XAT New Exam Pattern: New Changes to the XAT 2025 Pattern & Syllabus
Xavier Aptitude Test, a national exam, is conducted every year for admission to MBA and PGDM program at more than 200 Indian universities. XIMB Bhubaneswar, IMT Ghaziabad, and XLRI Jamshedpur are some of the major business schools that accept the XAT Score.
XAT 2025 Exam will be of three hours i.e. from 2 pm to 5:10 PM on January 5, 2025, Sunday and registrations have started on 15th July 2024. Candidates will be able to download the XAT admit card from 30th December 2024 onward from the official website. The exam duration is 3 hours (180 minutes) in a single slot. Candidates who wish to appear for the XAT Exam should register before 30th November 2024.
Based on the notification, there are certain changes to the XAT exam pattern or structure. As per the new XAT Exam pattern the General Knowledge section will now comprise 20 questions, reduced from 25. The essay writing has been shifted to GD/PI section in the XAT 2025 Pattern. As per the changes the total examination time is reduced to 180 minutes from 190 minutes.
XAT administrative body which conducts the XAT Exam has recently announced changes to the XAT Exam pattern of the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) for the year 2025. Since started XAT has established itself as one of the most challenging MBA Exntrance Exam of India, with the Business Decision Making and Essay component which makes it really distinctive.
Here, we will give you an in-depth understanding of XAT 2025’s New Exam Pattern, key changes in various sections.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction to XAT
- Key Changes in XAT 2025 Exam Pattern
- Comparison between XAT 2024 & XAT 2025 Pattern
- Key Changes in XAT 2025 Syllabus
- Preparation Tips for XAT 2025
- Time Management in XAT 2025
- Conclusion
Introduction to XAT
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
is a national-level entrance exam conducted annually by XLRI Jamshedpur for admissions to its MBA and PGDM programs. Additionally, more than 160 B-schools in India accept XAT scores. XAT Exam is renowned for testing students over a broad spectrum of skills which includes decision-making, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and general knowledge.
XAT has updated the Exam format for 2025,
therefore students must adapt and get used to the new pattern to maximize their XAT score.
Key Changes in XAT 2025 Exam Pattern
The XAT Administration has announced major revisions to the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) format for 2025. These changes to XAT 2025 Exam are designed to streamline the assessment process and better align it with the evolving demands of business leadership and management education.
Here's a breakdown of the new exam pattern:
1. Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) Integrated with GD & PI:
For XAT 2025, the
Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) will no longer be part of the main exam. Instead, it will be tested during the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) stages. This means you only need to focus on essay writing after you've been shortlisted for these rounds.
2. Updated General Knowledge Section:
The General Knowledge (GK) section in XAT 2025 now has 20 questions, reduced from the previous 25. It includes:
- 12 questions on current affairs, covering recent events in politics, business, and global happenings.
- 8 questions on static GK, testing your knowledge of history, geography, and general science. 
This updated GK format for XAT 2025 offers a balanced approach to assessing your knowledge of both ongoing events and important facts.
3. New XAT Exam Timings:
The XAT exam is now divided into two parts:
- Part 1 of XAT 2025 will be of 170 minutes and will cover Verbal Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude.
- Part 2 is a short 10-minute section focused only on
General Knowledge in the new XAT 2025 Pattern.
Together, this makes the total exam time 180 minutes. This structure allows better time management across different sections.
Comparison between XAT 2024 & XAT 2025 Pattern
The XAT exam 2025 pattern has undergone changes, in the table below we have made a comparison in table between the XAT 2024 pattern and the new XAT 2025 pattern:
| Aspect | XAT 2024 | XAT 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 102 | 95 |
| Total Marks | 102 | 95 |
| Marking Scheme | For Correct Answer : + 1 For Incorrect Answer: - 1 - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No Negative marking for GK Section | For Correct Answer : + 1 For Incorrect Answer: - 1 - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No Negative marking for GK Section |
| Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) | Included as part of the main XAT exam. | Shifted to the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) stage, no longer part of the main exam. |
| General Knowledge (GK) Section | 25 questions in total, mixed static and current. | Reduced to 20 questions: 12 on current affairs and 8 on static GK. |
| Total Exam Duration | 180 minutes for the entire exam. | Total of 180 minutes, split into: - Part 1: 170 minutes for Verbal Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude - Part 2: 10 minutes for the General Knowledge section. |
| Exam Structure | Single continuous exam for all sections. | Divided into two parts: - Part 1: Core sections (VA, DM, QA) - Part 2: Separate short 10-minute GK section. |
| Weight of General Knowledge | Part of the main exam, scores used in selection process. | The GK section scores will only be considered for the final selection stage by XLRI Jamshedpur. |
Key Changes in XAT 2025 Syllabus
The XAT exam 2025 pattern includes four major sections, each assessing different skill sets that are crucial for future managers. Below is a detailed look at each section:
| Sections | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | Decision Making (DM) | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | General Knowledge (GK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | 26 | 21 | 28 | 20 |
| Time Allocation | - | Part 1: 170 minutes | - | Part 2: 10 minutes |
| Question Types | Critical reasoning, reading comprehension (poetry, passages), vocabulary, and cloze tests. | Scenario-based questions requiring critical thinking and problem-solving skills. | Application-oriented questions on data interpretation, summarization, and analytical problem-solving. | Static GK (8 questions) and current affairs (12 questions). |
Preparation Tips for XAT 2025
- Focus on Decision Making:
This section can make or break your XAT score. Go through previous years' XAT papers and solve as many decision-making scenarios as possible.
- Practice Reading Comprehension:
Since VA & LR of XAT rely heavily on RC passages, improve your reading speed and comprehension skills. Practice solving complex RCs for performing well in XAT Exams from varied subjects like business, social sciences, and philosophy.
- Strengthen Quantitative Aptitude Basics:
Focus on fundamental concepts in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Regular practice of mock tests will help you gain speed and accuracy.
- Stay Updated on Current Affairs:
Make it a habit to read newspapers daily and follow major events in business, economics, and politics.
- Mock Tests are Key:
Taking full-length XAT mock tests will help you get a feel of the exam and identify your weak areas. Review your mistakes after every mock test to improve further.
Time Management in XAT 2025
Given the changes in exam duration, managing your time effectively across sections is crucial. Here’s a suggested time allocation:
- VA & LR: 50-60 minutes
- Decision Making: 40-50 minutes
- QA & DI: 60-70 minutes
- GK:
10 minutes
With only 170 minutes to tackle three intensive sections in XAT 2025 Exam, maintaining a balanced approach and keeping an eye on the clock is vital for success.
Conclusion
With the XAT 2025 exam pattern undergoing crucial changes, aspirants need to update their preparation strategy to accommodate these adjustments. The introduction of Analytical Essay Writing, revision in the General Knowledge section, and modified exam duration make time management and focused preparation essential for success.
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