XAT Sample Paper 1 helps candidates practise questions across Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur and is accepted by 250+ premier B-Schools. The exam is conducted in 100+ test cities across India.
The XAT 2027 exam is scheduled for January 03, 2027, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
XAT Sample Paper 1: Exam Pattern
The XAT exam pattern provided for Sample Paper 1 includes four sections and a total of 95 questions.
| XAT Section | Important Topics | Questions | Time |
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) | Critical and analytical reasoning, reading comprehension, poems, cartoons, passages, vocabulary, English grammar, para jumbles, cloze tests and related exercises | 26 | 170 minutes |
| Decision Making (DM) | Scenarios from personal and professional life, critical thinking, problem-solving and prioritisation | 21 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern Maths, data interpretation, summarisation and analysis of data | 28 | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | Static GK and current affairs | 20 | 10 minutes |
| Total | – | 95 | 180 minutes |
XAT Sample Paper 1 Questions
Given below are the subject-wise XAT Sample Paper 1 questions, along with solutions discussed below:
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation Questions
The XAT sample paper begins with quantitative aptitude questions covering areas such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number properties, probability and mensuration.
1. In a battle, the commander-in-chief arranges his soldiers in a formation of three concentric circles. The radii of the circles are in arithmetic progression: the smallest radius is 70 m and the largest is 140 m. If each soldier is to be separated from the adjacent soldiers standing on the same circle by 1 m, how many soldiers are required to complete the formation? (Take π = 22/7)
A. 660
B. 1320
C. 880
D. 1980
E. 440
Correct answer: D
Solution:
Let the three radii be 70, 70 + d, 70 + 2d.
Given:
70 + 2d = 140
2d = 70
d = 35
So, the radii are 70 m, 105 m and 140 m.
Total circumference of all three circles
= 2π(70 + 105 + 140)
= 2 × (22/7) × 315
= 1980 m
Since soldiers are placed 1 m apart, number of soldiers = 1980.
Answer: D
2. In a business school, only three specializations are offered: marketing, finance and operations. A student can opt for either one, two, or three specializations, or no specialization. In a batch of 120 students, 60 are specializing in marketing, 50 are specializing in finance and 30 are specializing in operations. During placements, all students specializing either in marketing or in finance are shortlisted for consulting job interviews.
If 45 students are not shortlisted for consulting job interviews, what is the minimum possible number of students specializing in both marketing and finance?
A. 35
B. 50
C. 60
D. 45
E. 40
Correct answer – A
Solution:
Students shortlisted = 120 − 45 = 75
Since only students having Marketing or Finance specialization are shortlisted,
n(M ∪ F) = 75
Using the formula:
n(M ∩ F) = n(M) + n(F) − n(M ∪ F)
= 60 + 50 − 75
= 35
Therefore, the minimum possible number of students specializing in both Marketing and
Finance is 35.
Answer: A
3. An archer, from the point A, is aiming at a target placed on the top of a 56 feet tall tree. The base of the tree is at the point C. From the archer’s position, the angle of elevation to the target is 45° from his eye level. The archer, facing the tree, then moves backwards on the straight line joining A and C, to a new position at point B. From point B, the angle of elevation from his eye level to the target becomes 30°. How far did the archer move from A to B (in feet) if his eye level is at a height of 6 feet from the ground?
A. 50√3
B. 56√3
C. 50(√3 − 1)
D. 50(1 − 1/√3)
E. 50/√3
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Height of target above eye level
= 56 − 6
= 50 ft
Let AC = x.
From point A:
tan 45° = 50/x
1 = 50/x
x = 50
Let AB = d.
Then BC = 50 + d.
From point B:
tan 30° = 50/(50 + d)
1/√3 = 50/(50 + d)
50 + d = 50√3
d = 50√3 − 50
= 50(√3 − 1)
Answer: C
4. Two buses travel between Jamshedpur and Kolkata in opposite directions on the same road. On that road, the maximum allowed speeds are different (but constant) for the opposite directions. Usually, both buses travel at their respective maximum allowed speeds to their destinations: the bus from Jamshedpur to Kolkata takes 4 hours, while the bus from Kolkata to Jamshedpur takes 3 hours.
One day, the two buses start at the same time. However, one hour after starting, the bus from Jamshedpur to Kolkata reduces its speed to half of its maximum allowed speed due to congestion. If neither bus stops anywhere in between, how many hours after starting do they meet?
