XAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Sections, Questions, Duration & Marking Scheme

XAT 2027 is likely to comprise around 95 questions in 4 sections, for which students will get 180 minutes to finish. Part 1 will consist of Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (around 75 questions - 170 minutes), Part 2 will be General Knowledge (20 questions - 10 minutes). For every correct answer, the mark will be awarded as +1 and for every wrong answer in Part 1 the mark will be deducted as −0.25.

Part-Wise Breakdown

Part	Sections	Questions	Duration
Part 1	Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	~75	170 minutes
Part 2	General Knowledge	20	10 minutes
Total	4 sections	~95	180 minutes

Section-Wise Question Distribution

Section	Questions	Share of Total Questions
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA-DI)	~28	~29%
Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR)	~26	~27%
Decision Making (DM)	~21	~22%
General Knowledge (GK)	20	~21%

XAT 2027 Marking Scheme

Rule	Marks
Correct answer (Part 1 & Part 2)	+1
Incorrect answer (Part 1 only)	−0.25
Unattempted question (Part 1), beyond the first 8 skipped	−0.10
Incorrect answer (Part 2 / GK)	No negative marking
Unattempted GK questions	No penalty

How the unattempted-question penalty works: No penalty for up to 8 no attempt questions. For the remaining unanswered questions (9th and after), −0.10 marks are deducted per skipped question. Once these penalty-free skips are used, an educated attempt may sometimes be preferable to leaving additional questions blank; blind guessing, however, should not be treated as a general strategy.

What Each Section Actually Tests

Decision Making (21 questions): These are scenarios based in personal and professional situations that test critical thinking, problem solving, prioritisation and informed decision making.

Verbal & Logical Ability (26 questions): Reading comprehension based on passages, poems and sometimes cartoons, Vocabulary, Para-jumbles, Critical and Analytical reasoning etc., Grammar and related verbal exercises.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (28 questions): Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern mathematics and data interpretation with an emphasis on interpretation, summarising and analysing data.

General Knowledge (20 questions): 12 Current Affairs and 8 Static GK questions. GK does not contribute to the overall percentile or cutoff score, but is considered in the selection process for XLRI programmes.

How XAT 2027's Pattern Differs From CAT

Factor	XAT	CAT
Question format	Primarily MCQ-based	MCQ and non-MCQ questions
Decision Making section	Yes, unique to XAT	No
Sectional time limits	None	Yes, per section
Negative marking on unattempted questions	Yes, beyond 8 skips	No
Essay writing	Not part of the written test	Not applicable
Number of slots	Single slot	Multiple slots (normalised)

XAT 2027 is going to be a single slot exam hence there will be no need to normalise the exam based on the slots. This is not the same as CAT which is run over several slots and has score normalisation between sessions.

Recommended Time Allocation (Part 1)

Section	Suggested Time	Target Attempts
Quantitative Ability & DI	50–55 minutes	Prioritise high-confidence questions
Decision Making	45–50 minutes	Prioritise clear caselets and decisions
Verbal & Logical Ability	50–55 minutes	Balance RC with verbal/reasoning questions

These are only approximate ranges for suggested test scores and should be adjusted after mock testing. There are no sectional time limits in XAT 2027 and candidates can choose the order in which they attempt the sections, and also can change between sections. Practice with mocks to determine the order and timing to maximize accuracy, speed and focus in the 170-minute Part 1 time box.

Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) and XAT 2027

The XAT 2027 computer-based test (CBT) does not include Analytical Essay Writing. It has been removed from the written XAT test earlier and was moved to XLRI's selection process. Thus, the current XAT 2027 written test comprises four sections mentioned above.

Apply to JIMS Rohini with Your XAT 2027 Score

JIMS Rohini accepts XAT scores for its PGDM, PGDM (International Business) and PGDM (Retail Management) programmes, along with CAT, CMAT, MAT and GMAT. Shortlisted candidates then appear for a group discussion and personal interview.

FAQs

How many questions are in the XAT 2027 exam?

In XAT 2027, there will be around 95 questions in four sections: Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.

What is the total duration of XAT 2027?

The exam will last a total time duration of 180 minutes: Part 1 (170 minutes, including around 75 questions) + Part 2 (10 minutes, including 20 GK questions).

Is there negative marking in XAT 2027?

Yes. Part 1: −0.25 mark for each incorrect answer and −0.10 mark for each question not answered after the first 8 skipped questions. There is no negative marking in GK.

Is an on-screen calculator available in XAT 2027?

Yes. According to the official XAT FAQ, there will be a scientific calculator within the exam interface.

Does the GK section affect my XAT percentile?

No. GK does not contribute to the overall XAT percentile or cutoff score, but it is considered separately in the selection process for XLRI programmes.

Are there sectional time limits in XAT 2027?

There is no sectional time limit in XAT 2027. Candidates can choose the order of sections and switch between sections during the examination.

Is Analytical Essay Writing part of the XAT 2027 written exam?

No. Analytical Essay Writing is not part of the XAT 2027 computer-based examination; it was shifted to XLRI’s subsequent selection process.