Planning to take XAT 2026 to get into XLRI or other top B schools? The Xavier Aptitude Test is one of India’s most important MBA entrance exam options and a key management entrance exam alongside CAT and SNAP. To score well, you must clearly understand the XAT total marks, the latest XAT exam pattern, and the unique marking scheme.
This guide is designed as a subpage of Mockat’s main MBA entrance exams pillar and will help you decode the XAT exam so you can make smarter, informed decisions about your preparation and college targets. For structured XAT preparation, you can also use Mockat and its XAT‑style mock tests and related practice.
Key highlights of the XAT 2026 exam pattern
XLRI has retained the overall XAT exam pattern 2026 very similar to 2025: a single CBT paper with four sections and a total of 95 questions.
Key highlights (XAT pattern at a glance):
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Mode: Computer‑based test (CBT)
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Total exam duration: 180 minutes (3 hours) –
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Part 1: 170 minutes (VALR + DM + QA & DI)
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Part 2: 10 minutes (GK only)
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Total number of questions: 95 (all MCQs with five answer choices)
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Total marks / XAT total marks: 95 (1 mark per question)
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Sections (section wise):
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Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR)
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Decision Making (DM)
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
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No fixed sectional time within Part 1 – you can freely move between VALR, DM and QA & DI during the 170 minutes
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A separate 10‑minute window for the GK section only
Essay writing section: The analytical essay writing component has moved out of the CBT and is now evaluated during group discussion / personal interview (GD‑PI) rounds.
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Overall, the XAT 2026 exam pattern punishes both random guessing and excessive skipping, so strategy matters as much as raw knowledge.
XAT 2026 total marks & section‑wise exam structure
Officially, XAT 2026 has 95 questions and 95 marks across four sections, with three sections in Part 1 and GK in Part 2. The table below table outlines the XAT exam structure and section wise weightage.
XAT 2026 exam pattern – section‑wise overview
Important: Only the 75 marks from VALR + DM + QA & DI contribute to your XAT scores and XAT percentile. GK is evaluated separately in the selection process.
XAT 2026 marking scheme & negative marking
The official XAT marking scheme has a special twist: it penalises both wrong attempts and too many unattempted questions.
XAT 2026 marking scheme – part‑wise
|
Part |
For each correct answer |
For each incorrect answer |
Unattempted beyond 8 |
Counts for percentile? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Part 1 – VALR, DM, QA & DI |
+1 |
–0.25 (negative marking) |
–0.10 per extra question skipped after the first 8 |
Yes – forms your XAT score & percentile |
|
Part 2 – GK section |
+1 |
No negative marking (a wrong answer here doesn’t reduce marks) |
No penalty |
No – used only in GD‑PI |
What this marking scheme means in practice:
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Every correct answer in Part 1 adds +1.
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Every incorrect answer in Part 1 costs –0.25, so random guessing is risky.
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Leaving up to 8 questions unattempted is safe; from the 9th unattempted onward, the XAT exam applies a –0.10 penalty per question.
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You should attempt all GK questions, since there is no penalty and general knowledge GK still matters in final shortlisting.
A good attempt strategy must balance accuracy vs attempts, especially in DI‑heavy sets and tricky DM caselets.
VALR: Verbal & logical ability in XAT
The VALR area of the XAT exam has 26 questions and tests both verbal ability and logical thinking. Officially it is called Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, but many guides call it verbal and logical ability.
Question types typically include:
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Multiple reading comprehension passages (including poem or cartoon‑based sets)
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Para jumbles and para completion
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Grammar & vocabulary (idioms, analogies, sentence correction)
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Critical reasoning and ability and logical reasoning style questions
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Short cloze tests
This section checks how well you read dense text, interpret arguments and structure thoughts logically. It is central to the XAT syllabus and the broader XAT exam syllabus for 2026.
Tips:
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Make RC practice a daily habit – at least 2–3 passages.
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Analyse options to see why one is the correct answer; this builds intuition for DM as well.
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Track your performance section wise in VALR‑focused mock tests.
DM: Decision Making section
The DM section is what makes the XAT entrance exam stand out from many other MBA entrance exams. You’ll see short caselets with present scenarios drawn from personal and professional lives: HR conflicts, ethical dilemmas, resource allocation, marketing decisions and more.
