Do PYQs repeat in XAT? The answer is NO, XAT do not repeat exact word-for-word questions; rather, the concepts and structure of certain questions get repeated.
Decision-making and QA&DI have shown more format and concept-based question repetition. 70-75% RC and DI questions' logic is similar to that of past years.
In the past 5 years, 30-40% of QA&DI, 25-30% of VR&LR, and 40-45% of DI scenarios have followed familiar structures, but there is no exact repetition of questions.
- XAT has seen 40 to 50% recurrence in question formats over the last five years, mostly in DM and QA&DI
- Candidates who solve 5-7 years of PYQs often see a 15 to 20% score boost, according to IMS and CL analysis
- Several Reddit and Quora users suggest solving PYQs for a better understanding of the question paper pattern and to know the repeated concepts and formats across sections.
| XAT Previous Year Question Paper Official PDF | ||
|---|---|---|
| XAT 2024 Question Paper PDF | XAT 2023 Question Paper PDF | XAT 2022 Question Paper PDF |
| XAT 2021 Question Paper PDF | XAT 2020 Question Paper PDF | XAT 2019 Question Paper PDF |
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Key Summary
- XAT never repeats exact questions word-for-word from previous year papers.
- The questions repeat only in terms of concepts, themes, principles, and formats.
- Do PYQs repeat in XAT?, The answer is NO, but practising PYQs improves accuracy, speed, and familiarity.
- The decision-making section has the highest recurrence, around 70 to 80% in terms of caselets approach and scenarios.
- GK repeats 20 to 30% of static topics.
- Current affairs repeat only in theme; they always have the relevant year's questions asked.
- RC and DI logic match 70 to 75% with older sets, only in the format of end concepts
- QADI repeats 60 to 70% of question formats yearly
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XAT 2026 Live updatesXAT Question Papers: 2016-2025
Do PYQs repeat in XAT? It does not repeat the exact question, but the pattern and concepts are repeated. So it is advised that candidates should check the XAT previous year question papers.
- In the last five years, 40-50% of questions have been repeated in format, structure, and concepts in DM and QA&DI.
- Practising 5+ years of PYQs can give you a chance to score 15-20% higher.
| Year | Exam Date | Question Paper | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| XAT 2025 | 5th January 2025 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2024 | 7th January 2024 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2023 | 8th January 2023 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2022 | 2nd January 2022 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2021 | 3rd January 2021 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2020 | 5th January 2020 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2019 | 6th January 2019 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2018 | 7th January 2018 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2017 | 8th January 2017 | View/Download | Click Here |
| XAT 2016 | 3rd January 2016 | View/Download | Click Here |
XAT 2026 Paper Pattern
- XAT Question paper has 95 questions distributed over VA&LR, DM, QA&DI, and GK.
- Except for GK, all other sections have a negative marking of 0.25.
- If you do not attempt more than 8 questions,0.10 marks will be deducted from every unattempted question, after the 8th unattempted question.
- In XAT 2026, Analytical Essay writing will be taken during the GD/PI round, after the written test in XLRIs.
- GK score is utilised exclusively by XLRI Jamshedpur for final selection.
| Marking Scheme | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 | ||||||||
| Wrong answer | -0.25 Note: No Negative marking for GK | ||||||||
| Unattempted Questions | -0.10 if more than 8 questions are not attempted | ||||||||
| Question Distribution | |||||||||
| Parts | Time allotted | Subjects/Topics | No of Questions | Weitage | |||||
| Part 1 | 170 min | VA&LR -Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning | 26 | ~22% | |||||
| DM-Decision Making | 21 | ~27% | |||||||
| QA&DI-Quantitative Analysis and Data Interpretation | 28 | ~29% | |||||||
| Part 2 | 10 min | GK-General Knowledge | 20 | ~21% | |||||
| Total: 95 | |||||||||
Read More:
XAT Topper Tips By Isha ParasramkaDo PYQs Repeat in XAR: Section-wise Analysis
XAT VA & LR Questions
- The VA & LR section makes up to 35% of the overall paper with 12-13 questions every year.
- The format of the reading comprehension section repeats almost every year, with 10 to 12 questions resembling past styles.
- Critical reasoning questions repeat in format, like inference strengthening or weakening the arguments, in 4-5 questions every year.
- Two to three questions of parajumbles show a similar structure or logic.
- Poem-based RCs repeat once every one to two years, often reusing the tone theme from older papers.
- Practising VA & LR PYQs covers about one-third of the repeated formats you will see in the exam
| Question Type | No of Questions | Weitage in VA&LR | How often do PYQS repeat in XAT | Type of questions repeating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 12-13 | ~46% | Every year, the same format |
|
| Critical Reasoning | ~5 | ~19% | Every year |
|
| Fill in the blanks | ~1-2 | ~4-8% | Most years |
|
| Para Jumbles/Rearrangements | ~2 | ~8% | Most years |
|
| Error correction | ~2 | ~8% | Regularly comes |
|
| Poem-based questions | ~2 | ~8% | Once in 2 years, often |
|
XAT Decision-Making Questions
XAT Decision making questions match 70 to 80% of the formats seen in the latest papers.
- Ethical dilemma case studies appear every year, and the questions closely match the past scenarios.
- Crisis management and legal scenario questions repeat, but with a different story.
- Business operation cases repeat, asking similar decision-based logical questions.
