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    XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF: Section-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Weightage & Best Books

    XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF: Section-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Weightage & Best Books

    Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 17 Jul 2026, 01:36 PM IST

    XAT 2027 Syllabus: Aspirants who are preparing for the XAT 2027 should learn about the XAT 2027 syllabus. The XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) syllabus for 2027 is structured around four key sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Analytical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. To secure a good score in the XAT exam, candidates need to go through all the topics in the XAT syllabus 2027 PDF. In the recent change, XAT removed the essay writing session from the XAT exam pattern. Instead, Analytical Essay Writing will be done only in the GD-PI round. One could expect the same unless any changes are declared on the XAT official website for the XAT 2027 syllabus.
    LATEST: XAT 2027 Registration Link

    This Story also Contains

    1. What is the XAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern?
    2. XAT Syllabus 2027: Overview and Important Topics
    3. XAT Syllabus 2027 in Detail
    4. XLRI XAT Syllabus 2027 (VA & LR)
    5. XLRI XAT Syllabus 2027: QA and DI
    6. XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF
    7. XAT Exam Strategy
    XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF: Section-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Weightage & Best Books
    xat syllabus

    What is the XAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern?

    The XAT syllabus PDF consists of three parts. Looking into the past years' official XLRI XAT syllabus notification, the following five sections.

    • Part 1 for 170 minutes: Questions on VA &LR, Decision Making, and QA & DI

    • Part 2 for 10 min: GK Session

    Download the official XAT syllabus PDF.

    NOTE: XAT scores will consider only marks obtained in Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. Essay writing will be evaluated only for candidates shortlisted for GD and PI

    XAT Syllabus 2027: Overview and Important Topics

    XAT Sections

    XAT Topics

    Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR)

    Critical & analytical reasoning, reading comprehension (including poems & passages), vocabulary, English grammar

    Decision Making (DM)

    Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and informed decision-making

    Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

    Quantitative aptitude, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern maths

    Mock Keyboard Testing

    Candidates will be asked to type, " The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

    General Knowledge* (GK)

    8 questions from static GK and 12 questions from current affairs

    Analytical Essay Writing* (AEW)

    One Essay of 250 words. 3 topics will be given. Candidates need to pick 1. The essay writing will be carried out only in the GD round in XAT 2027.

    XAT Preparation: Resources

    Amity University-Noida MBA Admissions 2026

    Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.

    UPES MBA Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 31st July | Ranked #36 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement

    Is the XAT exam tougher than the CAT?

    Both exams are moderate to difficult and depend on the preparation of the candidates. The syllabus is mostly similar. So, candidates who prepare for CAT can easily attempt the XAT exam too. A timetable to prepare for XAT and CAT together is an ideal tool to prepare for both exams.

    Is there Maths in XAT?

    Well, some sections in the XAT syllabus for the MBA exam do have Maths. However, if one looks at the XAT exam syllabus, it will be clear that the Maths sections are of a high school level and can be easily practised.

    XAT Syllabus 2027 in Detail

    There are 5 XAT sections in the XAT exam. In addition, the XAT syllabus for each section is different. Candidates can know the section-wise syllabus for the XAT exam below.

    XLRI XAT Syllabus 2027 (VA & LR)

    Looking into the past trends, about 26 questions are asked in the Verbal and Logical Ability section of the XAT exam. Most of the questions are on Reading Comprehension, while a few come from Verbal Ability/ Verbal Reading topics. The topics and XAT syllabus for VA and LR are

    XAT Syllabus 2027- Verbal Ability Topics

    Analogy-based on Vocabulary

    Fill in the blanks

    Critical Reasoning/ Inference

    Sentence Correction

    Reading Comprehension

    Para Jumble

    Vocabulary

    Completion of paragraphs/ sentences

    Grammar

    Correct Usage of Words

    Poem

    Paragraph Formation

    Cloze Test

    Synonyms/ Antonyms

    Contextual Meaning of Words

    XAT Reading Comprehension – Types of Questions

    1. Information based

    2. Inference based

    3. Author’s view

    4. True/ False statements

    5. Explanation of words and phrases

    6. Purpose and main idea

    XAT 2027 Mock Test
    Prepare for XAT with confidence! Download the FREE XAT Mock Test eBook featuring exam-pattern questions, practice tests, and expert insights to boost your score.
    Download Ebook

