The XAT 2026 syllabus tests your aptitude for management education through four core sections compiled into two parts. The XAT syllabus is designed into two parts. The first one is Part-1 which contains VA & LR, Decision making (DM), and QA & DI. Second is Part-2 that has GK in it. The exam evaluates a mix of analytical thinking, language skills, ethical judgment, and awareness of current events.
The total exam duration is 180 minutes but Part-1 duration is 170 minutes and Part-2 duration is 10 Minutes. So you will be having 170 minutes for VALR, DM, QA-DI and have 10 minutes for general knowledge.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the updated syllabus and what to expect in each section.
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR)
This section checks your reading comprehension, reasoning ability, and command of the English language. This section approximately asked about 26 questions.
This section contains the following topics:
Reading Comprehension: Long passages as well as short passages, topics of passages can be on business, philosophy, economics, society, science etc.
Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, usage-based questions, idioms, phrases, word analogies.
Grammar: Sentence correction, para jumbles, fill in the blanks, sentence completion.
Logical Reasoning: Syllogisms, blood relations, seating arrangements, logical sequences, coding-decoding.
Critical Reasoning: Assumptions, strengthening/weakening arguments, drawing conclusions, cause-effect scenarios.
Decision making (DM)
This section contains about 21 questions and it presents scenarios drawn from both personal and professional lives, assesses judgment, ethics, and real-life problem-solving. Where students need to analyse data using critical thinking and problem solving skills, making informed decisions.
This section has following topics:
Ethical dilemmas and Situational judgment: Questions on moral judgment, business ethics, stakeholder viewpoints, Conflict management, Team leadership, Workplace scenarios.
Decision Analysis: Multi-criteria decisions, Risk evaluation, Resource distribution.
Case-Based Business Scenarios: Strategic choices, Managerial reasoning, Organization behavior.
Quantitative Aptitude and Data interpretation (QA &DI)
This is the last section of part-1 that has about 28 questions in the XAT examination. This section is designed to assess the quantitative skills of students, also it analyzes their ability to understand complex data.
This section has following topics:
Arithmetic: Percentages, ratios, time, speed, distance, profit-loss, interest and number properties, probability, permutations-combinations, Set theory, venn diagrams, game theory basics.
Algebra: Equations, Inequalities, functions, sequences, logarithmic functions.
Geometry and measurement: Triangles, quadrilaterals, Coordinate geometry, Trigonometry basics.
Data Interpretation: Bar/line graphs, tables, pie charts, data sufficiency, Logical data puzzles.
General Knowledge (GK)
This is one and only section of part-2 of XAT syllabus that has a time limit of 10 minutes and this section has about 20 questions, where 08 questions are from static General knowledge (GK) and remaining 12 questions are from current affairs.
This section has following topics:
Current Affairs: National and global news, politics, economy, sports, awards, recognitions, financial markets, corporate updates, economic policies.
Static GK: History, geography, Science & tech, Literature, arts,Environment, social issues.
These are all the topics asked in the XAT examination. You can learn more about syllabus and other details on their XAT official website.
As for marking scheme for part-1 there is +1 mark for correct answer and -0.25 marks for incorrect answer, You also need to keep in mind that for every 8 un-attempted questions you will have -0.10 marks. So do not have more than 7 unanswered questions.
As for part-2 there is +1 mark for correct answer and NO negative marking for incorrect answer, this will allow you to attempt all the GK questions in this section without any risk of losing marks.
If you are a PwD candidate then you will have an additional 20 minutes for every hour in your XAT exam.
Books & Resources for XAT Preparation
Below you will find all names of resources and books which you will need in your MBA preparation, go through it carefully and let us know if there is anything missing from our list.
For VALR
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- Wren & Martin Grammar
- Logical Reasoning – Arun Sharma
- Reading Comprehension – Sujit Kumar
For Decision Making:
- Previous year papers
- Case studies
- Business ethics handbooks
- Situational judgment practice sets
For QA & DI:
- Quantitative Aptitude – Arun Sharma
- Data Interpretation – Arun Sharma
- Maths for MBA – R.S. Aggarwal
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Rajesh Verma
For GK:
- Manorama Yearbook
- Lucent’s GK
- The Hindu, Economic Times
- Pratiyogita Darpan, CSR
How to prepare for XAT Syllabus
To prepare for the XAT exam you can give mock tests on the official website of XAT and also analyze previous year question papers. You can also prepare using Youtube channels, there are many online tutor who prefer to teach online using their youtube channels.
These things will help you but it will not be enough, you will need preparation strategy. Let us give you a 6 month preparation strategy. For initial 2 to 3 months you need to build conceptual clarity and learn about the syllabus as much as possible then in 4 months you have to start attempting small mock tests and go through advanced level problems. In 5 months you need to focus on accuracy and full length mock tests as well as work on current affairs. In our final month of preparation strategy you will need to focus on previous year question papers and focus on revision, learning and mastering all important concepts asked in the examination.
Conclusion
The XAT 2026 syllabus tests your aptitude for management education through four core sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. It demands a unique blend of aptitude, ethics, and awareness. With the updated syllabus and emphasis on decision making and data interpretation, consistent preparation and smart strategy are key to securing a top percentile.
Let your prep align with the exam’s evolving expectations, and stay ahead.