Cracking XAT 2019

XAT, the last big entrance test of the academic season is here and like last year, it will be a computer based online test. This year, so far, XAT has not revealed much about the exam pattern apart from the sections. For a change this year there will not be any essay writing. Assuming every other thing remains same as last year let us have a brief on the format of the exam, before delving deep into the sections.

  • XAT exam tests students on Verbal Ability, Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude, GK.
  • The total duration for the test is 3 hours and students are allowed to switch between the sections and also have access to entire question paper like a written test.
  • The number of questions last year were 72; comprising 24 questions on VA, 21 on DM and 27 on QA.
  • Last year, there was a negative marking of 1/4th of the marks allotted for every incorrect attempt incorrectly. Also, there was a limit to the questions which one can leave unanswered. One can leave 12 questions unanswered, beyond which every unanswered question will attract a penalty of -.05 marks. This year there is no clarity whether this marking scheme will be followed.

In what other sense is XAT different from CAT??

  • There is no sectional time limit and sections can be attempted in any order.
  • There is no online screen calculator.
  • And of course there are the sections of DM and GK (More on it later)

How to tackle the differences:

The biggest difference to tackle is the penalty on the unanswered questions.  However, according to me candidates should not worry about it. A negative of -.05 will not impact the overall score significantly, even if a high number of questions are not answered.  I think it is better to leave a question and fetch -.05 than to mark a fluke and fetch -.25. Here is XAT Decision Making at its practical application!!

For tackling the other differences, let us move to the test-taking strategy and talk about the sections in the order of my attempt.

Section 1 Decision Making: This is my favourite section. I believe that most of the students are needlessly apprehensive about it. Anyone with a decent comprehension skill will find this section interesting and easy to attempt.  I usually give 50-55 minutes to this section and try to maximise my attempts and score.  In a typical DM question the case has one or few objectives to be met and there are few constraints on the way to these objectives.  So, the first thing I do is to identify the constraints and the objectives to be met. While attempting I tick the option which fulfils the objective and not the options which may sound ideal/best. Also, in a few DM the cases can be quite long, but usually such cases are easy.

This section may also have DM Caselets requiring Mathematical Interpretation.

 Tip:  Do not be intimidated, irrespective of the length or the complexity of the question, read it once.  Do not mark the ideal answer choice; keep in mind the objectives and the constraints; look for the option which compromises on none.  If things are going right (if you feel so), then make a kill by giving extra 5-7 minutes.

Section 2 Verbal Ability: Hate it or like it, one has to attempt CR and RC in XAT.  I give 50-55 minutes to this section. While attempting RCs and CRs I have to read most passages twice.  It is important to understand what is being asked in a question. Many a times, I commit the mistake of ticking the option which is given in the passage but has not been asked for in the question. This will surely happen in XAT too but then I am prepared for it.  PJs are perhaps the easiest part of this section.  The grammar questions require good understanding of the language and are not easy to attempt.

Tip:  Go with the mindset of attempting RCs. If you are not attempting RCs, you will not score in this section.  Solve PJs, fill ups and grammar first, then RC passages and then CR questions.   Good thing with the Verbal ability is that you always feel that you have marked the right option 🙂

Section 3 Quant & DI: I will attempt this section at last in the remaining time. I search for DI caselets and attempt them first.  XAT may have novelty in DI with some unseen graphs and pictorial depictions and hence cracking them could be time taking but not necessarily complex.

While attempting maths questions I search for Arithmetic questions and attempt them first followed by Algebra and Number systems. I rarely attempt Geometry and never if the diagram is not given.  I have a belief that if I pick my strength questions here then I will easily clear the cut off. 

Tip: Unlike verbal where everybody believes that he knows something about it, if one does not know maths, one does not know it!!  So be selective here. Solve DI first and then pick the questions from your area of strength.

Section 4 GK:   I think a score of 6-8 is sufficient in GK, provided you do get a call for second round from XLRI. I don’t think anybody requires more than 10 minutes for this section.  And for the preparation part of GK, at this stage I will try to be abreast with the happenings of past 3 months.

Next 14 days Plan:

  • Solve previous 5 years XAT papers under actual exam conditions and analyze your performance. Focus on Decision Making questions.
  • Write at least 3 Mock Test before XAT.
  • For Verbal and RC section, focus on Grammar and Critical Reasoning.
  • For Quant, revisit all the concepts.
  • For GK analyze previous year papers to see the areas which are tested and focus on them. For Current Affairs focus on previous 3 months happenings.

