XAT 2026 Weightage- Coaching institutes analyse the XAT papers to release the XAT exam weightage. Knowing the XAT weightage 2026 of each section is crucial for ultimate performance and attentive preparation in this reputed examination. XAT 2026 Weightage assists aspirants in assigning and strategizing study time impressively for success. Get appropriate information about the XAT weightage section-wise in this write-up.
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a popular MBA entrance test consisting of 101 total marks allocated to various sections like Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
Section-Wise Questions Break-Up in XAT 2026
XAT weightage is equivalent to that of the previous year’s XAT test. Now, concentrate on the sectional break-up of questions. Despite multiple-choice questions on Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision-Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, you will also find an Essay Writing section. The sectional break-up of the XAT question paper 2026 is detailed below.
| XAT Paper Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Marks for Right Answer | Negative Marking for Wrong Answer | Penalty for Unattempted less than 8 |
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 | +1 | -0.25 | -0.10 per question |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 | +1 | -0.25 | -0.10 per question |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | +1 | -0.25 | -0.10 per question |
| General Knowledge | 20 | 20 | +1 | No Negative Marking | No Penalty |
| Essay Writing | 1 (optimized later) | No scored | Optimized during the PI process | N/A | N/A |
Only the first three sections (Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation) are taken to calculate marks percentile whereas Essay and GK sections are taken during the Interview stage by XLRI.
XAT Quants Topic Wise Weightage
| Topics | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| DI | 9 | 2 | 6 |
| Geometry and mensuration | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| Averages, ratio and proportion | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Puzzle | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Profit, loss and interest | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Time and work | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Data sufficiency | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Probability, combinatorics | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Number system | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Logs, surds and indices | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Linear and quadratic equations | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Inequalities | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Progressions and series | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Time, speed and distance | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Venn diagram | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 28 | 28 |
XAT Exam Syllabus 2026
The syllabus of the XAT exam 2026 is given in the table below, section-wise with important topics.
| XAT Paper Syllabus | Important Topics |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Analogy, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Parajumble, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc. |
| Decision Making | Conditioning, Data Arrangement, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Assumptions, Caselets, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Mensuration, Geometry, Arithmetic, Surds and Indices, Percentage, Algebra, Mensuration, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Data Interpretation, Tables, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Business, Economy, Science, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, Government, World, Constitution of India, etc. |
XAT Marking Scheme 2026
To clear the XAT exam 2026 on the first attempt, it is crucial to know the XAT paper marking scheme. As the paper pattern is equivalent to other MBA entrance exams, the XAT marking scheme 2026 depicts a few differences.
Some of the major facts about the XAT marking scheme 2026 are detailed below.
- One mark is assigned for every right answer.
- No negative marking of 0.25 is allocated for every wrong answer.
- If you don’t answer more than eight consecutive questions, then 0.10 scores will be deducted.
- The General Knowledge section doesn’t have negative markings.
- General Knowledge marks are not preferred while calculating the XAT percentile.
- Essays are not considered during the XAT test but will be optimized during PI shortlisting.
XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Evaluate the paper pattern of the XAT before knowing the marking scheme of XAT. The XAT paper has 3 parts like A, B and C. Part A consists of Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, comprising 175 minutes.
Part B will be a five-minute session of mock keyboard testing and Part C consists of a GK section and a short essay topic of 30 minutes. PwD aspirants will obtain 20 minutes extra in every part. The paper pattern of XAT 2026 involves the details given below.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Good Attempts |
| Part – A (170 Minutes) | |||
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 | 14 to 15 |
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 | 12 to 13 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | 19 to 20 |
| Total | 75 | 75 | |
| Part – B (10 Minutes) | |||
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | |
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