New Changes in XAT 2025: Introduction of Scientific Calculator, Duration, Paper Pattern

New Changes in XAT 2025: Introduction of Scientific Calculator, Duration, Paper Pattern

Edited By Alen Tom Shaji | Updated on Nov 29, 2024 06:57 PM IST | #XAT
Ongoing Event
XAT  Application Date : 15 Jul' 2024 - 30 Nov' 2024

XLRI Jamshedpur has introduced certain changes in XAT 2025 such as introduction of the scientific calculator, reducing questions in the GK section, making changes in the XAT exam duration etc. The introduction of scientific calculators in XAT 2025 will be useful for doing mathematical calculations easily. The main advantage of the coming of the XAT scientific calculator is XAT exam takers can attend all the XAT questions and facilitate simplifying the XAT mathematical calculations. XLRI Jamshedpur will conduct the XAT 2025 on January 25, 2025. Read this article to know about the latest changes in XAT 2025, and how the use of a scientific calculator in the XAT exam will impact the performance of students during test day and XAT results.

This Story also Contains
  1. Changes in XAT 2025: Latest Updates
  2. Changes in XAT 2025 Exam Pattern
  3. XAT 2025 Preparation Strategy
  4. XAT 2025 Last Minute Tips and Exam Day Guidelines
New Changes in XAT 2025: Introduction of Scientific Calculator, Duration, Paper Pattern
New Changes in XAT 2025: Introduction of Scientific Calculator, Duration, Paper Pattern

Changes in XAT 2025: Latest Updates

Some of the latest updates in the XAT 2025 exam pattern are:

  • XLRI introduced the scientific calculator to simplify the mathematical calculations during the XAT test.

  • Around 34+ new test cities were added by the officials to attend the XAT 2025.

  • The time duration of the XAT 2025 exam changed from 210 minutes to 180 minutes (170 minutes for the Aptitude Test and 10 minutes for the GK section).

  • The number of questions asked in the GK section reduced from 25 to 20.

  • Removed the essay writing from the XAT written test and the same will be conducted during the XLRI selection process for the shortlisted candidates based on the XAT score.

  • There is no sectional time limit for attending the XAT aptitude test.

Why the introduction of a scientific calculator in XAT 2025?

Launching a scientific calculator for XAT 2025 will make the exam easier for students to score the good percentile in the XAT exam. The main aim of introducing the scientific calculator in the XAT exam is to enhance the efficiency and accuracy in solving complex quantitative problems, which previously required more time and manual calculations. Using the XAT calculator, will speed up the calculations, reduce errors and get more time to focus on other XAT questions to achieve the best XAT score.

How the usage of the XAT 2025 Scientific Calculator will impact XAT exam and XAT results?

The introduction of the XAT scientific calculator will have a good impact on the XAT aspirants approaching the exam and the result, especially in the quantitative aptitude section. How it will impact the XAT result 2025 and the performance of students in the XAT 2025 are discussed below.

  • Improve speed and efficiency in attempting the XAT exam: solving the Quants section complex mathematical problems will help to solve these questions in a short time compared to previous years and get the time to solve other questions efficiently.

  • Improve accuracy: Using the XAT scientific calculator to solve the XAT quant section will generate good attempts and help the XAT exam takers get good scores in XAT.

  • Better performance in XAT complex questions: Solving the mathematical calculations using the scientific calculator will increase the overall and sectional-wise performance of the candidates.

  • Impact on overall and sectional XAT Cut off: XLRI has already set sectional and overall XAT cutoff marks required to get shortlisted for further MBA admission process based on XAT score. Introducing the XAT scientific calculator will be helpful for the candidates to achieve the high percentile in the XAT exam. So, it will be easier for the XAT exam takers to meet the XAT cut-off marks decided by the XAT-accepting institutes.

Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025

Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024

ICFAI Business School-IBSAT 2024

9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR

How will the Scientific Calculator help during the XAT Exam?

XAT scientific calculator handles complex mathematical functions like trigonometry, logarithms, exponents, square roots and statistical calculations like mean, median, mode, standard deviation and regression analysis. It will take less time to solve the XAT quants section, instead of doing it manually. XAT 2025 exam sections can be attempted and completed with the help of the scientific calculator in the XAT exam.

Also Read:

XAT Sample Paper, Topic wise Questions & Solution
Download latest XAT sample papers with detailed solution designed by MBA hitbullseye for the XAT 2025 examination preparation based on latest exam pattern, Topics and their weightage, difficulty level
Download EBook

Changes in XAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is an MBA entrance exam conducted once a year by XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT is accepted by the 600+ MBA colleges for MBA/PGDM admissions 2025. The latest update in the XAT exam pattern is the duration of the test changed from 210 minutes to 180 minutes. The important highlights of the XAT 2025, the XAT marking Scheme and the XAT exam pattern are mentioned in the below table.

