XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level entrance exam conducted by XLRI (Xavier School of Management) on behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) for admission into various management programs offered by XAMI member institutes. The XAT exam syllabus is as follows:
Verbal and Logical Ability: Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, analogy, sentence correction, para jumbles, critical reasoning, and inference.
Decision Making: Analytical reasoning, situational decision making, and case analysis.
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers, time and work, probability, percentage, profit and loss, data sufficiency, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.
General Knowledge: Current affairs, static GK, and business environment.
Essay Writing: The essay topic for XAT is usually abstract and open-ended. Candidates are required to write an essay of around 200-300 words on the given topic.
It is important to note that the difficulty level of the XAT exam is generally high, and the exam pattern and syllabus may undergo changes from year to year. Therefore, candidates are advised to stay updated with the latest XAT exam pattern and syllabus and prepare accordingly. Additionally, candidates should also practice previous year question papers and mock tests to get a better understanding of the exam pattern and difficulty level.
also read about best XAT Online Coaching in India
@Akshaykumar said:
Should I take XAT even if I am not keen on HR?
Hi Akshaykumar, you definitely should. XLRI started out as a B-school focussing on HR, but their regular MBA in Business Management is also highly ranked, with good faculty and placements. This is probably why the name has been changed from Xavier Labour Relations Institute to Xavier School of Management.
XLRI has very good placements (similar to IIMs) and is well reputed in the corporate sector, because of their long track record, faculty and teaching methodology, student performance, etc. So you should definitely apply to the XLRI BM program.
Additionally, many other B-schools accept the XAT score. You can check out some of the key institutes here - https://mockat.com/infozone/college/top-business-schools/
Do check the institute website as well, as these institutes can always add or remove exams.
@Nitheshraman said:
Do we need to take both CAT and XAT?
Hey Nitheshraman, Even with these differences, we would definitely recommend that you take both CAT and XAT, because:
CAT and XAT are the gateway to premier B-schools. XLRI is considered to be one of the best B-schools in India, and many other highly-ranked B-schools accept the XAT score
The additional prep is largely for DM, for which the month of December would be sufficient
The more exams you take, the higher your chances of getting shortlisted, and then getting selected
Having multiple entrance exams will also reduce your stress levels for the CAT exam, as it won’t be the only exam that you are taking
If you have more questions, you can reach out to us on 9600121800 and attend a Free Session taken by CAT toppers Vignesh and Sanjana. They are IIM Lucknow graduates and take CAT and XAT every year, so they can clarify your doubts.
Hey Anbuchelvan, CAT is conducted by the IIMs, whereas XAT is conducted by XLRI (now Xavier School of Management).
The CAT and XAT syllabus is similar. Both CAT and XAT have VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, but it is called Verbal and Logical Ability in XAT) and QA (Quantitative Ability). XAT also has DI (Data Interpretation) which is clubbed with QA (unlike CAT, which has DILR as a standalone section). The additional sections in XAT are:
Decision Making - small caselets with some information and you need to take a decision based on this
GK - singlet questions based on Static GK, Current Awareness, Business news, International entities, Awards, etc
Essay writing
The XAT percentile is based on VA, QA-DI and DM. GK and Essay are evaluated separately if you clear the XAT percentile cut-offs for XLRI.
XAT exam pattern is different from the CAT exam pattern in the following ways:
XAT exam is for 190 minutes (165 minutes for VA, QA-DI, DM and 25 minutes for GK and Essay)
There is time limit for sections in the initial 165 minutes (except Essay and GK)
All questions are MCQs with 5 options (CAT has 4 options)
All the questions are MCQ questions. The Marking scheme is +1 for correct answers and -0.25 for incorrect answers (except GK). If you leave more than 8 questions unattempted, -0.1 marks will be deduced from the 9th unattempted question onward (e.g., if you leave 10 questions unattempted, you will get -0.2)
XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level entrance exam conducted by XLRI (Xavier School of Management) on behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) for admission into various management programs offered by XAMI member institutes. The XAT exam syllabus is as follows:
Verbal and Logical Ability: Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, analogy, sentence correction, para jumbles, critical reasoning, and inference.
