XAT Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern 2027
XAT has its own marking rules, including a penalty for skipping too many questions. Here is the full pattern and scheme, with how each part counts towards your percentile.
Calculate Your XAT 2027 Score| Section | Questions | Max marks | In percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability | 26 | 26 | Yes |
| Decision Making | 22 | 22 | Yes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 | Yes |
| General Knowledge | 20 | 20 | No |
| Part 1 total | 76 | 76 | Yes |
+1 correct · −0.25 wrong · −0.10 per unattempted Part 1 question after 8 · GK has no negative marking
XAT exam pattern
Question counts are from XAT 2026. XLRI can change the pattern; we update this page from the XAT 2027 notification.
| Section | Questions (XAT 2026) | Counted for percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR) | 26 | Yes |
| Decision Making (DM) | 22 | Yes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA&DI) | 28 | Yes |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 20 | No (used at interview stage by some schools) |
Marking scheme
Each correct answer earns +1. Each wrong answer costs −0.25. In Part 1, the first 8 unattempted questions are free; every unattempted question after that costs −0.10. General Knowledge has no negative marking and is not counted in your percentile.
| Response | Part 1 (VALR, DM, QA&DI) | GK |
|---|---|---|
| Correct | +1 | +1 |
| Wrong | −0.25 | 0 |
| Unattempted (first 8) | 0 | 0 |
| Unattempted (9th onwards) | −0.10 each | 0 |
How your percentile is decided
Only Part 1 (VALR, DM and QA&DI) is used for your percentile, after applying the skip penalty. GK is scored separately. XAT runs in a single session, so there is no slot normalisation.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there in XAT?
XAT 2026 had 26 VALR, 22 DM, 28 QA&DI and 20 GK questions. Confirm the XAT 2027 pattern in the official notification.
Are there TITA questions in XAT?
XAT has used multiple-choice questions throughout. Check the XAT 2027 notification for any change.
Is there negative marking for unattempted questions in XAT?
Yes. In Part 1 the first 8 unattempted questions carry no penalty. Each unattempted question after that costs 0.10 marks.
Is GK counted in the XAT percentile?
No. GK is scored separately and is not used for your percentile. Some schools, including XLRI, may look at it during later selection stages.
