XAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus

XAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: topic-wise syllabus

1. 1

   Reading Comprehension

   ~1 marks

   Passages, Inference, Per XAT Official Notification

   • 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
2. 2

   Verbal Ability

   ~1 marks

   Grammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles, Per XAT Official Notification

   • 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)
3. 3

   English Grammar

   ~2 marks

   Tenses, Voice, Narration, Articles, Modals

   • 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
4. 4

   English Grammar

   ~2 marks

   Prepositions, Conjunctions, Tenses, Voice

   • 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
5. 5

   Reading Comprehension

   ~2 marks

   Factual, Inferential, Literary

   • 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
6. 6

   English Vocabulary

   ~2 marks

   Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word, Idioms

   • 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
7. 7

   English Comprehension Skills

   ~2 marks

   Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fill Blanks

   • 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
8. 8

   Arithmetic

   ~3 marks

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

   • 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
9. 9

   Algebra

   ~3 marks

   Equations, Functions, P&C, Probability

   • 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
10. 10

    Data Interpretation

    ~3 marks

    Charts, Tables, Caselets, Data Sufficiency

    • 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
11. 11

    Verbal Ability

    ~3 marks

    Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing

    • 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
12. 12

    Logical Reasoning

    ~3 marks

    Puzzles, Arrangements, Logic, Decisions

    • 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
13. 13

    Reading Comprehension

    ~3 marks

    Factual, Inferential, Critical, Business

    • 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
14. 14

    Verbal Ability

    ~3 marks

    Grammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles

    • 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