    XAT Syllabus 2027 - Logical Ability Topics

    Clocks & Calendars

    Analogy

    Fact, Inference, and Judgment

    Binary Logic

    Seating Arrangement

    Blood Relations

    Logical Sequences

    Assumption, Premise, and Conclusion

    -

    Recommended books for XAT Verbal and Logical Ability

    The best books to cover the XAT exam syllabus 2027 for the Verbal and Logical Ability section, as recommended by experts, are

    Books

    Author

    Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

    Ajay singh

    Analytical Reasoning

    MK Pandey

    High School English Grammar & Composition

    Wren & Martin

    Word Power Made Easy

    Norman Lewis

    A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

    RS Aggarwal

    Also read

    IBSAT 2026-ICFAI Business School MBA/PGPM 2027

    NAAC A++ Grade | AACSB Accredited | 75,000+ Alumni

    XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2027

    75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools

    XAT Syllabus for Decision-Making

    In the Decision-Making XAT 2027 section, candidates will have to answer about 21 questions in the Decision-Making section of XAT 2027. Their presence of mind and ability to analyse a situation are tested along with their problem-solving skills. Questions that come in this section cover the following topics

    • Complex Arrangement

    • Conditioning and Grouping

    • Data Arrangement

    • Case Lets

    • Decision Making

    Some common topics that may be asked in the XAT DM section

    • Moonlighting

    • Leave policy

    • Recruitment

    • Opening a tea shop

    • Sexual harassment

    • Free food centre

    • Hiring the visually impaired

    • Quantitative DM

    Best Books for XAT Decision Making

    The following books have been recommended by toppers to prepare for the Decision-Making section of the XAT 2027 exam. In addition, past XAT question papers would also help in preparing for this section.

    Name

    Author

    Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers)

    RK Jha

    Target XAT (Past papers and mock tests)

    Disha Publication

    Analytical and Logical Reasoning

    Arihant Publications

    XLRI XAT Syllabus 2027: QA and DI

    Based on past precedent, 28 questions from this XAT portion will be part of the XAT exam pattern. The questions in this section will cover the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, which are a part of the syllabus of XAT, as given below. Logic-based questions and mathematical computations are some areas candidates need to be strong in to crack the XAT exam section. Check below for the XAT quant syllabus and DI topics here.

    XAT Syllabus for QA

    XAT 2027 Syllabus for DI

    Data Tables

    Pie charts

    Data charts

    Graphs

    Bar diagrams

    Data analysis and comparison

    It is ideal if one has the list of books that cover not just the XAT syllabus 2027 but also have practice chapters. A list of such books recommended by experts and toppers is listed below to aid all candidates in their XAT preparation.

    Recommended books to cover the XAT QA & DI syllabus

    Books

    Author

    Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination

    Abhijit Guha

    Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination

    RS Aggarwal

    Data Interpretation for the CAT

    Nishit K Sinha

    How to prepare for Data Interpretation

    Arun Sharma

    XAT General Knowledge Syllabus

    XLRI has specified in the XAT syllabus and paper pattern 2027 that 8 questions will be asked from static GK and 12 questions from current affairs. Candidates need to be abreast of current affairs and what's happening around the country and the world, in addition to having knowledge in topics like History, Economics, Geography, Culture, etc, to name a few. The detailed list of GK topics to learn for the XAT exam is given below.

    XAT GK syllabus 2027

    Static GK Topics

    Science & Technology

    Economics

    Important dates

    Ecosystem and Diversity

    Currencies

    Constitution of India and Laws

    Films

    Capitals

    Books & Authors

    Famous Personalities

    Culture

    Geography

    History

    Heritage, monuments

    XAT syllabus for Current Affairs

    Current Affairs

    Film & Television

    National Issues

    Politics

    Sports

    Business

    Apart from the above-mentioned General Knowledge topics, candidates can also include the following newspapers or magazines while preparing for XAT 2027. They can hone their knowledge of current affairs, both international and national, if they habituate themselves to reading the newspapers.

