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XAT Exam Analysis 2025 is posted after XLRI Jamshedpur conducts the exam for MBA admission on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). XAT 2025 will be held on 5 Jan, 2025. The paper analysis will be done after that.
XAT exam difficulty level for 2025 was moderate. Students reported that the QA questions were difficult. In QA, most of the questions were about Arithmetic and Algebra. In essay writing, there were business management topics.
XAT exam 2025 has a varied number of questions in each segment. There were a total of 26 MCQs in Verbal and Logical Ability, with extra questions from QA & DI (28 MCQs), and 22 MCQs in Decision Making. There were 25 questions in GK. XAT paper includes a 250-word essay. XAT result 2025 will be declared in Jan, 2025.
According to the XAT exam analysis, an overall score of 35 or higher is considered excellent in XAT 2025. Applicants must check the previous year's exam analysis (2023, 2022, and 2021) shared along with the XAT difficulty level for each year.
XAT Exam Analysis 2025
XAT exam analysis 2025 is based on students' reactions. XAT exam's difficulty level was moderate. After going through the XAT paper analysis 2025, students learned the sectional difficulty level, the number of XAT expected good attempts, the topic-wise distribution of questions, and expected cutoffs.
| XAT Exam Analysis 2025 | Links |
| XAT Exam Analysis 2025 With Section-Wise Difficulty Level, Topics Asked | Click Here |
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XAT 2025 Decision-Making Analysis and Questions |
Click Here |
| XAT 2025 VA & LR Analysis and Questions |
Click Here |
| XAT 2025 QA and DI: Analysis and Questions | Click Here |
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XAT 2025 General Knowledge Analysis and Questions |
XAT difficulty level for 2025 is below; applicants must check the shared pointers.
- Given the lengthy and difficult-to-understand RC passages, the Verbal Ability section was challenging.
- There were five RC passages and one poem-based composition.
- The QADI questions ranged from moderate to difficult, particularly the DI caselets.
- 10-12 questions on the XAT Decision Making were manageable but required extra effort owing to the length of the questions.
- Overall, the paper was moderate to difficult, and 44-46 questions is a good attempt for a 99+ percentile.
XAT 2025 Difficulty Level
XAT exam consisted of 101 MCQ questions and 1 Analytical Essay Writing (AEW). The Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), Decision-making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK) sections of the XAT were tested.
The difficulty level for the XAT 2025 exam is given below. Candidates must check the section-wise expected XAT exam analysis 2025 shared.
| XAT Section | XAT Questions | XAT Difficulty Level | XAT Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | Moderate to Difficult | 12-13 |
| Decision Making | 22 | Moderate | 11-12 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | Moderate to Difficult | 12-13 |
| General Knowledge | 25 | Moderate | 11-12 |
| Overall | 101 | Moderate | 44-46 |
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XAT Paper Analysis 2023
The level of difficulty ranged from moderate to high in XAT analysis 2023. A detailed analysis of the same is shared below.
- VALR and DM had a few difficult questions that weren't challenging.
- The QADI exam was the hardest and had the most extensive questions. Additionally, some students claimed that this session was more DI-focused.
- The toughest one was GK. Questions from Geography, Politics, Science & Technology, and Current events were asked.
- Additionally, candidates had the alternative of answering one of the two question options in the essay writing component.
- The time allotted for the essay writing component was only ten minutes.
XAT Sectional Paper Analysis 2023
XAT paper analysis 2023 sectional details are listed below for all four examination areas. XAT 2023 paper analysis included the number of questions asked, reasonable attempts, and difficulty levels.
| Section Name | No of Questions | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 15-17 | Difficult |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 18-22 | Easy-Moderate |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 10-11 | Difficult |
| Decision Making | 21 | 16-18 | Moderate |
| Overall | 100 | 59-68 | Moderate-Difficult |
XAT Paper Analysis 2023 for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
The XAT 2023 paper analysis for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation papers are mentioned below.
- The QADI was challenging all over.
- There were 28 questions in the XAT paper analysis of the 2023 QADI area, and DI was dominated.
- There were 4 DI sets with a total of 3 questions.
- Only one of the seven moderately tricky questions about the number system dealt with probability.
Below is a breakdown of the XAT 2023 exam analysis QA and DI section questions.
| Topic | Number of Questions |
| Geometry | 2 |
| Arithmetic | 2 |
| Algebra | 4 |
| Probability | 1 |
| Numbers | 7 |
| DI ( Correct Answers) | 3 |
| DI (College Admissions) | 3 |
| DI ( Stock Prices) | 3 |
| DI ( Broken Pencils) | 3 |
| Total | 28 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2023 for Decision Making
The XAT 2023 exam analysis for the Decision Making paper is listed below; applicants must check the exam analysis.
