XAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern

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• Reading Comprehension

  Passages, Inference, Per XAT Official Notification

  ~1 marks
  • Reading Comprehension — Factual, Inferential, Critical, Editorial, Business
  • Passage-based Questions — Main Idea, Tone, Inference, Vocabulary in Context
  • Business Reading — Business News, Annual Reports, Business Strategies
  • Literary Reading — Fiction, Non-Fiction, Essays, Critical Analysis
  • Speed Reading, Skimming, Scanning, Active Reading
  • Logical Reading — Argument Analysis, Flaw Identification, Strengthen/Weaken
  • Comparative Reading — Comparing Two Passages, Synthesis
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• Verbal Ability

  Grammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles, Per XAT Official Notification

  ~1 marks
  • Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Subject-Verb Agreement, Articles, Prepositions
  • Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
  • Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement
  • Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
  • Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Summary Writing, Précis
  • Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology
  • Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Report Writing (if Descriptive)
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• English Grammar

  Tenses, Voice, Narration, Articles, Modals

  ~2 marks
  • Tenses — Present, Past, Future (12 Tenses Total)
  • Active Voice and Passive Voice (Transformation Rules)
  • Direct Speech and Indirect Speech (Narration Rules)
  • Articles (A, An, The) — Rules, Omission, Insertion
  • Modals (Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Should, Would, May Have, Must Have)
  • Subject-Verb Agreement (Number, Person, Tense)
  • Common Errors in English (Spotting, Correction)
  • Sentence Improvement, Sentence Rearrangement
  • Conditional Sentences (Type 0, 1, 2, 3)
  • Infinitive, Gerund, Participle, Modal Auxiliaries
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• English Grammar

  Prepositions, Conjunctions, Tenses, Voice

  ~2 marks
  • Prepositions (Time, Place, Direction, Manner, Reason)
  • Conjunctions (Coordinating, Subordinating, Correlative)
  • Tenses — Mixed Tenses, Sequence of Tenses
  • Voice Change (Active-Passive for All Tenses)
  • Narration Change (Direct-Indirect for All Tenses)
  • Question Tags, Short Answers
  • Transformation of Sentences (Simple, Compound, Complex)
  • Degrees of Comparison (Positive, Comparative, Superlative)
  • Common Errors in English Grammar
  • Sentence Improvement with Multiple Corrections
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• Reading Comprehension

  Factual, Inferential, Literary

  ~2 marks
  • Factual Reading Comprehension (Direct Information)
  • Inferential Reading Comprehension (Logic, Reasoning)
  • Literary Reading Comprehension (Poetry, Fiction)
  • Editorial and Opinion-Based Passages
  • Scientific and Technical Passages
  • Business and Economic Passages (Banking, Economy)
  • Social and Cultural Passages
  • Passage-based Vocabulary Questions
  • Passage-based Tone, Mood, Inference
  • Passage-based Main Idea, Title, Theme
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• English Vocabulary

  Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word, Idioms

  ~2 marks
  • Synonyms (Words with Similar Meanings)
  • Antonyms (Words with Opposite Meanings)
  • One-Word Substitutions (Compact Word for Phrase)
  • Idioms and Phrases (Common English Idioms)
  • Phrasal Verbs (Verb + Preposition Combinations)
  • Foreign Words and Phrases (Latin, French Origin)
  • Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes (Etymology)
  • Confusables (Homophones, Homonyms, Homographs)
  • Spelling Correction, Commonly Misspelled Words
  • Word Usage, Word Meaning in Context, Idiomatic Usage
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• English Comprehension Skills

  Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fill Blanks

  ~2 marks
  • Cloze Test (Fill in the Blanks — Multiple Choice)
  • Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement — 5-6 Sentences)
  • Sentence Rearrangement (4-5 Sentence Jumble)
  • Paragraph Completion (Last Sentence of Paragraph)
  • Fill in the Blanks (Single Blank, Double Blank, Triple Blank)
  • Sentence Completion (Beginning/End of Sentence)
  • Word-Substitution in Passages
  • Reading Comprehension — Factual Questions
  • Reading Comprehension — Inferential Questions
  • Reading Comprehension — Vocabulary in Context
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• Arithmetic

  Number System, Percentages, Profit-Loss, SI-CI

  ~3 marks
  • Number System, HCF-LCM, Indices, Surds, Simplification, Approximation
  • Percentages, Profit-Loss, Discount, SI-CI, Growth Rate, Population Growth
  • Ratio, Proportion, Mixture-Alligation, Partnership, Ages
  • Time-Work, Work-Wages, Pipes & Cisterns, Efficiency
  • Time-Speed-Distance, Trains, Boats, Races, Clocks, Calendar
  • Averages, Mixture Problems, Alligation, Allegation Method
  • Mensuration, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry
  • Data Interpretation — Tables, Bar, Pie, Line, Caselet, Data Sufficiency
  • Modern Math — Permutation, Combination, Probability, Sets, Functions
  • Commercial Math — Stocks, Shares, Dividends, Brokerage, GST, True Discount
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• Algebra

