XAT 2024 Exam: Registration, Dates, Syllabus, Pattern, Results

Introduction: XAT 2024 Entrance Exam

XAT is a national-level management entrance exam that considers the candidates' aptitude for business management and is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). XAT is held once a year in January and is accepted by several reputed management universities across India. Students must have a strong foundation in the fundamental concepts and develop their essential thinking and analytical skills to crack the XAT exam.

The XAT 2024 exam is designed to assess the candidates' aptitude for business management and is divided into two parts. 

Part I comprises objective-type questions from different sections like Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation. 

Part II comprises subjective-type questions and an essay writing section.

This exam is typically held in the first week of January every year, and the registration process for the same starts in August. The XAT exam is a computer-based test comprising multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from four sections - Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK).

The Verbal and Logical Ability section consists of questions on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. The Decision Making section includes ethical and moral dilemmas, caselets, and situational analysis. The Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section consists of questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. The General Knowledge section covers topics like current affairs, business, economics, and politics.

The exam duration is 3.5 hours, and there is a negative marking for wrong answers. The exam pattern may vary from year to year, and the difficulty level of the exam is known to be high.

XAT Eligibility 

Eligibility Criteria for XAT Examination XAT is an MBA or PGDM admission test in XLRI and other top MBA colleges, including IMT Ghaziabad, SPJIMR Mumbai, TAPMI Manipal, XIMB Bhubaneswar, and 150 other top Indian MBA colleges. One has to get a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or board in any discipline.

Common Entrance Test

XAT has sections on Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning.

Equal Opportunity

The Aspirants who qualify for XAT will get the opportunity to secure a seat at any Management college in any State. 

XAT Exam Highlights

XAT is a speed-based of three and a half-hour. It is designed to assess the candidate's business and quantitative aptitude skills. XAT exam is known for its unique structure and content and is designed to assess the candidates' aptitude for business management. Check key highlights of the XAT 2024 exam in the table below:

XAT 2024 Paper Analysis

The XAT exam is more difficult than the CAT and NMAT, two other MBA exams. This XAT 2024 Exam Analysis is meant to give test-takers an idea of the key subjects, the degree of difficulty, the nature of the questions, good attempts, and the anticipated cut-off. The initial student feedback indicated that the overall level of difficulty was between moderate and tough. Most candidates have reported QADI and RC questions to be of moderate to high difficulty.

1. Logical Ability questions were of moderate difficulty.
2. The DM section was tricky and lengthy. There are 7 sets with 3 questions each.
3. The overall difficulty level was comparable to last year’s paper.
4. In the QADI section, 4 DI sets were covering 11 questions.

XAT Cut off 2024 for XLRI HRM Program

XAT Examination: Eligibility Criteria

A national entrance exam called the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is required for admission to XLRI's postgraduate program and those of other colleges that accept it. Candidates must review the comprehensive eligibility requirements of XAT before submitting an application for the entrance exam. The following lists the differences between the qualifying requirements for domestic and NRI candidates

1. Educational Qualifications 

• Aspirants in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for the XAT exam provided they can give their bachelor's degree certificate and mark sheet by the end of the admission year.
• Candidates must hold a three-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any specialisation from any recognized university

Who is Not Eligible for XAT 2024?

Those who candidates don't have completed their bachelor's degree or meet the specified deadline are ineligible for XAT 2024. Additionally, Students with a degree from a non-recognized University are not eligible. Those who do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria, such as scoring below the required percentile in the previous year's XAT or having an invalid GMAT score, are also not Eligible.

XAT Registration 2024

The XAT 2024 registration process is the first step towards XLRI admission. Aspirants have to fill out the online XAT application form and pay the requisite fees to register for the entrance test. The XAT application form is the registration form for the college as well. Candidates must check the field indicating XLRI in the XAT form to be eligible for admission to the institute. Given below is the XAT 2024 registration and application process:

1. Log on to XAT 2024 website xatonline.in
2. Click on 'New Registration' and enter relevant details
3. A unique XAT ID and registration link is shared with the candidate on the verified email ID
4. Click on the link to verify your registration
5. Go to XAT 2024 homepage and click on ‘login’
6. Enter your email ID and password to open the application form
7. Fill all the mandatory fields of the XAT 2024 application form
8. Cross-check the information before clicking on the submit button
9. Pay the XAT 2024 application fee of INR 2100 through credit/debit card, UPI or net banking

Candidates are allowed to select up to four cities in the XAT application form 2024. The examination body allows the exam centre to candidates in the city selected as first preference basis of availability. If a seat is not available at the test centre in the first city of preference, the centre will be allotted in the next city that has been selected.

XLRI Jamshedpur Placement Statistics

XLRI Jamshedpur is one of the premier management institutes in India. Every year, the institute publishes its placement statistics, which are interest awaited by students, faculty, and recruiters alike.

