The XAT exam 2026 will be held on 4th January 2026 in a CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode. It will take place within a timeframe of 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. XAT aspirants only have 2 months and a few additional days to appear for this exam. This means that by now every aspirant must have studied all the topics from the XAT Syllabus 2026. From now onwards, you will have to primarily focus on strengthening the high-weightage topics from the XAT exam syllabus while practising questions from different levels of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Decision-Making, General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation sections.
It will be a 75-mark (Part 1) and 20-mark (Part 2) paper with a time duration of 180 minutes. The marking scheme of the XAT exam 2026 is also simple. You will get +1 marks (per correct response) and -0.25 marks (every incorrect response) in the XAT exam 2026. There will be no negative marking for attempting the wrong questions in the GK section. If you wish to attempt maximum correct questions at a quick speed, then understand the basic syllabus of the XAT exam. This comprehensive blog outlines the entire roadmap of the exam pattern and XAT exam syllabus, which will stimulate your preparation alongside transforming your preparation game.
Why Should You Know the XAT Syllabus 2026?
XAT 2026 is a popular entrance examination that’s divided into 2 different categories, i.e, Part A and Part B. The first section is a test of your aptitude skills. In Part 2 of the XAT 2026 exam, you will come across questions from the General Knowledge section. To make the right choices, you will have to familiarise yourself with the XAT syllabus and prepare accordingly. Those students who are well aware of the entire syllabus will find it easier to solve questions while practising questions from the daily assignments, sectionals, mocks and the actual exam. By obtaining information about the syllabus for the XAT exam, you will be taking your first step towards smart and strategic preparation. In the forthcoming sections of this article, you will go through a detailed analysis of the XAT syllabus, which will make your preparation more structured and smoother.
XAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Complete Breakdown
Knowing the syllabus of the XAT exam 2026 is the first stage of your preparation. Below, we are sharing the correct information about the XAT syllabus 2026. This is the syllabus for the XAT exam, which has been followed for quite a long time. Take a complete overview of the XAT syllabus for Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge via the tables mentioned below. A clear-cut understanding of the syllabus will make it easier to focus on your preparation for the XAT exam, which is all set to take place across multiple test cities in India.
XAT Syllabus 2026: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | |||
| Reading Comprehension | Vocabulary | Analogy | Parajumble |
| Grammer | Critical Reasoning | Fill in the blanks | Error Spotting |
| Sentence Correction | Poem | Synonyms/Antonyms | |
Syllabus of XAT 2026 For Decision Making
| Decision Making Syllabus XAT 2026 | |||
| Premises | Conclusion | Data Arrangement | Conditioning |
| Grouping | Complex Arrangement | Caselets | Arrangement |
XAT Exam Syllabus 2026 For QA & DI
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation | ||||
| Arithmetic | Algebra | Geometry | Modern Maths | Data Interpretation |
| Percentages | Linear Equation | Triangles | Set Theory | Tables |
| Profit & Loss | Quadratic Equation | Quadrilaterals | Probability | Pie Chart |
| Simple & Compound Interest | Polynomials | Polygons | Permutation & Combination | Bar Diagrams |
| Ratio & Proportion | Indices & Surds | Circles | Data Charts | |
| Averages | Logarithms | Mensuration | ||
| Mixture & Allegation | Inequalities | Coordinate Geometry | ||
| Time & Work | Sequence & Series | |||
| Pipes & Cisterns | Functions | |||
| Time, Speed & Distance | Graphs | |||
| Modulus | ||||
| Trigonometry | ||||
XAT 2026 Syllabus For General Knowledge
| General Knowledge | |
| National and International Current Affairs | Sports News |
| Awards and Events | Business and Economics News |
| Government Schemes | Science and Technology Updated |
XAT Exam Pattern 2026: VALR, DM, QA & DI, GK
There are many significant points that you must know in relevance to the exam pattern of the XAT exam 2026. It consists of a total of 95 questions, which are divided across 4 sections,i.e, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) and General Awareness (GK) in Part 1 and Part 2, respectively. Candidates appearing for this exam will get 170 minutes for Part A. You will get 10 minutes to solve basic-level General Knowledge questions from Part 2. Apart from this, you will also get an additional 5 minutes for the mock keyboard check. Know about the latest XAT exam format from the table below and proceed with your preparation accordingly.
