The XAT 2025 Syllabus is given and set by XLRI. The syllabus is same as last year, and includes topics from Quantitative Aptitude, Decision making, Logical & Verbal Ability, General Knowledge, and Essay Writing. Essay Writing was re-introduced as a part of the exam in 2023 by XLRI Jamshedpur.
The decision making, essay writing, and general knowledge sections make the XAT exam difficult to crack as compared to the other MBA exams. The candidates require a different skill set to ace these sections and the overall XAT exam. This page covers the entire XAT exam syllabus and the weightage each part carries along with the reference books.
XAT Syllabus Highlights
Refer to the below table to check the important highlights of the XAT Exam Syllabus.
| XAT Sections | Number of Questions | Format | Negative Marking |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 28 | MCQ | Yes |
| Logical & Verbal Reasoning | 26 | MCQ | Yes |
| Decision Making | 22 | MCQ | Yes |
| General Knowledge | 25 | MCQ | No |
XAT Exam Pattern
To understand the XAT syllabus, it is also important for the applicants to understand the XAT 2025 Exam Pattern. Refer to the below table to check the XAT Exam Pattern 2025.
| 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 Exam Pattern Highlights
| 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 |
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XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation
The XAT Quant and DI Syllabus is vast and often considered the most difficult section. The section has 28 questions with a negative marking scheme. Candidates are advised to go through the section thoroughly and check the syllabus given below.
Topics Covered - QA & DI | ||
| Percentage | Tables and Caselets | Linear and Quadratics Equations |
| Profit and Loss | Probability | Surds and Indices |
| Ratio and Proportion | Critical Path | Inequalities |
| Variation | Averages and Partnerships | Logarithms |
| Time and Work | Alligations and Mixtures | Numbers |
| Time, Speed and Distance | Algebra | Mensuration |
| LCM and HCF | Simple and Compound Interest | Geometry |
| Pure Maths | Venn Diagram | Trigonometry |
| Data Tables | Data Charts | Bar Diagrams |
| Graphs | Pie Charts | Data Analysis |
XAT Syllabus for Logical & Verbal Reasoning
The VALR sections assesses the candidates on English & Grammar skills. The questions are asked from Reading Comprehension and grammar based knowledge. Check the complete syllabus below. The section covers 26 questions in total.
Topics Covered - Verbal & Logical Ability | ||
| Reading Comprehension | Fill in the Blanks | Antonyms/Synonyms |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | Contextual Usage of Vocabulary | Correction of Errors in Sentence |
| Word Usage | Sentence Completion | Paragraph Completion |
XAT Syllabus for Decision Making
The DM section is a complex section and the questions are based on case studies. Candidates need to improve their critical thinking and problem solving abilities. The syllabus and topics covered are given below.
Topics Covered - Decision Making | ||
| Analytical Reasoning | Logical Reasoning | Complex Arrangement |
| Data Arrangement | Caselets | Conditions and Grouping |
| Situations | Assumptions | Decision Making |
XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
For the GK section there is no defined syllabus and the candidates can refer to the below table to check the syllabus for the GK section.
Topics Covered - General Knowledge | ||
| Awards and winners | History and Geography | Static GK |
| Business and Politics | Constitution of India | Personalities |
| Government and Economy | World Events | Current Affairs |
XAT Preparation Tips
Preparing for the XAT exam can be overwhelming and requires a lot of dedication. The best way is to start as early as 6 months before the exam, so that all the topics can be covered and the candidates have enough time to revise the syllabus. The last few days should be dedicated to tracking the progress made, and solving mock tests. Below are the links to help you prepare for the XAT 2025 exam.
| XAT Preparation Tips and Techniques | |
| XAT Preparation Tips | XAT Study Material |
| XAT 2025 Preparation | Best Books to prepare for the XAT exam |
| How to prepare for XAT in 6 months | How to prepare for XAT in 3 months |
XAT Best Preparation Books 2024
Finding the right books to prepare for the XAT exam with no specific syllabus is crucial. It is important to choose the right books and at the same time it is also essential to not follow too many different books for a single subject. Below is the list of a few best books to prepare for XAT exam.
| Book | Author/Publisher |
| High School English Grammar | Wren and Martin |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Ajay Singh |
| 9th and 10th Grammar Books | - |
| A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri |
| Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations | RS Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
