XAT 2026 will take place on January 4! With less than 1 month left, you should refine your XAT attempt strategy to score well. The right strategy can reduce your anxiety on the exam day. The XAT exam is beyond theoretical concepts. It also tests your accuracy and decision-making skills. This is where XAT’s attempt strategy steps in. It helps you make the most of your key skills while avoiding silly errors. In this article, you will learn the XAT attempt strategy for each section and time management tricks. This may boost your confidence and increase your chances of success without any stress.
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XAT Attempt Strategy: How to Approach the Exam Smartly?
You should first understand what XAT is all about before planning a clear attempt strategy. The XAT exam is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 covers Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. On the other hand, Part 2 is focused on the General Knowledge section. There is a negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong answers in Part 1 and no penalty in Part 2. Most importantly, there is no sectional time limit in Part 1. As per past exam analysis, the level of questions asked in XAT is moderate. XAT is mainly known for:
- A lengthy Decision-Making Skill section. It is usually moderate level.
- Tricky and difficult Quant Section.
- Moderately difficult and lengthy VA & LR section.
- Penalty for every unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions in Part 1.
- Moderately easy GK Questions.
- No sectional time limit
This means you can switch sections whenever you want in the exam. But you must maintain accuracy and select questions smartly. XAT values smart decisions and time management abilities.
XAT Attempt Strategy Section-wise
The XAT exam includes subjects like Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) and General Knowledge (GK). A total of 95 questions are asked in the exam. You need to attempt Part 1 questions within 170 minutes. The time limit of Part 2 is 10 minutes. It is crucial to have a section-wise XAT attempt strategy to avoid rushing. This will also help you manage time wisely in the exam. Take a look at the XAT attempt strategy section-wise:
XAT Attempt Strategy for VA & LR
The VA & LR section covers critical & analytical reasoning and reading comprehension. It is also focused on vocabulary and English grammar. It also features questions related to para jumbles, cloze tests, etc. It is generally the lengthiest section and requires a lot of reading. You need the right XAT attempt strategy to maximise your score in this section:
- Begin with solving easy and familiar questions.
- Avoid long passages at the beginning of the test.
- Solve vocabulary and grammar questions that you are confident about.
- Apply elimination tricks accurately.
- Aim for at least 19-20 questions with accuracy
- Do not spend more than 25-35 minutes in this section.
XAT Attempt Strategy for Decision Making (DM)
XAT is among the few MBA entrance exams that include a Decision-Making section. This section checks how fast you can solve complex questions and make sensible choices. It will give you situations from personal life and work. Your task is to analyse them and think critically. And then prioritise what matters most to make the right decision. Check the XAT attempt strategy for Decision Making (DM):
- Read the questions carefully to understand the requirement.
- Select the option that sounds wise to you.
- Do not think emotionally. Apply logic.
- Aim for 14-16 accurate attempts
- Try to complete this section within 30-35 minutes.
XAT Attempt Strategy for Quant and DI
Quant and DI are one of the toughest sections in XAT. Quant assesses your knowledge in areas like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern Maths, etc. While DI checks your clear interpretation, summarisation, and data analysis. The best part? You don’t have to solve the entire section. You should focus on solving enough questions accurately. Take a look at the XAT attempt strategy for Quant and DI:
- Start with solving questions you are confident about.
- Skip confusing and time-consuming questions in the beginning.
- Focus on speed and accuracy.
- Target 15-16 accurate questions
- Do not spend more than 30-40 minutes in this section.
XAT Attempt Strategy for General Knowledge (GK)
General Knowledge (GK) is one of the easiest sections of the XAT exam. It comprises questions from Static GK and current affairs. The best part? There is no negative marking for wrong answers in this section. This enables candidates to attempt all GK questions without the fear of losing marks. Take a look at the XAT attempt strategy for GK.
- Target all 20 questions in the GK section.
- Solve the entire paper in 8-10 minutes
- Eliminate wrong options and recall key facts to answer correctly.
