XAT Exam Analysis:The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually by XLRI (Xavier Labour Relations Institute), Jamshedpur. It is one of the most prestigious MBA entrance exams in India, primarily for admission to XLRI and over 160 other B-schools across the country.
Here, we have provided a comprehensive analysis of the XAT previous year papers from the last three years to assist candidates in their preparation. This detailed breakdown covers key trends in question types, difficulty levels and sectional weightage. By reviewing this analysis, aspirants can gain valuable insights into the exam pattern, focus areas, and strategic approaches to maximize their scores in the upcoming XAT exam.
The XAT exam analysis from 2022 to 2024 reveals a consistent moderate to high difficulty level, with a focus on assessing analytical, decision-making, and reasoning abilities. The Decision Making section remains a key differentiator in XAT Syllabus, often challenging candidates with complex real-life scenarios.
Verbal Ability has leaned towards reading comprehension and critical reasoning, while Quantitative Ability has featured calculation-heavy, conceptually demanding problems. The General Knowledge section maintains a balance between current events and static GK topics. Over the past three years, strategic question selection and time management have been crucial for scoring well in this competitive exam.
We have provided an in-depth XAT paper analysis of the XAT exam for the years 2022 to 2024 to aid aspirants in their preparation. This analysis covers key aspects such as the overall difficulty level, section-wise distribution, types of questions, and emerging trends in Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Knowledge.
By reviewing this comprehensive XAT exam analysis, candidates can identify important topics, understand the evolving pattern of the exam, and develop effective strategies to improve their performance in the upcoming XAT exam.
The XAT paper analysis 2024 indicates a moderate to high difficulty level, with the XAT decision making questions posing significant challenges as usual. Verbal Ability was assessed at a moderate difficulty, while Quantitative Ability included a mix of tricky and calculation-heavy questions. The General Knowledge section continued its diverse coverage of current events and static topics.
XAT Paper Analysis 2024 | |||||
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per question | Total marks | Suggested time allocation | Good Attempts |
PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A | |||||
Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 1 | 26 | 50-60 | 18-19 |
Decision Making | 21 | 1 | 21 | 45-50 | 17-18 |
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 1 | 28 | 80-85 | 15-16 |
Total | 75 | 75 | 175 | 50-55 | |
PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check | |||||
PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks | |||||
General Awareness | 25 | 1 | 25 | No Negative Marks | 25 |
Essay | The essay will be assessed if the candidate is shortlisted for the interview. |
According to the XAT exam analysis, achieving a 99+ percentile in 2024 required a score of around 34. A score between 23 to 26 correlated with the 90 to 95 percentile range, while scoring around 18 typically aligned with an 80 percentile. This reflects the slightly tougher nature of the XAT 2024 exam compared to previous years. You can also check details XAT score vs percentile 2024Â by the table given below.
Total Percentile | Total Score |
---|---|
99.5 | 36.3 |
99 | 33.5 |
95 | 26 |
90 | 23 |
80 | 18 |
The XAT paper analysis for 2023 showed a moderate difficulty level, with the Decision Making section being slightly easier than in previous years
Verbal Ability included a balanced mix of comprehension and logical reasoning questions, while Quantitative Ability remained challenging, requiring strong conceptual understanding. The General Knowledge section covered both current affairs and static GK.
XAT 2023 Paper Analysis | |||||
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per question | Total marks | Suggested time allocation | Good Attempts |
PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A | |||||
Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 1 | 26 | 55-60 | 18-19 |
Decision Making | 22 | 1 | 22 | 45-50 | 17-18 |
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 1 | 28 | 70-75 | 17-18 |
Total | 76 | 76 | 175 | 52-55 | |
PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check | |||||
PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks | |||||
General Awareness | 25 | 1 | 25 | No Negative Marks | 25 |
Essay | The essay will be assessed if the candidate is shortlisted for the interview. |
This year's XAT exam was comparatively easier than XAT 2024, resulting in a higher score requirement for top percentiles. To achieve a 99 percentile, candidates needed around 46.5 points, while the 95 percentile required a score of 38. Even with a score of 27, candidates could secure a 75 percentile, reflecting the exam’s lighter difficulty this year.
Total Percentile | Total Score |
---|---|
99 | 46.5 |
95 | 38 |
90 | 34.5 |
85 | 32.2 |
80 | 29.2 |
75 | 27 |
The XAT paper analysis for 2022 indicated a moderate difficulty level, with the Decision Making section featuring some complex scenarios.
Verbal Ability was relatively easier, with a focus on reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Quantitative Ability presented tough, calculation-intensive questions, while the General Knowledge section included a balanced mix of current events and static topics.
XAT 2022 Paper Analysis | |||||
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per question | Total marks | Suggested time allocation | Good Attempts |
PART – A (165 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A | |||||
Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 1 | 26 | 55-60 | 17-18 |
Decision Making | 21 | 1 | 21 | 40-45 | 16-18 |
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 1 | 28 | 70-75 | 16-18 |
Total | 75 | 75 | 165 | 48-52 | |
PART – B (25 minutes) No Negative Marks | |||||
General Awareness | 25 | 1 | 25 | No Negative Marks | 25 |
Essay | The essay will be assessed if the candidate is shortlisted for the interview. |
The XAT exam this year was more challenging compared to XAT 2023, resulting in lower scores for the same percentiles. A 99 percentile required a score of 36, while a 97 percentile needed 32.1. Even achieving an 80 percentile demanded a score of 21, reflecting the increased difficulty in the exam.
Total Percentile | Total Score |
---|---|
99 | 36 |
97 | 32.1 |
95 | 29.5 |
90 | 25.6 |
85 | 23.2 |
80 | 21 |
The XAT exam analysis over the past three years indicates a consistent focus on critical thinking, decision-making, and time management skills.
The Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections continue to present varying difficulty levels, with Decision Making acting as a significant differentiator. The General Knowledge section covers a diverse range of topics, requiring a well-rounded preparation approach.
Compared to other MBA schools, XLRI Jamshedpur takes into account the sectional cutoff score from the XAT while choosing applicants for MBA admission.
The exam invigilator in the examination hall will give you a paper if you need it for rough work while taking the XAT 2024.
Yes, the Quantitative Aptitude section in XAT is generally considered difficult, with a focus on advanced problem-solving skills.
No, XAT does not have sectional timing, allowing candidates to allocate time across sections as they prefer.
The raw score in XAT is calculated by adding +1 for correct answers and deducting -0.25 for incorrect ones.
XAT Result 2025, Release Date, Steps To Download, Direct Link
Read BlogXAT Eligibility Criteria 2025, Age Limit, Reservation Criteria
Read BlogXAT Exam Pattern 2025 (Revised): Updates, Structure, Marking Scheme
Read BlogXAT Cutoff's 2025, Expected & Previous Year Cutoff's
Read BlogXAT Syllabus 2025, Download Section-Wise Syllabus PDF
Read BlogXAT Score vs Percentile 2024, Previous Year's Comparison
Read BlogXAT 2025, Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Eligibility
Read BlogXAT Registration 2025, Last Date To Apply For XAT 2025
Read BlogXAT Preparation Books 2025, Best Books To Ace XAT Exam
Read Blog