- Leadership and human resource management themes have had at least two sets in the last three years, with almost identical patterns
| Question Type | No of Questions | Weitage in DM | How often do PYQS repeat in XAT | Type of questions repeating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethical dilemmas | 3-4 | ~14-19% | Every year |
|
| Business operations | 4-6 | ~19-29% | Most years |
|
| Leadership& HR Decisions | 3-4 | ~14-19% | Most years |
|
| Legal/Policy scenarios | ~3 | ~14% | Most years |
|
| Customer/Stakeholder issues | ~3 | ~14% | Almost every year |
|
| Crisis management | 2-3 | ~10-14% | Most years |
|
XAT QA & DI Questions
- Arithmetic repeats every year with 4-5 questions in almost the same style.
- Algebra patterns come back in 3-4 questions in most papers.
- Geometry & Mensuration reappear annually with familiar problem types.
- DI sets change data, but repeat calculation styles from old papers.
- Past papers cover around 60-70% of recurring question formats.
| Topic | Approx. No. of Questions | % of QA/DI | How often do PYQS repeat in XAT | Type of Question that Repeats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic (Ratios, Averages, SI/CI) | 4-5 | 14-18% | Every year |
|
| Algebra (Linear, Quadratic) | 3-4 | 11-14% | Most years |
|
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3-4 | 11-14% | Every year |
|
| Probability & Perm/Comb | 2-3 | 7-11% | Many years |
|
| Number Systems | 1-2 | 4-7% | Some years |
|
| DI - Tables/Charts | 4-6 | 14-21% | Most years |
|
| DI - Case studies | 3-4 | 11-14% | Many years |
|
XAT GK Previous Year
- Static GK repeats in 5-6 questions each year.
- Polity and economy topics are frequent repeaters.
- Geography-based questions return every 2 years on average.
- Current Affairs never repeats facts but follows the same themes.
- Past papers are most useful for static GK, less for current affairs.
Read more
XAT GK Syllabus| GK Type | Approx. No. of Questions | % of GK Section | How often do PYQS repeat in XAT | Type of Question that Repeats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs | ~10 | ~50% | Themes repeat, not exact Qs |
|
| Static GK - Geography | 2-3 | 10-15% | Sometimes |
|
| Static GK - History | 2-3 | 10-15% | Sometimes |
|
| Static GK - Polity | 2-3 | 10-15% | Often |
|
| Static GK - Economy | 2-3 | 10-15% | Often |
|
Read more:
Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for the XAT ExamXAT 2026 FAQs
FAQs
Ques. Are XAT PYQs enough?
Ans. No, XAT PYQs alone are not enough to perform well.
- PYQs help to get a clear understanding of question paper patterns.
- Solving XAT PYQs will give an understanding of the pattern, format, and concept on which questions are asked.
- No word-for-word questions are taken from PYQS.
Ques. How to get 99 percentile in XAT?
Ans. To get 99 percentile in XAT:
- Solve 55-65 questions accurately.
- Aim for a 45-50 scaled score.
- Solve PYQs to get familiar with the format and concepts.
- Give at least 10+ mock tests.
- Avoid marking wrong answers; also, you should not leave more than 8 questions unanswered.
Ques. Should I attempt all questions in XAT?
Ans. Not really, you do not need to answer all the questions in XAT. Also, you can leave more than 8 questions unanswered.
- Try to answer 55-65 questions accurately.
- Unless you have no idea at all, do not skip questions.
- Do not leave more than 8 questions unanswered; it will result in a negative marking of -0.10 for every unanswered question.
Ques. How many attempts are good in XAT?
Ans. If you religiously practice for 6-8 months, dedicating 4-5 hours daily, you can clear that on your first attempt.
- Most of the candidates clear XAT in their second attempt with 15 to 20% improvement.
- XAT happens once a year, and the gap between other management aptitude tests or entrance tests is about 4-8 months. So, it is suggested to clear in a maximum of two attempts.
Ques. How many questions to solve in XAT?
Ans. It is suggested to solve 45 or more questions in XAT.
- For a safe 95-99 percentile range, attempt 50-60 questions.
- 75-80% of accuracy is a must as there is negative marking for both wrong answers and unattempted questions.
- Try to maintain 75-80% accuracy in all the sections.
Ques. Does GK matter in XAT?
Ans. Yes, GK surely matters in XAT. GK is an exclusive part of the XAT question paper.
- If you are aiming for XLRI Jamshedpur, you should take XAT very seriously. GK is exclusively considered by XLRI Jamshedpur.
- There is an advantage: the GK section does not have negative marking.
Ques. Does XAT have TITA?
Ans. No, XAT does not have TITA (Type In The Answer) questions.
- XAT has only Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- All 95 questions across all four sections have only MCQs.
Ques. Is XAT easier than CAT?
Ans. The difficulty level is almost the same in XAT and CAT. XAT is generally considered to be more challenging than CAT.
- XAT is challenging with respect to scoring.
- Unlike CAT, XAT has negative marking for unanswered questions, which makes it difficult to score high.
- XAT has diversified sections such as DM and GK, which have unique weightage.
- The RC section comes with long passages, and DM options are never completely obvious.
- Though GK has no negative marking, it is considered by XLRI Jamshedpur in the final selection.
Ques. What are the last-minute tips for XAT 2025?
Ans.
- Revise decision-making caselets from PYQs
- Avoid new topics.
- Focus on revising your score's strong areas.
- Sleep well before the exam.
- Revise formulae for the QA section.
- Most importantly, keep calm and carry all the necessary documents.
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