How to Ace XAT 2026 Exam: A Smart and Logical Approach

Entrance Exams

by Nandini Malhotra ago 19 views0

How to Ace XAT Exam

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of the most popular entrance exams to get admission into the top B-schools across India offering  MBA / PGDM programs. XAT is considered one of the toughest MBA entrance exams due to its tricky, time consuming, and lengthy questions but with the right strategy, candidates can ace it.

The XAT score is accepted by over 250+ prestigious educational Institutions across India for admissions in the MBA & PGDM programs. Want to ace the XAT exam? Read this blog that will act as a guide for XAT aspirants. It comprises smart and logical approaches that students can adopt to prepare for XAT exam efficiently, while covering other aspects like the exam pattern and the top XAT Institutions.

Understanding XAT 2026: Exam Pattern

Each candidate appearing for the exam should ensure they are thorough with the exam pattern before commencing the preparation. XAT Exam Pattern is divided into two parts having 4 distinct sections; the details of the same is given below:

Part 1:

  • Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA & LR)
  • Decision Making (DM)
  • Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

Part 2:

  • General Knowledge (GK)

These sections make up for a total of 95 questions, and candidates are allotted 180 minutes to attempt the same. Each question carries 1 mark & there is a negative marking of -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer (except for the GK section). Negative marking will not be done for the first 8 skipped questions. However, exceeding this limit will result in a deduction of -0.10 marks for every un-attempted question.

Therefore, it is important for the students to strategise well to prepare for the XAT exam & make sure they answer a sufficient number of questions to avoid negative marking.

Ace XAT Exam: Logical and Smart Approaches

One of the most sought questions by XAT aspirants is how to prepare for XAT exam? To help the students navigate excellent results through this seemingly difficult process, below-given are some practises they can adopt to prepare efficiently for the XAT Exam 2026:

1. Section-Wise XAT Preparation

Students should be well-versed with the detailed XAT Syllabus before they plan the preparation strategies for XAT. It is advised to take a section-wise approach since each of the aforementioned sections evaluates different skills & thus, is beneficial for the students.

Below-discussed are the section-wise tips that candidates can follow:

Verbal Ability (VA) & Logical Reasoning (LR):

This section consists of 26 Multiple Choice Questions. The questions in this section assess aptness of the students in Comprehension Abilities, Reasoning Skills, and Power to Process Information Logically.

Tips to gain proficiency in each of these sections are given below:

For Verbal Ability (VA)

  • Students can improve their comprehension abilities by working on their vocabulary and grammar.
  • This could be achieved by adopting habits like reading newspapers regularly and by practising para-jumbles and vocabulary-based questions on an everyday basis.

For Logical Reasoning (LR)

  • Candidates often require critical thinking and ability to deconstruct arguments. This can be developed through practising extensively with the XAT PYQ as it will give them an idea of which type of questions are generally asked in the test.
  • Students should familiarise themselves with questions based on puzzle arrangements, blood relations and matrix-based problems to derive solutions based on logical analysis.

Decision Making (DM):

This section contains 21 scenario-based, data-based and logical reasoning-based questions in the form of MCQs. Students are advised to practise different business case-studies regularly to prepare for XAT exam.

An understanding of socio-political issues can be of help for solving this section, which can be achieved with regular newspaper reading. In some cases, having knowledge about Business Ethics and Morality can be advantageous too.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) & Data Interpretation (DI):

This section comprises 28 questions and tests the applicants’ knowledge about various Mathematical concepts like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, etc., and an understanding of bar / pie charts, line graphs and tables.

Go through the below-mentioned points that highlights the tips to prepare thoroughly for the aforementioned sections:

For Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

  • To prepare for XAT exam, students should develop a strong foundation in Mathematical concepts with a focus on mental calculations and approximation skills, since the use of calculators is not permitted during the entrance test.
  • They can also learn shortcuts and Vedic Mathematics to simplify calculations and save time.