A. 2 hours
B. 23/12 hours
C. 12/5 hours
D. 21/11 hours
E. 10/11 hours
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
Let distance between the cities = D.
Speed of Jamshedpur to Kolkata bus = D/4
Speed of Kolkata to Jamshedpur bus = D/3
In the first hour, distance covered together
= D/4 + D/3
= 7D/12
Remaining distance
= D − 7D/12
= 5D/12
After 1 hour, first bus slows to half speed:
New speed = D/8
Relative speed
= D/8 + D/3
= 11D/24
Additional time to meet
= (5D/12)/(11D/24)
= 10/11 hours
Total time after start
= 1 + 10/11
= 21/11 hours
Answer: D
5. What is the interest owed by Chhuttan to Brijbhushan at the end of the year?
A. Rs. 2000
B. Rs. 3500
C. Rs. 5000
D. Rs. 4000
E. Rs. 2500
Correct Answer: E
Solution:
For Chhuttan,
Perimeter of his land = 2(l + b) = 250 m
l + b = 125 m → (i)
l/b = 4/1 → (ii)
From (i) and (ii),
4b + b = 125
5b = 125
b = 25 m
l = 100 m
Area of Chhuttan’s land
= 100 × 25
= 2500 sq. m
Loan given to Chhuttan
= 2500 × 10
= Rs. 25,000
Interest rate = 10%
Interest owed at the end of one year
= 10% of 25,000
= Rs. 2,500
Answer: E
6. What is the MAXIMUM possible value of the total loan Brijbhushan has given to these
five farmers?
A. None of the other options is correct
B. Rs. 250,000
C. Rs. 237,500
D. Rs. 232,500
E. Rs. 242,500
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Let the farmers be A, B, C, D and G representing Aditya, Binod, Chhuttan, Dabloo and Govind
respectively.
Let area of Govind’s plot = x sq. m.
Area of Aditya’s plot = 3x sq. m.
Let area of Dabloo’s plot = y sq. m.
Given,
Area of Aditya’s plot is the average of the areas of Govind’s and Dabloo’s plots.
3x = (x + y)/2
y = 5x
The width of Aditya’s and Dabloo’s plots is the same. Let this common width be w.
Let their lengths be l1 and l3 respectively.
Then,
l1 × w = 3x
l3 × w = 5x
Length of Binod’s plot = l1 + l3
Area of Binod’s plot
= (l1 + l3) × w
= l1w + l3w
= 3x + 5x
= 8x
Therefore,
Total area of all plots
= 3x + 8x + 2500 + 5x + x
= 17x + 2500
To maximize total loan, maximize x.
Minimum area of any plot = 1000 sq. m.
Since Binod’s area = 8x and no plot can exceed 10,000 sq. m,
8x ≤ 10,000
x ≤ 1250
Maximum x = 1250
Total area
= 17(1250) + 2500
= 23,750 sq. m.
Total loan
= 23,750 × 10
= Rs. 237,500
Answer: C
7. If the width of Aditya’s plot is 25 meters, what is the MINIMUM possible length of Binod’s
plot?
A. 360 meters
B. 320 meters
C. 250 meters
D. 400 meters
E. 280 meters
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Let area of Govind’s plot = x sq. m.
Area of Aditya’s plot = 3x sq. m.
Area of Dabloo’s plot = 5x sq. m.
Width of Aditya’s plot = 25 m.
Since Aditya’s and Dabloo’s plots have the same width,
Width of Dabloo’s plot = 25 m.
Let length of Binod’s plot = l2.
Area of Binod’s plot
= 8x
So,
l2 × 25 = 8x
l2 = 8x/25
To minimize l2, minimize x.
Minimum plot area allowed = 1000 sq. m.
Since Govind’s plot has area x,
x = 1000
Therefore,
l2 = (8 × 1000)/25
= 320 m
XAT Decision Making Questions
The Decision Making section contains scenarios based on professional and personal situations. The questions require selecting the most appropriate course of action from the given alternatives.
1. Read the following scenario and answer the THREE questions that follow.
MultiKrack, one of the oldest FMCG companies in Eastern India, was run by the Malhotras, a traditional business family, for generations. The organization believed that key positions should be held only by family members and close friends.
But, as the organization grew in size, the top management decided to bring in fresh thinking and fill key positions from premier management institutions.
The need for such a decision was also brought upon by changes in consumer preferences, which the top management felt could be best handled by recruiting premier talent from the younger generation (Gen Z).
