30+ XAT Time and Work Questions PDF: Formulas, Shortcuts + PYQs

Overview: XAT Time and Work Questions are an important part of the Arithmetic section in Quantitative Aptitude. These questions test your understanding of efficiency, work rate, combined work, pipes and cisterns, and time-based calculations.

In this blog, you will find important formulas, shortcut tricks, solved examples, and 30 time and work XAT questions with answers to improve your Quant preparation.

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Table of Contents

1. What are XAT Time and Work Questions?
2. XAT Time and Work Questions Overview
3. Importance of XAT Time and Work Questions
4. Important Time and Work Formulas
5. Shortcut Tricks for XAT Time and Work
6. 30 XAT Time and Work Questions with Answers
7. Important Areas to Focus
8. Common Mistakes Students Make
9. Tips to Improve Accuracy
10. Conclusion

What are XAT Time and Work Questions?

XAT Time and Work questions are a fundamental part of the Quantitative Ability section in XAT and other MBA entrance exams. These problems evaluate a candidate's understanding of work efficiency, productivity, and the relationship between time and task completion

Aspect	Explanation
Meaning	These questions are based on how much work a person, machine, or group can complete in a fixed time.
Main Concept	They focus on efficiency, time taken, work rate, and combined productivity.
Common Format	A and B complete a task separately or together, and students need to calculate time, work, or efficiency.
Best Method	LCM method, one-day work method, and efficiency ratio method.

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XAT Time and Work Questions Overview

Particulars	Details
Topic	Time and Work
Section	Quantitative Aptitude
Question Type	Arithmetic-based MCQs
Difficulty Level	Easy to Moderate
Expected Questions	1-3 Questions
Skills Tested	Efficiency, ratios, fractions, calculation speed, and accuracy

Importance of XAT Time and Work Questions

XAT Time and Work questions is one of the most important arithmetic topics in XAT because it tests a candidate's ability to understand efficiency, productivity, and work-rate relationships. Questions from this topic are generally formula-driven and can be solved quickly with sufficient practice.

The table below highlights why Time and Work is important for XAT preparation and how mastering this topic can improve overall exam performance.

Importance	How It Helps
Scoring Topic	Most questions are formula-based and can be solved quickly with practice.
Improves Arithmetic Base	Strengthens ratios, fractions, percentages, and efficiency concepts.
Useful for MBA Exams	Helpful for XAT, CAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT, and other entrance exams.
Boosts Speed	Shortcut methods reduce solving time in the exam.
Improves Accuracy	Clear concepts reduce calculation errors and guesswork.

Important Time and Work Formulas

Understanding Time and Work formulas is essential for solving XAT Time and Work questions quickly and accurately in aptitude and MBA entrance exams. These formulas help candidates calculate work efficiency, completion time, individual contributions, and combined work rates with ease. Learning and regularly practicing these concepts can significantly improve problem-solving speed and reduce calculation errors during the exam.

The table below summarizes the most important Time and Work formulas along with their meanings and practical applications.

Formula	Meaning	Usage
Work = Time × Efficiency	Total work depends on time and working speed.	Basic work questions
Efficiency = Work ÷ Time	Efficiency means work done per unit time.	Worker comparison
Time = Work ÷ Efficiency	Time is inversely related to efficiency.	Finding completion time
One Day Work = 1 ÷ Number of Days	Work done by a person in one day.	Combined work
A + B Work = 1/x + 1/y	Combined one-day work of A and B.	Teamwork questions
Efficiency Ratio = Inverse of Time Ratio	If one person takes less time, they are more efficient.	Ratio-based questions

Shortcut Tricks for XAT Time and Work

Shortcut	How to Use It	Best For
LCM Method	Assume total work as the LCM of given days.	Combined work questions
Efficiency Method	Convert time taken into work done per day.	Worker comparison questions
Ratio Method	Use inverse relation between time and efficiency.	Efficiency ratio questions
Net Work Method	Subtract negative work from positive work.	Pipes and cisterns

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Advanced Time and Work Questions for MBA Entrance Exams

The following advanced-level Time and Work questions are designed for NMAT, XAT, CAT, SNAP, and other MBA entrance exams. These questions focus on concepts like efficiency, alternate work schedules, pipes and cisterns, wages, and combined work.

Q1. A and B together can complete a work in 12 days. B and C together can complete the same work in 15 days, while C and A together can complete it in 20 days. In how many days can A alone complete the work?

A. 24 days
B. 30 days
C. 40 days
D. 45 days

Answer: B. 30 days

Q2. A can complete a work in 18 days. He works for 6 days and then B joins him. Together they complete the remaining work in 8 days. In how many days can B alone complete the work?

A. 24 days
B. 30 days
C. 36 days
D. 42 days

Answer: C. 36 days

Q3. A pipe can fill a tank in 24 minutes and another pipe can empty it in 36 minutes. If both pipes are opened together, after how much time will the tank be full?

A. 48 minutes
B. 60 minutes
C. 72 minutes
D. 84 minutes

Answer: C. 72 minutes

Q4. A is twice as efficient as B and B is three times as efficient as C. If C alone can complete a work in 36 days, in how many days will A, B, and C together complete the work?

A. 6 days
B. 7 days
C. 8 days
D. 9 days

Answer: A. 6 days

Q5. A contractor hires 24 workers to complete a project in 30 days. After 10 days, 6 workers leave. In how many additional days will the remaining work be completed?