    XAT Preparation for GK - List of Newspapers and Magazines

    Economic Times

    Manorama Year Book

    The Financial Times

    Competition Success Review

    Business Today

    Business World

    Hindu Business Line

    The Hindu

    Wall Street Journal

    Financial Express

    XAT Syllabus 2027 PDF

    Careers360 has compiled a downloadable XAT syllabus PDF. Candidates can click the given syllabus for the XAT exam link to download the free XAT syllabus PDF. This ebook is an online version that can be referred to anytime from anywhere - on the desktop, on the mobile, thereby aiding students in preparing for the XAT 2027 exam anywhere.
    Must read

    B-Schools Accepting XAT Score - Location-Wise

    XAT Exam Strategy

    1. Check the XAT syllabus for MBA 2027

    2. Understand the XAT exam pattern

    3. Prepare a timetable and start studying

    4. Cement the XAT 2027 preparation using the XAT mock test and sample papers of XAT

    5. Analyse performance and improve in weak areas.

    6. Practice with the XAT previous year question papers

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is XAT tougher than cat?
    A:

    In terms of the difficulty level of the exam, both XAT and CAT are more difficult than other MBA entrance exams.

    Q: What are the subjects in XAT?
    A:

    Xavier Aptitude Test - XAT Syllabus 2027 is divided into 4 sections - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension; Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness. Except for the General Awareness, all the other three are core sections that determine the XAT percentile score as well as XLRI shortlisting criteria.

    Q: What kind of GK is asked in XAT?
    A:

    The key areas were static GK (Economy, Geography, Science and Technology) and Current GK (Business economy, personalities, awards, sports, and miscellaneous).

    Q: What is the weightage of GK section in XAT?
    A:

    The General Knowledge (GK) question will have a total of 20 questions and each question carrying one mark.

    Q: Is there negative marking in XAT exam?
    A:

    Yes, for every incorrect answer 0.25 mark will be deducted in XAT 2027 exam.

    Q: What is the syllabus of XAT 2027?
    A:

    XLRI Jamshedpur has specified the XAT syllabus which includes topics from Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, General Knowledge and Verbal & Logical Ability.

    Q: Is XAT exam easy?
    A:

    Compared with the Common Admission Test (CAT), XAT is a bit more complicated. CAT does not have the Decision-Making section and GK section, but the XAT exam has DM and GK as separate sections.  

    Q: Is XAT and CAT syllabus same?
    A:

    CAT and XAT syllabus has varying sections and topics. CAT does not have a Decision Making and General Knowledge section but the XAT exam has separate DM and GK section.

    Q: What are the key topics covered in the XAT syllabus?
    A:

    The key topics covered in the XAT syllabus are listed below.

    • Verbal and Logical Ability
    • Decision Making
    • Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
    • General Knowledge
    • Essay Writing
    Q: What is the duration of the XAT exam?
    A:

    Candidates will get a total of 180 minutes (3 hours) to solve the entire question paper of XAT 2027. 

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    Questions related to XAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to XAT ?

    The IRMA XAT 2026 cutoff is expected to be in the range of 55 to 60 percentile for ST category candidates. At an XAT score of 47 percentile, it is unlikely to get a PI call for the IRMA MBA admission 2026.

    Assuming the candidate is from the general category with a decent academic profile, sectional scores, and work experience can get PI calls from XLRI, Jamshedpur, XIMB, GIM, Goa, SPJIMR, and more. You can refer to XAT college predictor for more information.

    IMT Ghaziabad XAT 2026 cutoff varies in the range of 85-90+ percentile. You may get a PI call from IMT Ghaziabad, depending on your academic profile and category. For more information, you can refer to the XAT 2026 cutoff .