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May 24, 2023
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XAT Preparation: Check Expert Tips & Strategy
XAT Preparation Tips 2024: The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), is a national-level entrance examination held by the Xavier School of Management (XLRI) every year. Candidates willing to appear for the upcoming exam must have effective preparation strategies. They must be proficient in Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal & Logical Ability, General Knowledge, and Decision Making to perform well in the exam. Hence, we have provided the best tips & strategies on this page.
| Take Free XAT Mock Tests | Take Free XAT Mock Tests |
|---|---|
| XAT Full Length Mock Test 1 | XAT Full Length Mock Test 2 |
| XAT Full Length Mock Test 3 | XAT Full Length Mock Test 4 |
**Steps to attempt free XAT Mock Tests are mentioned below.
It will help them to score high on the Computer Based Test (CBT). A good score will help them get admission to XLRI Jamshedpur as well as other 100+ prestigious institutes. Furthermore, XLRI, XIM, XIME, and XISS use this exam score as a primary screening tool for admission to MBA programmes. Scroll down to learn the best preparation tips.
How To Start XAT Exam Preparation?
Candidates willing to take up MBA programs offered by XLRI institutes must clear the XAT exam. Applicants selected in the CBT are required to take part in the selection process, which involves a Group Discussion (GD) and a Personal Interview. (PI). The performance of candidates during each stage of the recruitment procedure will be taken into account while creating the final merit list.
Six to nine months is ideal for XAT preparation, but the key factor is how many hours one can dedicate per day to test preparation. A minimum of six to eight hours per day is required. To help them with that, we have provided some tips recommended by the experts & toppers in the section below:
Be Well Versed with XAT Exam Pattern
The exam pattern of XAT includes the types of questions, exam duration, marking scheme, mode of exam, name of the conducting body, etc. Check out the detailed exam pattern below:
| Particulars | Exam Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sections | 5 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge and Essay Writing) |
| Duration of exam | 3 hours and 30 minutes |
| Number of questions | 105 |
| Total marks | 105 |
| Language of paper | English |
| Number of answer choices | Five |
| Mode of examination | Online |
| XAT marking scheme | +1 mark for the correct answer – 0.25 marks for incorrect answer – 0.10 marks for more than 8 unattempted consecutive questions No negative marking in the GK section |
Understand the XAT Sectional Composition
While preparing for the exam, the sectional arrangement will let candidates understand the subject-wise marking and the number of expected questions. Check below the sectional composition of the XAT paper:
XAT Sectional Questions Weightage
- Verbal Ability and Logical Ability (VALR): 26 questions.
- Decision Making (DM): 22 questions.
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 28 questions.
- General Knowledge (GK): 25 questions.
XAT Sectional Marks Weightage
- Verbal Ability and Logical Ability (VALR): 26 marks
- Decision Making (DM): 22 marks
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 28 marks
- General Knowledge (GK): 25 marks
Get Hold of the XAT Syllabus
Create a daily schedule and devote six to eight hours to preparing for the exam. Understand the XAT syllabus and create a list of topic-wise strengths and weaknesses. Candidates can check the important topics from the below table:
| XAT Syllabus | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Fill in the Blanks, etc. |
| Decision Making | Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc. |
Refer to Best XAT Study Material
The study material must include the preparation books, the subject’s short notes, and so on. It will help to pass the exam with an excellent score. Before buying the study material, the applicants must make sure whether they are exam-specific or not. Download the XAT exam preparation study material from Embibe to study on the go. Remember that every minute counts.
Solve XAT Previous Year Papers
By solving the XAT previous year’s question papers, the applicants will be able to know the exact question paper pattern. It will allow them to solve the actual exam question papers in a better manner. Aspirants can reap the benefits of solving the previous year’s papers as it helps in optimizing their pace accordingly to solve the maximum number of questions in the real exam. Solving the papers will also boost applicants’ confidence and help them efficiently solve the question paper of the upcoming exam.
Download XAT Previous Year Papers Free PDF
Attempt XAT Mock Tests regularly
The XAT mock tests prepared by top experts are an excellent tool for passing the upcoming exam. It includes the best-selected questions covering all the topics. These mock tests are available online for free on Embibe. It will help applicants to improve their weaker section and `boost their preparation level by getting an Advanced Feedback Analysis report after every test.
How To Attempt Embibe’s Free XAT Mock Test?
