XAT 2026 Question Paper PDF Download: Pattern, Sample Papers

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of India's most widely accepted MBA entrance exams, conducted annually by XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT scores are accepted by 10 XAMI member colleges and over 250 participating B-schools for admission to MBA, PGDM, and Executive MBA programmes. Practising with the XAT 2026 question paper and previous year papers is the most reliable way to understand question patterns and build exam confidence.

What's New in XAT 2026

Before diving into the XAT 2026 question paper structure, here are the key updates you need to know for this year's exam:

• No sectional time limit in Part A  candidates can move freely between sections
• Number of test cities increased to 109 centres across India
• Candidates can choose two preferred test cities in the application form
• XAT 2026 exam date: Sunday, 4th January 2026
• Registration window: 10th July 2025 – 11th December 2025
• Application fee remains unchanged from previous years

📥 Download Free XAT 2026 Sample Question Papers PDF Now

XAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern

The XAT 2026 question paper is divided into two parts. Part A consists of three sections Verbal and Logical Ability (VLA), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) with a combined duration of 170 minutes and no internal sectional time limit. Part B covers General Awareness in a separate 10-minute window.

Note: General Awareness marks are not counted in the final XAT percentile calculation used by XLRI.

XAT 2026 Sample Questions with Answers

Here are some section-wise XAT 2026 sample questions with answers for Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.

XAT 2026 Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning Sample Questions

Q1. Choose the word closest in meaning to "Ephemeral".

1. Permanent
2. Fleeting
3. Strong
4. Valuable

Answer: B. Fleeting

Explanation: Ephemeral means lasting for a very short period.

Q2. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.

1. Neither of the students were present.
2. Neither of the students was present.
3. Neither students was present.
4. Neither student were present.

Answer: B. Neither of the students was present.

Explanation: “Neither” is singular and takes a singular verb.

Q3. Complete the analogy: Book : Author :: Painting : ?

1. Museum
2. Artist
3. Gallery
4. Buyer

Answer: B. Artist

Explanation: A book is created by an author, just as a painting is created by an artist.

Q4. Reading Comprehension

A company can increase profits either by increasing revenue or reducing costs. However, excessive cost-cutting may affect product quality and customer satisfaction.

Which statement is most supported by the passage?

1. Cost reduction always increases profits.
2. Product quality is unrelated to profitability.
3. Excessive cost-cutting can have negative consequences.
4. Revenue growth is impossible.

Answer: C. Excessive cost-cutting can have negative consequences.

XAT 2026 Decision Making Sample Questions

Q5. Managerial Ethics

You are the manager of a manufacturing company. One of your top-performing employees is found violating a minor company policy. If reported, he may lose an important promotion. What should you do?

1. Ignore the violation because he is a top performer.
2. Report the violation and follow company policy.
3. Give him a warning and hide the incident.
4. Ask him to resign.

Answer: B. Report the violation and follow company policy.

Explanation: XAT Decision Making questions test ethics, fairness and organisational integrity.

Q6. Customer Complaint

A customer receives a defective product. Replacing it immediately will cost the company more than repairing it. What is the best course of action?

1. Refuse replacement.
2. Delay the response.
3. Offer a replacement to ensure customer satisfaction.
4. Ignore the complaint.

Answer: C. Offer a replacement to ensure customer satisfaction.

Q7. Team Management

A project deadline is approaching. One team member requests leave due to a family emergency. What should the project manager do?

1. Reject the leave.
2. Approve the leave and redistribute responsibilities.
3. Remove the employee from the project.
4. Ignore the request.

Answer: B. Approve the leave and redistribute responsibilities.

XAT 2026 Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Sample Questions

Q8. Average Speed

A train travels 240 km in 4 hours. What is its average speed?

1. 40 km/h
2. 50 km/h
3. 60 km/h
4. 80 km/h

Answer: C. 60 km/h

Explanation: Speed = Distance ÷ Time = 240 ÷ 4 = 60 km/h.

Q9. Ratio and Proportion

If the ratio of boys to girls in a class is 5:3 and there are 24 girls, how many boys are there?