- There were seven easy-moderate level passages with three questions each in the XAT exam analysis 2023 DM.
- The questions could be completed in the allotted time and did not demand any Analytical Abilities in the XAT test analysis 2023 DM section.
- For research convenience, the topics of the passages are listed below in tabular form for the XAT paper analysis 2023 DM (Decision Making) area.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| FURCSA | 3 |
| Assignment Submission | 3 |
| Dosa | 3 |
| A2Z Engineering | 3 |
| Future Leaders School | 3 |
| Passage 7 | 3 |
| Doctor SUV | 3 |
| Total | 21 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2023 for Verbal and Logical Ability
XAT analysis 2023 VALR part rated easy to moderate in overall difficulty. The VALR segment of the XAT 2023 contained 26 questions.
| Topic | Number of Questions |
| RC Passages with 3 questions each | 4 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 2 |
| Poems with 3 questions each | 2 |
| Critical Reasoning | 4 |
| Grammar-based question | 3 |
| Para Jumbles | 2 |
| Total | 26 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2023 for General Knowledge
The exam analysis of XAT 2023 for General Knowledge is mentioned below as a pointer for the candidates.
- There were 25 questions in the general knowledge segment of the XAT 2023, and candidates had 10 minutes to answer them all.
- The part included challenging questions from static GK and current affairs.
- The subjects covered were politics, literature, science, and technology in XAT 2023 exam analysis.
- In this area of the XAT 2023, 8–10 correct attempts may be sufficient.
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XAT 2022 Analysis
Candidates rated the XAT 2022 level of difficulty as moderate to difficult overall.
- It was observed that the Decision Making Section was the simplest to complete.
- However, the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation component was the most challenging to achieve.
- The questions on Data Interpretation were lengthy and needed more time to be completed.
The sections for the XAT paper analysis 2022 are broken down into the following sections.
| Section Name | Difficulty Level | No of Questions |
| General Knowledge | Moderate | 25 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Easy | 26 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | Difficult | 28 |
| Decision Making | Moderate | 21 |
| Overall | Moderate-Difficult | 100 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2022 for Verbal and Logical Ability
The applicants' Verbal Ability and Logical Ability paper analysis for XAT 2022 are mentioned below.
- The XAT VA part included a total of 26 questions. Similar to last year, the questions were application and inferential-based.
- 17 RC questions were derived from 6 passages as well as 1 poem. There were roughly 150–350 words per passage.
- It was discovered that this portion was significantly harder than the previous year.
- According to several reports, the Verbal Ability section's estimated cutoff would be between 9 and 10 points.
- Since the choices were similar, some candidates might have found them confusing.
| Topics | Total Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Correct Sentences | 1 | Medium |
| Critical Reasoning | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
| Incorrect Sentences | 2 | Medium |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | Medium |
| Fill in the Blanks (4 blanks) | 1 | Medium |
| Passage 1 | 3 | 2 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Passage 2 | 2 | Difficult |
| Passage 3 | 2 | Difficult |
| Passage 4 | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
| Passage 5 | 2 | Medium |
| Passage 6 | 2 | Difficult |
| Passage 7 | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
XAT Paper Analysis 2022 for Decision Making
XAT 2022 exam paper analysis details are shared below for the Decision Making paper.
- The DM section included a total of 21 questions.
- Most of the questions were brief and straightforward to grasp, but a few needed to be clarified.
- The majority of the questions were business-related.
- This portion was assessed to have a moderate overall difficulty level.
- According to several estimates, this section's sectional XAT cutoff would be between 8 and 9 points.
- Compared to XAT 2021 analysis, questions were generally more complex.
| Topics | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Business Decision | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
| Decision on Business | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
| Ethical Dilemma | 3 | Difficult |
| Ethical Dilemma | 3 | Difficult |
| Business Decision | 3 | Medium |
| Business Decision | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
| Ethical Dilemma | 3 | Medium to Difficult |
XAT Paper Analysis 2022 for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
The Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation paper for XAT 2022 was difficult. The detailed analysis is shared below.
- The XAT paper analysis for 2022 for QA and DI had roughly 28 questions.
- In the XAT 2022 paper, this portion was rated as the most difficult.
- Six questions were included in the section on data interpretation.
- The DI portion consisted of three sets of three questions.
- It took a long time to complete the DI Section.
- Several sources estimate this part's sectional cutoff between 10 and 12 marks.
| Topics | Total |
| Algebra | 4 |
| Table | 3 |
| Modern Maths | 3 |
| Arithmetic | 5 |
| Scatter Plot | 3 |
| Numbers | 1 |
| Geometry | 5 |
| Venn Diagram | 3 |
| Misc. (Logic) | 1 |
| Total | 9 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2022 for General Knowledge
In total, 25 questions had to be answered in 15 minutes. The difficulty of this XAT 2022 paper analysis was moderate. Static General Knowledge questions made up the majority of the questions. The following topics were the focus of the static GK questions.
