Overview
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level MBA entrance test conducted by Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur on the behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). For the last 70 years, XLRI is conducting XAT at the all-India level to select the most appropriate students for its management programs. Considered as one of the toughest entrance exams, XAT scores are accepted for admission in MBA/PGDM offered by 11 XAMI member institutes, 83 associate institutes, and 600+ other B-schools.
Many students aim to get admission to XLRI and pursue management courses. XLRI is considered one of the top B-schools and lately, it has also added many executive and certificate programmes to meet the emerging demands of the business sector. XLRI has a host of courses to offer namely, PGDM HRM, PGDM BM (Full-time residential programmes), Exec- FPM, and BM (Part-time Programmes for Working Executives), to name a few.
The best brains of the country aspire to seek admission in the programs offered by XLRI and related institutes. More than 90,000 aspirants appear for the exam every year.
Eligibility criteria
The XAT eligibility criteria needs to be fulfilled by the candidates to appear for the exam. Here is the XAT eligibility:
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree that took three years or more to complete in any discipline from a recognized Institute.
- Candidates in the final are also eligible to appear for the XAT exam.
- The XAT exam does not require a minimum pass percentage.
- NRI students can apply through the GMAT exam.
If a candidate fulfils the given XAT eligibility requirements, they are welcome to apply and appear for the exam.
Exam pattern
The XAT Paper Pattern in terms of the sectional sub-division is given below:
| XAT | Details |
| Sections | Part 1 Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)Decision Making (DM)Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) Part 2 Mock Keyboard Testing Part 3 General Knowledge (GK) Essay Writing |
| Total Time | 3 hours and 30 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 105 questions |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for every incorrect answer Essay question is evaluated separately after shortlisting |
| Unattempted Questions | After 8 unanswered questions, -0.1 marks for every unanswered question |
Now that we have a clear understanding of the XAT exam pattern, here is a summary of the major parameters in XAT:
- XAT will contain 105 questions.
- Part 1 will have 175 minutes to complete after which part 1 will be locked and the candidate will move to part 2 and then part 3 of the XAT exam.
- There is no negative marking for the General Knowledge section in part 3. The GK section is not included in the percentile calculation for the XAT exam.
- The Essay Writing section is only calculated if the candidate is shortlisted for further admission rounds.
- All MCQs will have five answer choices with one right answer.
Syllabus
The XAT exam has a syllabus which is very similar to the other MBA exams in India. The only sections solely found in XAT are the Decision Making and Essay Writing sections. Here is a brief outline of the XAT syllabus for all the sections-
| Section | Main Topics |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Vocabulary, Para jumble, Grammar, Fill in the blanks, Analogy, Binary Logic, etc. |
| Decision Making | Data Arrangement, Assumptions, Complex Arrangement, Conclusions etc. |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Caselets, Data charts, Tables, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Economics and Finance, Books, Authors, Constitution of India, Current Affairs, etc. |
Application fee
Sure, here are the application fee details for the XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) exam:
1. For Indian candidates (without late fee): Rs. 1800/-
2. For Indian candidates (with late fee): Rs. 2000/-
3. For foreign candidates and candidates applying through GMAT: Rs. 5000/-
It is important to note that the application fee is non-refundable and can be paid through online mode using credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI.
The application fee for the XAT exam may be subject to change. Candidates should refer to the official notification or website for the latest application fee details.
How to apply
Here are the steps to apply for the XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) exam:
1. Visit the official website of XAT (www.xatonline.in).
2. Click on the “Register/Login” tab and create a new account by providing your personal and academic details.
3. After registering, login using your credentials and fill in the application form with your personal, academic, and contact details.
4. Upload your photograph and signature in the specified format and size.
5. Select the test city preference and choose the mode of payment for the application fee.
6. Pay the application fee using the available payment options.
7. Review the application form and submit it.
8. Take a printout of the application form and keep it for future reference.
It is important to note that the application process for XAT usually starts in the month of August and ends in the month of November. Candidates should check the official website for the latest updates on the application process.