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XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised, Essay Writing Scrapped

The XAT 2025 exam pattern has been changed. According to the latest update, the XAT exam will now be only 180 minutes long. Click here to see what changes have been made to the XAT 2025 exam.
authorImageShivani Kumari9 Aug, 2024
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XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised: XLRI has announced changes to the XAT 2025 exam pattern. This year, the exam will be 180 minutes long. The Essay Writing section has been removed again, just like it was in 2019 before being brought back in 2022. Besides removing the essay section, the number of questions in the General Knowledge (GK) section has also been reduced. However, your performance in the GK section will still be considered during XLRI's selection process.

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised

Earlier, the XAT exam lasted 210 minutes and included an essay writing section, which was evaluated during the PI (Personal Interview) shortlisting. Last year, the GK section had 25 questions, but now it has been reduced to 20 questions. According to the examination body, "these changes are meant to ensure that XAT continues to be a strong and effective way to assess candidates' potential" for admission to XLRI’s management programs.

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised

XAT Part 1 VALR – 26 questions Decision Making – 21 questions QA and DI – 28 questions 170 minutes
XAT Part 2 GK – 20 questions 10 minutes
Total 95 questions 180 minutes
GK To be evaluated during selection process
Analytical Essay Writing To be conducted during selection process
The registration process for XAT 2025 began on July 15, 2024. The exam is scheduled for January 5, 2024, and will take place in 72 cities across India. The exact exam timings will be provided on the XAT 2025 admit card.

What are the major changes in the XAT 2025 exam pattern?

The XAT 2025 exam pattern has undergone significant changes compared to previous years. Here are the major updates:
  • Removal of the Essay Writing Section : The Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) section has been eliminated, simplifying the exam structure.
  • Reduction in Total Questions : The total number of questions has decreased, with a focus on streamlining the exam.
  • Revised Section Distribution : The exam will now consist of four main sections:
    • Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
    • Decision Making
    • Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
    • General Knowledge
  • Marking Scheme Adjustments : The negative marking system remains, with -0.25 marks for incorrect answers and -0.10 marks for unanswered questions after eight consecutive unattempted questions. However, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the General Knowledge section.
  • Overall Exam Structure : The exam will be conducted in an online format, maintaining a total duration of 180 minutes, with additional time for candidates with disabilities.
These changes reflect XLRI's ongoing efforts to adapt the XAT exam to better assess candidates' abilities and streamline the testing process.

How many questions will be there in XAT 2025?

According to the latest XAT exam pattern, XAT 2025 will have 95 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Here's the breakdown:
  • Verbal Ability: 26 questions
  • Decision Making: 21 questions
  • Quantitative Ability: 28 questions
  • General Knowledge (GK): 20 questions
There will be no essay writing this year; it will be part of the selection process instead. It's not required to answer all questions, so focus on solving the ones you can answer correctly, as there is negative marking. During your preparation, concentrate on the chapters with the most questions to meet both sectional and overall cut-offs.

What is the marking scheme of the XAT exam?

The XAT exam is all multiple-choice questions, and each question has the same value. The total score for the exam is 100 points, with each question worth 1 point. The marks are divided as follows:
  • Decision Making: 22 marks
  • Verbal and Logical Ability: 26 marks
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation: 28 marks
  • General Knowledge: 25 marks
Here’s how the scoring works:
  • You get 1 point for each correct answer.
  • 0.25 points are taken away for each wrong answer.
  • 0.10 points are taken away if you leave more than eight questions unanswered in a row.
  • There is no negative marking for questions in the General Knowledge section.
  • Scores from the General Knowledge section are not included in the final XAT score calculation.
  • The Essay Writing score will be considered when shortlisting candidates for interviews.
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XAT 2025 Exam Pattern Revised FAQs

What are the major changes in the XAT 2025 exam pattern?

The XAT 2025 exam has introduced several significant changes. The most notable is the removal of the Analytical Essay Writing section, which was previously part of the exam. Additionally, the total number of questions has been reduced to streamline the test. The revised exam will now feature four main sections: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. The marking scheme has also been adjusted to maintain fairness, with negative marking still in place but no penalties for incorrect answers in the General Knowledge section.

How many questions will be there in XAT 2025?

For XAT 2025, there will be a total of 95 multiple-choice questions. The breakdown is as follows: 26 questions in Verbal Ability, 21 questions in Decision Making, 28 questions in Quantitative Ability, and 20 questions in General Knowledge. Unlike previous years, there will be no essay writing section, which will now be considered only during the selection process.

What is the marking scheme for the XAT exam?

The marking scheme for the XAT exam is straightforward. Each correct answer earns 1 point, while each incorrect answer results in a deduction of 0.25 points. If more than eight questions are left unanswered in a row, 0.10 points are deducted for each of these unanswered questions. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the General Knowledge section, and scores from this section are not included in the final XAT score calculation.

When is the XAT 2025 exam scheduled?

The XAT 2025 exam is scheduled for January 5, 2025. It will be conducted across 72 cities in India. The specific timings of the exam will be detailed on the XAT 2025 admit card, which will be issued to registered candidates.

How long will the XAT 2025 exam be?

The total duration of the XAT 2025 exam will be 180 minutes. This includes 170 minutes for the first part of the exam, which covers Verbal Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation. The second part, focusing solely on General Knowledge, will last for 10 minutes.
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