ABOUT XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is considered as one of the difficult MBA entrance exams to crack in India. It is a national-level management entrance exam test conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur, for admission to management programs at XLRI and other XAT participating institutes across the country. In some
| EXAM LEVEL | Post Graduate |
|---|---|
| CATEGORY | NATIONAL LEVEL EXAM |
| CONDUCTING BODY | Xavier School of management- Jamshedpur |
| FREQUENCY OF EXAM | 1 Year |
| VALIDITY SCORE | 1 Year |
| Website | http://www.xlri.ac.in/ |
| Duration | 3 hours |
XAT 2020 IMPORTANT DATES
XAT 2020 will be conducted on January 5, 2020, in online (computer-based) mode.
The registration cum application process for XAT 2019 is expected to begin from the third week of August and continue until the fourth week of November (without late fee) and second week of December (with late fee).
| Event | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start (Target 2020) | 20 Aug, 2019 – 30 Nov, 2019 (Tentative) |
| Application – With late fee | Mode: Online | 01 Dec, 2019 – 09 Dec, 2019 (Tentative) |
| Admit Card | 20 Dec, 2019 (Tentative) |
| Exam | 05 Jan, 2020 (Tentative) |
| Answer Key | 12 Jan, 2020 (Tentative) |
| XAT exam date | 6th January 2019 |
| Answer Key Release | 3rd week of January 2019 |
| Result | 16 Jan, 2020 (Tentative) |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Anyone can take the XAT entrance test. But there are some of the prerequisites which must be fulfilled by the aspirant which are provided below :
| CATEGORY | MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF MARKS |
|---|---|
| GENERAL | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| Schedule Caste (SC) | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| Schedule Tribe (ST) | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| Person with Disability(PWD) Differently Abled (DA) | 45 % or equivalent CGPA |
- The minimum educational qualification for the candidate who is attempting XAT is bachelor degree.
- The final year students or the students waiting for their final results can also fill this form.
- There is no age limit for the XAT
APPLICATION PROCESS
It has around 240 students in the Business Management programme. Almost one lakh students appear for the XAT every year. The XAT score is considered for admission into other colleges as well, which are around 60 in number.
Though the filling of any entrance exam form is not difficult, all you must take some of the precautions while filling the application form. Filling of the XAM application form is not as difficult to climb the Himalaya! All you need to do is:
- Visit the official XLRI website and look for the XAT registration link to fill all your name, address, date of birth, country and all the other necessary details.
- After filling all the details correctly click on “I Agree” and fill the correct CAPTCHA.
- As soon as you submit the necessary details you will get the login credentials (login Id and Password) through SMS and Email on your registered mobile number and mail ID respectively.
- By Clicking on the “Existing User” tab login on the website with the help of your login credentials.
- As soon as you login, fill up the application form by providing the correct personal details, educational qualification, work experience, programmes, Academics and all other which are essential.
- Upload your latest passport size colored photograph and your valid signature as per the given dimensions on the website.
- Upload all the necessary documents
- Select the desired Management college and desired program
(Kindly check the official website for the update)
The students will not be able to make any changes in the application form once the final payment is done. However, the conducting authority provides the provision of changes in some of the details.
| XAT Correction provision |
|---|
| Details which can be corrected | Work Experience, percentage of marks scored, program selected |
As it is one of the most popular tests to get admission in one of the most prestigious colleges of management, there is no as such syllabus for this exam. Yet, the analysis of the last 5 years question papers will help the candidate to know about the exam and its pattern. Here, in this table, we try to summarize the topics based on the last year’s questions asked.
EXAM PATTERN
XLRI is considered one of the premium business schools in India along with IIMs. Through XAT the best of the lot are selected for the final interview. It has very good placement cell through which top companies in India and abroad take part in the selection process. Successful students are placed in premium positions with very good remuneration.
- Quantitative Aptitude
Earlier this particular section was full of high order mathematics problems. But since last year the questions seem little easier. Students who prepare for CAT exam can tackle these questions as well. The cut off mark for BM students is 92percentile and for HR students it is a little less. The questions asked in this section carry different marks for different questions. Students have to be careful in answering them.
- Decision making and Ethical questions
Handling this particular section is many times trickier for students. There are several answers for a single question. Students should understand the subjectivity of the question and choose an answer which is ethical.
To answer questions in this section a book by name 101 ethical dilemmas is a good option. Students can understand the various types of complex questions by reading this book. You have to start answering by eliminating the wrong options. Such strategies will surely help you in preparing for the unexpected questions. This section is more related to common sense. If you are able to comprehend the questions correctly you will arrive at the right answers.
- Verbal ability
This particular section was relatively harder in earlier papers. Now the level has come down a little and students who prepare for CAT can answer them.
