Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur (India's oldest business school). Known for its unique and challenging Decision Making section, analytical reading passages, and quantitative rigor. In addition to XLRI Jamshedpur and XLRI Delhi, XAT scores are accepted by IMT Ghaziabad, XIM University, TAPMI, GIM Goa, and Great Lakes.
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: 75 Marks (Part 1 core score used for percentile calculation)| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Decision Making (DM) | 21 Questions (Ethical & business caselets) | 21 Marks | 175 Mins (Shared Part 1) |
| Part 1: Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR) | 26 Questions (Poem comprehension, CR, Vocab) | 26 Marks | 175 Mins (Shared Part 1) |
| Part 1: Quantitative Ability & DI (QADI) | 28 Questions (Advanced math & DI) | 28 Marks | 175 Mins (Shared Part 1) |
| Part 2: Mock Keyboard Test | Typing Test | Qualifying | 5 Minutes |
| Part 3: General Knowledge & Analytical Essay | 25 GK Questions + 1 Essay | 25 Marks + Essay | 30 Minutes |
+1 mark for correct response, -0.25 marks for incorrect response. Penalty of -0.10 marks applies per unattempted question beyond 8 unattempted questions.
Negative Marking Rule: -0.25 on wrong answers + -0.10 penalty for unattempted questions after 8 unattempted questions
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
XLRI BM cutoff requires 96+ percentile (~35-38 marks out of 75); XLRI HRM requires 94-95+ percentile with clear sectional cutoffs in Decision Making.
Participating Institutes / Career Pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the unique penalty for unattempted questions in XAT?
In Part 1 of XAT, if a candidate leaves more than 8 questions unattempted, each consecutive unattempted question incurs a negative penalty of -0.10 marks.
Is the GK and Essay score included in the XAT percentile?
No, Part 3 (General Knowledge and Essay) is evaluated during the personal interview round at XLRI and is not part of the primary XAT percentile calculation.
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