XAT Exam Pattern 2026; Check Section-wise Weightage and Latest Marking Scheme
XAT Exam Pattern 2026: The candidates preparing for the XAT 2026 exam must check the XAT Exam Pattern 2026. Understanding the paper pattern is crucial for their success in the exam. Check the complete XAT exam pattern and marking scheme here.
XAT Exam Pattern 2026: The Xavier School of Management (XLRI) conducts XAT on behalf of XAMI to select the most suitable students for management education. XLRI releases the XAT Exam Pattern along with the official notification. The exam duration is 3 hours, during which students must answer around 100 questions totalling around 100 marks. Understanding the XAT paper pattern provides insight into section-wise weightage, subjects covered in the paper, and other important details. This knowledge helps candidates devise an effective preparation strategy, enhancing their chances of success.
XAT 2026 Exam Highlights
For over 74 years, XLRI has conducted tests at the all-India level to select the most suitable candidates for management education. XAT, one of the oldest competitive examinations in the country, has consistently evolved with cutting-edge testing methodologies. XAT's multidimensional testing framework is designed to comprehensively assess candidates' aptitude for future business success. XAT scores are utilised by over 160 institutes for admissions.
| XAT 2026 Exam Highlights | |
| Mode | Computer-based mode |
| Sections |
|
| Type of Questions | MCQ |
| Number of Questions | 95 |
| Total Marks | 95 |
| Number of Options | 5 |
| Language of Question Paper | English Only |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
XAT Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme
As per the marking scheme given in the official notification, each correct answer will earn 1 mark, and there is a 0.25 mark penalty for incorrect answers. Moreover, Negative marks will be awarded for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions: -0.10 marks.
| Response | Marks |
| Correct Response | 1 |
| Incorrect Response | -0.25 |
| Unattempted Question | -0.10 marks awarded for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions |
XAT Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Weightage
Here, the candidates can get the section-wise weightage of the XAT 2026 Exam. The paper review is based on student reactions and expert insights will help the candidates to understand the difficulty level of the papers.
| Part | Subject | Number of Questions |
| 1 | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 26 |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
| 2 | General Knowledge (GK) | 20 |
XAT Exam Pattern Over the Years
Until XAT 2021, the exam was structured into four sections: VA & LR, DM, QA & DI, and GK. However, in XAT 2022, the exam pattern underwent a revision that introduced a new section known as Analytical Essay Writing (AEW). After that, the XAT question paper did not see many changes.
| Exam Year | VARC | DM | QA & DI | GK | Essay | Total Questions |
| XAT 2024 | 26 | 21 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 101 |
| XAT 2023 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 102 |
| XAT 2022 | 26 | 21 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 101 |
| XAT 2021 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 102 |
| XAT 2020 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 25 | - | 101 |
Sunil Sharma is an education consultant with over 14 years of experience. He holds an MSc in Mathematics. He has worked as an Subject Matter Expert (SME) at Vriti Infocom Private Limited and Aakash Edutech Private Limited. At Jagran Josh, writes for the Govt exam vertical. He possesses a strong analytical approach that enables him to effectively decode examination patterns, trends, and requirements, helping aspirants access clear and insightful exam-related content.
Sunil has expertise in Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and English, making him a versatile professional in the education and test preparation sector. He has created content for various management exams CAT, XAT and also for exams such as CUET etc
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