The XAT 2026 Exam is designed for students who aspire to join top MBA colleges, such as XLRI. It has four main sections that test different skills. The first section, Verbal and Logical Ability, checks how well students understand English, including reading, grammar, vocabulary & logical reasoning. The second section, Decision Making, gives real-life situations and asks students to choose the best and fairest solution. The third part, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, focuses on mathematical topics such as percentages, time and work, and interpreting data from graphs and charts. The General Knowledge section evaluates awareness of current events, history, politics, sports, and other important happenings around the world. To perform well in theXAT 2026 Exam, students should read regularly, practice math problems, stay updated with news, and solve previous year’s question papers. With regular study & a well-planned approach, students can improve in all sections and increase their chances of gaining admission to a reputable MBA college.
XAT 2026 Syllabus Overview
The XAT syllabus 2026 will comprise four major sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. Check out the table given below, mentioning the key topics of the different sections of the XAT 2026 Syllabus:
XAT 2026 Syllabus for VARC
This section of the XAT exam syllabus assesses a candidate's proficiency in English language comprehension, grammar, and logical reasoning. A comprehensive understanding of grammar rules and logical reasoning principles is imperative to excel in the XAT VARC syllabus.
Key topics include:
- Reading comprehension
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Critical Reasoning
- Inference-based Questions.
XAT 2026 Syllabus for Decision Making
The Decision-Making (DM) section of the XAT syllabus evaluates a candidate's ability to analyze complex situations and make sound judgments. Aspirants must hone their decision-making skills by practising case studies and developing a strategic approach to tackle diverse scenarios effectively.
Scenarios presented in this section often revolve around
- Ethical dilemmas
- Business decisions
- Situational analyses
XAT 2026 Syllabus for QA & DI
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation are key parts of the XAT exam that test a candidate’s math & analytical skills. To do well in this section, it is important to understand basic math concepts & know how to read and compare data. The main topics covered in this section include:
XAT 2026 Syllabus for GK
The General Knowledge section of the XAT syllabus assesses a candidate's knowledge of current affairs, business, economics, politics, and other relevant topics.
Regularly reading newspapers, magazines and online resources is crucial for staying informed about recent developments & scoring maximum marks in this section of theXAT 2026 Exam Syllabus.
Additionally, referring to XAT GK syllabus resources and practising mock tests can significantly augment one's GK proficiency. Some of the topics that can be highlighted are as follows:
- Business, Finance, and Economics
- The Indian Constitution and Laws
- Famous Personalities
- Current Affairs of National and International Importance
- Books and Authors
- Awards and Winners
- History and Geography
Detailed XAT 2026 Syllabus Coverage Strategy
The XAT 2026 syllabus is divided into four main sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. Each section tests a different skill set crucial for future business leaders. Verbal ability checks English language skills and reasoning, while Decision Making focuses on handling real-life situations with logic and fairness. The Quantitative section assesses mathematical & analytical abilities, and the General Knowledge section evaluates awareness of current events and statistical facts. A clear understanding of the syllabus and a smart practice strategy are essential to perform well in the exam.
Decision Making
This section assesses an individual's ability to handle real-life situations and make fair, logical decisions.
- Understand ethical, managerial, and personal dilemma-based problems.
- Practice XAT-specific decision-making sets regularly.
- Learn to identify the most balanced and fair option.
- Avoid personal biases and emotional reasoning.
- Read business case studies to improve judgment skills.
- Evaluate options logically, not emotionally.
- Focus on consequences and stakeholders involved.
- Practice solving within a fixed time to build speed.
Also Check: XAT Preparation Plan for Decision Making
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
This section tests math and logical interpretation of data.
- Strengthen basics: percentages, ratios, profit-loss, time-work, etc.
- Solve questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and numbers.
- Practice data interpretation sets – tables, graphs, charts.
- Revise formulas and shortcut tricks regularly.
- Take topic-wise quizzes to find weak areas.
- Focus on accuracy more than speed initially.
- Practice mental math to reduce calculation time.
- Solve previous year XAT questions for real-level practice.
Also Check: XAT Preparation Plan for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
General Knowledge
This section includes static GK and current affairs. It doesn’t impact the percentile but matters for XLRI shortlisting.
- Read newspapers and follow monthly current affairs magazines.
- Cover important topics: economics, polity, sports, awards, and business.
- Revise static GK: history, geography, and the Indian constitution.
- Use apps or flashcards for regular revision.
- Focus more on national and international news.
- Practice MCQs from GK books or online quizzes.
- Refer to the previous year XAT GK papers.
- Don’t spend too much time preparing—target smart reading.
Verbal and Logical Ability
This section checks the understanding of English through reading and reasoning skills. It includes reading passages, vocabulary, and grammar-related questions.
- Read editorial articles daily to improve comprehension.
- Practice RCs from past XAT and CAT papers.
- Learn new words using books like Word Power Made Easy.
- Revise grammar basics: subject-verb agreement, tenses, modifiers.
- Solve para jumbles and sentence completion exercises.
- Attempt critical reasoning questions to strengthen logic.
- Practice identifying tone, central idea, and inferences in RCs.
- Time yourself to improve reading speed and accuracy.
Also Check: XAT Preparation Plan for Verbal & Logical Ability
Final Thoughts
Understanding the XAT 2026 syllabus is the first step toward effective preparation. Each section, Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge, requires focused practice and a clear strategy. Strengthening core concepts, improving reading and analytical skills, and staying updated with current affairs will help boost performance. With regular revision, smart time management, and solving previous year papers, candidates can confidently tackle the exam and improve their chances of securing admission to top MBA colleges.
