By: Avantika Bhardwaj on October 29, 2020
XAT 2021 is all set to be conducted on 3rd January 2021 and students appearing for the examination must understand what type of questions are asked and how the question paper is formed. XAT Exam Pattern would help students understand the above-mentioned questions and score well by preparing in the very right direction.
The exam will be conducted in one single session from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and in Computer Based mode. XAT Exam used to be conducted through Paper and Pen based mode until 2017 and from the year 2018, it has been converted into Computer Based Test (CBT). XAT 2021 Exam Pattern would be the fourth computer-based test conducted by XLRI in its history of more than 60+ years.
Since the registration window of XAT 2021 was opened on 12th September 2020 and will remain open until 30th November 2020 and interested students can register themselves on the official website of XAT i.e. xatonline.in.
Know more about XAT Application Procedure
Salient Features of XAT 2021 Exam Pattern:
XAT Exam Mode
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Online i.e. Computer Based Test
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Total Number of Questions
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100
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Total Number of Sections
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4
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Sections
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Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge
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Type of Questions
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Multiple Choice Questions type
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Medium of Exam
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English
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Pattern of Questions
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Each question gives 5 answer Options
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Marking Scheme
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+1 Mark for each correct question
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0.25 Marks deducted for each incorrect answer
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Questions without Negative Marking
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Questions from General Knowledge Section
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Duration of XAT Exam
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3 Hours i.e. 180 Minutes
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Percentile Calculation of XAT 2021
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Only 3 Sections of the exam are considered for marking system
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Sectional Time Limit
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There is no sectional time limit
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Know more about XAT Syllabus
Key Changes in XAT 2021 Exam Pattern
Introducing changes in entrance examination pattern is not frequent and there have been no such changes made to XAT Exam Pattern over the past few years. As per the notification released by XLRI Jamshedpur, there are a few changes introduced in XAT 2021 Exam Pattern. The exam will be conducted in the month of January 2021 and students applying for it must understand the changes introduced in the exam pattern.
Following are the key changes introduced in XAT 2021 exam Pattern:
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Total number of questions has been increased to 100 from 99.
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The conducting authority removes Essay Writing section from XAT 2021 Exam Pattern.
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Exam Duration has been reduced to 3 hours i.e. 180 minutes.
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25 minutes of time will be provided to the visually impaired candidates as extra time to complete the first three sections.
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No extra time for General Knowledge section.
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If a candidate refuses to attempt 8 questions, for each incorrect answer 0.05 marks would be deducted.
Analysis of Last Six Years XAT Pattern
XAT Exam Year
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Total Questions
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Section wise no. of questions
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Difficulty Level
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XAT 2020
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99
|
VARC – 26
DM – 21
QA – 27
GK – 25
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Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2019
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97
|
VARC – 24
DM – 21
QA – 27
GK – 25
Essay Topic – 1
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Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2018
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97
|
VARC – 24
DM – 21
QA – 27
GK – 25
Essay Topic – 1
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2017
|
103
|
VARC – 26
DM – 23
QA – 29
GK – 25
Essay Topic – 1
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Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2016
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114
|
VARC – 28
DM – 23
QA – 33
GK – 30
Essay Topic – 1
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Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2015
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113
|
VARC – 28
DM – 24
QA – 31
GK – 30
Essay Topic – 1
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Moderate to Difficult
|
XAT 2021 Exam Pattern
As per the notification released on the official website of XAT, it can be seen that the exam pattern for XAT 2021 has been revised with a few changes introduced in it. From now on, there will be four sections which used to be 5 in number earlier. There would be a total 0f 99 questions to be attempted in 3 hours i.e. 180 minutes of time.
Candidates appearing for XAT 2021 must note that there is no sectional time limit to attempt the question paper.
The following table depicts the number of questions in each section:
Sections in XAT 2020
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Total Questions
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Time Allotted
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Part 1
|
|
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Verbal and Logical Ability
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26
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No Sectional Time Limit
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Decision Making
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21
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Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
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28
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Total Questions
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75
|
165 Minutes
|
Part 2
|
|
|
General Knowledge
|
25
|
15 Minutes
|
Overall
|
100
|
180 Minutes
|

Highlights of XAT 2021 Exam Pattern:
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The question paper will be divided in 4 sections namely Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
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Total 100 Questions would be given to be solved in 3 hours of time.
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Initial 165 minutes are to attempt the first three sections.
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After completing the first three sections, the candidates can move to the General Knowledge Section and attempt the questions in given 15 minutes.
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Extra 25 minutes would be allotted to the candidates visually impaired.
Detailed XAT 2021 Exam Pattern
As it is already mentioned above that the exam pattern and syllabus for XAT 2021 has been changed and there have been a few changes introduced in the number of questions asked, total time allotted to complete the examination, and the number of sections the question paper is divided into. The changes have been brought by XLRI Jamshedpur, the conducting authority of XAT 2021.
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Candidates must understand what kind of strategy they must use to prepare for XAT 2021.
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They can also download XAT Exam Pattern PDF to get a thorough understanding of how the question paper is designed.
Following are the sections asked during the examination:
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
The total number of questions asked in this section is 28 and the questions are of Multiple Choice Question type. The problems are particularly based upon several topics from Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section.
Following is the list of frequently asked topic:
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Time & Work
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Percentage
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Profit & Loss
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Equations
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Number System
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Clocks
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Geometry
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Algebra
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Mensuration
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Venn Diagram
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Tables
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Bar Graphs
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Line Graphs
Total Number of Questions
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28
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Type
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MCQ
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Difficulty Level
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Moderate to Difficult
|
Decision Making
The section is designed to check students' ability to make decisions. The questions are primarily based upon Short caselets and problems where they are required to make decisions based on the information given to them.
The section consists of 21 questions that are of multiple choice type. There is no sectional limit to complete a section.
Total Number of Questions
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21
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Type
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MCQ
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Difficulty Level
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Moderate to Difficult
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Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning
The section analyzes students' knowledge of English Language and their ability to derive logic from the information given to them. The section generally consists of a total of 26 questions where in 4 Reading Comprehension are given to read and there are total 14-16 questions based on the passages. Besides, there could be 14-16 questions based on the verbal ability. There is no sectional time limit to complete the section.
Following are the frequently asked topics:
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Vocabulary
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Analogy
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Para Jumbles
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Para Completion
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Critical Reasoning
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Statements- Assumptions
Total Number of Questions
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26
|
Type
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MCQ
|
Difficulty Level
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Moderate to Difficult
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General Knowledge
The General Knowledge section has no such pattern or frequently asked topics. The section generally consists of questions from current affairs, business, economics, social issues, sports, constitution of India, and international and domestic affairs.
Total Number of Questions
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25
|
Type
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MCQ
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Time Allotted
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15 Minutes
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Difficulty Level
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Moderate to Difficult
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