The XAT 2026 dates have been announced and the XAT exam is set to be held on 4th January 2026 as an online computer-based-test (CBT). The XAT applications are expected to open on July 10, 2025 as per official notice, and the candidates must now actively start preparing for the exam. There are total 5 sections in the XAT exam, one of which is XAT essay writing. The essay writing topic is assigned during the interview process, and candidates often find it difficult to frame a properly written essay.
The XAT essay writing section can significantly affect the overall XAT score of a candidate. To help the candidates prepare well for this important essay writing aspect, we have curated this article. This article aims to answer the following questions → how to write and deliver a good essay, mistakes to avoid in the essay, previous year essay topics, and other XAT essay writing tips and preparation material.
What is XAT essay writing?
The XAT essay writing is similar to the Written Ability Test (WAT) conducted by the IIMs, but has certain differences. Unlike WAT, which is given by only shortlisted candidates, the essay writing is mandatory for all XAT taking aspirants. While this essay score is not a part of the percentile score, but affects the overall and final selection process for the candidate. However, this final selection varies from college to college.
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What are the evaluation parameters for XAT essay writing?
the XAT 2026 essay is evaluated on various parameters like clarity of thought, logical structuring of the essay, relevance of the topic, topic understanding and analysis, and more. Tabulated below are the essential parameters on which the XAT 2026 essay will be evaluated and a brief description of these parameters is also provided here.
Criteria | Description |
Proper Indentation of the Essay | Structuring the essay with clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose, helps in organizing thoughts logically and improves readability. |
Candidate's Knowledge of the Topic | Evaluators assess the candidate's understanding by looking for accurate facts, relevant examples, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. |
Innovative Ideas Put Forth by the Candidate | Creativity and originality are crucial. Evaluators seek unique perspectives and new insights that make the essay stand out. |
Attitude Displayed Throughout the Essay | A balanced, positive, and respectful tone is preferred. This demonstrates maturity and the ability to handle differing viewpoints constructively. |
Proper Grammar and Sentence Structure | Correct use of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure is essential for clear and effective communication, showcasing language proficiency. |
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6 XAT exam essay writing tips and strategies
To write a well curated essay for the XAT exam, candidates must know the basics of writing an essay. Given below are a few tips and well-tested strategies on how to write an essay.
Analyze the topic and decide your direction
The first and most important aspect of any essay is to understand the topic of the essay and decide on how you wish to drive it and what direction you want to give it. Since mostly the topics are abstract in nature, you can contextualize them to politics, social issues, or current happening. Once you decide on the context, your job will get much easier. “Try to think of possible topics with the current trending news and have your opinions on it.
Whilst reading the newspaper, think about your opinion on a particular news. Also, think about the points in favor and opposition of that news,” mentions Ravi Prinshu, XAT 2021 topper with 99.85 percentile and XLRI Jamshedpur student.
Jot down the points before writing an essay
The next step is to gather the points. Jot down the points in the proper order that you want to present in your essay. Support your points with the help of facts and figures, examples, etc. The more you can substantiate your points, the better it will be for the evaluation process. “I strongly advise candidates to brush up their vocabulary and practice structured essay writing. It will certainly help in getting your thoughts together and putting them into a structure while writing the essay,” said Farzan Shaikh, another XAT 2021 topper with a 99.94 percentile.
Write a Draft Before Starting the Essay
Prepare the structure and draft essay before starting the actual essay. Do not take more than five minutes for it. Divide your points to be included in the introduction, body, and conclusion. If you prepare the draft, it would be much more convenient for you to pen down the actual essay. You can do the necessary editing and improve the language of the essay.
Structure Your Essay Properly
Make sure that your essay consists of three parts, introduction, body, and conclusion. The essay should be around 200 to 300 words. You can separate the three parts into paragraphs. You can also add specific facts and figures through bullet points. Rishabh Bajpayi, XAT 2021 99.85 percentile shares, "I had decided to structure my essay properly, so I began with an introduction, moved on to the body, tried to illustrate with examples if possible, made my inferences, and reached a conclusion. I found having a basic structure in place helped me write essays faster and they seemed to have a nicer flow."