1. 30
2. 35
3. 40
4. 45

Answer: C. 40

Explanation: 3 parts = 24, so 1 part = 8. Therefore, 5 parts = 40 boys.

Q10. Discount

A shopkeeper marks an item at ₹2000 and offers a 10% discount. What is the selling price?

1. ₹1600
2. ₹1700
3. ₹1800
4. ₹1900

Answer: C. ₹1800

Explanation: Discount = 10% of ₹2000 = ₹200. Selling price = ₹2000 - ₹200 = ₹1800.

Q11. Algebra

What is the value of 15² - 5²?

1. 200
2. 210
3. 225
4. 250

Answer: A. 200

Explanation: 15² - 5² = 225 - 25 = 200.

Q12. Data Interpretation

The quarterly sales of a company are given below:

Question: What is the percentage increase from Q1 to Q4?

1. 50%
2. 60%
3. 75%
4. 90%

Answer: C. 75%

Explanation: Percentage increase = [(210 - 120) ÷ 120] × 100 = 75%.

XAT 2026 General Knowledge Sample Questions

Q13. Which organisation releases the World Economic Outlook report?

1. WTO
2. IMF
3. World Bank
4. UNDP

Answer: B. IMF

Q14. Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?

1. Jawaharlal Nehru
2. Sardar Patel
3. B. R. Ambedkar
4. Rajendra Prasad

Answer: C. B. R. Ambedkar

Q15. Which Indian city is known as the Silicon Valley of India?

1. Hyderabad
2. Pune
3. Chennai
4. Bengaluru

Answer: D. Bengaluru

Q16. The headquarters of the United Nations is located in:

1. Geneva
2. Paris
3. New York
4. Washington DC

Answer: C. New York

XAT 2026 Marking Scheme

Understanding the marking scheme is critical when practising with the XAT 2026 sample question paper, as the negative marking and unattempted penalty significantly affect your net score.

XAT 2026 Sample Question Paper: What to Expect

The XAT 2026 sample question paper mirrors the difficulty and structure of the actual exam. Based on recent years, here is what candidates typically encounter across sections:

Verbal and Logical Ability

The VLA section in the XAT 2026 sample question paper features dense reading comprehension passages drawn from philosophy, literature, and social sciences — a hallmark of XAT's distinctive style. Expect 3–4 RC passages, para-jumbles, and critical reasoning questions. Vocabulary-based questions appear occasionally.

Decision Making

The Decision Making (DM) section is unique to XAT and absent in CAT. The XAT 2026 question paper will include case-based scenarios requiring ethical judgement, business-contextual decision-making, and analytical reasoning. Questions typically appear in sets of 3–4 sharing a common situation.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

QA & DI questions in the XAT 2026 sample question paper test both calculation speed and concept depth. Expect questions from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and set theory alongside data interpretation from tables, bar charts, and line graphs. Difficulty is generally moderate to high.

General Awareness

The GA section tests awareness of current affairs, business news, economic events, and static GK (history, geography, awards). Although GA scores are not counted toward the XLRI percentile, they are important for other XAT-accepting colleges and for interview rounds.

Section-wise Syllabus for XAT 2026 Question Paper

The following topic coverage is inferred from analysing XAT 2026 question papers across the last 10 years. No official section-level syllabus is published by XLRI.

Verbal & Logical Ability

• Reading comprehension
• Grammar & usage
• Vocabulary
• Critical reasoning
• Para-jumbles
• Inference-based questions

Decision Making

• Ethical dilemmas
• Business decisions
• Situational analyses
• Complex case studies
• Group scenarios

Quantitative Ability & DI

• Arithmetic & Algebra
• Geometry & Mensuration
• Set Theory
• Probability
• Charts & Data Analysis
• Data sufficiency

General Awareness

• Business, Finance & Economics
• Indian Constitution & Laws
• Famous Personalities
• Current Affairs (National & International)
• Books, Awards, History & Geography

Check: How many Times XAT exam conducted in a Year