10 Days To XAT Section-wise Strategy

Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning

Major topics covered in XAT syllabus for VARC & LR are - Vocabulary based questions – fill in the blanks with correct words; synonyms/antonyms; contextual usage on vocabulary words

Jumbled Paragraphs; Correction of errors in sentences; Completion of paragraph; RC passages are based on Abstract topics, Literature, Social and Economic issues;  Science & Culture; history & fiction among others.

There are few critical reasoning and a few LR based questions in XAT exam. All questions are of MCQ type. Topics covered on which LR questions are based, are Analogy, Clocks, calendars, Fact, Inference, Judgement, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, assumption, premise, conclusion among others.

Decision Making

XAT Syllabus on Decision Making is unique as neither CAT nor any other national level entrance exam has Decision Making as one of its exam sections.

Decision Making is the problem or case solving expertise of a candidate. Broadly the decision making questions are based on Conditions and Grouping Test; Data Arrangement Test; Complex Arrangement; Decision Making in a situation; Case lets

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Quant questions are based on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration, Trignometry.

Number of questions in Arithmetic: 10 to 12. Major topics are LCM and HCF; Percentages; Profit and Loss; Interest (Simple and Compound); Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others

Other important topics are: Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations; Complex Numbers; Logarithm; Progressions; Binomial Theorem; Surds and Indices; Inequalities; Permutation and Combination; Probability Functions; Set Theory; Mixtures and Alligations; Geometry; Co-ordinate Geometry; Trigonometry; Mensuration

Data Interpretation (DI)

Questions in Data Interpretation part in XAT exam are in sets in most cases. Sometimes individual questions are also asked. Topics on which DI questions are based, are - Data Tables, Data charts, bar diagrams, Pie charts, Graphs, Data analysis and comparison among others. All the questions are of MCQ type.

DI questions in XAT exam are in the set of 4 questions. Questions on interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, are asked.

Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs. In this section, it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.

General Knowledge

As per the changed pattern of XAT exam, there would be 25 questions of Multiple Choice type in XAT 2018 exam.

Economics, finance, national and international current affairs are a few of the many topics on which questions are placed in this section in XAT exam. Questions are also based on conventional GK. In-depth and regular reading of GK helps more as sometimes a few GK questions in XAT appear more tricky and need intensive reading.

Sumit Singh Gandhi

Guest Author The author is Founder and CEO of CATKing