Ace the toughest MBA exam with the power of community. Tackle decision-making dilemmas, conquer essa...
18 hours ago
Body
Hello everyone, I am planning to appear for XAT this year for the first time, and I am a bit confused about how to start my prep. I have been mostly focused on CAT till now, but I know XAT is quite different, especially because of Decision Making, GK, and the essay part.
5 Replies
-
XAT's Verbal section is quite tough, especially RCs and critical reasoning. I started reading editorials from Indian Express and Aeon Essays every morning to improve my reading stamina and comprehension. Also practiced CR questions from GMAT Club. XAT RCs are lengthy and complex, so being comfortable with dense content really helps.
-
As someone who's not great at Quant, I focused on my strengths, VA and DM, and just made sure I cleared the QA cut-off. Unlike CAT, XAT doesn’t demand super high scores; even a 35–40 overall can be 99+ percentile. So don’t panic if you're weak in one section, just aim for balance and accuracy. Also, don’t ignore Arithmetic and Geometry in QA, they show up a lot.
-
Please do not neglect the General Knowledge section! It’s not included in percentile calculation but it matters in XLRI interviews. I spent 20 minutes daily on GK, read monthly current affairs capsules (like from AffairsCloud or GKToday) and revised static GK weekly. Also, for the Essay, keep a basic structure in mind (Intro, Body and Conclusion) and practice 4-5 sample essays beforehand. It’s not evaluated for shortlisting but might be looked at during final selection.
-
One major tip from my side is do not underestimate the Decision Making (DM) section. It is unique to XAT and no other MBA exam really prepares you for it. I practiced previous years' DM questions daily and focused on understanding the reasoning behind each option. It's less about theory and more about ethical, logical, and managerial thinking. If you crack the logic behind DM, you already have an edge.
-
I cracked XAT on my first attempt last year, and honestly, mock tests were the game-changer. XAT has a different pattern, and time management is tricky because of the longer paper and the inclusion of GK + essay writing. I gave about 12 full-length XAT mocks and analyzed each one deeply. Especially focus on accuracy in VA and DM, you cannot afford too many negative marks here.
