XAT Exam Pattern 2027: Section wise pattern, Marking Scheme, Duration

Candidates must be aware of XAT exam pattern 2027 in order to understand the structure of the exam, including its sections, number of questions, duration, question type and marking scheme. As per the XAT exam pattern, the exam is conducted as a computer-based test. There are a total of 4 sections in the exam: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK). The question paper has 95 questions in total. Questions will be of the multiple-choice question (MCQ) type.

The question paper for XAT 2027 is divided into two parts. Part 1 contains VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI and has a duration of 170 minutes. Part 2 consists of General Knowledge and has a duration of 10 minutes. The total duration of the XAT exam is 180 minutes. The XAT 2026 instructions specify an additional 20 minutes per hour for PwD candidates.

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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 Highlights

XAT exam pattern is designed to evaluate logical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills of the candidates. The exam is conducted once a year, divided into 2 parts. The major details of the XAT exam pattern 2027 are given below:

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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 Section-Wise

The XAT question paper consists of four sections divided between Part 1 and Part 2. Each section has a different number of questions. The section-wise XAT exam pattern 2027 is given below:

*Note: The 170-minute duration applies collectively to the three Part 1 sections. The official XAT pattern does not assign separate sectional time limits to VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI. Candidates can manage their time across these sections during Part 1.

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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 Part Wise

As per XAT exam pattern, the paper is divided into two parts: part 1 and part 2. The part wise exam pattern has been explained below:

XAT Part 1 Exam Pattern

Part 1 consists of:

• Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
• Decision Making
• Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation

There are 75 questions in Part 1, and candidates get 170 minutes to attempt them. The three sections do not have separate sectional time limits. According to the latest available official examination instructions, candidates move to Part 2 after the Part 1 duration ends.

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XAT Part 2 Exam Pattern

Part 2 consists only of General Knowledge. The highlights of XAT exam pattern 2027 for part 2 are as follows:

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XAT Marking Scheme 2027

XAT marking scheme specifies how marks are allotted to questions asked in the exam. The marking scheme is different for both parts. For part 1, 1 mark is awarded for a correct answer and 0.25 marks is deducted for a wrong answer. Apart from this, a penalty of -0.10 marks is applied for each unattempted question after the first 8 unattempted questions. For part 2, 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer. There is no negative marking for wrong or unattempted answers in part 2. The part wise XAT marking scheme 2027 is given in the table below:

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XAT 2027 Sectional Time Limit

The XAT exam does not have individual sectional time limits for VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI. These three sections are included in Part 1, for which candidates get 170 minutes in total.

Candidates can therefore manage the 170 minutes across the three Part 1 sections according to their strategy. The General Knowledge section is separately timed for 10 minutes as Part 2.

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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 Important Points

Some of the important points related to XAT exam pattern 2027 has been listed below:

• Total Questions: XAT 2027 has 95 questions across four sections.
• Type of Questions: The XAT question paper consists of multiple-choice questions. Each MCQ has multipleoptions, of which one is correct.
• Part wise Time Limit: Part 1 consists of VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI and has 170 minutes. Part 2 consists of GK and has 10 minutes. There are no separate sectional time limits within Part 1.
• Marking Scheme: Each correct answer carries 1 mark. Incorrect Part 1 answers attract a 0.25-mark penalty. Up to eight unattempted questions can be skipped without a penalty. Each additional unattempted question carries a 0.10-mark penalty. GK has no negative marking for incorrect answers.
• GK Section: The GK section does not contribute to the overall percentile or cutoff score but is considered in the selection process for XLRI programmes.
• Additional Time Limit: PwD candidates are provided additional time according to the official examination instructions. The XAT 2026 instructions specify an additional 20 minutes per hour for PwD candidates.
• Order of Sections: The official XAT pattern allows candidates to attempt the Part 1 sections in their preferred order. Candidates can switch between the VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI sections during Part 1 because there are no separate sectional time limits. The General Knowledge section is presented separately as Part 2 after Part 1.

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How to Prepare Based on the XAT Exam Pattern 2027?

Candidates should understand the XAT exam pattern 2027 before starting their preparation. This will help them understand the type of questions asked in the exam and prepare accordingly. Candidates should keep in mind the following points to prepare based on XAT exam pattern 2027:

• Practise all three Part 1 sections because they share the same 170-minute time window.
• Practise switching between Part 1 sections while taking mock tests.
• Account for the negative marking when deciding whether to attempt or skip a question.
• Practise GK separately because Part 2 has a fixed 10-minute duration and no negative marking.
• Use the on-screen calculator during QA & DI practice to become familiar with its use.
• Take full-length mock tests to practise managing the 180-minute examination structure.

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XAT Exam Pattern 2027 FAQs