XAT Syllabus 2021 : XAT exam pattern consists of 4 sections for 100 marks. The Xavier Aptitude Test test will be a computer-based test containing MCQs and NAT questions. Candidates should be aware of the XAT exam pattern and syllabus to plan their preparation for the XAT 2021 exam held by the XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI on 3rd January 2021. XAT exam pattern 2021 has been changed and the candidate should note the changes and prepare accordingly.
XAT Exam Important Dates
Here is a table to show the important dates that candidates will have to remember after they submit their application:
| Description | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Downloading Admit Card | Third Week of December 2020 |
| Date of XAT Exam | 3rd January 2021 (Sunday) |
| Release of Official Answer Key | Second week of January 2021 |
| Result Declaration | Third week of January 2021 |
| Shortlisting for further rounds | First Week of February 2021 |
| GD/PI/WAT | March/April 2021 |
| Final Offer | May 1, 2021 |
| Classes begin | June 1, 2021 |
XAT Exam Pattern 2021
| Sections | No. of Questions | Time Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part – 1 | (Total 75 Questions) | 165 Minutes (No sectional time) | Negative Marking Present for MCQs |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 1/4 | |
| Decision Making | 21 | 1/4 | |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 1/4 | |
| Part – 2 | (Total 25 Questions) | 15 Minutes | No negative Marking |
| General Knowledge | 25 | ||
| Total Questions (Part 1 + Part 2) | 100 | 180 Minutes/ 3 Hours |
Brief Structure
- XAT 2021 will be conducted as a computer-based test.
- There will be 100 MCQ and NAT type questions in total.
- MCQs will have five options for each question from which the test-takers will have to choose the correct one.
- Candidates have to use the virtual keyboard to answer Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
- One mark for every correct answer and there will be negative marking for MCQs of 0.25 for question numbers 1-75.
- The penalty of 0.10 marks per question will be levied if more than 8 questions are left unanswered.
- There will not be any negative marking for questions 76-100, which are General Knowledge Questions.
- The time allowed for the entire test is three hours. 25 extra minutes are allowed to the visually impaired candidate (Scribe) for the first 3 sections.
- To calculate the percentile of test-takers, only the first three sections are considered and the GK section is not considered.
Detailed View
- The time limit was reduced from three-and-half hours to three hours.
- The number of sections was 5 earlier and now it is 4.
- The question paper had subjective type questions earlier, but now the test will have only objective type questions along with NAT questions.
- The total number of questions in both parts together will be 100 instead of 99.
- The essential change is the omission of the essay writing part and introduction of NAT Questions.
- Even though there is no sectional time limit, candidates will be allowed to move to part 2 only after they complete part 1.
XAT Syllabus 2021
Here is an overview of the XAT Syllabus topics covered under each section to help candidates get an idea when they prepare for XAT 2021.
Verbal and Logical Ability
- Poem
- Cloze Test
- Paragraph Formation Questions
- Pronunciation
- Reading Comprehensions
- Grammar
- Sentence Correction
- Vocabulary
- Para Completion
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical interference/Reasoning
- Para Jumble
- Fill in the blanks
- Analog-based on vocabulary
- Statements-Assumptions
The questions in this section will be moderate to difficult based on the previous year.
Decision Making
The questions in this section will be moderate to difficult as per the past trend. This section will have around 7-8 sets of decision-making problems followed by around two to three questions in each set. The total number of questions in this section will be 21 and the questions will be asked from:
- Situational problems
- Analytical Reasoning
- Arithmetic
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
Arithmetic
- Time & Distance
- Profit & Loss
- Percentage
- Equations
- Time & Work
Algebra
- Permutation & Combination
- Functions & Graphs
- Mensuration
- Geometry
- Probability
- Numbers
- Progressions
- Trigonometry
- Polynomials
- Venn Diagram
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Bar Charts
- Scatter Plots
- Table
- Data Sufficiency
- Graphs
This section will have 28 questions from moderate to difficult level as the level of difficulty.
General Knowledge
The questions in this section will be from General knowledge and Current affairs. Candidates can expect the questions from the following chapters:
General Knowledge
- Science
- History
- Business
- Personality
- Geography
- Important Dates
- Films
- Books & Authors
- Currency
- Culture
- National Capital
Current Affairs
- National Issues
- Economics
- Ecosystem & Diversity
- Film & Television
- Sports
- Politics
The marks that candidates secure in this section will not be considered for percentile calculation. However, it is better to keep updated to score well in this section.
XAT Exam Date
Candidates can expect the application process to begin from the third week of August 2020 for the XAT 2021 that is planned to be held on 3rd January 2021.
Date of XAT 2021: 3rd January 2021
XAT Selection Process
- XAT Percentile will be calculated by the score obtained in the first 3 sections and the General Knowledge section will not be considered for percentile calculation.
- Selection will be based on merit in the XAT exam along with second phase of selection.
- XAT 2021 result will be released in the third week of January 2021.
- After the result, the XLRI Jamshedpur will start shortlisting candidates for the final selection round based on the marks they secure in the computer-based XAT exam 2021.
- Candidates shortlisted from the online test will have to get through Group Discussion – Personal Interview – Written Ability Test or PI & WAT or GD-PI. Otherwise, the selection process can have different components as well.
- For candidates, who cannot attend these rounds due to their living in a foreign country, they are allowed to take up these rounds online.
- After these rounds, it is expected that XLRI will release the final list of selected candidates.