The XAT 2021 notification is out! The exam will be conducted on 3 January 2021, according to the XAT Homepage. What are the important dates to remember for this exam, and why should you write this management exam? Well, stick around, because we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the XAT.
What is the XAT?
The ‘’Xavier Aptitude Test’ is more commonly referred to as the XAT. It is a national-level, computer-based management exam written by MBA aspirants looking to get admitted into the MBA/PGDM programmes offered primarily by the members of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes. It is conducted every year by XLRI Jamshedpur.
XAT Scores are accepted by over 160+ B-Schools, the highlights of which include (apart from the members of XAMI of course), LIBA, Great Lakes, TAPMI, and IMT.
A point to note: If you’re looking to get into programmes offered by XLRI, it is mandatory that you take up the XAT because they do not accept other management exam scores.
Also, remember that if you want to write this exam, you must have completed your bachelor’s degree with no pending backlogs. There is no upper age bar on this exam. As simple as that. If you have your eye on any particular programme, make sure you visit the XAT website and peruse the eligibility criteria for that programme.
Structure and Syllabus of XAT 2021
There are 100 questions of the MCQ format in this 3 hour exam, with 1 mark awarded for choosing the correct answer out of a total of 5 options, and 0.25 marks deducted for choosing the wrong answers. Head over to this video to understand whether or not you should leave questions in the XAT exam.
The exam is divided into 2 parts:
| Section | No. of MCQs | Duration |
| Part 1 | 75 | 165 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | ~28 | no sectional limit |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | ~26 | no sectional limit |
| Decision Making | ~21 | no sectional limit |
| Part 2 | ||
| General Knowledge | 25 | 15 minutes |
The percentile calculated for each examinee will not include the GK section of the test and will be focused on Part 1 of the XAT.
If you’re wondering how the XAT is different from the CAT and are pondering over the decision of which management exam to write, head on over to this fabulous article here. It will shed light on the syllabus of various management exams, including XAT 2021, along with the levels of difficulty of these exams, and may help you make your decision. 🙂
Important Dates and Details for XAT 2021
Here are the important events and their corresponding dates that must be taken a note of for XAT 2021:
| XAT 2021 Important Events | Dates |
| XAT 2021 Registration Begins | 12 September 2020 |
| XAT 2021 Registration Ends | Till Midnight – 30 November 2020 Update: Extended till 10 December 2020 (without penalty) |
| XAT 2021 Admit Card Download | 20 December 2020 Onwards |
| XAT 2021 Exam | 3 January 2021 |
| XAT Exam Timing | 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (3 Hours) |
| Mode of XAT Exam | Computer-Based/Online |
| XAT 2021 Results | Before 31 January 2021 |
The fee for registration is Rs. 1750. XLRI is conducting the exam in these cities. For more queries, contact the XAT Help Desk available at the bottom of their website.
A Final Note
The XAT is one of the big two when it comes to pursuing an MBA in India. The other, is obviously CAT. Head on over to this wonderful article which discusses 5 important ideas for the XAT, it is absolute gold! If you’re planning on taking up this exam, register early and prepare well.
Check out this video which talks about how to prepare for XAT! Happy Learning!
Stay Safe, Best Wishes!
Written by Saahil R Bhatt.
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