XAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Questions, Marks, Duration & Negative Marking
XAT 2026 exam pattern — number of questions, marks per question, duration, negative marking scheme, section-wise split, and tips to maximise your score within the time limit.
Reviewed by: StudyRoadmap Editorial · Last verified: 2026-04-24
XAT 2026 exam pattern
XAT exam pattern has evolved over years. Currently it consists of multiple sections: Verbal and Logical Reasoning (VA+LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA+DI), General Knowledge (GK), and an Essay Writing section. The total number of questions varies (around 75-100) with a duration of about 180 minutes. Each question carries 1 mark with negative marking of 0.25 for wrong answers (0.10 for GK). Recent patterns have introduced multi-select questions where more than one option may be correct. Essay writing (typically 15-20 minutes) is part of some B-school selections post-XAT score receipt.
Subjects in this exam
- VARC: 12 topics
- Decision-Making: 10 topics
- Quantitative Ability: 12 topics
- General Knowledge: 8 topics