XAT Exam Syllabus 2026: The XAT Exam syllabus is set by XLRI Jamshedpur. The syllabus for XAT 2026 includes four sections:
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Decision Making
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Verbal & Logical Ability
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
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General Knowledge.
To do well in the exam, candidates need to cover all the topics in the syllabus. In XAT Exam 2026, there will be 95 questions, and there will be no essay writing. General Knowledge will have only 20 questions. The exam will last for 180 minutes. Check out the full XAT 2026 syllabus along with the best books and study materials to help you prepare for the exam.
XAT Syllabus 2026
The XAT syllabus 2026 covers four main sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. These sections test different skills like reading comprehension, business decision-making, math, and current affairs. The exam includes around 95 questions, with no essay writing this year. Preparing well in all these areas is important to score good marks and get admission into top MBA colleges. The syllabus focuses on real-life business cases, analytical reasoning, and general awareness, making it unique and relevant for management studies.
XAT Exam Syllabus 2026 Overview
The topics included in the XAT Exam Syllabus are important, as most questions in the XAT exam come from them. For example, in Quantitative Ability (QA), most questions are asked from Arithmetic. In Verbal and Logical Ability, focusing on Reading Comprehension (RC) passages is crucial for scoring well. During XAT 2026 preparation, make sure to concentrate on the following topics: Candidates preparing to appear for the exam can check the table below that shows the most common topics covered in the XAT syllabus:
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XAT Exam Syllabus 2026 Overview
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XAT Section
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Important Topics
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Verbal & Logical Ability
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Reading Comprehension
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Analogy
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Vocabulary
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Grammar
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Parajumble
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Fill in the Blanks
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Critical Reasoning
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Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
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Arithmetic
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Mensuration
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Geometry
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Percentage
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Algebra
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Mensuration
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Tables
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Data Interpretation
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Decision Making
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Data Arrangement
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Grouping
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Conditioning
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Caselets
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Complex Arrangement
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Premises
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Assumptions
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Conclusions
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General Knowledge
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Science
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Business
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Economy
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Static GK
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Politics
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Sports
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Constitution of India
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XAT Syllabus 2026 for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
The QA & DI section comprises 28 questions that are considered the most challenging in the XAT exam. It assesses candidates' proficiency in handling mathematical problems within time constraints. Candidates require a solid grasp of mathematical concepts and calculations to solve Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation questions. Additionally, candidates are required to learn various shortcuts and tricks to conveniently solve QA questions. The following table shows a detailed syllabus of the XAT QA & DI section:
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XAT QA & DI Syllabus 2026
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Quantitative Ability
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LCM and HCF
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Profit and Loss
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Percentages
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Speed, Time and Distance
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Interest (Simple and Compound)
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Algebra
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Number System
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Permutation and Combination
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Geometry
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Mensuration
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Probability Functions
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Linear Equations
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Venn diagrams
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Complex Numbers
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Quadratic Equations
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Inequalities
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Surds and Indices
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Mixtures and Allegations
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Set Theory
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Logarithm
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Trigonometry
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Binomial Theorem
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Progressions
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Data Interpretation
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Data Tables
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Bar diagrams
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Data charts
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Graphs
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Pie charts
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Data analysis and comparison
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XAT Syllabus 2026 for Decision Making
The Decision Making section makes the XAT exam unique from other management tests. In this section, candidates are presented with passages or sets of information that require logical analysis to find the accurate solution. The XAT question paper typically includes 6-8 decision-making sets, each followed by 2-3 questions, totaling 22 MCQs.
The following table shows the most crucial topics covered in the Decision Making syllabus of the XAT exam:
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XAT Decision Making Syllabus 2026
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Logical Reasoning
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Conditions and Grouping Test
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Decision Making in a given situation
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Caselets
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Analytical Reasoning
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Data Arrangement Test
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Situations
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Complex Arrangement
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XAT Syllabus 2026 for Verbal & Logical Ability
This section of the XAT exam aims to evaluate candidates' knowledge and proficiency in the English language and Logical Ability. Nearly 50% of questions in the Verbal and Logical Ability section comprise English grammar and reading comprehension questions featuring passages on topics like politics, economics, etc. Additionally, the logical ability section covers topics that require deductive reasoning and interpretation. The table below shows the topics included in the Verbal Ability & Logical Ability section:
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XAT Verbal and Logical Ability Syllabus 2026
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Verbal Ability
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English Vocabulary
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Sentence correction
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Jumbled Paragraphs
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Sentence completion
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Paragraph completion
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Contextual usage of vocabulary
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Reading Comprehension
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Literature
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Science & Culture
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Abstract topics
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History & Fiction
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Social and Economic issues
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XAT Syllabus 2026 for Essay Writing
The essay writing test in the XAT exam evaluates candidates' writing ability. Candidates are required to compose a concise and well-structured essay on any one of the given topics. Candidates get around 20-25 minutes to frame their essay. Generally, the essay topics are relevant to current events of international importance. While writing the essay, candidates must ensure that their essay includes a minimum of 200 words.
XAT Exam Pattern 2026
As candidates prepare for the XAT exam 2026, they should understand the exam pattern in addition to the XAT syllabus topics. This approach is crucial to devise a study plan based on the sectional weightage. The following table outlines the revised XAT exam pattern, detailing the number of questions in each section and the marks allocated to them:
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XAT Sections
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Marks Allotted
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No. of Questions
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Decision Making
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22
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22
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QA & DI
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28
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28
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Verbal and Logical Ability
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26
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26
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General Knowledge
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25
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25
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Essay Writing
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Assessed during PI shortlisting
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3 topics (candidates can choose one)
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Total
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100
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100
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XAT 2026 Exam Preparation Strategy
Here are the notable XAT 2026 exam strategies candidates must follow to secure high marks in the exam:
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Thoroughly review the XAT syllabus 2026.
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Comprehend the XAT exam pattern and sectional weightage.
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Regularly revise covered topics to strengthen knowledge and improve memorization.
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Remain consistent throughout the preparation journey to qualify with a high score.
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Establish a study schedule and follow it throughout the XAT preparation.
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Strengthen XAT 2024 preparation and problem-solving skills by utilising XAT mock tests and test series.
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Evaluate performance and focus on improving weak areas.
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Practice with XAT previous year's question papers.
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