XAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & Expected Cutoff

Overview: The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 will be conducted on 4 January 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The exam is divided into two parts: Part A includes Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), while Part B covers General Knowledge (GK). In this XAT 2026 exam analysis, we will update the overall difficulty level, section-wise review, good attempts, and expected cut-off insights immediately after the exam.

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Here, you will find a detailed XAT 2026 exam analysis prepared by our experts [SuperGrads Team]

XAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level & Good Attempts Table

The table below will be updated immediately after the XAT 2026 exam on January 4, 2026.

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
Verbal & Logical Ability	26	TBA	TBA
Decision Making	21	TBA	TBA
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	28	TBA	TBA
Total (Part A)	75	TBA	TBA
General Knowledge	20-25	TBA	TBA

XAT 2026 Exam Analysis Section-wise

The XAT exam is typically divided into two main parts. Part 1 focuses on core aptitude sections, which contribute directly to the overall percentile. Part 2 includes General Knowledge and, in some years, an Essay Writing task.

1. Verbal and Logical Ability (VALR)

The XAT 2026 Verbal section is expected to feature a mix of Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Grammar. Unlike other MBA exams, XAT often includes unique elements like abstract passages and even poetry.

Expected Difficulty: Easy/Moderate/Difficult (TBA)
Key Focus Areas: Critical Reasoning will be a major component, requiring students to identify assumptions, strengthen arguments, and deduce logical conclusions.

Good Attempts: 14-16 questions with high accuracy would be considered excellent.

Breakdown of Question Topics:

Question Topics	Number of Questions	Difficulty Level
Error Correction	TBA	TBA
Grammatically Correct	TBA	TBA
Fill in the Blanks	TBA	TBA
Para Jumbles	TBA	TBA
Critical Reasoning	TBA	TBA
Poem-based Questions	TBA	TBA
Reading Comprehension 1	TBA	TBA
Reading Comprehension 2	TBA	TBA
Reading Comprehension 3	TBA	TBA
Reading Comprehension 4	TBA	TBA

2. Decision Making (DM)

The Decision Making section is a defining feature of the XAT exam. The post-exam analysis will focus on the nature of the caselets, which typically range from business ethics dilemmas to real-world workplace and managerial scenarios.

Expected Difficulty: Easy/Moderate/Difficult (TBA)
Trend Prediction: The section is expected to consist of 21 questions, spread across 7–8 caselets.
Approach: Candidates must carefully evaluate stakeholder interests while prioritizing ethical reasoning and long-term organizational sustainability.

Question-wise Breakup:

Question Topics	Number of Questions	Level of Difficulty
ABC Business School Policies	TBA	TBA
HR Caselet – ‘Symbolics’ IT Firm	TBA	TBA
HR Caselet – Experience Credentials	TBA	TBA
Deep Sea Natural Gas Extraction	TBA	TBA
Competition Between Taxi Drivers	TBA	TBA
Car Sales Scenario	TBA	TBA
Wrongful Termination of Domestic Help	TBA	TBA

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3. Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

Traditionally regarded as the most challenging section, the QA & DI portion of XAT 2026 is expected to emphasize Arithmetic and Geometry. Data Interpretation questions are usually logic-driven and involve intensive calculations.

Expected Difficulty: Easy/Moderate/Difficult (TBA)
Key Topics to Watch: Algebra, Functions, and Number Systems are likely to carry significant weight.
Good Attempts: Attempting 15–18 questions with good accuracy may be sufficient to reach the 95+ percentile in this section.

Topic-wise Distribution:

Quant & DI Topics	Total Questions	Difficulty Level
Arithmetic	TBA	TBA
Geometry	TBA	TBA
Modern Mathematics	TBA	TBA
Algebra	TBA	TBA
Number System	TBA	TBA
Time, Speed & Distance–based Set	TBA	TBA
Coordinate Geometry	TBA	TBA
Average-based Set	TBA	TBA
Logarithms	TBA	TBA

Prefer Year-wise Pages?

You can also access individual year pages here:

• XAT 2025 Question Paper PDF
• XAT 2024 Question Paper PDF
• XAT 2023 Question Paper PDF
• XAT 2022 Question Paper PDF

XAT Exam Analysis 2025 - Section-Wise

Section	Questions	Difficulty	Key Highlights
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning	26	Moderate	Included RC, vocabulary, grammar, and critical reasoning; manageable overall.
Decision Making	21	Moderate to Difficult	Analytical scenarios with tricky problems requiring critical thinking.
Quantitative Ability & DI	28	Moderate to Difficult	Included arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and lengthy data interpretation sets.
General Knowledge	20	Easy to Moderate	Combined static GK and current affairs; straightforward for most candidates.

XAT 2026 Exam Analysis: XAT 2025 continued its tradition of being a rigorous exam, with section-wise difficulty levels varying significantly. The Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning section emerged as the most approachable, while Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation demanded advanced problem-solving abilities. The General Knowledge section, on the other hand, was relatively easier to navigate for most test-takers.

