XAT Exam Analysis 2025: Check Section Wise XAT Paper Analysis, Expected Cutoff

XAT Exam Analysis 2025: Check Section Wise XAT Paper Analysis, Expected Cutoff

Edited By Anusha Bhalotia | Updated on Sep 19, 2024 11:07 AM IST | #XAT

XAT Exam Analysis 2025: The XAT exam analysis will be released after the completion of the XAT exam. XLRI Jamshedpur will conduct XAT 2025 on January 5 in online mode in 80+ exam centres across India. As per the reaction of students, the previous year's XAT paper was moderately difficult. Candidates who appear for the XAT 2025 exam can check the overall and sectional XAT exam analysis 2025 and the expected XAT cutoff on this page. The latest overall and sectional XAT 2025 exam analysis is based on the exam difficulty level and feedback of students and experts.
Direct link to fill XAT 2025 registration form

XAT Exam Analysis 2025: Check Section Wise XAT Paper Analysis, Expected Cutoff
XAT Exam Analysis 2025: Check Section Wise XAT Paper Analysis, Expected Cutoff

XAT Exam Analysis 2024(Previous Year)

As per the XAT exam analysis and candidates' XAT review, the overall difficulty level of the previous year's XAT exam was moderate. There were no major changes seen in the XAT exam pattern and there were no technical glitches as well. The XAT question paper pattern was mostly based on the previous year's pattern only. Many students found the QA section to be tricky but the overall paper was doable.

  • VARC: As per the XAT 2025 analysis and students' feedback, the VARC section of XAT 2024 was doable. The questions were asked from the same topics mentioned in the XAT syllabus and were based on the previous year XAT exam pattern only.
  • QA & DI: According to the XAT exam analysis, the QA section of XAT 2024 was a bit on the difficult side and lengthy as well. Many students found the DI section to be doable.
  • DM: The XAT Decision-making section was easy and doable as per the XAT exam analysis and XAT review by the candidates.
  • GK and XAT Essay Writing: Three topics were three topics asked in the XAT essay writing 2024 based on technology and social media. The pattern of GK potion was same as per previous year as well.
Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025

Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024

ISBR Business School PGDM Admissions 2025

250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year

XAT exam pattern 2025 was divided into two parts with the first part consisting of three sections namely, Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision-Making and Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Interpretation. The second part of XAT consisted of GK questions and essay writing.

From last year onwards, the XAT exam duration has been increased by 10 minutes. So this year also, the XAT exam 2025 began at 2:00 PM and ended at 05:30 PM; hence the total duration of the exam was 210 minutes which was 180 minutes earlier. Candidates can check below the past year's XAT exam analysis and XAT expected cutoff.

XAT 2025 College Predictor
Know your chances for getting calls from MBA colleges by using XAT 2025 College Predictor, based on your category, academic profile & XAT expected score.
Try Now

XAT Cutoff 2025 (Expected)

The XAT accepting colleges will release the cutoff marks after the release of the XAT result 2025. Candidates can check the expected XAT 2025 cutoff given below to get and idea of their chances of getting into their desired college.

XAT Cut off Percentile

Previous Year XAT Paper Analysis

XAT exam analysis suggests the exam to be of moderate to high difficulty level. It was pointed to be of higher difficulty level by a few of the XAT aspirants who have appeared in the XAT exam. XAT Quantitative Ability was termed as of moderate to difficult level and the VA section was also moderate in nature with only 2-3 difficult questions.

As far as the Decision-Making section is concerned it was a little hard with many of the questions belonging to ethical dilemmas. The XAT exam timings were also increased by the authorities this year with the XAT exam conducted with a duration of 3 hours 30 minutes.

XAT Exam Analysis: Overall Exam Analysis

Sections

Number of questions

Difficulty level

Part-1

75 Total MCQs(165 minutes with no sectional time limit)

Verbal and Logical Ability

26

Easy to moderate

Decision Making

21

Moderate

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

28

  • QA- easy
  • DI sets- Moderate to difficult

Part-2

25 Total MCQs(15 Minutes)

General Knowledge

25

Easy

Total questions (Part 1 + Part 2)

101


XAT Exam Analysis: Sectional Exam Analysis

How Many Sections Are There As Per XAT Analysis? There are a total of 5 sections in the XAT exam - Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General Knowledge and Analytical Essay Writing. With the conclusion of the XAT exam, we provide the XAT exam section-wise analysis here soon. With relevance to the XAT exam analysis provided by the students who appeared for the last year's XAT, candidates can check the expected XAT sectional analysis as mentioned below.

