The XAT 2026 exam is an MCQ based paper that the candidates need to solve in a limited time-frame. XLRI has released the new XAT Pattern and as per the XAT 2026 pattern the question paper is divided into 2 phases. The first phase will consist of MCQ questions from Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making & Data Interpretationfollowed by the third phase which is the General Knowledge questions. It is to be noted that PwD candidates are given 20 extra minutes to attempt the exam.
Each section in the XAT exam has about 20-28 questions with 5 multiple choices. Candidates will need to choose the correct option among them. The essay writing will now be administered during the GD/PI process and not as a part of the XAT 2026 exam. Read all about the XAT Exam Pattern including marking scheme, total marks, number of questions, and the changes made in the exam pattern over the years.
Is the XAT exam pattern changed for XAT 2026 exam? Read here to know
Changes introduced in the XAT exam pattern 2026
This year, for XAT 2026, XLRI has introduced some new changes in the exam. Refer to these changes below.
- There will beno sectional time limitin XAT 2026 and only an overall limit
- Candidates can toggle between sections
- Number of XATtest cities is 103this year
- Candidates can selectonly2 test cities in the XAT application form
- XAT applicationfee remains unchanged
Check XAT results here
XAT Exam Pattern Highlights
Some changes were made in the XAT exam pattern 2 years ago, and the mock keyboard testing and essay writing were introduced. The time limit of the exam was also then increased from 180 to 210 minutes. However, as per the new XAT pattern released by XLRI for 2026, the essay section has now been omitted as a part of the exam, and will be administered during the GD/PI process. This also reduces the XAT time limit again, from 210 to 180 minutes. Check the new XAT 2026 exam Pattern below.
XAT Exam Structure | XAT Exam Details |
Number of sections | 4 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge) |
XAT time limit | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
Number of questions | 95 |
Total marks | 95 |
Number of answer choices | Five |
Mode of examination | Online |
XAT marking scheme |
|
Section-Wise XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The XAT question paperwill have 95 questions in total this year, and the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section carries the most weightage. Though it is not mandatory to solve and attempt all the questions, the candidates should try to solve all the questions to improve their chances of getting a higher score. The essay section is not a part of the exam this year. Check the Weightage for each section in the XAT exam in the diagram below.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern - Sectional Breakup
Given below is the detailed sectional breakup for the XAT 2026 exam. XAT 2026 exam pattern has been changed by XLRI this year, and it is similar to XAT 2018 exam pattern where essay writing was scrapped. However, the GK questions have been reduced from 25 to 20. Candidates are requested to go through the new pattern for better understanding.
XAT Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
Decision Making | 21 | 21 |
Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 |
General Knowledge | 20 | 20 |
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern - Phases & Time-Wise Breakup
Each section in the XAT exam Pattern is allotted a certain time. The XAT exam has 3 phases - QADI, VALR, and DM, followed by Mock Keyboard Testing, and finally GK and Essay writing. Check the time allotted to each section in the table below.
XAT Division | Sections | Total Questions | Time Allotted |
Part 1 | Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 170 minutes |
Decision Making | 21 | ||
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | ||
Part 2 | General Knowledge | 20 | 10 minutes |
Total | - | 95 | 180 minutes |
XAT 2026 Pattern - What is the XAT Marking Scheme?
While the XAT Exam pattern is almost similar to other exams, the XAT marking scheme is slightly different for the exam. Check the key points of the XAT Marking Scheme below.
- 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer
- 0.25 marks are deducted for incorrect answers
- 0.10 marks are deducted for 8 or above consecutive unattempted questions
- No negative marks are given in the GK section
- GK scores are not considered for calculating the XAT percentile and XAT result
- Essay is not marked and is evaluated only at the time of Personal Interview (PI) round
Changes in the XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years
The XAT exam has not seen many changes in the last 8 years. The XAT essay writing section was scrapped in 2018, but was reintroduced in 2022. Candidates can take a look at the at the table comparing the XAT exam pattern and difficulty level of the exam from 2014 - 2024.
XAT Exam Year | Total Number of Questions | Section-wise number of questions | Marking Scheme | Level of Difficulty |
XAT 2025 | 95 |
|
| Expected to be Moderate |
XAT 2024 | 100 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2023 | 100 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2022 | 100 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2021 | 100 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2020 | 100 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2019 | 99 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2018 | 97 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2017 | 97 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2016 | 103 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2015 | 114 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT 2014 | 113 |
|
| Moderate to difficult |
XAT Preparation 2026
XAT preparation includes understanding the complete syllabus, exam patter, test structure and marking scheme. Candidates must refer to the books recommended by the experts to enhance their preparation. Below mentioned are a few key tips to prepare for the XAT exam.
- Understand the XAT exam pattern and syllabus in detail
- Spend time to analyze your strong topics and the topics where you need the most improvement
- Prepare a study schedule and a preparation plan as per your needs and ensure to study at least 6-8 hours a day
- Solve as many sample papers as possible and see which questions you find the most difficult to solve. Work on them and practice more questions from that section.
- Solve mock tests and time yourself. Since XAT is a time-based exam, it is crucial to have a good writing speed and strong problem-solving skills
- Analyze your mocks and understand what questions you were able to solve and what questions you were not able to solve. Practice those questions where you need improvement
- Prepare short notes or flashcards of important topics like theorems, formulas, facts etc. This will help at the time of revision
- Refer to good study material, but ensure that you do not follow too many books for one section as it might confuse you. Stick to the book which you think is best for you.
- Try to gain hands on a book that has solved practice tests and sample papers so that you can practice questions with ease.
You may also go through the below articles for XAT preparation Purpose.
XAT Preparation Resources | ||
XAT Mock Tests
XAT Mock Tests are a great way to enhance your preparation for the exam and they help you in analyzing your strong and weak points. Candidates appearing for the XAT exam should solve as many mock tests as possible. These mock tests will help the candidates understand the kind of questions that are asked in the exam. Below linked are a couple mock tests which the candidates can solve.
*XAT Mock Test Source: Shiksha.com
Benefits of Solving the XAT Mock Tests
Solving the XAT mock tests 2026 can greatly impact an aspirant's performance. Given below are some benefits of the XAT mock tests.
- Helps in understanding the exam pattern in detail
- Attempting mock tests gives the applicants an opportunity to get an exam like experience and understand the level of the actual XAT exam
- Helps in analyzing the weak areas and gives the students a deep insight into their preparation level
- Students can score their mock tests as per the XAT marking scheme, and see how much can they score in the actual exam
- The mock tests should be taken seriously as it can break or make a student's future
- Mock tests also help in improving your speed, accuracy, and problem-solving skills because the pressure level is same as the exam level
