The knowledge of general knowledge (GK) included in the XAT exam, although it does not count towards the percentile calculation, is nonetheless important as you get to the final stages of selection at premier B-Schools like XLRI. The exam involves both Static GK such as history, geography, polity and economy as well as Current Affairs involving important national and international events and solid information during the last 6-12 months.
There is no fixed syllabus and therefore preparation for the XAT 2026 General Knowledge section and item types needs to be smart, focused and consistent. Most aspirants do not take this section seriously, even if you get a good score in the GK section, it can have a significant impact during Group Discussions, WATs and Personal Interviews with dozens of others hoping to make it to the B-School they desire. In preparation for GK being a part of XAT students should be practicing, reading, and revising reliable current affairs material such as newspapers and monthly digest and amending a knowledge of Static topics regularly.
Practicing through newspaper reading, monthly current affair digest, revision and study techniques such as online quizzes, mock tests, and topic wise flash cards can build retention and increase accuracy. In this section you want to go beyond being able to recall facts and build an understanding in context. With the right approach and strategy you can efficiently master this section without a large time investment. Taking the GK section seriously can give you that all important advantage in the XAT selection process and in the overall post-XAT selection process.
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XAT Preparation Tips for General Knowledge Section
Candidates can refer to the following table to check out preparation tips for XAT GK section.
Component | Prep Strategy & Tips |
Static GK |
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Current Affairs |
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Practice & Review |
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Time Management |
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XAT General Knowledge Syllabus 2026
The following table contains general knowledge syllabus of XAT 2026.
Category | Topics Included |
Static GK |
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Current Affairs |
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Note: In conclusion, the General Knowledge section of XAT can be approached strategically and systematically, and in a prioritized manner/admission perspective rather than as memorization. If you combine your XAT static GK revision with focused current affairs from the last few months and reinforce both static GK and current affairs by regularly taking quizzes or mock tests, you are able to achieve improved accuracy without over extending your preparation time frames.
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