Know the steps to take the free XAT mock test series below:
- 1st Step: Visit Embibe’s official website, i.e., embibe.com.
- 2nd Step: Use the mobile number/email to log in.
- 3rd Step: Click on the menu bar “Getting a Government Job”
- 4th Step: Select the Goal “Management” from the Dropdown and click on “Next”.
- 5th Step: Search and Select “XAT” on the search bar and click on “Next”.
- 6th Step: Select the preferred language and click on “Done”.
- 7th Step: Click “Test” from the Header Section.
- 8th Step: Scroll down to the “Subjects” section.
- 9th Step: Click on any XAT subjects.
- 10th Step: Scroll down to click on the chapters from the selected subject to begin the test.
Time Management Tips to Crack XAT Exam
While preparing for the upcoming XAT exam, time management is essential for every applicant. Applicants must manage their time wisely by preparing a timetable according to their work activities. Some time management tips are provided below:
- Practice the questions as per the exam paper pattern strategy. There is no sectional timing in the question paper, so the applicants are advised not to waste their time on a particular section.
- Solve previous year papers, mock test papers, and sample papers to improve the question paper-solving speed.
- Practice solving the questions faster but with accuracy. It can only be possible if the applicant practices solving the questions on a daily basis.
- Focus on solving problems by mental calculations by shortcuts instead of solving them through pen and paper or calculators.
- If candidates get confused with a question, don’t stick to it. Leave that question and move to the next question.
- Keep a stopwatch in front of you and make a target while solving the mock test papers. It will speed up the solving capacity & improve time management skills.
Best Books for XAT Preparation
To prepare for the XAT exam, applicants must refer to the following books recommended by the experts. Find below the list of recommended books:
- How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
- How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
- Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha, Arihant Expert (Author)
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
- XAT XLRI – MBA Entrance exam A/4 by Chandresh Agarwal
Candidates can kick start their preparation by accessing the topper’s recommended XLRI XAT Books on Embibe.
How To Prepare for XAT Decision-Making?
Applicants must concentrate on their managerial and aptitude skills to solve this section in the XAT exam. At the time of solving the questions, they must use their managerial skills without getting biased. This part of the paper includes the most practical questions like general management situation-based questions, financial issues, business management issues, employee management issues, ethical dilemmas issues, etc.
How To Prepare for XAT Verbal and Logical Ability?
This section covers reasoning, vocabulary, and grammar-based questions. The applicants must have a good command of the grammar section to solve this section. As per the last year’s trend, this part will cover the compulsory questions from reasoning skills in the XAT paper.
The following are some strategies to solve this section:
- Applicants must have a good vocabulary.
- Learn all the suffixes and prefixes methods to solve the vocabulary-based questions.
- Have knowledge about the author’s tone used in different passages, such as sarcastic, incendiary, acerbic, humorous, dogmatic, ironical, nostalgic, etc.
- Learn from antonyms and synonyms to solve the verbal and logical ability section.
How To Prepare for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation?
The Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section is covered as per the previous year’s question paper analysis. The main topics covered in quantitative aptitude and data interpretation are number system, probability, number system, P&C, and geometry. Attempt mock tests on Embibe to master this section.
How To Prepare for XAT General Knowledge?
General knowledge Paper mainly consists of current affairs questions. The applicant must read daily awareness business newspapers such as The Statesman and The Financial Express to score good marks in this section. The problems in this section include books and authors, national awards and titles, national events, etc.
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FAQs on XAT Preparation Tips
Some frequently asked questions related to how to prepare for XAT exam are provided below:
Q: What are the sections required to prepare for XAT exam?
A: Candidates have to prepare for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge and Essay.
Q: For how many hours should I study to perform well in XAT?
A: Applicants must study for six to eight hours per day to score well on the XAT examination. Since the capacity of every student varies, they must choose the hours of study that are appropriate for them.
Q: Is XAT tough to crack?
A: Being one of the tough MBA entrance exams, XAT requires hard work and diligence. To crack the test in one go, candidates need to start their preparation seven months before the exam.
Q: Where can I find the best preparation tips for XAT?
A: Candidates can get the best tips for XAT exam from this article.
Q: How should I start preparing for XAT?
A: While preparing for the XAT exam, the applicants are advised to prepare with the preparation books, short notes, and attempt mock test series.
Stay tuned to Embibe for the latest news and updates on how to prepare for XAT Exam.