MultiKrack drew the best talent, from premier management institutions, by offering highly attractive salaries. The first batch of Gen Z management trainees joined MultiKrack. Anindita was one of the seven management trainees recruited. She reported to Uday, a senior manager, who directly reported to the top management.
A. In one of the meetings, Uday was making a presentation on positioning their most popular product to make it more appealing to Gen Z. Unhappy with the discussion,
Anindita candidly shared her concern regarding the assumptions Uday made about Gen Z. Uday immediately retorted: “Anindita, this is a discussion for adults. Kids, like you, should listen for a few months before sharing their opinion.” Further, he remarked, “you Gen Z have opinions about everything regardless of the subject.” Thereafter, he brushed aside any views Anindita attempted to share during the discussion. After the meeting, Anindita felt offended. However, when she discussed it with other management trainees, they did not find anything wrong with what Uday said. Even then, she decided to do something about such a treatment, since it would be seen as an approved behaviour.
Which of the following options will BEST help Anindita in taking an appropriate stand against Uday’s behaviour?
A. Urge other management trainees to petition the top management jointly with her.
B. Meet up with the top management and lodge a formal complaint against Uday.
C. Meet Uday in person and remind him why she, a Gen Z, was hired in the first place.
D. Before actively participating in meetings, wait for a few months as Uday suggested.
E. Ask her colleagues to talk to Uday on behalf of her.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Uday’s remarks are dismissive and based on generational stereotypes. However, before escalating the issue formally, the most constructive and proportionate first step is to address it directly with him. Meeting Uday personally allows Anindita to:
● Explain why diverse perspectives, including those of Gen Z, were valued by thecompany.
● Clarify the impact of his comments.
● Attempt resolution through dialogue before escalation.
The other options are either premature, passive, or indirect.
Answer: C
B. Anindita was passionate about bringing a change in her organization. Thus, she went thoroughly prepared for every meeting. However, she soon realized that her ideas were not taken up for discussions during meetings. She often felt looked down upon by Uday who dismissed her suggestions without even hearing them out. When she discussed her experience with other management trainees from other departments, she came to know this was a common practice across MultiKrack. They wanted to do something about it; however, they were clueless about the course of action, since their seniors did not seem to be interested in listening to them.
Which of the following actions by the management trainees will be MOST effective in improving the treatment of Gen Z at MultiKrack?
A. Focus on proving themselves professionally, and be patient until attitudes change in general.
B. Reach out to the top management and explain how the attitude of the seniors is affecting
their morale.
C. Seek informal meetings with seniors belonging to Gen X and try to explain the Gen Z point of view.
D. Create an informal support group to deal with the duress of handling the MultiKrack seniors.
E. Confront their colleagues directly whenever they come across unfair and rude.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The issue is not limited to one individual; it appears to be a widespread organizational pattern affecting multiple trainees.
Since:
- Seniors are not receptive.
- The problem affects morale and retention.
- Multiple trainees face the same issue.
The most effective step is to bring the concern to the top management, who have the authority to influence culture and address systemic issues.
The other options either do not address the root cause or lack organizational impact.
Answer: B
C. A few months passed. Anindita was a valuable member of her team and the top management was impressed with her. However, the other management trainees left the
organization. In their exit interviews, they shared the condescending behavior of senior management as the reason for their departure. Some even left MultiKrack to join organizations that paid lesser than what MultiKrack paid. The top management understood that the seniors belonged to a different generation; they found it difficult to appreciate the intergenerational differences. The top management felt it was high time to do something about the senior management’s behavior towards the juniors.
Which of the following actions, considered by the top management, will BEST enable change in the senior management’s behavior?
A. Keep management trainees in mostly independent roles to limit their interactions with senior management.
B. Ask Gen Z to rate the senior management on their behavior every quarter.
C. Hire more Gen Z and fast track them to senior management based on performance.
D. Invest in diversity, equity and inclusion training, using mass exodus as a turning point for the organization to embrace.
E. Issue a company-wide warning that any form of discrimination will result in disciplinary action.
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
The issue stems from intergenerational bias and a lack of understanding between senior managers and younger employees.
A sustainable solution should:
- Address attitudes and behaviors.
- Build awareness and empathy.
- Create long-term cultural change.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training directly targets these objectives and helps managers recognize and overcome unconscious biases.
The other options are either punitive, indirect, or fail to address the underlying cause.
Answer: D
XAT Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning Questions
The XAT VALR questions cover logical sequencing, grammar, critical reasoning and reading comprehension.