Verbal and Logical Ability

Question Topics

Number of questions

Difficulty Level

Error correction in sentences

2

Moderate

Fill in the blanks (4 blanks)

2

Moderate to difficult

Para Jumbles

2

Moderate to Difficult

Questions on Critical Reasoning

6

Easy to Moderate

RC Passage on Pleasure in today’s world

2

Moderate to Difficult

RC Passage on Knowledge as Product

3

Moderate to Difficult

RC Passage on Capitalism

3

Medium to Difficult

RC Passage on Culture

3

Moderate to Difficult

Poem on Fire and Ice

3

Moderate to Difficult

Decision making

Question Topics

No. of Qs.

Level of Difficulty

4 Problem sets on Ethics & Dilemma

12

Moderate to Difficult

3 Problem Sets on Business Decision

9

Moderate to Difficult

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Quant DI Topics

Total Questions

Difficulty Level

Arithmetic

7

Moderate to Difficult

Geometry

6

Moderate to difficult

Modern Math

5

Moderate

Algebra

2

Moderate to difficult

Number System

2

Moderate

Table

3

Moderate

Multiple graphs

3

Moderate

Part 2: General Knowledge

Question Topics

Number of Questions

National Events

18

International Events

5

General GK

2

Last year's XAT analysis: Highlights

XAT exam was conducted in online mode and the essay section was included this year with the exam duration increased to three hours and ten minutes. In keeping with the view of the XAT analysis, the important changes that were there in XAT are given below. Also, it must be noted that some of these changes were already introduced in the last year's XAT exam. Here are the changes made to the XAT question paper last year.

  • Essay writing test restored: There was one descriptive question on the Essay Writing test in the revised XAT exam pattern.
  • NAT questions introduced: In accordance with XAT analysis, a new type of Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions has been introduced by XLRI. To answer the NAT questions candidates have to use the virtual keypad appearing on the computer screen and enter the numerical answer.
  • Penalty for Unattempted Questions: Candidates will have to bear the negative marking of 0.10 marks per unattempted question in case the number of unattempted questions exceeds 8.
  • Time duration: Visually impaired candidates were given extra 25 minutes for part 1 of the XAT entrance exam. There was no concession in time for part 2, that is, the GK section. Moreover, the XAT exam total duration is also increased by 10 minutes.
  • Sectional Duration: Candidates got 165 minutes for part 1 of the XAT question paper and 25 minutes for part 2.
ICFAI Business School MBA/PGPM 2025

25+ years of IBS legacy | 9 Campuses

UPES MBA Admissions 2025

Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement | Last Date to Apply: 21st Jan

Quick Links -


Past Year's XAT Exam Analysis by Career Launcher

In terms of difficulty level, XAT 2021 was along similar lines to XAT 2019 & XAT 2018. When it comes to the different sections, DM was of a similar level to XAT 2019/2018 with the XAT 2021 cut-off expected to be around 8.5-9 marks (8-8.5 for XLRI HRM). VALR was also of a similar level to XAT 2019 but slightly easier to read and comprehend.

The sectional cut-off for the section was expected to be around 8-8.5 marks (for both programs). QA was easy but there were a couple of DI sets that were quite tricky with the cut-offs expected to be around 10.5-11 marks for XLRI BM and 9-9.5 marks for XLRI HRM.

Overall, the XAT cut-off for the XLRI BM Program is expected to be 32.5-33.5 marks while the same for the HRM program is expected to be 30-31.

Read more-

Is It Important to Check XAT Analysis?

Yes, it's important to review the XAT analysis. This helps you understand how well you did in the XAT exam and which areas you need to improve on. The analysis provides insights into the overall difficulty of the test, the types of questions asked, and the distribution of scores. This information can guide your preparation for future exams and help you focus on your weak points.

Good Attempts As Per XAT Analysis ( Expected)

XAT cutoff is the minimum mark required by candidates in order to get shortlisted for further selection rounds in XAT participating institutes. The official cutoff of XAT will be released on the website anytime soon. XAT cutoff depends on a number of factors like the total number of candidates appearing in the XAT exam, the difficulty level of the question paper, and the number of seats available for MBA admission.

  • XLRI XAT Cut off for flagship PGDM-BM is expected at 95%ile
  • XLRI XAT Cut off for PGDM-HRM is expected at 93%ile

B-Schools Accepting XAT Score - Location-Wise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the exam date of XAT 2025?

