Careers360 Logo
XAT 2025 Section Wise Preparation Strategy from Experts and Toppers

XAT 2025 Section Wise Preparation Strategy from Experts and Toppers

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Nov 14, 2024 12:14 AM IST | #XAT

XAT 2025 section wise preparation strategy by experts and toppers - The Xavier Aptitude Test XAT 2025, conducted by XLRI in Jamshedpur, is acknowledged to be distinct from the CAT. and is regarded as one of the most difficult management tests. The exam consists of around 100 questions covering Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, English, Decision Making, and General Awareness, as well as an essay portion. To get a high XAT score, adopt a section-by-section preparation plan established by former toppers and experts. It will be easier to do well if you know what to study and how to respond to various question types. Candidates must also manage their time well for every aspect in order to perform well in the XAT 2025. In this article by career360 we are going to discuss the XAT section-wise preparation strategy, through which candidates can analyze how they can ace the XAT 2025.

XAT 2025 Section Wise Preparation Strategy from Experts and Toppers
XAT 2025 Section Wise Preparation Strategy from Experts and Toppers

Direct link to fill XAT 2025 registration form

A high percentile in XAT can be achieved by knowing the section-wise preparation strategy of previous year's toppers and experts. By knowing what to study and how to handle various kinds of questions from different sections, can perform well in the Xavier Aptitude Test. During preparation, candidates must be clear about how much time they need to allot to every section. Here, we are going to discuss the XAT section-wise preparation strategy, through this candidates can analyze how they can ace the XAT 2025.

Know the XAT Exam Pattern 2025

Be well versed with the XAT exam pattern before starting XAT exam preparation. Through this one will be able to manage their time and by knowing XAT paper patterns one will get to know his or her strong and weak areas. Apart from that candidates will get to know on which section they will have to focus more, so that they can score well and on which section they will need to work less.

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

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

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Section name

Total marks allotted

Number of Questions

Negative marking

Total time

Verbal and Logical Reasoning

75

26

0.25 marks will get deducted for every wrong answer

180 Minutes

Quantitative ability and Data Interpretation

28


Decision making

21

0.10 marks for more than 8 unanswered questions

General knowledge

25

25


Essay
will be evaluated once the candidates get shortlisted for interview
01

XAT 2025 Marking Scheme:

Each question carries one mark and there is a negative marking. For every wrong answer, 0.25 marks will get deducted. However, there is no negative marking in the General Knowledge section.

XAT 2025 Section Wise Preparation Strategy: Topper’s Says

Here we have an opinion of previous year XAT topper Vandan Shah (99.704 percentile) says “This was my second attempt at XAT. Previously I scored 97.1 percentile. I had a call from XLRI BM but couldn’t convert it. So basically I started preparing for XAT exam one year in advance. But you have to be in constant touch and practice as the format and pattern of the test is quite challenging and different from other entrance exams”

He further added, "I used to practice a lot from past year XAT question papers. Apart from that, I followed the rule of giving mocks as much as I could. This helped me track the XAT exam with a good score".

Another topper Satyam Sharma (98.123 Percentiler) shared his section wise and overall preparation strategy of XAT. According to Satyam, preparing for CAT and all other MBA entrance exams gives an added advantage as both CAT and XAT have almost the same level of difficulty and syllabus (except for the Decision-making section in XAT). He says, "I kept my focus on preparing for the Quants and Verbal Section of CAT which itself did the part for XAT." After the CAT was over, I started working on Decision Making questions and along with that, I kept revising the concepts of Quants which I had learned during CAT preparation.

Quick Link-

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

XAT 2025 Preparation Strategy: English (Verbal Ability)

The first section of the XAT question paper is English and is divided into two subsections - Reading Comprehension and English Usage. While preparing one needs to do a lot of reading. While preparing, read at least two reading comprehension passages per day. Those who have good command over Grammar and Vocabulary can ace this section with ease, if not then take help from recommended books, newspapers, read journals and solve XAT sample papers. The Cracking Verbal section totally depends on one who can understand and use of English language.

Best Books for XAT 2025 English Section

Barron’s Dictionary

Word Power by Norman Lewis

High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren, Martin

For RCs, read fiction or nonfiction, different type of pieces, news or article followed by analytical introspection

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis

The Student’s Companion Book by Wilfred D. Best

Quick Links-

GMAT™ Exam

Select test center appointment | Scores valid for 5 Years | Multiple Attempts | Round 2 Closing Soon

GIBS Business School Bangalore PGDM Admissions 2025

Applications Deadline - 20th November 2024 | 100% Placements with 220+ Companies

XAT 2025 Preparation Strategy: Quantitative Ability

Quantitative Ability is one of the toughest sections of any management entrance exam. That is why it is important to get familiar with the type of questions asked in this section. The best part of the QA section is the margin of error is little and sitters are rare. Candidates need to pick their questions wisely because XAT demands one to attempt those questions which one can solve with 100 percent accuracy rate. Same applies for the Verbal Ability and Decision Making section.

Since, in QA section questions are many and time is less. So, it is very important that one should solve the previous years XAT question papers during preparations. Solve at least one XAT question paper and do its analysis and take online mock tests regularly. Through this candidates will improve their ability to the “kind of XAT questions”.

Recommended Books for XAT 2025: Quantitative Ability

Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Test for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma

Data Interpretation for the CAT by Arun Sharma

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha

Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha

XAT Preparation Strategy: Decision Making

Questions will be asked in the Decision making section mainly consisting of problems based on everyday situations and business and candidates may face delima while facing such questions. The best way to avoid such difficulty, candidates should practice from previous years question papers. Questions will be related to issues involving sales, ethical dilemmas and other financial conditions, scenarios of various management issues, revenue of a company and general management. While solving such questions, try to understand the logic behind the answer.

XAT 2025 Books for Decision Making

Target XAT (Past Year Papers & Mock Test); by Disha experts

Analytical and Logical Reasoning by Arihant Publications

Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers); by R.K. Jha

XAT Preparation Strategy 2025: General Awareness

The General Knowledge (GK) section mainly consists of questions based on Static GK and Current affairs. The Static GK will include topics like - Politics, Currency, Culture, Books and Authors, Economics, Environment and Ecology, Film and Television, etc. There are many online sources available online to prepare for the General Knowledge section. If one has a shortage of time for this section, then try to cover the topics through current affairs videos which are available online.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How is verbal ability divided in XAT Exam?

The first section of the XAT question paper is English and is divided into two subsections - Reading Comprehension and English Usage.

2. How many total questions are there in the XAT Exam?

The exam consists of around 100 questions.

3. How to make XAT preparation better?

To improve your XAT preparation, begin by knowing the test structure and the sorts of questions in every section. Regular practice with mock examinations and past papers can help you increase your speed and accuracy. Concentrate on your weak points to ensure that you're strengthening where you need it the most.

4. Which section in XAT exam has no negative marking?

However, there is no negative rating in the General Knowledge portion.

5. Why section - wise preparation is crucial?

Section-wise preparation is essential for XAT since each section of the exam evaluates unique skills. Focusing on each part allows you to better comprehend the questions and practice in the appropriate method. 

Articles

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

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