These caselets often encompass critical reasoning, basic data reading and qualitative judgment. They test:
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Your critical thinking
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Your ability to make fair, informed decisions
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Your ethical orientation
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Your practical logical ability
Historically, the XAT question paper has had 5–7 DM caselets with several questions each. 1
How to prepare:
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Solve past DM sets and try to justify each chosen option in writing.
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Focus on options that balance all stakeholders, not just profit.
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During the exam, use the flexible sectional time limit inside Part 1 to revisit tough DM sets after an initial pass.
QA & DI: Quantitative ability and data interpretation
The QA & DI area of the XAT exam is widely seen as the most challenging, especially for non‑engineers. XAT 2026 has 28 questions in this section.
It combines:
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Quantitative ability:
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Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern maths
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Data interpretation:
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Tables, graphs, charts, unconventional DI sets requiring insightful analysis
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In many resources this block is named Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation or simply quantitative aptitude and data skills, and exam guides talk about quantitative ability data interpretation or “QA‑DI”.
You’ll face:
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Standalone QA questions
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DI sets, including heavy data interpretation arithmetic
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Mixed aptitude and data interpretation problems
Because there is no strict per‑section timer, you can accidentally overspend time here. With 28 questions, QA & DI alone is a big chunk of the total number of questions, so balance is critical.
Preparation ideas:
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Master core quantitative aptitude first, then move to mixed QA‑DI sets.
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Regularly practise data interpretation QA DI sets under time pressure.
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After every set, convert the tables/graphs into a clear interpretation in your notes; this improves speed and accuracy together.
GK section: Static GK & current affairs
The GK section has 20 questions, a separate 10‑minute slot and no negative marking.
According to the official blog and XAT notes:
8 questions are from static GK
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12 focus on current affairs
The general knowledge current affairs mix is wide: economy, business, politics, sports, science, awards, international organisations, etc.
Although GK does not influence your XAT percentile, colleges use these gk questions during the final selection process along with group discussion, essay writing and personal interview performance.
How to approach GK:
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Read a good newspaper + monthly general knowledge capsules.
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Maintain separate notes for general knowledge GK (static) and current affairs.
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Always attempt every GK question – there is no downside.
XAT syllabus 2026 – section wise snapshot
The official XAT 2026 blog clearly lays out the XAT exam syllabus across four areas. XAT Online+1
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
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Reading comprehension, including poems and cartoons
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Vocabulary, analogies, sentence completion
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Grammar and usage
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Critical reasoning and logical reasoning
Decision Making
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Business and HR dilemmas
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Fairness, ethics, prioritisation
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Multi‑stakeholder situations mirroring real personal and professional lives
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
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Quantitative ability: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern maths
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Data interpretation: tables, charts, graphs needing quick comparisons
General Knowledge
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General knowledge of Indian & world economy, polity, geography
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General knowledge current affairs from the last 8–12 months
Covering this XAT syllabus thoroughly gives you a strong base for all four sections.
XAT scores, percentile & cut‑offs
Only Part‑1 marks (VALR + DM + QA & DI) form your XAT scores. These are normalised and converted into a XAT percentile.
Most institutes define a minimum cutoff scorehttps://mockat.com/ and percentile in their admission policies. For XLRI and many other b schools, the XAT 2026 benchmarks are likely to remain in the 90–99+ percentile range depending on programme and category.
Remember:
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GK doesn’t affect your percentile but is used later in the selection process.
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Strong scores in decision making and QA‑DI often differentiate admits to top programmes.
XAT vs other MBA entrance exams (CAT, SNAP etc.)
Compared with any other MBA entrance exam, XAT is more reasoning‑heavy and slightly less speed‑driven. It combines DM, high‑level DI and full general knowledge testing, making it a well‑rounded management entrance exam.