XAT Exam Analysis 2025 for Verbal and Logical Ability 

Here are the memory based questions asked in the verbal ability and logical ability:

• There was a cartoon from the New York Times that had an intriguing interpretation.
• One of the critical reasoning questions was quite ambiguous and felt like a puzzle to solve, suggesting that art conveys unspoken ideas without explicitly stating them.
• The grammar section mostly focused on sentences using prepositions, and there was no question tags included this time.
• The reading comprehension passages were lengthy. One passage about meritocracy was an exception, while another about greedy work took an unexpected turn towards discussing gender inequality.
• Most questions were based on making inferences or drawing conclusions.
• The poem, though short, was tricky and ambiguous regarding its central idea, making it hard to determine if the answers should focus on intended meanings or literal interpretations.
• The good attempts for VALR are 17-18 questions.

The detailed breakdown is as follows: 

Question Topics	Number of Questions	Difficulty Level
Error Correction	1	Difficult
Grammatically Correct	2	Moderate
Fill in the Blanks	2	Easy to Moderate
Para Jumbles	2	Easy to Moderate
Critical Reasoning	3	Easy to Moderate
Poem based	2	Difficult
Reading Comprehensions 1	2	Difficult
Reading Comprehensions 2	3	Moderate
Reading Comprehensions 3	3	Moderate
Reading Comprehensions 4	3	Moderate

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2. Decision Making (DM)

The Decision Making section is a defining feature of the XAT exam. The post-exam analysis will focus on the nature of the caselets, which typically range from business ethics dilemmas to real-world workplace and managerial scenarios.

Expected Difficulty: Easy/Moderate/Difficult (TBA)
Trend Prediction: The section is expected to consist of 21 questions, spread across 7–8 caselets.
Approach: Candidates must carefully evaluate stakeholder interests while prioritizing ethical reasoning and long-term organizational sustainability.

Question-wise Breakup:

Question Topics	Number of Questions	Level of Difficulty
ABC Business School Policies	TBA	TBA
HR Caselet – ‘Symbolics’ IT Firm	TBA	TBA
HR Caselet – Experience Credentials	TBA	TBA
Deep Sea Natural Gas Extraction	TBA	TBA
Competition Between Taxi Drivers	TBA	TBA
Car Sales Scenario	TBA	TBA
Wrongful Termination of Domestic Help	TBA	TBA

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3. Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

Traditionally regarded as the most challenging section, the QA & DI portion of XAT 2026 is expected to emphasize Arithmetic and Geometry. Data Interpretation questions are usually logic-driven and involve intensive calculations.

Expected Difficulty: Easy/Moderate/Difficult (TBA)
Key Topics to Watch: Algebra, Functions, and Number Systems are likely to carry significant weight.
Good Attempts: Attempting 15–18 questions with good accuracy may be sufficient to reach the 95+ percentile in this section.

Topic-wise Distribution:

Quant & DI Topics	Total Questions	Difficulty Level
Arithmetic	TBA	TBA
Geometry	TBA	TBA
Modern Mathematics	TBA	TBA
Algebra	TBA	TBA
Number System	TBA	TBA
Time, Speed & Distance–based Set	TBA	TBA
Coordinate Geometry	TBA	TBA
Average-based Set	TBA	TBA
Logarithms	TBA	TBA

XAT Exam Analysis 2025 - Decision Making 

This section primarily focused on ethics & dilemmas, and business decisions. Let's see the key highlights in this section: 

• Although the section was time-consuming, it was overall easy to solve.
• We encountered situation-based case studies, each accompanied by pertinent questions.
• Some passages' questions were less tricky than those seen in the previous year's XAT exam difficulty level.
• There were several intriguing sets, including ones based on ABC Business School and its Alumni, one about Valve, another depicting a techie leaving their job to join a business school, and one featuring Maid Vimala.
• Vocabulary-based contextual questions were also asked.

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The detailed breakdown is as follows: 

Question Topics	Question Type	Number of Questions	Level of Difficulty
ABC Business School policies	Ethical Dilemma	3	Moderate to Difficult
HR Caselet – ‘Symbolics’ IT firm	Business Decisions	3	Moderate to Difficult
HR Caselet – Experience credentials	Ethical Dilemma	3	Moderate to Difficult
Deep Sea Natural Gas Extraction	Business Decisions	3	Moderate
Competition between taxi drivers	Business Decisions	3	Moderate
Car sales	Business Decisions	3	Moderate
Wrongful termination of domestic help	Ethical Dilemma	3	Moderate

Know More | Decision Making For XAT: Concepts & Preparation Strategy

XAT Exam Analysis 2025 For Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 

This section covered various topics, including arithmetic, geometry, and data interpretation sets. Additionally, a detailed XAT question paper analysis reveals the emphasis on these areas, showcasing their importance in the overall exam. Let's see the key highlights in this section:

• The total number of questions for Quantitative Ability was 15; for Data Interpretation, there were 13.
• The questions in this section were unexpectedly lengthy for many students, with some based on extended paragraphs.
• This section was notably time-consuming.
• The XAT difficulty level throughout was moderate.
• True to form, the XAT paper placed additional emphasis on Statistics.