- History
- National Parks
- CEO/CM
- Authors
- Olympics
- Mountains
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XAT Paper Analysis 2021
The XAT 2021 paper asked for were of moderate to challenging levels. Below is a detailed section-by-section XAT 2021 analysis.
XAT Paper Analysis 2021 for Verbal and Logical Ability
The detailed analysis of Verbal and Logical Ability for XAT 2021 is shared below.
- There were 26 questions in the section, which were more challenging than in the XAT 2020 session.
- Arts, psychology, and social issues were all covered in reading comprehension.
- XLRI gave the candidate's verbal and language comprehension skills a lot of attention. This part is, therefore, of utmost significance.
- One poem was on the moderate-difficulty scale. 2 moderate para jumble questions were asked.
- Fill-in-blank questions were tricky, as were CR questions.
| Chapter | Difficulty Level | Number of Questions |
| Antonym | Moderate | 1 |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate to Difficult | 12 (4 passages with 3 questions each) |
| Para Jumble | Moderate | 2 |
| CR | Moderate to Difficult | 5 |
| Poem Comprehension | Moderate | 2 |
| Analogy | Difficult | 1 |
| Fill in the Blanks | Difficult | 3 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2021 for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
The XAT 2021 exam analysis details for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation papers are shared below.
- XAT Quants 2021 was challenging to attempt compared to the XAT 2020 analysis.
- There were 27 questions, and the Algebra and Geometry parts were heavily represented in 21 of them.
- DI questions were made out of sets, graphs, and tables.
- Candidates received buffer marks for the role where a question was wrong.
| Chapter | Difficulty Level | Number of Questions |
| Coordinate Geometry | Moderate | 4 |
| Data Sufficiency | Moderate | 2 |
| DI-Mixed Graphs | Moderate | 3 |
| Arithmetic | Easy | 4 |
| Geometry | Difficult | 4 |
| Algebra | Moderate | 7 |
| DI-Time Zone | Difficult | 3 |
XAT Paper Analysis 2021 for General Knowledge
The key to passing the XAT 2021 paper analysis for the General Knowledge section of the exam is time management, as applicants had 15 minutes to complete a total of 25 questions. There were General Knowledge and Current Affairs questions.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Economy | 7 | Easy |
| Science and Technology | 2 | Moderate |
| History | 1 | Moderate |
| Current Affairs | 2 | Easy |
| Geography | 4 | Moderate |
| Polity | 2 | Easy |
| Personality and Awards | 3 | Moderate |
| Sports | 2 | Moderate |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | Difficult |
XAT Paper Analysis 2021 for Decision Making
The XAT 2021 paper analysis for Decision Making is shared below for the applicants.
- The situational questions had a moderately complex level.
- Since there were no singlets, it was simple to answer.
- There were no questions requiring mathematical or analytical reasoning.
- The XAT paper analysis 2021 decision-making portion, in the opinion of the students, could have been more interesting.
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XAT Exam Analysis 2020
The paper difficulty level for the XAT 2020 exam was moderate to difficult. Applicants must check the detailed paper analysis for 2020 shared below.
- The exam was conducted on a single day in MCQ format in a single session.
- The question paper was divided into two parts, parts A and B.
- Part A consists of three sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation.
- Part B consists of General Knowledge.
XAT 2020 Verbal and Logical Ability Analysis
The Verbal and Logical Ability paper for XAT 2020 was of a difficult level. The paper consists of 26 questions in total, and most of the questions were asked from the Reading Comprehension paper.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Reading Comprehension | 12 (4 passages of 3 questions each) | Moderate to Difficult |
| CR | 6 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Poem Comprehension | 2 (1 poem) | Easy to Moderate |
| Para-Jumble | 2 | Moderate |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3 | Difficult |
XAT Decision Making 2020 Exam Analysis
The Decision Making paper for XAT 2020 consists of 21 questions. The overall paper was moderately complex, as many candidates found the questions tricky and confusing.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Situational | 21 | Difficult |
XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation 2020 Exam Analysis
The overall difficulty level of quantitative ability and data interpretation was of easy to moderate level, and the total number of questions asked was 28.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Arithematic | 8 | Moderate |
| Algebra | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| Co-ordinate Geometry and Trignometry | 1 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Difficult |
| Number System | 2 | Easy |
| DI (Set Theory) | 2 | Moderate |
| DI (Bar Graph) | 3 | Moderate |
| DI (Table Based) | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
XAT 2020 General Knowledge Paper Analysis
The total number of questions asked in the XAT 2020 General Knowledge paper was 25, and the questions were asked in MCQ format. The overall paper was moderately complex.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| History | 4 | Moderate |
| Current Affairs | 3 | Easy |
| Economy and Business | 4 | East to Moderate |
| Sports | 0 | Easy to Moderate |
| Personality and Awards | 2 | Moderate |
| Polity | 1 | Easy |
| Books and Authors/ Miscellaneous | 1 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Science and Tech | 5 | Moderate |
| Geography | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
XAT 2019 Paper Analysis
The XAT 2019 exam is considered the most challenging MBA exam for the season. The questions asked were tricky and challenging for the applicants. The overall paper level was difficult. The detailed 2019 exam analysis has been shared below.
