X AT stands for Xavier Aptitude Test. It is a computer/screen-based MBA entrance exam conducted at the national-level once a year by XLRI Jamshedpur (Xavier School of Management) on behalf of XAMI (Xavier Associates of Management Institutes). XAT scores are used for admission to XLRI's own PGDM programs as well as accepted by more than 250 other B-schools in India including XIM Bhubaneswar, MICA, IMT Ghaziabad and IMI Delhi.
Tracing the history of the nomenclature, XLRI — Xavier Labour Relations Institute, was established in 1949 in Jamshedpur by Father Quinn Enright of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). It is India's oldest b-school based in Jamshedpur founded with the intention of bringing a positive change in the society and Nation’s economy.
XAT At a Glance
| Detail
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Information
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| Full form
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Xavier Aptitude Test
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| Conducted by
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XLRI Jamshedpur, on behalf of XAMI
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| Exam type
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National-level MBA/PGDM entrance exam
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| First conducted
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1949 (over 75 years of legacy)
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| Frequency
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Once a year, typically in early January
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| Mode
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Computer-based test (CBT)
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| Purpose
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Admission to XLRI and 250+ other B-schools
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| Official website
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xatonline.in
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What Is XAT Used For?
XAT is the only entrance test for the flagship PGDM programs at XLRI Jamshedpur — Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM), additionally, XAT scores are accepted by several prominent management institutes in India.
Primary purpose: XLRI PGDM (BM), PGDM (HRM) and several other programs.
Secondary purpose: Over 250 associates and other B-schools accept the Qualifying Score, such as XIM University Bhubaneswar, MICA Ahmedabad, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, TAPMI, GIM Goa and KJ Somaiya.
Eligibility: Final year students and graduates from all streams (Engineering/Commerce/Arts/Science) who dream to pursue their MBA/PGDM in India.
What Makes XAT Different from Other MBA Entrance Exams?
Decision Making: XAT is the only major Indian MBA entrance exam with a dedicated section testing decision making capability through the Decision Making section. The idea is to test business judgment and ethical reasoning through case-lets rather than formulas.
5 answer options per question: In most other exams like CAT, the answer options are 4.
No sectional time limits: Candidates can freely switch between sections if they wish throughout the 170 minutes of Part 1 of XAT.
Single-slot exam: This is unlike CAT's multiple slot format; No cross-session score normalization is done.
Unique unattempted-question penalty: Another rule is the deduction of marks if you leave more than 8 questions unattempted in Part 1; most other exams do not apply this kind of rule.
XAT Eligibility Criteria
- A 3-year Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Final-year students are allowed to apply if they complete college by the specified deadlines (which is generally the first week of June of that year).
- A minimum marks percentage is not required to be eligible for the examination.
- There is no age limit and no limit to the number of attempts that can be made.
- A minimum of 3 years of managerial work experience is required for PGDM (General Management) program only.
XAT Exam Structure
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Component
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Detail
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Total questions
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95
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Total duration
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180 minutes
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Sections
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Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge
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Marking
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+1 correct, −0.25 wrong (Part 1 only), −0.10 per unattempted question beyond 8 skips
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GK section
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No negative marking; excluded from percentile calculation
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Why XAT Matters for MBA Aspirants in India
There are a couple of things that separate XAT from the group of Indian MBA entrance exams:
- It is the only route to XLRI Jamshedpur which has been rated as one of the finest business schools in India with a great placement record and an internationally acclaimed HR program.
- Besides the fact that it's a one-slot exam with a static, stable pattern over the years (thus making it predictable compared to CAT's multi-slot, normalized format), it is a good alternative to CAT.
- Preparation for the Decision-Making section of the test helps to develop a skill set consisting of situational judgment and ethical reasoning which is directly relevant to most real-life managerial positions.
- XAT offers wide admission scope across tier 1,2,3 B-schools. One successful attempt and it gets widely accepted by more than 250 institutes apart from XLRI.
FAQs
Q1. What does XAT stand for?
XAT Full form is Xavier Aptitude Test.
Q2. Who conducts the XAT exam?
XLRI Jamshedpur (Xavier School of Management, on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI)
Q3. Is XAT only for XLRI admission?
No. They are compulsory for XLRI, however more than 250 B-schools in India accept XAT scores.
Q4. Is there a religious eligibility requirement for XAT, given the name?
No. XLRI was founded as a Jesuit institution, which is reflected in the name, but does not have any religious association and candidates do not need to be of a particular religion in order to apply.
Q5. How is XAT different from CAT?
XAT includes a unique Decision-Making section not found in CAT, offers 5 answer options per question instead of 4, runs in a single slot with no score normalization and applies an unattempted-question penalty unlike CAT.
Q6. Who is eligible to take XAT?
Candidates with a bachelor's degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline from a recognized university, including final-year students. There's no minimum percentage or age requirement.
Q7. How long has XAT been conducted?
An important point to note is that XAT has existed since the founding of XLRI, making it one of India's oldest MBA entrance exams with a history of more than 75 years as XLRI was established in 1949.