1. Read the following sentences carefully.
1. Everybody were late.
2. I will ask you if I need help.
3. Please revert to me at the earliest possible.
4. The report that the committee submitted was well received.
5. She is accustomed to work late.
Which of the following options consists of only grammatically CORRECT sentences?
A. 4, 5
B. 1, 3
C. 1, 4
D. 2, 4
E. 3, 5
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
1. Incorrect → “Everybody was late.”
2. Correct.
3. Incorrect → Standard usage is “Please revert at the earliest” or “Please get back to me at
the earliest possible opportunity.”
4. Correct.
5. Incorrect → “She is accustomed to working late.”
Only sentences 2 and 4 are grammatically correct.
Answer: D
2. Read the following excerpt carefully.
When we encounter new situations, concepts, or problems, we make ________ of them by ________ them onto older experience and structures. Far from being a ________ mental shortcut, analogy is a process by which humans generalize, adapt, and grow in ________.
Which of the following options BEST fills up the blanks in the above excerpt?
A. meaning, linking, inconsequential, life
B. use, engaging, quick, confidence
C. fun, connecting, serious, skills
D. sense, mapping, minor, understanding
E. most, relating, comprehensive, experiences
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
- “make sense of them” is the correct idiom.
- “mapping them onto older experience and structures” is the appropriate cognitive-science expression.
- “Far from being a minor mental shortcut” fits the contrast being made.
- “grow in understanding” is the natural concluding phrase.
The completed sentence reads:
“When we encounter new situations, concepts, or problems, we make sense of them by mapping them onto older experience and structures. Far from being a minor mental shortcut, analogy is a process by which humans generalize, adapt, and grow in understanding.”
Answer: D
3. Read the following sentences carefully.
1. The hybrid workplace is failing to live up to expectations in a number of ways.
2. By one estimate, spending an average of three days each week in the office can limit encounters between any two workers by 64% compared with pre-pandemic norms.
3. Many people hanker after the socializing, camaraderie and shared experience, even if getting used to it may take time.
4. For one thing, it is no substitute for the buzz and the chatter of the pre-pandemic office.
5. Even small amount of remote work can have a big impact on the frequency of face-to-
face interactions in the office.
Which of the following options BEST arranges the above sentences in a logical sequence?
A. 5,1,2,4,3
B. 1,4,3,5,2
C. 1,4,2,5,3
D. 2,5,3,4,1
E. 3,4,5,2,1
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Sentence 1 introduces the topic by stating that the hybrid workplace is failing to meet expectations.
Sentence 4 follows naturally because “For one thing” presents the first reason for this failure.
Sentence 3 elaborates on why the traditional office environment is valued, referring to
socializing, camaraderie and shared experiences.
Sentence 5 introduces another drawback of hybrid work by discussing the impact of remote work on face-to-face interactions.
Sentence 2 provides statistical evidence supporting Sentence 5.
Therefore, the logical sequence is:
1 → 4 → 3 → 5 → 2
Answer: B
4. Read the following sentences carefully.
1. She described about the journey.
2. We are awaiting her reply.
3. She is superior to us.
4. She requested for more time.
5. She is angry with her friend.
6. She insisted for an apology.
Which of the following options contains only grammatically INCORRECT sentences?
A. 1, 4, 6
B. 2, 3, 5
C. 1, 3, 4
D. 2, 4, 5
E. 1, 2, 6
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
1. Incorrect → “Describe” does not take the preposition “about”. Correct: She described the
journey.
2. Correct → We are awaiting her reply.
3. Correct → Superior to is the correct usage.
4. Incorrect → “Request” does not take “for” in this construction. Correct: She requested
more time.
5. Correct → Angry with is grammatically correct.
6. Incorrect → “Insist” is followed by on/upon. Correct: She insisted on an apology.
Thus, the incorrect sentences are 1, 4, and 6.
Answer: A
5. Read the following excerpt carefully.
Reliability is magnetic because humans are hardwired to avoid risk, so once you prove yourself trustworthy and reliable, you become the default choice for opportunities without ever asking for them.
Which of the following options, IF TRUE, will BEST CONTRADICT the idea of the excerpt?
A. People gravitate towards those who consistently reduce uncertainty.
B. Being dependable turns a person into the most favourite one.
C. Predictability becomes a competitive advantage in a chaotic world.
D. Opportunities only come to those who actively chase them.
E. Those that are not preferred for critical tasks are unreliable.
Correct Answer: D
Solution:
The excerpt argues that reliability itself attracts opportunities, even without actively seeking them. Option D directly contradicts this by claiming that opportunities come only to those who actively pursue them.