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XAT Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning 2019 Analysis
The Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning paper was difficult and tricky compared to other sections. A total of 26 questions were asked from this section, and it was very time-consuming. The table below shows the topic difficulty level.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Reading Comprehension | 12 (4 passages of 3 questions each) | Moderate to Difficult |
| CR | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Poem Comprehension | 2 (1 poem) | Difficult |
| Analogy | 1 | Difficult |
| Antonym | 1 | Moderate |
| Para-Jumble | 2 | Moderate |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3 | Difficult |
XAT 2019 Decision Making and Analytical Reasoning Paper Analysis
The questions asked in this section were based on different situations. Compared to 2018, the paper was dominant and had 21 questions. The overall paper was moderate.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Situational | 21 | Moderate |
XAT Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation Exam Analysis 2019
A total of 27 questions were asked from the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section of XAT 2019. The most challenging area was DI, and the overall paper was moderately tricky.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Arithematic | 4 | Easy |
| Algebra | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| Co-ordinate Geometry and Trignometry | 4 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Sufficiency | 2 | Moderate |
| DI (Time Zone) | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| DI (Mixed Graph) | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
XAT 2019 General Knowledge Analysis
Applicants must check the XAT 2019 paper analysis of General Knowledge shared below in detail.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| History | 1 | Moderate |
| Geography | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Economy and Business | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| Current Affairs | 2 | Easy |
| Personality and Awards | 3 | Moderate |
| Science and Technology | 2 | Medium |
| Polity | 2 | Easy |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Sports | 2 | Easy to Moderate |
XAT vs CAT vs SNAP Analysis
The detailed comparison between the XAT, CAT, and SNAP exams has been shared below. Applicants must check the table showing all the details.
| Particulars | XAT | CAT | SNAP |
| Conducting Authority | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIMs | Symbiosis International Deemed University |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | Online |
| Frequency of Exam | Once a year | Once a year | Once a year |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes) | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 1 hour (60 minutes) |
| Number of Sections | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Question Format | Objective Type MCQ | 40 MCQs and 18 Non-MCQs | Objective Type MCQ |
| Total Marks | 100 | 198 | 60 |
| Marking Scheme for Correct Answer | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Marking Scheme for Wrong Answer | -0.25 (MCQ and GK is free is negative marking) | -1 | 25% deduction for each wrong attempt |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult | Easy to Difficult |
Must Read: XAT vs CAT
FAQs on XAT Paper Analysis
Q: When will the XAT exam analysis 2025 be released?
A: The XAT exam analysis 2025 was released soon after the exam commenced on Jan 7, 2024. The analysis has been shared based on the candidate’s reaction and the expert’s opinion.
Q: What is the expected XAT 2025 difficulty level?
A: Based on the previous year’s analysis and the expert’s opinion, it is expected that the XAT 2025 paper will be at a moderate to difficult level. Candidates can check the section-wise expected analysis shared.
Q: Are XAT question papers more difficult than the CAT papers?
A: The XAT and CAT papers are similar. The questions asked in both papers are tricky and time-consuming, but the general knowledge section of XAT makes the paper more challenging.
Q: Which is the most difficult section in XAT exam?
A: All the sections asked in the XAT examination are moderate to difficult. However, based on the reviews of the students, comparatively, the Verbal Ability and Decision-Making section is difficult as this section requires extra attention.
Q: What was the difficulty level of the XAT 2023 Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation paper?
A: The difficulty level of QA and DI for XAT 2023 was moderately difficult. The questions asked were tricky and confusing. Most questions were asked from the number system, probability, and DI chapters.
Q: What was the overall difficulty level of the XAT 2022 paper?
A: The difficulty level of the XAT 2022 paper was moderate to difficult overall. The most difficult questions were asked from Quantitative Aptitude, and the lengthy questions were asked from Data Interpretation.
Q: What was the XAT 2021 Decision-Making paper difficulty level?
A: The XAT 2021 paper analysis for decision-making is as follows: The situational questions had a moderately complex level, and since there were no singlets, they were simple to answer. The XAT paper analysis 2021 decision-making portion, in the opinion of the students, could have been more interesting.