 XAT 2024 exam will be conducted on January 5, 2024.

2. What is the expected XAT XLRI cutoff for PGDM-BM?

 XLRI XAT 2025 Cut off for flagship PGDM-BM is expected at 95%ile.

3. What is the expected XAT XLRI 2025 cutoff for PGDM-HRM?

XLRI XAT 2025 Cut off for PGDM-HRM is expected at 93%ile.

4. Is XAT cut off by XLRI applicable to all XAT accepting MBA colleges?

No, the colleges which accept XAT scores for admission fixed their own cut offs. XLRI cut offs are for admission to that institute only.

5. When is XAT cut off announced?

XAT cut off is announced within a day or two after the XAT result is announced.

6. Is XAT 2025 tough or easy?

As per the previous trends, the difficulty level of the XAT exam is moderate to difficult. 

7. Is the XAT exam difficult?

No, the XAT exam is not a difficult MBA entrance exam conducted for MBA admission. The difficulty level of the XAT exam can vary from year to year based on the exam pattern.

Articles

Upcoming Bschool Exams

Application Date:01 September,2024 - 28 February,2025

Application Date:05 December,2024 - 29 January,2025

Others:22 December,2024 - 24 January,2025

View All Bschool Exams

Certifications By Top Providers

Post Graduation Programme in Digital Marketing
Via Indian Institute of Digital Education
MBA Finance
Via Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Digital Banking Business Model
Via State Bank of India
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
MBA Business Analytics
Via Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Emeritus
 229 courses
Swayam
 219 courses
Coursera
 215 courses

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
Magister Jurisdiction
4 minMar 18, 2023 16:03 PM IST
GMAT Exam Dates 2025: City Wise Test Schedule in India
13 minDec 31, 2024 03:12 AM IST

Questions related to XAT

Have a question related to XAT ?

Admission to MICA's PGDM and PGDM-C programs involves a multi-stage selection process. The final composite score is calculated with the following weightage:

  • CAT/ XAT/ GMAT - 35%
  • MICAT - 25%
  • GE (Group Exercise) - 10%
  • PI - 20%
  • Academic performance (10th, 12th, Graduation) - 5%
  • Extra- curricular - 5%

Your XAT score is 73, performing exceptionally well in MICAT can enhance your chances of being shortlisted for the GE and PI rounds. Specific score requirements for MICAT are not publicly disclosed, focusing on thorough preparation and aiming for high performance in each section will strengthen your application.

Hi,

Based on the previous year analysis, According to your XAT percentile some of the colleges in which there is chances to get a seat are the following

  • NSB Academy, Bangalore
  • Presidency college, Bangalore
  • Myra School of Business, Mysore
  • International School of Management Science, Bangalore
  • Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore
  • Dhruva college of Management, Hyderabad

There are many other colleges and Institute thay offer admission with 43 percentile in XAT. You can predict the colleges using the XAT college predictor tool.

Hope this information will help you

Based on your high academic background (a CGPA of 9.5), you have a strong profile overall. Regarding your XAT score of 32.7 percentile, it's important to keep in mind that different institutes have varying cutoff criteria and selection processes.

XIME typically considers the following criteria for admissions:

  • XAT/ CAT/ GMAT score
  • Academic performance
  • Work experience

Your XAT percentile is on the lower side, getting a direct call for GD/PI from XIME may be unlikely, as they generally prefer candidates with higher percentiles (around 50 or above). However, the fact that you have an excellent academic record can make you a standout candidate in the holistic evaluation process.

Top MBA colleges based on CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT scores include some of India’s best institutions. For CAT, the IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) and FMS Delhi are highly regarded. XAT results in prestigious colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB. SNAP is known for Symbiosis Institutes, such as SIBM Pune and SCMHRD. NMAT scores open doors to NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, and ISB Hyderabad. Each exam has unique eligibility requirements, and their cutoffs vary, so it's important to research the specific criteria and select based on your preferences and strengths.

No, a 10 percentile in XAT is not considered good at all; it is a very low score and would not be sufficient to get into any top-ranked MBA programs, as a generally considered "good" score in XAT is around 90 percentile or above.

You can get only management quota seats if you can afford it or take loan but at this low percentile you might not get good college to get ROI.

Try to give other b schools exam or prepare for next year to get good college so that you can get atleast good package.

Hope it is helpful to you!!

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