Download XAT syllabus PDF 2026, important chapters, and recommended books

Xavier Aptitude Test

Last Date to Apply
05th December, 2025

Ridhima Jindal
Ridhima Jindal

Table of Content

The XAT 2026 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, and General Knowledge. Earlier, the essay writing section was a crucial part of the XAT exam. However, since 2023, the XAT essay writing section is being monitored as a part of the XAT interview process after the XAT result. Therefore, the XAT essay writing section score will not be a part of the candidate's overall score.

The decision making 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 2026: Highlights

Candidates in this section can check and view some important highlights and key aspects of the XAT syllabus 2026.

  • Decision Making: This section is unique to XAT. Questions based on Decision Making require candidates to understand a given business scenario and choose the best solution.
  • General Knowledge: This section is no evaluated for XAT result preparation but at the time of PI shortlisting. Performing well in GK section is equally important.
  • Verbal Ability: This section has one RC in the form of poem. Candidates must practice previous years’ XAT papers to be familiar with types of poem they will have to tackle.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: This section is similar to that of other MBA entrance exams. Arithmetic and Algebra form the major part of it.

Download the XAT Syllabus PDF 2026 here → Click here

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.

Arithmetic & Algebra

Geometry & Numbers

Data Interpretation

Percentage, Profit & Loss

Mensuration, Geometry

Data Tables, Charts

Time, Speed & Distance

Trigonometry, Pure Maths

Bar Diagrams, Graphs

Linear & Quadratic Equations

LCM, HCF, Surds & Indices

Pie Charts, Caselets

Ratio, Proportion, Averages

Logarithms, Variation, Inequalities

Data Analysis

Partnerships, Allegations & Mixtures

Simple & Compound Interest

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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.

Reading-Based

Vocabulary-Based

Grammar & Logic

Reading Comprehension

Synonyms/Antonyms

Sentence Completion

Paragraph Completion

Contextual Vocabulary

Correction of Errors

Jumbled Paragraphs

Word Usage

Fill in the Blanks

How to Prepare for XAT Verbal Ability Section: Topics, Strategy & Books

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. Master your decision-making skills and ace this XAT section → here is how

Reasoning

Situational

Logical Analysis

Analytical Reasoning

Caselets, Grouping

Conditions, Assumptions

Complex Arrangement

Situational Judgment

Conclusion & Decisions

Data Arrangement

Ethics-Based Scenarios

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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. Also check the top 50 GK questions expected in the XAT 2026 exam.

Static GK

Current Affairs

Institutional Topics

History, Geography

Awards, Sports, World Events

Indian Constitution, Government

Business, Politics

Economic Updates

Famous Personalities

How to Prepare for XAT GK Section? Get XAT Preparation Tips & Syllabus for General Knowledge Section

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 2026 exam.

XAT Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates in this section can check the new and updated XAT exam pattern 2026 in this table 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

  • +1 mark for correct answer
  • - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer
  • - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions
  • No negative marking in GK section

XAT Best Preparation Books 2026

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weightage of GK Section in XAT Exam?

The General Knowledge of XAT Exam will consist of 20 questions. 1 mark is awarded for every question answered correctly. Candidates are advised to attempt this section in the end and they should not allot more than 15 minutes to this section.

Is XAT Exam easy?

XAT is one of the toughest MBA Exams after CAT Exam. The only difference is in the sections and topics asked in the paper. CAT Exam does not consist of General Knowledge and Decision Making sections while XAT does.

Is General Knowledge section is considered in XAT Exam?

The General Knowledge section of XAT Exam is not considered for sectional cutoff or XAT Percentile Calculation but it is taken into account at the time of admission.

Is there Essay Writing in XAT Exam?

Yes. The Essay Writing section was omitted from XAT Question Paper in the last year but as per the recent notification, the section will be reintroduced in XAT Exam Pattern.

In how many months I can complete XAT Exam Syllabus?

A proper time duration of six to nine months with rigorous preparation. The minimum time required to complete the Syllabus of XAT Exam is 5 months.

Where can I find the study material for Decision Making section of XAT Exam?

Decision Making study material of XAT Exam is not readily available as this is one uncommon section asked in the exam. The best way to prepare for this section is to go through XAT Previous Year Question Papers.

Are Scatter Points included in the syllabus?

Yes, Scatter Plots are included in the XAT Syllabus 2026 for Quantitative ability and data interpretation. It is to be noted that there is no official format for the XAT syllabus. It is based on the past year’s papers.

Does XAT provide official mock tests?

Yes, XAT offers official mock test. The official XAT mock test is released after the admit cards are issued and is accessible to registered candidates only.

Can I prepare for XAT with the help of CAT study material?

Yes, since the syllabus of XAT and CAT are similar, one can prepare for both exams from the same study material. The candidates will have to study separately only for Decision Making section of XAT as this section is not a part of CAT syllabus.

Where can I find study material for the Decision Making section of the exam?

Since Decision Making section is unique to XAT, study material for the same in not readily available, thus the best source is previous years question papers of XAT exam.

Are the RC passages of XAT exam tough?

Yes, the RC passages of XAT exam are tougher than that of other MBA entrance exams, but if the candidate is in habit of reading English newspapers and journals, they can handle RC passages well.

What is the duration of the exam?

Candidates will get a total of 180 minutes (3 hours) to solve the entire question paper of XAT 2026. This includes the QA, VA, DM, GK, and DI sections.

How many months are required to complete the syllabus for XAT realistically?

Ideally, XAT preparation takes six to nine months, but if candidates have prepared for CAT too, XAT preparation be done in lesser time as one will have to only work on Decision Making and GK topics. Time required to complete the XAT syllabus is minimum three months.

How do I calculate my XAT 2026 score?

Your XAT 2026 score is determined by adding the raw scores obtained in each individual section, with +1 for a correct answer, -0.25 for an incorrect answer, and 0 for unanswered questions.

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