XAT Exam Structure

XAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Number of sections

5 Sections along with Mock Keyboard Testing

  • Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR):

  • Decision-making (DM)

  • Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

  • General Knowledge (GK)

XAT exam time duration

180 minutes

Number of questions

95 (VALR:26, DM:21, QA&DI: 28, GK: 20)

XAT total marks

95

Language of paper

English

Number of answer choices

Five

Mode of examination

Online

XAT marking scheme

  • +1 mark for a correct answer

  • - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer

  • - 0.10 marks for more than 8 un-attempted consecutive questions

  • No XAT negative marking scheme in the GK section

XAT 2025 Preparation Strategy

Only 1 month left for the final XAT preparation. MBA aspirants who have done the XAT registration 2025 can read the newspapers daily to improve their language and reading skills. Also, to become aware of current affairs to score a good mark in the XAT exam general knowledge section. Understanding the basics of the XAT exam sections, the XAT mock tests and following the best strategies in solving the XAT question paper will ensure getting the high percentile in the XAT exam.

XAT 2025 Last Minute Tips and Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates who are going to attend the XAT 2025 can check out the simple tips and tricks to get a good score in the XAT 2025 exam.

  • By using the XAT scientific calculator available in the XAT exam window, candidates can simplify the mathematical calculations and use the time to make good attempts in the XAT exam by solving all questions.

  • XAT aspirants can attend the free XAT mock tests and solve the XAT previous year's question papers to get familiar with the XAT exam pattern and question paper.

  • Carry the XAT admit card, ID proof and other required documents while coming to the XAT exam centre. The candidates who fail to provide the important XAT document at the exam centre will not be allowed to take the XAT exam.

ISBR Business School PGDM Admissions 2025

180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 7.5 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham MBA Admissions 2025

NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | AACSB Accredited | Ranked #7th best University | H-CTC 21.90 LPA | Avg CTC: 8.23 LPA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the key differences in XAT 2025 compared to previous years?

The major update in the XAT 2025 compared to the previous year’s XAT exam, the XLRI has added the scientific calculator to the XAT 2025 exam to solve the quantitative section easily without relying on manual calculations. Apart from this, there are no changes in the XAT 2025 exam pattern. 

2. What types of questions will benefit from using the scientific calculator in the XAT exam?

The scientific calculator will help to solve the mathematical questions of the XAT 2025 exam. XAT exam takers can make the complex calculations easier and can focus on the other tougher questions by saving the calculation time.

3. Is a calculator available for the XAT exam?

Yes, XLRI has introduced a scientific calculator to the XAT 2025 exam. The XAT scientific calculator will be available to solve the mathematical problems asked in the QA and DI sections.

Articles

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Queen Mary University of London, London
 Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
 Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
 Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
 Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB

Questions related to XAT

Have a question related to XAT ?

Hello,

Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:

Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.

MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.

Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.

Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.

XAT scores are valid for 2 years hence you can easily download it again Visit the official website of XAT 2025 i.e xatonline.in. and then Click on 'scorecard' tab.login with your credentials XAT ID and password type the security text shown on screen. Click on candidate scorecard and download a PDF copy of the same hope it helps.

Hello

Here is the list of colleges you can get with 68%ile

JIMS Rohini Delhi
IMT Hyderabad
SOIL Institute of Management
Jaipuria Institute of Management Jaipur
Jaypee Business School
Dayananda Sagar Business School Bangalore
NSB Academy Bangalore
NDIM New Delhi

Hello Aspirant

Seeing your marks, it is evident you are good in academics. Thus, you can get into a good MBA college but mind you, it won't be easy because there are thousands of students who are as good as you, if not better. MBA colleges do not choose candidates solely based on academic performance, although it has a big weightage in their selection process. They test your presence of mind, intellect, and communication skills through Group Discussions and Interviews.

The safest way to get into a good MBA college is to score 96-97+ percentile and do really well in GD and  PI. Top MBA colleges in India are IIMs, XISS (Ranchi), TISS, Delhi School of Business, and Symbiosis.

Hope this helps

Hello Aspirant

Congratulations on your score, There are many good B schools at 80-85%ile in CAT and XAT
1)Great Lakes, Chennai
2)IRMA
3) Goa Institute of Management
4) NIBM
5) TAPMI
Do your research about these colleges as to what is their average package, the roles offered.

Colleges like NIBM specialize in Finance, and IRMA has a lot of sales marketing Roles. So ultimately the choice is yours which specialization you want to pursue.

View All
Marketing Director

A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services. 

4 Jobs Available
Business Development Executive

A Business Development Executive (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets. 

A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.

3 Jobs Available
Content Marketing Specialist

Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.

3 Jobs Available
Sales Manager

A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan. 

The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.

2 Jobs Available
Business Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.

In a business analyst  job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts. 

2 Jobs Available
Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable. 

A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.

2 Jobs Available
SEO Analyst

An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns. 

2 Jobs Available
Digital Marketing Executive

Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.

2 Jobs Available
Back to top