Overview:  What are the XAT exam total marks? The XAT 2025 notification is out, and the XAT exam will be conducted on January 5, 2024. Read on to get insights into the XAT exam pattern and marking scheme!

• Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT 2025) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI in January every year on behalf of XLRI Associate Member Institutes (XAMI).
• The XAT entrance exam has three parts: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It consists of 101 MCQs and 1 essay writing question. 
• Each question carries 1 mark, and each MCQ has 5 options. The total mark of the XAT exam is 101.

Scroll down to know more about the XAT exam marks, XAT exam pattern and XAT marking scheme!

Download Free Study Material for XAT Exam 2025 by SuperGrads

Also Read | XAT Exam Analysis 2024: Check Difficulty Level

XAT Exam Total Marks 2025

The XAT exam 2025 will be conducted on January 5, 2025. The XAT question paper has three parts that must be solved quickly. The total mark for the XAT exam is 101.

The first part of XAT exam includes verbal and logical ability, decision-making, Quantitative ability and data interpretation. 

The second part of the XAT exam is a 5-minute mock keyboard test, while the third part asks questions based on general knowledge.

Each section of XAT entrance exam 2025 will have 22-27 questions in MCQ format and 5 options for choosing the right answer.

Also Read | XAT Application Form 2025: Registration Process

XAT Exam Pattern 2025: Major Highlights 

Here is the XAT exam pattern and a number of questions asked in each section of XAT exam 2025:

Section	No. of Questions
PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A
Verbal and Logical Ability	26
Decision Making	21
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	28
Total	75
PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check
PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks
General Awareness	25
Essay	The essay will be counted only when the candidate is shortlisted for the interview.

Also Read | XAT Exam Eligibility 2025: Registration & Many more

XAT Total Marks 2025:Sectional Weightage

The XAT exam total marks are distributed majorly in 4 sections viz

• Decision-Making Section 
• Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension 
• Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
• General Knowledge

Here is the section-wise weightage for the XAT exam 2025

XAT Exam Sections 2025	Weightage
Decision Making	21%
VARC	26%
QA and DI	27%
GK	25%

KINDLY NOTE

• *The scores from the General Knowledge (GK) and Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) sections will be EXCLUSIVELY utilised by XLRI for its final selection process.
• PwD candidates will be granted an additional 20 minutes for every hour.

Also Read | Best Tips to Prepare XAT Exam 

XAT Exam Total Marks 2025: XAT Marking Scheme 2025

To ace the XAT exam 2025 in the first attempt, it is very important to have a deep understanding of the XAT marking scheme. 

Here are the key facts about the XAT marking scheme 2025: 

• There is 1 mark for every correct answer.
• There is a negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect answer.
• If you unanswered more than 8 consecutive questions, then 0.10 marks will be deducted.

XAT Marking Scheme 2025
Marks are given to each correct answer	+1 mark
Negative marking in XAT (marks deducted for each wrong answer)	– 0.25 marks
Marks were deducted for more than 8 consecutive and unanswered question	-0.1

Also Read | XAT Exam Question Paper 2024: Q&A's (Available)

XAT Exam Total Marks 2025: Trends Over the Years

The XAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme has undergone several changes over the past decade. Some of the most significant changes include:

• Shifted from Paper Based Test to a Computer Based Test in 2018
• Essay Based Question scrapped after XAT 2018 and reinstated in XAT 2022
• The number of Questions has fluctuated over the years
• The number of un-attempted questions allowed has been reduced from 13 to 8
• Non-MCQ questions/Fill in the blanks were removed in XAT 2019 but were reintroduced in XAT 2020
• The time of the exam has changed many times.

Also Read | Best Tips to prepare for XAT in 2024

XAT Exam Total Marks 2025: Previous Year Patterns

A summary of the XAT Exam Total Marks Distribution for 2015- 2024 is given in the table below:

XAT Exam	No. of Questions; Hours Allotted	Questions/Total marks of XAT exam Distribution per Section	Marking Scheme
XAT Exam 2024	100; 3 hours 30 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-22 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2023	102; 3 hours 30 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-22 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2022	101; 3 hours 10 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2021	100; 3 hours	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2020	100; 3 hours	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2019	99; 3 hours	QA-27 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2018	98; 3.5 hours	QA-27 VA-24 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 12
XAT Exam 2017	98; 3.5 hours	QA-27 VA-24 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 12
XAT Exam 2016	104; 3.5 hours	QA-29 VA-26 DM-23 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 13
XAT Exam 2015	115; 3 hours	QA-33 VA-28 DM-23 GK-30 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks

Conclusion

The XAT exam, a gateway to prestigious management institutes, undergoes dynamic changes annually. Understanding the XAT Total Marks Distribution and the XAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme is crucial for the effective preparation of strategies for these changes for aspirants' success.