Answer: D
XAT General Knowledge Questions
The XAT GK questions include static GK and current affairs.
1. India recently achieved a milestone by placing its heaviest payload ever into orbit using the LVM3-M6 rocket. Which of the following is a satellite, launched as a part of this mission?
A. Oceansat-3
B. RISAT-2BR1
C. GSAT-24
D. BlueBird Block-2
E. XAT-2026
Correct Answer: D
2. Which of the following is NOT true about octopuses?
A. Their blood emits a radium-like glow under moonlight.
B. They have three hearts.
C. They can eject a cloud of ink which creates smoke-screen effect, to escape predators.
D. They usually have a lifespan of around 1-5 years.
E. They can regrow their lost arms.
Correct Answer: A
3. Who won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the novel “James”, a reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”?
A. Rabih Alameddine
B. Andrew Miller
C. Percival Everett
D. Hisham Matar
E. David Szalay
Correct Answer: C
4. Which of the following is a comet that flew very close to the Earth in December, 2025?
A. C/2025 A6
B. C/2024 G3
C. 3I/ATLAS
D. C/2025 R2
E. Halley’s Comet
Correct Answer: C
5. Which of the following is the first Asian country to host the Commonwealth Games?
A. India
B. Bhutan
C. China
D. Japan
E. Malaysia
Correct Answer: E
6. Who was the RUNNER-UP in the 2025 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Championship?
A. Taylor Fritz
B. Novak Djokovic
C. Alexander Zverev
D. Jannik Sinner
E. Carlos Alcaraz
Correct Answer: E
7 Who is credited for popularizing the telephone greeting “Hello”?
A. Alexander Graham Bell
B. Adele
C. Lionel Ritchie
D. Thomas Edison
E. Thomas Watson
Correct Answer: D
8. Who, among the following, is credited for designing the following ad campaigns: “Kuch khaas hai…zindagi mein” (Cadbury’s), “Fevicol ka mazboot jod hai, tootega nahin” (Fevicol), and “Har ghar kuch kehta hai” (Asian Paints)?
A. Alyque Padamsee
B. Rajiv Rao
C. Sonal Dabral
D. Prasoon Joshi
E. Piyush Pandey
Correct Answer: E
9. Who was the player of the tournament in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025?
A. Shafali Verma
B. Deepti Sharma
C. Smriti Mandhana
D. Sara Tendulkar
E. Jemimah Rodrigues
Correct Answer: B
10. What is common among the following celebrities: Val Kilmer, Diane Keaton, Robert Redford, Dharmendra Deol and B. Saroja Devi?
A. These celebrities were the co-actors of Kamal Haasan in his 100th movie.
B. These celebrities are posthumously nominated for 2026 Bharat Ratna Award.
C. These celebrities passed away in 2025.
D. These celebrities were born in the same year.
E. These celebrities received Times Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2025.
Correct Answer: C
11. Which Indian city has become home to the country’s first Semiconductor Innovation Museum?
A. Kolkata
B. Pune
C. Mumbai
D. Hyderabad
E. Bengaluru
Correct Answer: D
XAT Sample Paper 1 Answer Key
| Section | Question | Correct Answer |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 1 | D |
| 2 | A | |
| 3 | C | |
| 4 | D | |
| 5 | E | |
| 6 | C | |
| 7 | B | |
| Decision Making | A | C |
| B | B | |
| C | D | |
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning | 1 | D |
| 2 | D | |
| 3 | B | |
| 4 | A | |
| 5 | D | |
| General Knowledge | 1 | D |
| 2 | A | |
| 3 | C | |
| 4 | C | |
| 5 | E | |
| 6 | E | |
| 7 | D | |
| 8 | E | |
| 9 | B | |
| 10 | C | |
| 11 | D |
Conclusion
XAT Sample Paper 1 gives candidates practice across VALR, Decision Making, QA & DI, and GK, covering different question types that require accuracy, reasoning and time management.
Solving such a paper can help candidates identify their strong areas, track mistakes and understand where more practice is required before XAT 2027.
For more structured practice, candidates can also attempt the MBA Karo XAT 2027 Mock Tests.
The test series includes 25 tests – 10 full-length XAT mocks and 15 Decision Making mocks- with 1,065 questions and 40 hours 50 minutes of total test duration.
Practising these mocks regularly can help candidates evaluate their preparation and improve their approach to the exam.
