The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is an MBA entrance exam that is held across India every year in the month of January. It is conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur which consistently ranks among the top 10-15 Indian B-schools, and the XAT scores are accepted by over 160 B-schools for their respective PGDM programs. For the academic session 2022-23, the XAT exam is scheduled on January 8, 2023. The XAT registrations have already begun from August 10 and will continue till November 30, 2022. Similar to the other MBA entrance tests, the XAT tests a candidate on sections such as Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, Essay Writing, Decision Making, and General Knowledge
XAT 2023 exam date
A detailed list of the important dates related to XAT 2023 exam dates are tabulated as follows:-
| Event Name | Date |
| XAT 2023 Registrations Start Date | August 10, 2022 |
| XAT 2023 Registrations Last Date | November 30, 2022 |
| XAT 2023 Admit Card Download Commencement | December 20, 2022 |
| Mock Test Release Date/Period | December 2022 last week |
| XAT 2023 Exam Date | January 8, 2023 |
| XAT 2023 Answer Key Release Date | January 2023 first week |
| XAT 2023 Result Date | January 31, 2023 |
| XAT 2023 cut-off announcement | January 2023 last week |
XAT 2023 Admit Card
One can download the XAT 2023 Admit card from the official website. The candidates must make sure that all the entries on the XAT 2023 Admit card must be authentic.
XAT 2023 Eligibility
To be able to appear for the XAT 2023, a candidate must fulfil a certain set of conditions and XAT 2023 Eligibility which are stated as follows:-
- He/she must be a graduate from any discipline which is of at least three years from a recognized university
- Those in their final year of graduation can also appear for the XAT, provided their final exams get completed by June 10, 2023
- Working professionals and those holding a professional degree such as CA/CS can also apply for the XAT 2023
XAT Exam Pattern
The XAT has been conducted for quite some time in an online mode; the exam fees being Rs. 1,800. There are a total of 100 questions which will be asked in an objective i.e. MCQ format. Held for a duration of three hours and ten minutes, one can get all the necessary information about the test such as the exam registration, downloading admit card, XAT exam syllabus, etc. on the official website.
Bifurcated into five main sections, the section-wise questions and marks breakup within the XAT Exam Syllabus is represented in a tabulated manner below:-
| Section Name | No. of questions | No. of marks |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | 26 | 26 |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 |
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 25 |
| Essay | 1 | (Evaluated upon shortlisting) |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
As evident from the above table, every correct answer in the test will be awarded by one mark while -0.25 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking only in the GK section. One good thing about the XAT 2023 is that it has only an overall time limit and no sectional time cut-off, and the test can be started with any section as per the candidate’s choice. Hence, it will only allow a test-taker to give the exam as per his/her strengths and the pre-planned strategies.
XAT exam Syllabus
If an aspirant is already preparing for the other MBA entrance tests such as CAT, NMAT, SNAP, etc. the XAT preparation should take care of itself more or less. Nevertheless, one must be well-acquainted with the topics and kind of questions asked in the previous years’ papers to get a much better idea of what to anticipate in the XAT 2023. Sections such as Decision Making, and Essay Writing must be given slightly more attention since they are not a part of all the other entrance tests. The XAT 2023 syllabus for its respective sections is mentioned below:-
- Verbal and Logical Ability – Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Critical Reasoning, Para completion, etc.
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation – Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Permutations and Combinations, charts & tables, Data sufficiency, etc.
- Current Knowledge – Business, Science, Politics, Important dates, History, Economics, etc.
- Decision Making – Arithmetic-based, situational, analytical reasoning-based, etc.
XAT Registration Process
Candidates first need to fill the online form, with all the necessary details, on the official website and pay the Rs. 1800 fee amount to complete the process of XAT registration. Aspirants can choose a maximum of only four test centre cities in the form; exam centre shall be allotted considering the city filled as the first preference along with its availability.
Conclusion
Widely considered to be one of the toughest MBA entrance exams held across India, the XAT demands a diligent and rigorous study preparation of at least four to six months. Regular practice of questions belonging to multiple difficulty levels and thorough analyses of the mock tests are essential to clear this exam with flying colours. Various aspects which play a key in the management sector such as one’s vocabulary power, reading ability and thinking ability, data analysing power and worldly awareness are thoroughly tested in the XAT.
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