How many Questions will get you 99 percentile in XAT 2025?
99 Percentile in XAT 2025 exam is a challenging task that requires a strategic approach. For admission to top XAT colleges, 99 percentile is an aspirational score to target. Over a lakh students give XAT exam every year and only a handful come in top 1%ile.
One of the most common questions among aspirants is, "How many questions do I need to attempt to score a 99 percentile in XAT?" While there's no definitive answer, this blog post will provide insights based on XAT previous year papers and tips to help you maximize your score. We will also discuss XAT 99 percentile study plan for toppers.
XAT Previous Year Score Analysis
Before diving into the number of questions, it's crucial to understand the XAT exam pattern. Like CAT and other MBA entrance exams, XAT has a scoring system that includes both positive and negative marking. This means that for every correct answer, you gain marks, and for every incorrect answer, you lose a fraction of a mark.
Moreover, XAT exam also levy a penalty for leaving questions unattempted over a limit. Negative marking for more than 8 consecutive unanswered questions (0.10 marks deducted)
| Percentile | XAT 2024 Score | XAT 2023 Score | XAT 2022 Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.5%ile | 36.3 | 46.5 | 42 |
| 99%ile | 33.5 | 38 | 37 |
| 95%ile | 26 | 34.5 | 30 |
| 90%ile | 23 | 32.2 | 26 |
| 85%ile | 21 | 29.2 | 23 |
| 80%ile | 18 | 27 | 20 |
Factors Affecting XAT 2025 Percentile
Several factors influence your XAT score vs percentile, including:
- Difficulty Level of the Exam: The difficulty level of the exam varies each year. A tougher exam might require fewer correct attempts for a high percentile.
- Number of Test Takers: The number of test takers also affects the percentile. If more people attempt the exam, the competition increases, and you might need more correct attempts for a high percentile.
- Your Accuracy: Your accuracy in answering questions is paramount. Even if you attempt more questions, incorrect answers will significantly impact your score.
Also Read, XAT Exam Date 2026, Notification, Registration, Exam Fees
Target Number of Questions for 99 Percentile in XAT
While there's no exact number of questions that guarantees a 99 percentile, aiming for a high accuracy rate is crucial. Out of 95 questions, about 75-80 attempts with 70 to 80 percent accuracy is considered a good attempt in the XAT exam. The test takers must strive to attempt 2/3 rd of the total questions in each section for a decent overall score.
Candidates need to strategically reduce the impact of negative marking in the exam, for example there is no negative marking in the GK section so one should attempt all the questions. Secondly, after 8 unattempted questions one will loose 0.1 marks per question so, it makes sense to attempt more in the exam like XAT as compared to CAT where there is no negative marking for unattempted questions. If a candidate scores 95 percentile, they will be in a position to get a good college. Here's a general guideline:
- Aim for 70-80% Accuracy: Strive to answer 70-80% of the questions correctly. This will help you maximize your score and minimize the impact of negative marking.
- Focus on Your Strengths: Identify your strong areas and focus on attempting questions from those sections. This will help you maximize your score without wasting time on difficult questions.
The table given below shows the predicted percentile with respect to expected number of attempts with decent accuracy.
| Target XAT 2025 Score | (Expected) XAT 2025 Percentile | No. of Questions to Attempt |
| 43 | 99.5%ile | 70-72 |
| 39 | 99%ile | 60-65 |
| 32 | 95%ile | 53-57 |
| 27 | 90%ile | 48-50 |
| 25 | 85%ile | 42-44 |
| 23 | 80%ile | 40-42 |
Tips & Tricks to Maximize Your XAT 2025 Score
Here are some tips to help you maximize your XAT score:
- Right Mentorship: With limited time left (approx. 35 days) for the XAT exam, one should go with strategic plan and not make a mistake of covering everything which is really tough. There are certain topics which one needs to cover separately such as XAT decision making. So to save your precious time we launched XAT Crash Course which covers all the topics with day wise achievable plan. It focuses more on XAT decision making which students usually find difficult to clear cutoffs. So don't waste your precious time in looking for courses here and there so enroll yourself in XAT Crash Course and excel in the exam.
- Time Management: XAT is a time-bound exam. Practice time management techniques to allocate time effectively to each section.
- Section-Wise Strategy: Develop a section-wise strategy based on your strengths and weaknesses. Prioritize sections where you can score well.
- Practice Mock Tests: Practice as many mock tests as possible to get familiar with the exam pattern and time constraints.
- Analyze Your Mistakes: After each mock test, analyze your mistakes and identify areas where you need improvement.
- Focus on Decision Making: The Decision Making section is unique to XAT. Practice logical reasoning and decision-making skills to excel in this section.
- Manage Negative Marking: Be cautious about guessing answers. Only attempt questions you are confident about to avoid negative marking.
Conclusion
Remember, the key to achieving a high XAT percentile is a combination of accuracy, speed, and a well-crafted strategy. By following these tips and practicing consistently, you can increase your chances of securing a 99 percentile and getting admission to your dream B-school.
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