XAT Exam Sections, Total Questions, Marks and Total Duration
| XAT Exam Division 2026 | Total No of Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Time Limit |
| Part A | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning | 26 | 26 | 170 Minutes |
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 | ||
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | ||
| Part B | General Knowledge | 20 (8 static GK + 12 current affairs) | 20 | 10 Minutes |
| Total | 4 Sections | 95 | 95 | 180 Minutes |
XAT 2026 Marking Scheme
| Key Specifications | XAT Marking Scheme 2026 |
| Part 1 & Part 2: Positive Marking Scheme (Every Correct Response) | +1 marks |
| Part 1: Negative Marking Scheme (Every Incorrect Response) | -0.25 marks |
| More Than 8 un-attempted Questions | -0.1 marks |
| General Knowledge Wrong Attempt | 0 marks |
XAT Syllabus and XAT Exam Highlights 2026
| XAT Exam Main Particulars | Basic Exam Information |
| XAT Exam Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test |
| Official Conducting Body of the XAT exam | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Mode of the Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Total Exam Duration of XAT 2026 | 180 Minutes PwD candidates: Additional 20 Minutes (Per Hour) |
| Number of Sections in XAT Exam 2026 | Part 1 Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) Decision Making (DM) Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) Part 2 General Knowledge (GK) |
| XAT Sectional Time Limit | Not Applicable |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Options Available | 5 |
| Part-Wise Duration | Part 1: 170 minutes (Aptitude Test) Part 2: 10 minutes (General Knowledge) |
| Number of Slots | 1 |
| Total Number of Questions | 95 |
| Sections-Wise Number of Questions | Part 1 Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR): 26 Decision Making (DM): 21 Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 28 Part 2 General Knowledge (GK): 20 |
| XAT Exam 2026 Total Marks | 95 |
| Part-Wise Total Marks | Part 1: 75 Marks Part 2: 20 Marks |
| Part 1 Marking Scheme (Aptitude Test) | +1 mark (every correct answer) -0.25 marks (Every wrong attempt) -0.1 marks ( penalty from 9th unanswered question) |
| Part 2 Marking Scheme (General Knowledge) | +1 mark (every correct answer) 0 marks (Wrong attempts) It doesn’t play any role in your overall XAT percentile. |
| Official Website | xatonline.in |
| XAT Registration Start Date 2026 | 10th July 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Last Registration Date | 5th December 2025 |
| XAT Exam Date 2026 | January 04, 2026, 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM |
| Download XAT 2026 Admit Card | 20th December 2025 (Tentative) |
Final Words
XAT aspirants will have to study a wide range of topics from the XAT syllabus 2026. Every topic will have a different learning strategy. Students will have to read newspapers, top-level English language books, etc, to brush up their reading skills. Decision-making is all about applying real-time decision-making abilities to make informed decisions. Next comes the QA & DI, where you will have to master the mathematical topics. Lastly, cover the current affairs topics regularly to crack the GK section. Utilise the upcoming months carefully to facilitate your preparation for the XAT exam 2026. Although the time limit is longer, the paper level tends to differ every year.
Henceforth, ensure that you’re able to attempt at least 75-80 questions with a 70-80% accuracy rate in the given timeframe. Join iQuanta’s XAT preparation courses to give an additional boost to your preparation strategy for the XAT exam 2026. Register now for iQuanta’s XAT Course 2026, which has a unique way of teaching, 24*7 doubt-solving clarification facility, peer-to-peer learning, and a lot more!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary significance of the XAT syllabus 2026?
It’s very important to review the latest syllabus of the XAT exam to create a well-balanced preparation plan. You must also check the high-weightage and low-weightage topics from the VALR, DM, QA & DI, GK section and prioritise the topics that cover the major sections in the XAT exam paper.
Does the syllabus of the XAT exam change every year?
Not so far. It’s been several years since XLRI Jamshedpur has been following the same syllabus to create the question paper of the XAT exam. However, there have been slight changes in the XAT pattern and exam format. The topics remain consistent in the XAT syllabus 2026.
Can I skip questions in the XAT exam 2026 without penalty?
An individual candidate can skip a maximum of 8 questions from Part 1 of the XAT 2026 question paper. There will be 0 penalty for leaving these 8 questions unanswered. Skipping more than 8 questions will lead to negative marking. From the 9th question, you will be allocated -0.1 marks for every unattempted question.
Is there any negative marking for attempting wrong questions in the XAT exam?
Yes, XLRI Jamshedpur follows a -0.25 negative marking scheme to evaluate the students for attempting wrong answers. Subsequently, there will also be -0.1 marking from the 9th question if you leave it unanswered from Part 1 in the XAT exam 2026.
What is the structure of the XAT exam 2026?
The actual structure of the XAT Exam 2026 is Part A and Part B, which mainly comprises four major sections known as Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. There will be 75 questions in the first set of the XAT exam. The second section will comprise 20 questions from the General Knowledge category.