All this mentioned above should be kept in mind and a strategy should be formulated around this. A good way to test your strategy would be by taking a good number of mocks. CL’s  mock XAT test series will be highly beneficial in this regard. Taking a mock will put you in the correct frame of mind and will help you develop an exam oriented temperament.

Note: Please remember to have Plan B ready.  What I have suggested is my Plan A.  Go with a clear mind and a broad approach.  Stick to the time allotment which you have planned for yourself. Play to your strengths but do not be left behind in those parts were most of the call getters will score i.e DM.

All the best!!

Siddharth Mehta (XLRI Alumnus, Class of 2006-08)

Career Launcher, Bhilai

64 Comments

  6. Sir,
    I wish to know what will be most effective way to prepare english , Apart from reading daily newspapers and reading novels. How can I improve my vocabulary?…..Thank You. Will await your response..

    • Arka, you should learn new words daily and try using them in sentences. You should use the Vocab Builder given in your SIS Account and in the MBA Exams Guide App to help you come across new words.

      You must make a daily habit of reading newspapers as it will not only help you with your vocab but will also help you prepare for your GD and PI.

  7. Sir,
    XAT percentile
    Overall : 94.16,
    QA 62.34,
    VA 98.64
    DM 89.67
    Which colleges should I apply to? Filled for FORE and IMI. (Missed the deadline for IMT- G)

  8. hi i got 10 percentile in xat and with -ve marks in DM what are my chances to get admission in MICA if i clear MICAT.

  10. Hi,
    I have scored 85.75 percentile in XAT 2016 and CMAT 2016: 98.34 Percentile.
    Work Exp: 32 months.
    From which good college can get a call from?

    I have already applied for IMT Ghaziabad, KJ Som, GIM GOA, Great Lakes(1 year PGPM).

    Also please let me know any other college to be applied.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Pran, you can get a call from Sydneham Institute of Management Studies,Goa Institute of Management,K J Somaiya, Welingkar, Great Lakes

  11. Sir i have got the following result
    Xat oa : 98.23%ile(34)
    Va : 88.3 (9.75)
    Qa : 88.606(10)
    Dm : 99.9 (13.25)
    And gk is 94.33 . What are my chances of getting a call for xl hrm and bm?

  12. Hi sir , I have got 81.93 percentile in xat and 96.88 percentile in cmat (197 marks). Please advice me to apply some good colleges based on my score .
    My Profile – X-83.8%, XII-81% , B.E-8.26
    Work experience -15 months .
    I have shortlisted some colleges k j somaiya , welingkar , Bimtech , kindly suggest me some more

    • Pavan, you are eligible for Sydneham Institute of Management Studies, Goa Institute of Management, K J Somaiya,Welingkar.

  13. Sir ,

    I have got 33 marks in XAT .
    QA:12
    VA:11
    DM:10

    I have not filled any forms , can u guide me pls that which colleges can be targeted with this score and which foms are available now to be filled.

    Thanks and expecting a reply soon.

    • Shubham, if you have filled XLRI then a slim chance of a call from there. You can still fill up IMT Ghaziabad for. its window might be open.

  14. Hi
    I am expecting OA:27.65
    VA:10.67
    DM:10.89
    QA:6.5
    How accurate is the CL VA answer key since there are a number of discrepancies in the answers in comparison to other institute’s key. And can I expect IMT & XIMB call at the above mentioned score?

    • Aviral, XIMB would be difficult and IMT could be possible.
      We are quietly confident of our answers in the VA asection,

  15. Hello Sir!

    I’m getting

    VA: 13.4

    DM: 11.162

    QA: 9.138

    OA: 33.7

    What are my chances for an XLRI-BM or HRM call? Also, please comment on the chances of converting?

  16. Hello sir,
    10th-93.1%
    12th-94%
    graduation-71.8%

    XAT predicted score-
    va-10.517
    dm-10.044
    qa-5.99

    Any chance for SP Jain?

  17. Hello sir,
    Expecting 30 marks in XAT 2016, what percentile would I be getting??
    Which colleges should I apply to with that score?

  18. Sir,
    Since XAT is known to be a tougher paper than CAT, is it safe to assume that, despite claims that the difficulty level will be reduced, the overall level will still be tougher than CAT? And thus a score of 40-45% of the total marks will be sufficient to score in the top percentiles since CAT usually had 50% corresponding to the 95th percentile?