According to the latest available data, the average salary offered to XLRI students during campus placements was around Rs. 24 lakhs per annum, with the highest salary offered being Rs. 50 lakhs per annum. The institute has a track record of placing its students in a wide range of sectors, including consulting, finance, marketing, operations, and IT.

XLRI has a rigorous selection process, and only around 360 candidates are selected for its flagship PGDM program every year. The institute has a strong alumni network, and many of its graduates hold senior positions in top companies across the world.

How to study for XAT: Know the exam pattern

The XAT 2024 exam pattern is designed to test the aptitude and decision-making skills of candidates. Aspirants should understand the exam pattern thoroughly to plan their preparation strategy accordingly. Regular practice, time management skills, and staying updated on current affairs are some of the key factors that can help aspirants ace the XAT exam.

Table for XAT: know the Exam pattern 

XAT Paper Pattern 2024: Sectional Break-Up of Questions

There is a varying distribution of questions in the XAT entrance exam.

XAT Preparation 2024: Points to Remember

XAT 2024 is considered to be tougher than CAT, CMAT, and SNAP. Hence, merely preparing for CAT is not sufficient for cracking XAT. Students who are planning to apply for XAT 2024 must focus on preparing for sections based on their strengths and weaknesses. Going through the previous year’s XAT exam analysis will also be quite helpful. The first and foremost step in XAT exam preparation is having a clear understanding of the revised XAT exam pattern and syllabus:

Last 6 Years XAT Paper Format

In India, more than 150 prestigious B-schools accept XAT results, including - XLRI Jamshedpur, MICA Ahmedabad, XIM Bhubaneshwar, IMT Ghaziabad, and S P Jain Mumbai. One of the clearest MBA entrance exams is the XAT, which makes available question papers, answer keys, and the option for candidates to request a score recount.

XAT Syllabus 2024

XAT syllabus 2024 consists of all the important topics of Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. Decision Making is a unique section for which there is no syllabus so you can refer to previous years' question papers and sample test papers for preparation. Check below some key points about the XAT 2024 syllabus:

1. XAT Decision Making section will present scenarios drawn from both personal and professional lives. Candidates will be required to apply critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and prioritization to make informed decisions
2. XAT Verbal & Logical Ability includes Critical and Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, English Grammar, Vocabulary, Parajumbles, Cloze Test, etc. 
3. In the XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section, the topics include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, etc.
4. In the GK section of the XAT exam, the topics pertain to politics, culture, society, personalities, business, art & entertainment, sports, inventions, innovation, world, economy, science, technology, books, etc.
5. Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) will have 3 topics and candidates will have to write an essay of 250 words on one of them.

XAT 2024 Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. When will the official XAT 2024 exam notification be released by XLRI?

Ans. For XAT 2024, XLRI has already made the official announcement available. XATonline.in is the official website for XAT 2024. The most recent announcement states that the XAT 2024 exam will take place on January 7, 2024.

Ques. Which 10 XAMI Member Institutes accept admissions based on XAT scores?

Ans. For your information, the following lists the 10 XAT Associate XAMI Member Institutes that accept XAT scores for admission:

• St. Francis Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
• St. Joseph's Institute of Management, Bengaluru
• St.Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology, Mangalore
• Xavier Business School (XBS), St.Xavier's University, Kolkata
• Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Bengaluru
• Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai
• Xavier Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
• Xavier Institute of Development Action and Sciences, Jabalpur
• Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi
• Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar

Ques. Are there any sectional deadlines for admission to XLRI via XAT?

Ans. Yes, sectional XAT cutoffs are released by XLRI. Along with meeting the overall cutoff, candidates must receive the minimum scores in each of the sections. Candidates are not eligible for admission to XLRI's PGDM-BM/HRM courses if they do not meet the sectional XAT cut-offs.

Ques. How is the XAT score calculated?

Ans. The XAT score is calculated based on the candidate's performance in the Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge sections of the exam. Each section carries a maximum of 75-100 marks, except for the General Knowledge section which carries 25 marks. The percentile score is calculated based on the candidate's performance in comparison to other candidates who appeared for the exam. The overall XAT percentile score is used by various B-schools in India for admission to their MBA programs.

Ques. How will I know whether or not I successfully converted the XLRI interview call?

Ans. XLRI generally sends an email to the candidates who have converted the interview call. The email will contain details about the admission offer and the next steps that the candidate needs to take. The email will also mention the deadline by which the candidate needs to accept the offer and pay the admission fee. If you have not received any email from XLRI after the interview process, it is best to check your spam or junk folder just in case the email has landed there. In case you still don't find any email, you can reach out to the XLRI admission office to inquire about your status.