For Data Interpretation (DI)

  • Students are advised to dedicate sufficient time solving the PYQS & attempting the mock exams to improve speed and accuracy of answering the questions. This will also aid in developing a keen eye to interpret complex data correctly.
  • Candidates should focus on strategies that help them estimate values and trends rather than calculating the exact figure to ace this section while saving time.

General Knowledge (GK):

This section contains 20 questions based on Static General Knowledge and Current Affairs. To ace questions based on Current Affairs, aspirants are advised to develop a daily habit of reading newspapers which can aid their preparation for other sections too. Moreover, there is no negative marking in this section which offers the chance to increase the potential scores.

For Static General Knowledge, aspirants should consider gaining the understanding of key topics like Economics, Politics, History, and more. Furthermore, students can subscribe to monthly General Knowledge magazines to keep a track of important dates and events.

2. Personalised Study Schedule

Success in XAT exam is not solely based on hardwork, it is equally important to strategise well. Candidates aiming to prepare for XAT exam need to create a practical study plan in accordance with their strengths and weaknesses while allocating sufficient time for their weak areas without neglecting the strengths. For instance, if a student finds Quantitative Aptitude challenging, it is important for them to dedicate extra time for practising questions based on the tedious topics.

3. The Art of Time Management

XAT is considered as one of the toughest entrance exams due to its situational and judgement-based questions which are generally time-consuming. But, with effective time management strategies, candidates can prepare for XAT exam and achieve success. It is important for students to divide the syllabus into distinct parts, and dedicate ample time for studying & question solving; this will not only boost the confidence of aspirants but will also help them to achieve accuracy along with speed.

4. Consistency with Everyday Targets

XAT is a highly competitive exam and for being ahead of others thus, it is mandatory to leave procrastination behind. To prepare for XAT exam, students should focus on steady progress by setting achievable everyday targets and weekly goals to cover the syllabus before time. A small treat at the end of the day for effectively completing the set target can keep the students motivated to keep going.

5. Focused Study Sessions with Pomodoro Method

Students can utilise time-blocks to prepare for XAT exam. It is done by setting specific periods for focused study sessions. For instance, 30-40 minutes for solving a set of particular practice questions. After each session, students can take a 5 minute break. After four such sessions, students can reward themselves with a longer break (15-20 minutes). These small sections of concentrated study sessions allow candidates to delve deeper into their set targets without leaving room for distractions.

6. Practising Regularly: Mock Tests and PYQs Edition

To gain accuracy with speed, it becomes important for the aspirants to prioritise practising questions on a regular basis. Students are advised to take regular mock tests and solve XAT exam PYQs to prepare to gain insights about the exam pattern, level of the exam and the types of questions asked. These insights can be further used to analyse performance which leads to the improvement in the overall performance of the candidates.

7. Concise Notes: Last Minute Revision Strategy

To prepare for XAT exam with utmost proficiency, students are advised to maintain concise notes and flashcards. This approach makes it easy to retain information, while ensuring active learning. Students can further use their notes as a personalised study source for last minute revision.

Top Institutions Accepting XAT Scores

Below-mentioned are some of the top Institutions accepting XAT scores along with their NIRF Rankings for the year 2024:

Top Institutes NIRF 2024 Ranking (Management Category)
Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur 9
Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon 11
Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Chennai 34
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad 35
T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal 58

Wrap Up!

To prepare for XAT exam effectively, candidates should stay consistent throughout the preparation process. It is a highly competitive exam known for its tricky and lengthy questions which makes time management skills one of the key factors to enhance the chances of securing the desired marks. Thus, it is advisable for the students to adopt a section-wise approach and solve mock tests on a regular basis to build a strong base.

Candidates aiming for getting admission in top Institutes like Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Management Development Institute (MDI), Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), etc. can ace the exam by following a structured study plan. Moreover, students need to allocate sufficient time to overcome their weaknesses without neglecting their strengths to prepare for XAT exam, which can be achieved by setting manageable daily and weekly targets.

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