Vocabulary, Para Jumbles, and Cloze Tests contribute the remaining 35–40%. Candidates should practice comprehension of medium-length passages and develop the ability to analyze arguments and draw logical conclusions under time constraints.

Ans. Effective strategies include daily reading of newspapers, journals, and editorials to improve comprehension speed, maintaining a vocabulary notebook, and practicing past XAT questions for Para Jumbles and Cloze Tests. Solving mock tests under timed conditions is crucial to adapt to the 170-minute duration for Part 1, which includes VA & LR along with DM and QA & DI.

Ans. Typically, 4–5 questions in the DM section revolve around ethical decision-making, including stakeholder impact and moral choices. These questions assess candidates’ ability to balance short-term and long-term outcomes while following ethical principles, which is a key differentiator in XAT compared to exams like CAT or NMAT.

Ans. The DM section has moderate to high difficulty, focusing on analytical and situational reasoning rather than numerical calculations. Candidates need to interpret caselets, identify assumptions, and logically deduce conclusions, making it essential to practice past XAT DM questions and real-world business scenarios.

Ans. Preparation strategies include solving 5–10 years of past DM caselets, reading business case studies, news analyses, and corporate decision examples, and practicing grouping, sequencing, and logical deduction exercises. Time management is crucial since the DM section shares the 170-minute duration with VA & LR and QA & DI in Part 1.

Ans. Attempting 20–22 questions with 70–75% accuracy is generally considered a strong performance. Accuracy is critical due to the -0.25 negative marking per wrong answer, and Part 1 is time-bound at 170 minutes, which requires strategic question selection.

Ans. Arithmetic and Algebra typically carry the highest weight, forming nearly 50–55% of the QA section. Geometry and Mensuration contribute around 25–30%, while DI questions are 4–5 in number, requiring precise calculation and interpretation.

Ans. Candidates should practice past 10 years of XAT papers, use books like Arun Sharma’s Quantitative Aptitude and Nitish K. Sinha’s QA, and solve mock tests under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy. Special attention should be given to DI questions, as they test both calculation skills and logical reasoning simultaneously.

Ans. Out of 20 GK questions, 8 are Static GK covering history, polity, geography, economy, and science, while 12 are Current Affairs focusing on national and international events, business developments, awards, and environmental issues.

Ans. Some topics, especially Economy, Polity, and Awards, are often repeated, but current affairs questions focus on events from the past 6–12 months. Candidates need to follow credible news sources and GK compilations for updated information.

Ans. Preparation should include daily reading of newspapers, monthly GK magazines, and online current affairs portals. Candidates should also maintain short notes for revision and solve past 5 years of GK questions to understand patterns and frequently tested topics.

Ans. Solving past papers helps candidates understand question types, difficulty levels, and exam patterns, including changes like the shift of essay evaluation to GD/PI. It also helps in time management and identifying high-weightage topics, which is crucial for scoring in top percentiles.

Ans. Yes, XAT 2026 reduced total questions to 95 and removed the essay from the main exam. GK is now 20 questions for final selection only. Understanding these changes through past papers helps candidates adapt their preparation strategy effectively.

Ans. Candidates should combine previous papers, standard preparation books, and online mock tests. For example, Arun Sharma’s books for QA, Bharta Patodi for VA & LR, and Disha Experts for DM are widely recommended. Online resources also help with current affairs and GK updates, especially for the 12 current affairs questions in GK.