XAT 2027: exam pattern, sections, marking scheme and important dates

XAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 3 January 2027, from 2 pm to 5 pm, as a computer-based test. Registration on xatonline.in closes on 6 December 2026. The paper has 95 questions in 3 hours: 75 questions on Decision Making, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, and Quant and Data Interpretation in the first 170 minutes, then 20 General Knowledge questions in 10 minutes.

XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur and its score is accepted by XLRI and more than 250 other B-schools. If you are writing CAT, XAT comes about five weeks later, so most of your CAT preparation carries over. The two things that need separate practice are Decision Making and the penalty for leaving questions.

XAT 2027 at a glance

Always confirm dates and the fee on the official website, xatonline.in, before you pay.

Sections and number of questions

There is no fixed time for each section inside Part 1. You can move between Decision Making, Verbal and Quant as you like during the 170 minutes, which means you have to plan your time. The essay that XAT used to have is no longer part of the written test.

Marking scheme: the part most students get wrong

• +1 for each correct answer.
• −0.25 for each wrong answer.
• −0.10 for every unattempted question after the first 8 in Part 1.
• No negative marking in GK. GK marks are not used for the XAT percentile; XLRI uses them later in its own selection.

The unattempted penalty changes strategy. Suppose you leave 20 questions in Part 1: the first 8 are free, but the other 12 cost you 1.2 marks. With five options per question, a pure guess scores 0 on average (one chance in five of +1, four in five of −0.25), which is better than the −0.10 for leaving it once you are past 8 blanks. If you can rule out even one or two options, attempting is clearly better. So read every question at least once, and plan to leave no more than 8 completely untouched.

What each section looks like

Decision Making

Short business and everyday situations (a manager handling a conflict, a company choosing between options, a fairness or ethics question), followed by questions on the best course of action. There are also a few arithmetic-based decision sets. The key is to choose the option that solves the problem for everyone involved and is practical, not the most idealistic or the most aggressive one.

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

Reading comprehension passages (often on philosophy, economics or literature), critical reasoning, para-jumbles, odd sentence out and vocabulary in context. XAT passages are usually denser than CAT's, so reading speed matters.

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers and a couple of data interpretation sets. The questions are typically lengthier than CAT's and some are tricky to set up, so selection matters more than speed.

General Knowledge

Current affairs (mostly the last year) and static GK. Prepare it from your regular newspaper reading in December; do not let it eat into Part 1 preparation.

A five-week plan for CAT takers

1. Week 1 (right after CAT): take one full XAT mock to see where you stand, especially on Decision Making and time management.
2. Weeks 2 and 3: practise 3 to 4 Decision Making sets daily, and review why the right answer is right. Keep one Quant and one Verbal sectional going every other day.
3. Week 4: two full mocks with a fixed plan for the 170 minutes, for example 50 for Decision Making, 55 for Verbal and 65 for Quant.
4. Week 5: revise mistakes and GK. Keep the last two days light.

You can keep your Quant and reasoning sharp with free CAT previous year questions with solutions on Target Campus.

Frequently asked questions

Is there sectional time in XAT 2027?

No. Part 1 gives 170 minutes for Decision Making, Verbal and Quant together. Only General Knowledge has its own 10 minutes at the end.

Is there negative marking in XAT?

Yes, in Part 1: −0.25 for a wrong answer and −0.10 for each unattempted question beyond the first 8. GK has no negative marking.

Does XAT have an essay?

Not in the written test any more. Some institutes may still ask for a written essay at the interview stage.

Can final-year students apply?

Yes. Students in the final year of a bachelor's degree of at least three years can apply, provided they complete the degree by the institute's deadline.

Which institutes accept XAT?

XLRI (Jamshedpur and Delhi-NCR campuses) and more than 250 other B-schools, including XIM University, Bhubaneswar. Check each institute's admission page for its own cut-offs and process.