A. 24 days
B. 26 days
C. 28 days
D. 30 days

Answer: B. 26 days

Q6. A and B together can complete a work in 8 days, while B and C together can complete it in 12 days. If A is twice as efficient as C, then in how many days can A alone complete the work?

A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 15 days
D. 18 days

Answer: B. 12 days

Q7. A can complete 40% of a work in 8 days. B can complete 60% of the same work in 12 days. In how many days can they together complete the entire work?

A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 15 days
D. 16 days

Answer: A. 10 days

Q8. Three pipes A, B, and C can fill a tank in 12 hours, 15 hours, and 20 hours respectively. If all pipes are opened together, but pipe C is closed after 4 hours, in how many hours will the tank be completely filled?

A. 5 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 7 hours
D. 8 hours

Answer: B. 6 hours

Q9. A and B can together complete a work in 15 days. They worked together for 5 days after which A left. B alone completed the remaining work in 20 days. In how many days can A alone complete the work?

A. 18 days
B. 20 days
C. 25 days
D. 30 days

Answer: D. 30 days

Q10. A can complete a work in 24 days, B in 16 days, and C in 12 days. They start together but A leaves after 4 days and B leaves 2 days before completion. In how many days is the work completed?

A. 8 days
B. 9 days
C. 10 days
D. 12 days

Answer: B. 9 days

Q11. 18 men can complete a work in 20 days. After 5 days, 6 more men join them. In how many more days will the work be completed?

A. 8 days
B. 9 days
C. 10 days
D. 12 days

Answer: B. 9 days

Q12. A can complete a work in 10 days and B can complete it in 15 days. They work on alternate days starting with A. In how many days will the work be completed?

A. 11 days
B. 12 days
C. 13 days
D. 14 days

Answer: B. 12 days

Q13. A, B, and C together can complete a work in 6 days. If A alone takes 18 days and B alone takes 24 days, in how many days can C alone complete the work?

A. 12 days
B. 14 days
C. 16 days
D. 18 days

Answer: D. 18 days

Q14. A cistern has two inlet pipes and one outlet pipe. The first inlet fills the tank in 10 hours, the second fills it in 15 hours, and the outlet empties it in 30 hours. If all are opened together, how long will it take to fill the tank?

A. 5 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 7.5 hours
D. 8 hours

Answer: B. 6 hours

Q15. A can complete a work in 25 days while B can complete it in 20 days. They work together for 5 days, after which B leaves. In how many more days will A complete the remaining work?

A. 8 days
B. 10 days
C. 12 days
D. 15 days

Answer: B. 10 days

Q16. A machine can produce 240 units in 6 hours. Another machine can produce 360 units in 9 hours. In how many hours can both machines together produce 1000 units?

A. 10 hours
B. 11 hours
C. 12 hours
D. 12.5 hours

Answer: D. 12.5 hours

Q17. A and B together complete a work in 14 days. If A alone takes 21 days, after working together for 6 days, in how many days will B complete the remaining work alone?

A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 14 days
D. 16 days

Answer: B. 12 days

Q18. A can complete a work in 30 days, B in 45 days, and C in 60 days. If they work together, after how many days will 75% of the work be completed?

A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 15 days
D. 18 days

Answer: C. 15 days

Q19. Two pipes can fill a tank in 8 hours and 12 hours respectively. A leak can empty the full tank in 24 hours. If all three are opened together, in how much time will the tank be filled?

A. 4 hours
B. 4.8 hours
C. 5.2 hours
D. 6 hours

Answer: B. 4.8 hours

Q20. A can complete a work in 40 days. B is 25% more efficient than A, and C is 20% less efficient than A. If all three work together, in how many days will the work be completed?

A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 15 days
D. 16 days

Answer: D. 16 days

Important Areas to Focus in XAT Time and Work Questions

Topic	Priority Level	Reason
Combined Work	High	Most commonly tested concept in Time and Work questions.
Efficiency and Ratios	High	Useful for solving questions quickly using shortcuts.
Pipes and Cisterns	Moderate	Frequently appears as an application of Time and Work concepts.
Work and Wages	Moderate	Tests proportional reasoning and work distribution.
Alternate Work	Moderate	Can be tricky and requires careful calculation.

Common Mistakes in Time and Work XAT Questions

Mistake	Why It Happens	How to Avoid It
Confusing time with efficiency	Students forget that time and efficiency are inversely related.	Convert time into one-day work first.
Not using LCM method	Students use fractions directly and waste time.	Assume total work as LCM of given days.
Ignoring negative work	Outlet work in pipes and cisterns is sometimes added by mistake.	Subtract outlet efficiency from inlet efficiency.
Misreading together or alone conditions	Students confuse combined work with individual work.	Underline words like alone, together, and separately.

Tips to Improve Accuracy in XAT Time and Work Questions

Tip	How It Helps
Learn the basic formulas	Helps solve standard questions quickly.
Practice the LCM method	Makes combined work questions faster.
Revise efficiency ratios	Helps in comparison-based questions.
Solve mixed arithmetic questions	Improves application skills across Quant topics.
Take sectional tests	Improves speed and exam confidence.
Analyze wrong answers	Helps avoid repeated mistakes.

Conclusion

XAT Time and Work Questions can become a scoring area if your basics are clear. The topic is mostly formula-based and can be solved quickly using the LCM method, efficiency method, and ratio shortcuts.

To prepare well, revise formulas, practice time and work XAT questions, and analyze mistakes after every mock test. With regular practice, you can improve both speed and accuracy in the XAT Quantitative Aptitude section.