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Home > News & Articles > XAT Question Paper - Question Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, Benefits. Download PDF
Prachi Bhatia
Updated on 07th August, 2024 , 3 min read
XAT Question Paper - Question Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme, Benefits. Download PDF
XAT Question Paper: The XAT Exam is one of the most difficult entrance tests for MBA programs. It is difficult to pass any exam on the first try with high marks. For this reason, proper practice and revision are essential.
Which Exam is Tough? CAT or XAT? Read the analysis here
The Xavier School of Management will hold its first session of XAT exam on January 5, 2025. Candidates who intend to take the test should have begun their preparation. If not, they should begin immediately. They should begin by reading the greatest books and then work through the previous year's XAT exam papers.
Candidates can have a better understanding of the XAT question format, scoring system, and kinds of questions that will be asked in the XAT 2025 by working through XAT previous year's question papers. Candidates can quickly identify their weak and strong areas when answering the previous year's XAT question paper. To increase their speed and accuracy, candidates should solve XAT question papers on a regular basis.
Also See: XAT Past Year Paper Analysis
XAT Question Paper Pattern - Previous Year Analysis
For a better preparation strategy, the candidates can check the previous year's exam analysis of XAT and start preparing accordingly.
| Exam Year | Total Number of Questions | Section-wise number of questions | Marking Scheme | Level of Difficulty |
| XAT 2022 | 100 | VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 Essay: 1 (to be evaluated upon shortlisting) | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions | Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2021 | 100 | VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions | Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2020 | 100 | VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 28 GK: 25 | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.10 for more than 8 unanswered questions | Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2019 | 99 | VARC: 26 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer -0.5 for more than 8 unanswered questions | Moderate to difficult |
| XAT 2018 | 97 | VARC: 24 DM: 21 QA & DI: 27 GK: 25 One essay topic | +1 for each right answer -0.25 for each wrong answer; -0.5 for more than 12 unanswered questions | Moderate to difficult |
XAT Marking Scheme
The marking scheme is an important part of the XAT exam paper. The layout of the XAT marking scheme method differs from that of other exam papers. There is no negative marking for General Knowledge section questions. For every erroneous response, there is a 0.25 mark deduction. Furthermore, if a candidate leaves 8 questions unattempted, a negative marking of 0.10 marks is given.
- One mark will be awarded for each right answer to XAT
- 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer
- 0.10 marks will be deducted for more than eight unanswered questions
- There will be no negative marking in the General Knowledge section
- The scores of the General Knowledge section will not be considered for calculating the XAT score.
Also Read:
XAT Exam Pattern | XAT Syllabus
How to download the XAT Question Paper?
Candidates can get the XAT sample/question paper by following the instructions below.
- Go to the website and register by filling in the required information.
- After completing registration, log in using the credentials you created.
- Candidates may also log in using their Google or Facebook accounts to get XAT previous year question papers.
- Candidates must now go to the XAT question paper store and select the "Download" button.
You may like: XAT Score Vs Percentile Analysis
Benefits of Solving XAT Question Paper
- Candidates can learn where they are weak by working through the practice questions from the previous year's XAT exam. This will help them identify the area or topic in which they need to put in more effort
- Candidates can develop time management skills by solving previous year's XAT exam papers
- Candidates can assess their preparation for the XAT by completing the XAT test questions
- By solving the past year's question papers, candidates not only learn about the exam structure but also learn some effective ways to ace the exam by developing skills like speed, and problem-solving.
Read More: XAT Preparation Tips & XAT Mock Test Series
XAT Previous Year Question Papers PDF download
Candidates can download the previous year's XAT question papers from below.
| XAT Exam Year | PDF Link |
| 2018 | Download Here |
| 2019 | Download Here |
| 2020 | Download Here |
| 2021 | Download Here |
| 2022 | Download Here |
| 2023 | Download Here |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is XAT tougher than CAT?
When compared, XAT and CAT are the most difficult MBA exams. However, the Reading Comprehension in XAT is more challenging than the one in the CAT Exam. Also, the difficulty level of the exam varies each year and it totally depends on the candidate's individual preparation and skill set.
Where Can I download the XAT previous Year Question papers?
The XAT previous year question papers are easily available for download on this page, or can also be downloaded from the official XAT website - xatonline.org
What are good attempts in XAT?
As per the test takers and experts, a good attempt in XAT is when a candidate attempts at least 30-35 questions with 10% accuracy. This will lead to a good percentile mark in the XAT exam.
How many total questions are there in XAT and how many should I attempt?
In XAT, there are a total of 105 questions, out of which the candidate needs to attempt 102 questions. The 3 remaining questions are given as a topic for essay and the candidate needs to choose 1 of the 4 options. A canddiate should try and attempt maximum questions to get a high XAT score.
What is Quantitative Aptitude in XAT?
The Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section in the XAT exam is designed to test the candidates' knowledge in various topics like Percentage, Tables and Caselets, Linear and Quadratics Equations, Profit and Loss, Probability, Surds and Indices, Ratio and Proportion, Critical Path, Inequalities, etc. The section is based on the mathematical skills.
Does XAT have negative marking?
Yes. XAT has a negative marking of 0.25 and 0.10. 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer, and 0.10 marks are deducted for 8 consecutive unattempted questions.
Is GK score counted in XAT?
The General Knowledge (GK) section in XAT does not have any negative marking. The scores obtained in this section are not counted to calculate the overall XAT percentile and result. However, the GK and essay writing score is considered for GD and PI rounds of XLRI and other institutes.