XAT Exam Pattern 2021 is very important to make the students familiar with the question paper pattern. They need to understand the questions asked and how the test is designed. Basically, the XAT MBA question paper consists of 100 MCQ – type questions. There are in total 4 sections in the exam. Previously, XAT has been conducted in manual and paper-based mode until 2017, and it became a computerized test (CBT) in 2018. Go through all the sections carefully!
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: Highlights
Particulars |
Details |
Number of sections |
Four namely · Decision Making · Verbal & Logical Ability · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · General Knowledge |
Duration of exam |
180 minutes |
Number of questions |
100 |
XAT Exam Total Marks |
100 |
Language of paper |
English |
Number of answer choices |
Four |
Mode of examination |
Online |
XAT marking scheme |
· +1 mark for correct answer · – 0.25 marks for incorrect answer · – 0.10 marks for more than 8 unattempted questions · No negative marking in GK section |
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: Sectional Breakup of Questions
The XAT Exam paper is an online exam that is broadly divided into 4 sections and 2 parts. The 1st part includes the question from Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation, and the 2nd part consists of the question from General Knowledge.
- After completing the first three sections, the applicant can switch to the General Knowledge Section part within the first 165 minutes.
- There is no restriction in the time limit between the first three parts. However, for the GK part, the applicant’s time is 15 minutes.
- Applicants can switch between the first part of the XAT exam.
Here the table briefly shows the XAT Exam number of questions of each section and the time limit as well:
Section Name |
Max. Questions |
Time Limit |
Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
165 minutes |
Decision Making |
21 |
|
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
27 |
|
General Knowledge |
25 |
15 minutes |
Total |
100 |
180 minute |
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: Verbal and Logical Ability
The first section of the XAT exam consists of 26 questions. Most of the questions are related to reading comprehension. The applicant must know about the related topics that can be asked in this section:
- Analogy-Based on Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Paragraph Formation Questions
- Pronunciation
- Critical Reasoning/ Inference
- Paragraph completion
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: Decision Making
The second section of the XAT exam consists of 21 questions. Through this section, one can be tested on how he/she can react in adverse situations or make good decisions or not. The applicant must know about the related topics that can be asked in Decision-Making section:
- Situational
- Arithmetic
- Analytical Reasoning
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
The third section of the XAT exam consists of 27 questions. Most of the questions involve Mathematical calculations and solving numerical. The applicant must know about the related topics that can be asked in the Decision-Making section:
- Algebra
- Time & Work
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Scatter Plots
- Venn diagram
- Polynomials
- Probability
- Permutations and Combinations
- Functions and Graphs
XAT Exam Pattern 2021: General Knowledge
The fourth section of the XAT exam consists of 25 questions. Most of the questions are related to History, Geography, Science, Business, Economics, Books, and Authors. In addition to this, the candidate must read newspapers and magazines. The applicant must know about the related topics that can be asked in the Decision-Making section:
- General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- Politics
- Film and Television
- Important Dates
- Culture
- Ecosystem and Diversity
- National Issues
- Currency
XAT Exam 2021: Marking Scheme
For the XAT 2022 evaluation, applicants should consider the following points:
- There will be 100 MCQ questions each carrying 1 mark.
- There will be no negative marking for the fourth section of the XAT exam.
- The scores of the fourth section (General Knowledge) are not counted for the final XAT results.
Number of Questions |
100 |
Marks awarded for every correct answer |
+1 |
Marks deducted for every wrong answer in XAT VALR, QADI, and DM sections |
-0.25 |
Marks deducted for unattempted questions |
-0.10 per question for 8 unattempted questions |
XAT Exam Pattern: Analysis of Last Six Years XAT Pattern
According to last year’s XAT exam pattern, we can examine the difficulty level of the exam for the last six years. It also includes the total number of questions and section-wise number of questions.
XAT Exam Year |
Total Questions |
Section-wise no. of questions |
Difficulty Level |
XAT 2021 |
99 |
VARC – 26 DM – 21 QA – 27 GK – 25 |
Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2020 |
97 |
VARC – 24 DM – 21 QA – 27 GK – 25 Essay Topic – 1 |
Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2019 |
97 |
VARC – 24 DM – 21 QA – 27 GK – 25 Essay Topic – 1 |
Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2018 |
103 |
VARC – 26 DM – 23 QA – 29 GK – 25 Essay Topic – 1 |
Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2017 |
114 |
VARC – 28 DM – 23 QA – 33 GK – 30 Essay Topic – 1 |
Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2016 |
113 |
VARC – 28 DM – 24 QA – 31 GK – 30 Essay Topic – 1 |
Moderate to Difficult |
Key Changes Introduced in XAT MBA Exam Pattern 2022
There are a few changes in the design of the XAT entrance examination. According to the notice issued by XLRI Jamshedpur, some changes have been made to the XAT 2022 exam pattern. The following are the main changes in the design of the XAT 2022 exam:
- The total number of questions is increased from 99 to 100.
- The authority removed the essay writing section from the exam.
- Visually impaired candidates have an additional 25 minutes to complete the first three parts.
- If the candidate refuses to answer 8 questions, 0.05 points will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- No extra time would be given for the fourth part (General Knowledge) in the XAT exam 2022.
Must-Check: XAT Syllabus 2021-22
There is no specific syllabus for XAT 2022, so applicants should note that they will need to cover the XAT 2022 syllabus by practicing the syllabus of various management exams.
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Get A Complete Guide On XAT Syllabus 2021
Other Important Links:
We have covered complete details on XAT Exam Pattern 2021-22. If you have any queries related to XAT Exam, feel free to comment below.
Frequently Answered Questions on XAT Exam Pattern 2021-22:
How many questions are there in XAT exam 2022?
The total number of questions is 100.
What is the language of the XAT exam?
English
Is there any negative marking for the XAT General Knowledge section?
No, there is no negative marking for the General Knowledge section.
What is the difficulty level of the XAT exam?
By examining the last 6 papers of the XAT exam, then the difficulty level is moderate to difficult.
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