XAT Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Cut-Off & Counselling Process

XAT 2017 Syllabus

XAT Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Cut-Off & Counselling Process

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of the most prestigious management entrance exams in India. Conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, it is a gateway to several top business schools in India. If you're planning to appear for the XAT exam, it's crucial to have a solid understanding of the exam syllabus, pattern, expected cut-offs, and the counselling process. This guide will walk you through all of these essential details to help you prepare efficiently for the exam.

XAT Syllabus Overview

The XAT syllabus is designed to test a candidate's aptitude in various areas, including verbal ability, logical reasoning, decision making, quantitative ability, general knowledge, and essay writing. The exam consists of two parts, each focusing on different skills.

Part 1:

Verbal Ability (VA)
- English grammar-based questions
- English proficiency
- Analogy
- Fill in the blanks
- Para-jumble
- Reading comprehension
Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Fact Inference Judgment
- Passage Conclusion
- Statement Argument
Decision Making (DM)
- Conditions and grouping tests
- Data arrangement tests
- Complex arrangements
- Decision making in situations
- Caselets
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)
- Elementary mathematics
- Arithmetic: Number system, ratio and proportion, problems on trains, clock and calendar, mixtures and allegations, unitary method, time and distance, commercial maths (profit and loss, interest)
- Geometry: Triangles, circles, mensuration
- Algebra: Permutation and combinations, sequence and series
- Trigonometry: Heights and distance
- Linear programming
- Coordinate geometry (Cartesian plane and lines)
- Probability
- Caselets, table charts, data sufficiency

Part 2:

General Knowledge (GK)
- Topics include economics, finance, national and international current affairs, and conventional GK.
- Regular reading of GK books, newspapers, and journals will help you prepare effectively.
Essay Writing
- The essay writing section evaluates your ability to articulate thoughts clearly and effectively.
- You'll have to write an essay on an abstract topic within 20-25 minutes, with a word limit of around 300-400 words.
- The essay plays an important role in the final Personal Interview (PI) round, as questions during the PI are often based on the essay.

XAT Exam Pattern

The XAT exam is divided into two parts, and the exam pattern is as follows:

Part 1: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. This part is used to calculate the candidate's percentile score.
Part 2: General Awareness and Essay Writing. This section does not contribute to the percentile score but is crucial for the final selection process.

Key Features of XAT Exam:

The first four sections consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), while the essay writing section is descriptive.
Each question carries equal marks.
There is negative marking for each wrong answer, with 1/4 of a mark deducted.
Candidates must mark answers on the answer sheet by darkening the appropriate oval against the question number.
Sectional cut-offs, in addition to the overall cut-off, are essential for shortlisting candidates.

XAT Cut-Offs

The XAT cut-off refers to the minimum score required to get shortlisted for admissions in XAT participating institutions. The cut-offs vary for different programs and institutions.

Expected Cut-off for XAT:

Institution	VA & LA	DM	QA & DI	Total
XLRI (HRM)	7.5	7	5.5	26
XLRI (BM)	6.5	7	8	28
XLRI (Global)	6.5	7	8	26
XIMB	6.5	7	6	25

XAT Counselling Process

Once the XAT results are declared, the counselling process begins. Shortlisted candidates are invited for the next rounds of the selection process, which may include Group Discussions (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and Written Ability Tests (WAT). The process is conducted online, and candidates are notified of their status based on their XAT scores.

The counselling process follows these steps:

Declaration of Results: Candidates can check their XAT results and download the scorecard from the official XAT website.
Shortlisting for GD & PI: Based on the XAT score, candidates will be shortlisted for further rounds. The shortlist may vary for different institutions.
Group Discussion and Personal Interview: These rounds assess a candidate's communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Final Selection: After the GD/PI process, the final selection list is published. Candidates who qualify for admission will receive further instructions regarding document verification, fee payment, and other formalities.

For expert guidance on the XAT exam and admission counseling, feel free to contact us at:

+91-9770007700
+91-9644440101
+91-7772654321

Conclusion

Preparing for the XAT exam requires a solid understanding of the syllabus, exam pattern, and cut-offs. By focusing on each section and practicing regularly, you can improve your chances of scoring well. Don’t forget the importance of the essay writing and general knowledge sections as they play a vital role in the final selection process.

Good luck with your preparations, and we hope to see you succeed in securing admission to your dream business school!

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