If you are bracing up for XAT exam, you must go through its previous year papers. Here, you can access XAT question papers of past years.
XAT 2026
The
XAT score is a prerequisite for admission into a few of the Nation's most prestigious B-Schools like XLRI, SPJIMR, XIMB, LIBA and other 150+ reputed management institutes of India. XAT 2026 is expected to be held on January 04, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Considered one of the toughest MBA entrance examinations in the country, XAT can only be aced with proper preparation and a well-practised exam strategy.
XAT Important Dates 2026 And Exam Pattern
| Events |
Dates |
| Registration Opens |
July 10, 2025 |
| Registration Closes |
December 05, 2025 |
| Admit Card Download |
December 20, 2025 (Tentative) |
| XAT Exam Date |
January 04, 2026 (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
XAT Exam Pattern
| Section |
Questions |
Duration |
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning |
about 26 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Decision Making |
about 21 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
about 28 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| General Knowledge |
20 |
Part 2: 10 minutes |
| Total |
95 |
180 minutes |
XAT Previous Year Papers
Previous year papers are highly valuable when it comes to assessing the level of difficulty and understanding the types of questions in XAT. To provide comprehensive assistance for your preparation, our team of experts has diligently compiled the actual XAT papers into this exclusive eBook. By downloading and solving the past year's XAT papers, you'll gain a clearer and more in-depth understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to fine-tune your approach effectively. Take advantage of this opportunity to maximize your chances of success in the upcoming XAT examination.
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XAT Exam Pattern - Over the Years
Over the last couple of years, there has been several variations in the number and type of questions in XAT. From 2019 to 2021, XAT has not featured the essay-writing section. However, from 2022, it was reintroduced. Following is a comprehensive view of the number of questions in various sections of XAT in the past couple of years:
| Sections |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
No. of
Ques. |
Time
(min) |
Verbal &
Logical Ability |
26 |
170 |
26 |
175 |
26 |
175 |
26 |
165 |
26 |
165 |
26 |
165 |
26 |
165 |
26 |
170 |
24 |
170 |
Decision
Making |
21 |
21 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Quantitative
Ability & DI |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
General
Knowledge |
20 |
10 |
25 |
30 |
20 |
30 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
15 |
25 |
15 |
25 |
15 |
25 |
40 |
25 |
35 |
Recent Changes in XAT 2026 Exam
|
Reduction in the overall number of questions: Earlier XAT used to have 101 questions which have been reduced to 95 questions that will be in the MCQ format.
Reduction in GK questions: Gk section will now have 20 questions instead of 25. This section will include 12 questions on current affairs and 8 questions from static GK ensuring a balanced assessment of candidates' current awareness and foundational knowledge.
Changes in Exam time: The total XAT 2026 exam time is reduced to 180 minutes instead of earlier 210 minutes.
XAT exam in 2 parts: The XAT 2026 exam has been divided into two parts. Part 1 is allocated 170 minutes and Part 2 is solely on the GK section which will be conducted in 10 minutes.
Removal of Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) Test: Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) has been removed from XAT 2026. This component section has been integrated with the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI) stages of the XLRI selection process.
GK Score: The score from the General Knowledge section will be exclusively utilized by XLRI Jamshedpur for its final selection process.
|
In order to score well in XAT, it is essential that the candidates take as many mock tests as possible and also solve the previous years' XAT question papers.
Why to practice Previous Year Papers?
Solving previous year XAT papers is an important practice as it will help you to monitor your progress and improve your weak points. Given below are some prominent benefits of attempting the past year papers of XAT:
- Previous Year Papers familiarize you with all the sections of the exam. The pattern of the exam is clearly identifiable in the actual papers.
- An in-depth knowledge about different topics and the level of difficulty of the questions can be easily measured and practiced from these papers.
- You can easily identify your strong and weak areas by analyzing your performance in the previous papers.
- Time management and accuracy matters the most to score well in XAT exam. By solving past papers, you get to strategize for different types of questions and distribute time among different sections.
Tips for Solving XAT Question Papers
- Try completing each section within a particular time restraint. You can set these limits for yourself as per your proficiencies in different areas.
- Aim to achieve a good balance of speed and accuracy in the test.
- Avoid too much guesswork or getting stuck on specific questions for too long.
- Stay confident while attempting questions and keep a check on time.
XAT PYQs FAqs
1. What is the validity of XAT scores?
XAT scores are valid for one year only.
2. What is the application fee for XAT?
The fee for XAT registration is Rs. 2,200. An additional Rs. 200 is charged for each XLRI program.
3. What is the course fee at XLRI?
The course fee at XLRI ranges from Rs. 20.95 lakhs to Rs. 23.6 lakhs, depending on the MBA program.
4. How many times can I take the XAT exam?
There is no limit on the number of attempts for XAT.
5. Is XAT more difficult or easier than CAT?
Both XAT and CAT are challenging exams with similar syllabi for verbal, reasoning, and quantitative sections. XAT includes additional Decision-Making and General Knowledge sections, while CAT has a tougher Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section. XAT's quantitative section is also considered challenging. Both exams are popular for admission to top B-schools.
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