Quick comparison table
|
Feature |
XAT 2026 |
CAT 2024/25 |
SNAP 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sections |
VALR, DM, QA & DI, GK |
VARC, DILR, QA |
English, Quant + DI + DS, Analytical & logical reasoning |
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Total number of questions |
95 |
66–68 |
60 |
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Exam duration |
180 mins (exam duration: 170 + 10) |
120 mins with strict sectional time limit of 40 mins/section |
60 mins, no sectional timing |
|
Marking scheme |
+1, –0.25, –0.10 after 8 unattempted; no negatives in GK |
+3, –1; no penalty for unattempted |
+1, –0.25; no penalty for unattempted |
Because of the DM and GK focus, XAT 2026 is excellent training for your real‑world career, not just for cracking B‑school entrances; it builds decision‑making you’ll use in your personal and professional lives.
Selection process after the XAT exam
Clearing the XAT exam is step one. Most institutes that accept XAT scores follow a multi‑stage selection process:
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Shortlisting – based on overall and section wise performance, XAT scores and XAT percentile.
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Group discussion / group exercise – evaluates communication, leadership, and awareness of business & current affairs.
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Personal interview – checks clarity of goals, depth of general knowledge, and fit with the institute.
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Essay writing – many institutes conduct a brief essay writing section or WAT to test structure, logic and language.
Your performance across GD, personal interview, group discussion, GK and essay often matters as much as your written XAT exam score.
XAT preparation strategy for 2026
A solid XAT preparation plan should combine concept building, targeted practice and exam‑like mock tests.
1. Start with pattern & syllabus
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Revisit the XAT 2026 exam pattern and xat marking scheme so you know the number of questions, exam duration, and penalties.
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Map the XAT exam syllabus topics in each section and plan a 10–12 week schedule.
2. Build section wise fundamentals
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VALR: Strengthen verbal ability and logical reasoning through RCs, para jumbles and critical reasoning.
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DM: Practise previous year sets, focusing on ethical, balanced decisions.
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QA & DI: Drill core quantitative aptitude and data topics, then attempt mixed quantitative ability data interpretation sets.
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GK: Daily reading for current affairs plus weekly revision of static GK.
3. Take mock tests and do insightful analysis
Platforms like Mockat’s XAT mock tests simulate the real XAT paper pattern and xat test pattern closely and offer deep analytics. Mockat+1
After each mock:
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Track attempts and accuracy in each section – spot where an incorrect answer cost you heavily.
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Check how many questions you left unattempted and ensure you don’t get penalised for too many unattempted.
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Rework DM cases and tough DI sets until you can see why the official option is the correct answer.
4. Don’t ignore GD‑PI & essay writing
As XAT’s analytical essay writing now lives in GD‑PI rounds, build a habit of writing 1–2 essays a week and practising mock personal interview and group discussion rounds. This will help you convert your XAT 2026 exam performance into a final admit at leading B‑schools.
How Mockat helps with XAT exam preparation
At Mockat, our XAT‑focused course and mock tests are aligned with the latest XAT exam pattern 2026 and XAT 2026 exam pattern announced by XLRI. Mockat+2Mockat+2
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Exam interface, difficulty level and sectional time limit behaviour match the official paper.
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Detailed section wise reports show how you performed in VALR, DM, QA & DI and the GK section.
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You get feedback on every wrong answer, time spent, and comfort with different question types, along with targeted related exercises to fix weak areas.
Using these tools, you can fine‑tune your attempt strategy, improve accuracy under negative marking and maximise your XAT 2026 outcome.
FAQs on XAT total marks & exam pattern
1. What is the XAT 2026 total marks and number of questions?
The XAT 2026 exam has 95 questions carrying 95 marks in total (1 mark per question). XAT Online+2Collegedunia+2
2. How long is the XAT exam (exam duration)?
Total exam duration is 180 minutes: 170 minutes for VALR + DM + QA & DI, plus 10 minutes for GK. XAT Online+
3. How does negative marking work?
In Part 1, you get +1 for each correct answer, –0.25 for each incorrect answer, and –0.10 for every extra unattempted question beyond the first 8. There is no negative marking in GK.
4. Are GK marks counted for the XAT percentile?
No. GK affects the selection process (GD‑PI and essay writing) but does not affect your XAT percentile.
5. Which institutes accept XAT scores?
Over 250 B schools across India accept XAT scores, including XLRI Jamshedpur and several other top institutes.
Use this guide, along with quality practice and smart analysis, to make the most of the XAT exam pattern and convert your performance into a dream B‑school admit.