  Equations, Functions, P&C, Probability

  ~3 marks
  • Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Polynomials, Identities
  • Functions, Graphs, Inequalities, Logarithms, Modulus, Domain, Range
  • Sequences and Series, AP, GP, HP, Sum of n terms, Special Series
  • Permutation, Combination, Binomial Theorem, Probability
  • Matrices, Determinants, Linear Programming, System of Equations
  • Set Theory, Relations, Functions, Venn Diagrams, Cardinality
  • Trigonometry — Ratios, Identities, Heights and Distances, Equations
  • Coordinate Geometry — Lines, Circles, Conics, Distance, Slope
  • Calculus — Limits, Derivatives, Integrals, Maxima, Minima, Applications
  • Statistics — Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, Skewness, Correlation, Regression
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• Data Interpretation

  Charts, Tables, Caselets, Data Sufficiency

  ~3 marks
  • Table DI — Direct, Calculation-Based, Multi-Step
  • Bar Graph DI — Single, Double, Stacked, Comparison
  • Pie Chart DI — Sector Angle, Percentage, Comparison, Multiple Pie
  • Line Graph DI — Trend, Multiple Lines, Comparison, Growth Rate
  • Caselet DI — Story-Based, Multi-Step, Verbal Reasoning with Data
  • Data Sufficiency — Two-Statement, Three-Statement, Multi-Condition
  • Comparison DI — Ratio, Percentage, Difference, Growth Rate
  • Missing Data DI — Find the Missing Value, Estimate, Calculate
  • Quant-Based DI — Averages, Ratios in Data, Business Scenarios, HR Data
  • Radar, Web, Mixed Chart DI, Business Scenarios — Revenue, Cost, Profit, Market Share
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• Verbal Ability

  Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing

  ~3 marks
  • Reading Comprehension — Factual, Inferential, Critical, Editorial, Business
  • Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion
  • Spotting Errors, Sentence Correction, Sentence Improvement
  • Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
  • Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
  • Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Prepositions, Articles, Modals
  • Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology, Confusables
  • Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Email Writing, Report, Précis
  • Business Reading — Business News, Annual Reports, Strategies, Case Studies
  • Critical Reading — Argument Analysis, Flaw Identification, Strengthen/Weaken
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• Logical Reasoning

  Puzzles, Arrangements, Logic, Decisions

  ~3 marks
  • Seating Arrangement — Linear, Circular, Square, Rectangular, Hexagonal
  • Floor/Ladder Puzzles, Box Puzzles, Scheduling (Day/Month/Year)
  • Venn Diagrams, Sets, Family Tree, Blood Relations, Direction
  • Number Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Pattern Recognition
  • Syllogisms, Statement-Conclusion, Assumption, Inference, Course of Action
  • Critical Reasoning, Paradox, Brainteasers, Logic Games
  • Decision Making, Selection, Prioritization, Optimization, Negotiation
  • Data Sufficiency, Input-Output, Scheduling, Ranking
  • Verbal Reasoning — Analogies, Classification, Odd-Man-Out, Series
  • Visual Reasoning, Pattern Completion, Embedded Figures, Mirror, Water
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• Reading Comprehension

  Factual, Inferential, Critical, Business

  ~3 marks
  • Factual Reading Comprehension — Direct Information, Recall
  • Inferential Reading Comprehension — Logic, Reasoning, Implications
  • Critical Reading Comprehension — Argument Analysis, Tone, Stance
  • Literary Reading Comprehension — Fiction, Poetry, Drama
  • Business Reading Comprehension — Business News, Annual Reports, Strategies
  • Editorial and Opinion-Based Passages, Critical Thinking, Perspective
  • Scientific and Technical Passages, Business Jargon, Industry Terminology
  • Passage-based Vocabulary, Main Idea, Title, Theme, Inference Questions
  • Comparative Reading — Comparing Two Passages, Synthesis, Critical Comparison
  • Speed Reading, Skimming, Scanning, Active Reading, Time Management
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• Verbal Ability

  Grammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles

  ~3 marks
  • Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
  • Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement
  • Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
  • Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion
  • Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology, Confusables
  • Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, Common Errors
  • Verbal Analogies, Classification, Odd-Man-Out, Verbal Series
  • Critical Reasoning, Paradox, Brainteasers, Logic Games
  • Business Writing — Memo, Report, Email, Letter, Précis, Summary
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