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The detailed breakdown is as follows: 

Quant DI Topics	Total Questions	Difficulty Level
Arithmetic	2	Easy to Moderate
Geometry	2	Moderate to Difficult
Modern Math	1	Moderate to Difficult
Algebra	2	Easy to Moderate
Number System	1	Moderate to Difficult
TSD Based set	3	Moderate
Coordinate geometry	2	Easy
Average based set	3	Easy to Moderate
Log	1	Easy

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XAT 2024 First Copy of Exam

 

XAT 2024 Exam Analysis - Previous Years' Comparison

The XAT paper analysis over the years reveals a trend towards moderate to difficult levels. This has significant implications for the scoring strategy. 

Past Years XAT Exam Analysis 2020-2023 

This table presents XAT exam analysis, focusing on changes in the exam pattern from 2020 to 2023.

XAT Exam Analysis Previous Years

Particulars	XAT 2024	XAT 2023	XAT 2022	XAT 2021
Test Duration	3 Hours 30 Minutes	3 Hours 30 Minutes	3 Hours 10 Minutes	3 Hours
Test Timing	2 PM to 5.30 PM	2 PM to 5.30 PM	9.30 AM to 12.30 PM	9.30 AM to 12.30 PM
Total Number of Questions	101	102	101	100
XAT Difficulty Level	Moderate to Difficult	Expected- Moderate to Difficult	Difficult	Difficult
Type of Questions	MCQS-100: Descriptive-1	MCQS-100: Descriptive-1	MCQS-100: Descriptive-1	MCQS
Number of Sections	5	5	4	4
Maximum Marks	100 (Essay Evaluation after shortlisting by XLRI)	100 (Essay Evaluation after shortlisting by XLRI)	100 (Essay Evaluation after shortlisting by XLRI)	100
Marking Scheme	For each correct answer +1 For each wrong answer -0.25	For each correct answer +1 For each wrong answer -0.25	For each correct answer+1 For each wrong answer -0.25	For each correct answer +1 For each wrong answer -0.25
Penalty for Un-attempted Questions	0.10 negative marks after 8 un-attempted questions	0.10 negative marks after 8 un-attempted questions	0.10 negative marks after 8 un-attempted questions	NA

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XAT Exam Cut Off Marks 2025 (Expected)

After having a fair understanding of the XAT 2025 analysis, let's have a look at the expected cut-off:

XAT Expected Cutoffs (2025) 

Institute	Expected XAT Score
	Male	Female
XLRI Jamshedpur - BM	30-32	28-30
XLRI Jamshedpur - HRM	29-31 (Engineers)	27-29 (Engineers)
	27-29 (Non- Engineers)	26- 28 (non-Engineers)

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Is It Important to Check the XAT Exam Analysis 2025? 

Absolutely, evaluating the XAT exam question paper analysis and XAT exam difficulty level is crucial. It enables you to gauge your performance in the XAT and identify areas for improvement. The XAT2025 exam analysis offers a glimpse into the test's overall challenge, the nature of the questions, and the score distribution.

This data can be instrumental in tailoring your study strategy for subsequent tests, allowing you to concentrate on areas of weakness. 

Good Attempts as Per XAT 2025 Exam Analysis (Expected) 

If we look at the overall XAT exam paper analysis 2025 and XAT exam difficulty level the overall good attempts should be between 45-50 questions out of the total 75 questions.

The XAT cutoff is the essential score applicants must achieve to be considered for further selection in XAT-participating institutes.

The official XAT cutoff will be published on the website following the/ announcement of the XAT results. Factors influencing the XAT cutoff include the total number of test-takers, the XAT difficulty level of the exam, and the available MBA admission seats. 

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XAT Exam Pattern 2025

Here is the 2025 XAT exam pattern:

Section	No. of Questions	Total marks	Good Attempts
PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A
Verbal and Logical Ability	26	26	14-15
Decision Making	21	21	12-13
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	28	28	19-20
Total	75
PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check
PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks
General Awareness	20	20

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, the XAT 2025 exam continues to be a pivotal gateway for MBA aspirants. Its evolving structure and challenging content reflect the dynamic needs of top business schools.

Candidates must adapt to these changes, focusing on comprehensive preparation across all sections.

Understanding the exam's complexity by doing proper XAT 2025 exam analysis, strategic preparation, and awareness of expected cutoffs will be key to success.

As XAT question paper analysis maintains its reputation as a rigorous test, it offers a unique opportunity for aspirants to demonstrate their aptitude and readiness for the demanding world of management. 

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