EXAM SYLLABUS
As it is one of the most popular tests to get admission in one of the most prestigious colleges of management, there is no as such syllabus for this exam. Yet, the analysis of the last 5 years question papers will help the candidate to know about the exam and its pattern. Here, in this table, we try to summarize the topics based on the last year’s questions asked.
| QUANTITATIVE SECTION |
|---|
| Logarithms | Inequalities | Surd and Indices |
| Time speed distance | Trigonometry | Number System |
| Partnership(Accounts) | Algebra | Geometric Progression |
| Averages | Mensuration | percentage |
| HCF- LCM | Profit and Loss | Work and Time |
| Geometry | In equations quadric and linear equations | Ratio and Proportions |
| Calculus | Geometry | Permutation and combination |
| Sequence series | Age Calculation | Number system, simplification, Average |
The above mentioned are the core subjects. Questions may be asked apart from these.
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (English) |
|---|
| Grammar and usages | Fill in the blanks | Para completion and inference |
| Reading comprehension | Verbal Logic | Para jumbles |
| Antonyms | syllogisms | Sentence Correction |
| Different uses of the same word | Verbal reasoning | Foreign language word used in English |
| Analogies | One word Substitution | Jumbled paragraphs |
| Contextual usages | Idioms | Sentence completion |
| Binary Logics | Line Graph | Combination of Graphs |
| Sets | Logical matching | Seat arrangement |
The above mentioned are some of the important topics.
| DATA INTERPRETATION AND LOGICAL REASONING |
|---|
| Tables | Bars | Line Graphs |
| Caselets | Data Sufficiency | Blood Relations |
| Direction Sense | Series | Venn Diagram |
| Puzzles | Coding -Decoding | proposition |
| Data Arrangements | Clocks and Calendar | Assumption |
| Data Structures | Family Tree |
SELECTION PROCEDURE
The candidates who passed the MAH-CET exam will be selected for the next level by the IIM. The candidates are selected by the different IIMs and the B schools based on their MAH-CET cut off Score. The shortlisted candidate will send the call letters directly to appear for the written Ability test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), group Activity (GA) and personal interview rounds. Each B_SCHOOLS have the different admission criteria.
Courses under XAT –
These are the courses offered by the B Schools:
| PGDM | Post Graduate Diploma in Management |
|---|---|
| PGPEX | Post Graduate Programme for Executives |
| PGPWE | PGP for Working Executive |
| PGDHRM | Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management |
| PGP-UAE | Post Graduate Programme at UAE |
| PGPBM | Post Graduate Programme in Business Management |
| PGPSM | Post Graduate Programme in Securities Markets |
| PGP | Post Graduate Programme |
| EPGPM | Executive Post Graduate Programme |
| PGPEM | Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management |
| PGP-FABM | Post Graduate Programme in Food and Agribusiness Management |
| PGPPM | Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management |
STUDY MATERIAL
| Domain | BOOKS |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha and Published by Tata McGraw-Hill |
| Quantitative Ability | How to Prepare for the CAT Common Admissions Test by Muhamed Muneer, published by Om Books. |
| Quantitative Ability | Arun Sharma’s The Complete CAT Digest, by Tata McGraw-Hill. |
| Quantitative Ability | Arun Sharma’s ‘How to prepare for Quantitative Ability for CAT Published by Tata McGraw Hill. |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Arun Sharma’s How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Trishna’s Verbal Ability And Logical Reasoning For The CAT And Other MBA |
| Verbal and Reading Comprehension | Barron’s Pocket Guide to Vocabulary |
| Verbal and Reading Comprehension | How to Prepare for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
| Verbal and Reading Comprehension | Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
| Verbal and Reading Comprehension | Nishit Sinha’s The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning |
OTHER DETAILS
XAT examination is never based on pre-determination plan. It always surprises the students. And it will remain like this in the coming years as well.
Essay in XAT exam is very important. You have to complete it in 20 minutes and is given at the end of the paper. The topics are usually very tough and many students find it very difficult to answer this part. The essay has to be written in 200 words only. You have to look at the given topic from various perspectives. Then only you can do justice to the essay. Introduction can be given in 50 words.
Main part of the essay can be dealt in 100 words and another 50 words are for a proper conclusion. The language used in the essay should be lucid and simple.
You have to manage the time taken for the test cleverly. You have to attempt three sections in two hours. It is better if you can write the easier questions first and then move to other ones.
Students have to use gather suitable study material. At the same time, too much material also will pose a problem as the student may not devote time to go through the material. Whatever is required has to be carefully planned and students should make it a point to answer all previous years question papers. It gives a fair idea about the type and pattern of questions frequently asked in the exam