    • Kartik, this is true that XAT this year will be at par with the standard level of difficulty of CAT. Tough to speculate about the scoring.

  19. Hi CL Team/GP sir,

    I am a CL student and I missed XAT webinar due to its timings (office timings). I am waiting for its video to come up on SIS. When will it be uploaded. i need startegy for by XAT prep and in urgent need of that webinar video. Please help

  22. Hi,
    I have done Engineering from Mumbai University. Our degree certificate come on the basis of how we have performed in the last year.
    I wonder about the eligibility criteria for the graduation. They say 50% in graduation.
    So is it last year percentage which is printed on my degree or aggregate percentage of all the semesters put together.

    • Prakash, for a decent percentile the attempts should be:

      QA: 17 – 20 Questions
      DM: ~ 18 Questions
      VALR: ~ 25 Questions

  24. Sir,
    According to the first page of the question booklet put up on the xat website, part 1(78questions) and part 2(gk and essay) will be provided at the beginning of the test.

    So are we expected to finish part 1 in the expected 170 minute time frame or we can utilise the 210 minute time limit according to our convenience?

  25. Sir,
    Although I can manage di section, quant is my weak area. In order to clear the cut off for xat how much should I target in quant so that I could make it to xlri ? Please tell me.

  26. sir,

    Please tell me the optimum attempt to clear the quant section for a call for HR.
    Also, please tell what a decent attempt is for the other sections for the same.

    • Anadi, to get an XLRI call the bare minimum correct attempts in QA should be at around 15. For a decent percentile:

      QA: 17-20 questions
      DM: ~ 18 questions
      VALR: ~ 25 questions

  28. Hello Team CL,
    Thanks for the post. I would like to get your views about the “difficulty level ” of the paper. Since XAT has specified this year that it’ll bring down the difficulty level of the paper.
    Also keeping the above in mind what will be an ideal score tentatively to get a 99%ile?

    • Vivek, Quant is expected to be less difficult which means equal to the existing CAT level. DM and VALR difficulty level is expected to remain the same. A decent number of attempts would be

      QA: 17-20 questions
      DM: ~ 18 questions
      VALR: ~ 25 questions

  29. Sir…last year VA-94.88 DM : 91.82 and QA : 59.16 OA :92.16 ….so i guess my strategy for VA and DM is in place…wat should i do with QA….i am weak in QA…my strong areas are only arthmtics and algebra…wat strategy should i follow and how much time to allocate i am confused.

    • Abhishek, you must practice Expert level questions from the Test Gym and revise the difficult questions. Take more and more mocks and analyze them. You can score more in VA, this would also happen by taking more mocks.

  30. Hi sir,

    Wanted to know will LR be a part of xat? What kind of LR questions should be expected and from where can i prepare for the same.Moreover, wanted to know is scribbling on the xat question paper, underlining the rc passage allowed?

    • Aman, the LR questions are mostly of Critical Reasoning, seating arrangements etc. Prepare using taking sufficient mocks. Underlining and calculating on the paper is allowed.

  31. Sir,
    I’m an average student and I’m planning to prepare for xat after giving snap. Will that be enough? And also how should I go about my preparations for xat if I want to get into xlri?

    • Abhilash, I’m sure you must have been preparing for the MBA exams from quite some time now. For XAT, all you need to do is – go for the tougher problems, Advanced and Expert Level in Test Gym. Take sufficient XAT mocks, that the best practice you can get. Revise GK using the GK compendium given in your SIS.

      • Thank you so much for your suggestions. Also I wanted To ask that GK Compendium in the SIS Id is enough for snap as well?

        • Abhilash, yes, you’re likely to score well after having a good look at it. You might want to revise the latest happenings of the last 3 months if time permits.

  32. Hi sir,

    apart from test gym advanced expert,mock, past papers where else practise should be done in order to improve scores and ace verbal and quant?

    • Apart from these, revision of the difficult questions is extremely important. Spend sufficient time for GK prep as well.

  33. Sir,
    I’m planning to prepare of XAT after giving SNAP. Is it right to do so? And What should be the approximate attempts for me in order to crack XLRI. How should I plan my preparations?

    • ABhilash, ideally you should take all the 5 XAT mocks before the XAT exam. It is really important to analyze these mocks. I’m expecting that you would’ve prepared well enough for other exams as well. Ideal no. of attempts for XLRI should be

      QA: 17-20 questions
      DM: ~ 18 questions
      VALR: ~ 25 questions

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