Decision Making: Analytical reasoning, situational decision making, and case analysis.
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers, time and work, probability, percentage, profit and loss, data sufficiency, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.
General Knowledge: Current affairs, static GK, and business environment.
Essay Writing: The essay topic for XAT is usually abstract and open-ended. Candidates are required to write an essay of around 200-300 words on the given topic.
It is important to note that the difficulty level of the XAT exam is generally high, and the exam pattern and syllabus may undergo changes from year to year. Therefore, candidates are advised to stay updated with the latest XAT exam pattern and syllabus and prepare accordingly. Additionally, candidates should also practice previous year question papers and mock tests to get a better understanding of the exam pattern and difficulty level.
also read about best XAT Online Coaching in India
Is there an online calculator provided in XAT?
Hi Akshaykumar, you definitely should. XLRI started out as a B-school focussing on HR, but their regular MBA in Business Management is also highly ranked, with good faculty and placements. This is probably why the name has been changed from Xavier Labour Relations Institute to Xavier School of Management.
XLRI has very good placements (similar to IIMs) and is well reputed in the corporate sector, because of their long track record, faculty and teaching methodology, student performance, etc. So you should definitely apply to the XLRI BM program.
Additionally, many other B-schools accept the XAT score. You can check out some of the key institutes here - https://mockat.com/infozone/college/top-business-schools/
Do check the institute website as well, as these institutes can always add or remove exams.
All the best!
Should I take XAT even if I am not keen on HR?
Hey Nitheshraman, Even with these differences, we would definitely recommend that you take both CAT and XAT, because:
CAT and XAT are the gateway to premier B-schools. XLRI is considered to be one of the best B-schools in India, and many other highly-ranked B-schools accept the XAT score
The additional prep is largely for DM, for which the month of December would be sufficient
The more exams you take, the higher your chances of getting shortlisted, and then getting selected
Having multiple entrance exams will also reduce your stress levels for the CAT exam, as it won’t be the only exam that you are taking
If you have more questions, you can reach out to us on 9600121800 and attend a Free Session taken by CAT toppers Vignesh and Sanjana. They are IIM Lucknow graduates and take CAT and XAT every year, so they can clarify your doubts.
All the best!
Hey Anbuchelvan, CAT is conducted by the IIMs, whereas XAT is conducted by XLRI (now Xavier School of Management).
The CAT and XAT syllabus is similar. Both CAT and XAT have VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, but it is called Verbal and Logical Ability in XAT) and QA (Quantitative Ability). XAT also has DI (Data Interpretation) which is clubbed with QA (unlike CAT, which has DILR as a standalone section). The additional sections in XAT are:
Decision Making - small caselets with some information and you need to take a decision based on this
GK - singlet questions based on Static GK, Current Awareness, Business news, International entities, Awards, etc
Essay writing
The XAT percentile is based on VA, QA-DI and DM. GK and Essay are evaluated separately if you clear the XAT percentile cut-offs for XLRI.
XAT exam pattern is different from the CAT exam pattern in the following ways:
XAT exam is for 190 minutes (165 minutes for VA, QA-DI, DM and 25 minutes for GK and Essay)
There is time limit for sections in the initial 165 minutes (except Essay and GK)
All questions are MCQs with 5 options (CAT has 4 options)
All the questions are MCQ questions. The Marking scheme is +1 for correct answers and -0.25 for incorrect answers (except GK). If you leave more than 8 questions unattempted, -0.1 marks will be deduced from the 9th unattempted question onward (e.g., if you leave 10 questions unattempted, you will get -0.2)
You can get the detailed XAT syllabus and exam pattern here - https://mockat.com/infozone/exam/xat/
Detailed CAT syllabus and exam pattern is here - https://mockat.com/infozone/exam/cat/
Do we need to take both CAT and XAT?
What is the difference between CAT and XAT? Is the syllabus and pattern similar?