With the XAT exam approaching, the panic to score well and the nervousness to perform well in the exam kicks in, and the aspirants are often worried. Candidates look for ways to somehow grasp and revise all the concepts and rejog their memories of how much they have studied.
So to ease this terror and panic in the candidates, we have curated an article which will help them in their last minute preparations.
XAT exam is definitely a tough nut to crack and undoubtedly is one of the prestigious MBA exams conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur every year for admission to the offered MBA courses. With just 24 hours or less left for the exam, aspirants are advised to read through this article to gather some last minute XAT preparation tips and strategies.
XAT Exam Pattern
Before we dive into strategies, let us begin with understanding the core of the XAT exam pattern. Refer to the table and pointers below to check the XAT exam pattern.
- The XAT exam comprises objective-type questions.
- Each question carries 1 mark.
- There shall be a negative marking of 0.25 mark for each incorrect answer and a negative marking of 0.10 marks shall be awarded for each unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions. However, the General Knowledge section is exempt from negative markings.
- GK section will not contribute to your overall percentile or cutoff score but will be considered in the selection process.
Also Check: XAT Exam 2025 Important Guidelines & Instructions
Part | Subject | Duration | Number of Questions |
1 | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 180 minutes | 26 |
Decision Making (DM) | 21 | ||
2 | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
3 | General Knowledge (GK) | 20 |
XAT Exam Last Minute Preparation Tips & Techniques
To help the aspirants get through the XAT exam with ease and comfort, mentioned below are a few relaxing and last minute tips to prepare for the XAT exam.
Revise Key Concepts
Candidates can simply revise or go through the core and key concepts they have studied throughout their preparation to jog the memory on how a particular problem can be solved. The short notes or flashcards prepared while studying can come in really handy at this point and can save the candidates from opening up a whole book and then going through the full topic/chapter.
Take Mock Tests
With just 1 day left for the exam, candidates can solve a few mock tests either section-wise or a full mock test to see how much preparation they have done and what are their chances of getting their desired score. However, it is advised that you do not take or solve a lot of mock tests as it may add to the pressure. Solve 3-4 mock tests and analyse yourself from those.
Do Not Start Anything New
Starting anything new at this point will be a pure disaster. So in case the candidates have left a topic or some kind of questions/problems, it is best advised to leave them as it is and not pick them up at this stage.
Focus on Your Strong Topics
At this point candidates should focus on their strong topics and revise them. If the aspirants feel they are strong with GK they should try to maximize that and try to score the maximum marks there.
Stay Calm and Motivated
This is the time to be strong and stay motivated. Candidates should not at all worry about the result, and just focus on solving the questions with an open mind and complete concentration. It is okay if you miss out on something. However, avoid answering any questions you think are tough to stay away from negative marking.
Take Proper Diet and Sleep
Mental acuity is directly connected to physical well-being. The candidates must maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure they get adequate sleep and exercise to keep their body and mind fit. Follow a balanced and healthy diet. Take proper rest and adequate sleep, it will relax your mind.
Mistakes to Avoid on XAT Exam Day
On the day of the XAT exam, candidates should steer clear of certain mistakes to perform at their best. As outlined by experts, here are some common blunders to avoid:
- Insufficient practice of mock tests and inadequate time devoted to analyzing each practice session.
- Lack of a solid exam-day strategy that considers strengths and weaknesses, identifies which questions to avoid, allocates time per section, and decides which section to tackle first.
- Neglecting preparation for the unique decision-making section in the XAT exam.
- Succumbing to panic after skipping consecutive questions and experiencing unnecessary stress.
- Poor time management during the test.
To avoid these mistakes, candidates need to do a few things. They should practice mock tests a lot and really look at how they did. Also, they should plan how they’ll do on exam day, manage their time well during the test, and focus on the decision-making part. It’s really important not to get scared or worried during the exam. Also, they should get better at managing their time for studying, going over their work, and doing practice tests.