Keep Track of Time
The duration of the XAT essay is 25 minutes. Keep track of your time so that you do not exceed the time limit. Since Essay Writing would be the last question of the 3-hour XAT paper, save your energy and time till the last 25 minutes. Do not spend over 5 minutes drafting the essay and before submitting, revise the final copy.
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Expected XAT 2026 Essay Topics
Given in the table below are some of the most common XAT topics that can be asked in the XAT 2026 exam. Candidates must note that these topics are based on the past year judgements and may vary in reality.
Category | Expected/Popular XAT 2026 Essay Topics |
Abstract/Philosophical |
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Ethics & Morality |
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Society & Culture |
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Economy & Development |
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Leadership & Governance |
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Top 5 mistakes to avoid while writing the XAT essay
While there are many tips to write a well curated essay, there are certain mistakes that the candidates must avoid. Given in this section are 5 most common mistakes that the candidates make which must be avoided.
- Avoid Using Informal Language: Using slang, casual phrases, or overly informal language can make your essay seem unprofessional. Stick to formal and appropriate language.
- Don't Wander Off-Topic: Ensure that you stay focused on the main topic of the essay. Avoid going off on tangents or including irrelevant information that doesn't support your main argument.
- Avoid Repetition: Repeating the same points or ideas can make your essay seem redundant and poorly structured. Ensure each paragraph introduces a new aspect or perspective on the topic.
- Don't Overuse Complex Vocabulary: Using too many complex words can make your essay hard to read and understand. It's better to use clear, simple language to communicate your ideas effectively.
- Avoid Grammatical Errors: Grammatical mistakes can distract the reader and undermine your credibility. Always proofread your essay to correct any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
How can I prepare for the XAT essay writing section? - Resources
To prepare for the XAT essay writing section, given in this section are a few resources including books and websites that can be used for the essay writing.
Resource Type | Title / Website | Author / Source | Why It Helps |
Book | Descriptive English | S.P. Bakshi & Richa Sharma (Arihant) | Covers essay writing, précis, and comprehension basics with structure tips. |
Book | 151 Essays for UPSC & Other Competitive Exams | Arihant Experts | Includes contemporary and abstract topics with model essays for practice. |
Book | Essays for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations | Pulkit Khare | Focuses on essay structure, logical reasoning, and clarity of thought. |
Book | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | Enhances vocabulary and usage, important for clear and precise writing. |
Book | The Hindu / Indian Express Editorials | — | Daily editorials improve critical thinking, writing tone, and current affairs insight. |
Website | InsideIIM.com | Inside IIM Team | Essay strategies, topper tips, past topics, and writing tricks. |
Website | IMS India - myIMS Portal | IMS India | Includes mocks and structured essay guidance for enrolled users. |
Website | Career Launcher - aspiration.ai | Career Launcher | Essay practice tools, expert feedback, and mock tests. |
Website | MBAUniverse.com | MBA Universe Team | Topic-wise essay tips, sample topics, and current updates. |
Website | ForumIAS / InsightsIAS | IAS Preparation Sites | Offers structured essays on abstract, ethical, and governance-related topics. |
Website | Quora | Community Contributors | Real experiences, sample essays, and essay-related discussions by past XAT takers. |
XAT previous years' essay writing topics
Apart from the resources provided and the tips provided in this section, the candidates can also utilise the previous year XAT essay topics. It is to be noted that the topics given in the past years are valuable and can be repeated in the XAT 2026 exam.
Year | XAT Essay Topic |
2024 | Risk is the Essential Need of the Soul |
2023 | Capitalism and democracy cannot co-exist |
2022 | To be ethical, one has to be uncompromising |
2021 | Essay section not included due to pandemic |
2020 | Technology and Nature are Natural Enemies |
2019 | The Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist? |
2018 | Ethical Practices and Sustainability: Do they co-exist? |
2017 | Globalization and Jingoism always coexist |
2016 | Technology and Nature are Natural Enemies |
2015 | Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply. |
2014 | The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt |
2013 | Corruption is the root cause of economic slowdown in India |
2012 | Government is not addressing the root cause of poverty |
2011 | The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to believe himself fit to exercise it. |
2010 | Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need but not every man's greed |
2009 | The Inherent vice of Capitalism is unequal sharing of blessings and the inherent virtue of Socialism is equal sharing of miseries |
2008 | Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War |
2007 | Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a reality |
2006 | India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products |
2005 | More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities? |
