The XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a well-known entrance exam arranged by XLRI, Jamshedpur. If you have already prepared for the CAT, you can apply your preparation effectively to do well and get a high score in the XAT exam. In this article, we will discuss a helpful plan to get ready for each section of the XAT 2024 exam and improve your chances of succeeding. Before diving into the preparation strategy, it’s crucial to comprehend the XAT 2024 exam pattern and syllabus. So, let’s begin by understanding the examination pattern.
XAT 2024 Exam Pattern (Based On Last Year)
The XAT exam 2024 pattern consists of two papers, which are shown below.
XAT Exam Pattern (Paper-1)
| Section name | No. of questions | Total marks | Time duration |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 | 165 Minutes |
| Decision making | 21 | 21 | |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | |
| Total | 75 | 75 |
Does XAT Have Negative Marking?
In the XAT paper-1, there will be a deduction of ¼ marks for each incorrect answer. However, candidates will Additionally -0.10 marks are deducted for 8 consecutive or more unattempted answers.
XAT Exam Pattern (Paper-2)
Candidates will have a total of 25 minutes to complete the examination. Furthermore, it is worth noting that there will be no negative marking for Paper 2.
| Name of the section | No. of Questions | Duration |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Essay Writing | 1 | 15Â minutes |
| Total | 100 | 30 minutes |
XAT 2024 Preparation Strategy (Section-wise)
The XAT exam is distinct from the CAT exam. While the subjects covered are mostly similar, the exams themselves have completely different characteristics. However, candidates can make small adjustments to their preparation to succeed in the XAT exam. Now, let’s take a look at a basic preparation plan for the XAT exam:
Divide Your Preparation Plan Into Two Phases
- In the first phase, focus on grasping the basics of all three sections. Dedicate sufficient time to learn and fully comprehend the fundamental concepts. It is crucial to have a strong foundation because, without it, you won’t be able to enhance your mock scores in the later stages of your preparation.
- During the second phase, it is crucial to prioritize taking more XAT mock tests. Keep in mind that XAT is not a test of speed (you will have slightly more than 2 minutes per question). Additionally, there is no sectional time limit for the XAT exam. Therefore, candidates need to adjust their preparation approach to score well. Those who have practised a significant number of standard questions are likely to perform better in the exam. Hence, it is important to take more XAT Mocks to become accustomed to the test format. After each mock test, analyze the time spent on each section and question. Candidates should focus on enhancing their accuracy to improve their performance.
Let us see the section-wise preparation strategy for the XAT exam.
How To Prepare For XAT Verbal And Logical Ability?
The verbal section in XAT is slightly different from the CAT VARC section. The reading comprehension is relatively smaller; however, the questions are of similar difficulty levels. The verbal ability questions are usually from a wide range of topics. Aspirants must refresh their basic grammar since questions from these topics are also tested.
This section of the exam had a few summary questions as well. XAT is also known for poem-based short passages. Therefore, aspirants must practice all the RCs from past year papers to get hold of the section.
How To Prepare For XAT Quantitative Aptitude?
The XAT Quantitative Ability (QA) section has a slight difference compared to the CAT quant section. The questions in XAT QA tend to be a bit longer and require a strong grasp of concepts above all else. As a result, candidates should prioritize strengthening their foundational knowledge. Solving questions from previous year’s papers is an excellent method to become familiar with the types and levels of difficulty of questions in this section. Topics such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Number Systems, and Probability & Combinations are among the many concepts tested. Therefore, it is important for aspirants to dedicate extra effort when revising these topics.
While not as challenging as those found in CAT, the Data Interpretation (DI) questions in XAT can be a bit tricky to solve. These questions often involve a large amount of data and have been known to test basic statistical concepts in previous years. Therefore, it is advisable for candidates to review fundamental statistical concepts, such as variance, standard deviation, and so on, before the exam. This will help them better handle the DI questions and increase their chances of solving them correctly.
How to Prepare for XAT Decision Making?
This section is exclusive to XAT and is often considered the deciding factor of the exam. It presents a distinctive scenario involving business problems, ethical dilemmas, hiring decisions, and more, where candidates need to make a choice. While many candidates acknowledge the importance of this section, only a few are able to adequately prepare for it. However, with proper preparation, this section is not difficult to overcome.
Past XAT papers are one of the top resources for preparing for the Decision Making (DM) section. This section requires extensive practice, so aspirants should aim to solve the DM sets from all the previous XAT papers. Instead of solely focusing on getting the answers correct, the emphasis should be on understanding what makes an option the right choice. Aspirants need to analyze why a particular option is more suitable compared to the others (making relative comparisons). Therefore, the main focus should be on developing the required thinking process.
It’s important to keep in mind that XAT imposes a penalty for skipping questions beyond a certain limit. However, the penalty is not severe, so there’s no need to worry excessively about it. Aspirants should focus on carefully attempting the questions without fear of the penalty.
How to Prepare for XAT General Knowledge Section?
Even though XLRI does not officially consider General Knowledge (GK) scores when issuing calls, they do hold some undisclosed importance in the final selection process. Therefore, aspirants should still prepare for this section to increase their chances of success.
In the GK section, there is no penalty for incorrect answers, similar to the GK section of IIFT. To prepare for this section, aspirants should focus on refreshing their knowledge of current affairs. They can refer to GK compendiums to cover the static GK part of the exam.
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