XAT 2018 Question Paper & Answer Key: Download PDF
XAT 2018 was conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on 7 January 2018 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for MBA/PGDM admissions. XAT paper was structured into multiple aptitude sections along with a separate General Knowledge section, covering roughly 99 objective questions in total, and it followed a format where the essay writing component was excluded, making the exam fully objective in nature.
XAT 2018 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
| Question Paper PDF | Answer Key PDF |
|---|---|
XAT 2018 Question Paper PDF (Jan 07, 2018) |
Download PDF |
XAT 2018 Exam Pattern
XAT 2018 retained the two-part structure but came with important adjustments. Part 1 covered the three scored sections, to be completed in 170 minutes. Part 2 included General Knowledge (25 questions) and a mandatory Essay Writing section both completed in 40 minutes. XAT 2018 followed a structured CBT format divided into aptitude-based sections along with a separate GK and essay component, designed to evaluate both analytical ability and written expression.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | 7 January 2018 |
| Total Questions (Part 1) | 74 MCQs (scored) |
| Part 2 | 25 GK questions + 1 Essay topic |
| Total Duration | 210 minutes (170 + 40) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect |
| Unattempted Penalty | -0.05 per question beyond 8 unattempted |
| Sections | Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, QA & DI |
XAT 2018 Section-wise Question Distribution
| Section | Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability | 26 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Decision Making | 21 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Ability & DI | 27 | Moderate to Difficult |
| General Knowledge (Part 2) | 25 | Moderate (not scored for percentile) |
XAT 2018: First Computer-Based Test (CBT) Structure Shift
XAT 2018 marked the continuation of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, with a structured shift toward digitally administered exam delivery while maintaining the traditional section-wise aptitude and evaluation pattern used in previous XAT cycles.
XAT 2018 Most Repeated Topics
XAT 2018 leaned heavily on Verbal Ability, including Reading Comprehension passages that were longer and denser than in the 2017 paper. Quantitative Ability was anchored by Geometry and Algebra. Decision-making continued its signature pattern of caselet-based situational questions.
| Section | Repeated Topics | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary | 26 |
| Decision Making | Situational Caselets (18 Qs), Mathematical/Analytical Reasoning (3 Qs) | 21 |
| QA & DI | Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic, DI Sets | 27 |
| General Knowledge | Current Affairs, Static GK, Business & Economics | 25 |
XAT 2018 Scoring Chapters
XAT 2018 scoring areas were largely driven by a limited set of high-impact topics across Quantitative Ability, Decision Making, and Verbal sections. These chapters consistently contributed a higher share of solvable questions due to their recurring presence in the exam pattern.
| Section | Scoring Areas | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Critical Reasoning, RC (direct questions) | Close options needed careful elimination |
| Decision Making | Situational caselets (5 sets x 3 Qs) | Shorter length made them more approachable |
| QA & DI | Arithmetic questions, standard DI sets | Geometry was difficult; arithmetic was doable |
| General Knowledge | Business News, Static GK | Mattered only for XLRI selection, not percentile |
XAT 2018 Paper Analysis: Section-wise Difficulty
XAT 2018 presented a mixed difficulty pattern where reasoning-heavy sections created more challenge compared to calculation-based questions. The overall paper required balanced accuracy and time management across all sections.
| Section | Difficulty Level | Key Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning | Difficult | RC-heavy with inference-based questions |
| Decision Making | Moderate–Difficult | Case-based situations with layered choices |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Moderate | Arithmetic-driven, with time-consuming DI sets |
| General Knowledge | Easy–Moderate | Static + current affairs-based questions |
| Overall Paper | Moderate–Difficult | Accuracy and selection mattered more than attempts |
How XAT 2018 Papers Are Still Helpful
XAT 2018 marks the start of the CBT era for this exam. Candidates preparing for the current XAT editions is essentially working within a framework that XAT 2018 established. Revisiting this paper helps understand how the first digital XAT balanced section difficulty, how the unattempted-question penalty shaped attempt strategy, and how the DM caselet format has evolved since.
• First CBT edition, baseline for all subsequent online XAT formats
• Decision Making caselets from 2018 remain a reference point for DM difficulty calibration
• Verbal RC and Critical Reasoning patterns closely mirror what appears in recent papers
• Useful for understanding how the move from pen and paper to CBT changed the overall attempt experience
• QA topic mix (Geometry + Algebra + Arithmetic) continues to reflect the current syllabus emphasis
XAT 2018 FAQs
Ques: Was XAT 2018 the first online XAT exam?
Ans: Yes. XAT 2018, held on 7 January 2018, was the first edition of XAT conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. All previous editions were pen-and-paper tests.
Ques: What was the essay topic in XAT 2018?
Ans: XAT 2018 included a mandatory essay writing section in Part 2. The essay had a word limit of around 200 words and was evaluated as part of XLRI's final selection process, not for XAT percentile calculation.
Ques: What was the expected XLRI cutoff for XAT 2018?
Ans: Based on post-exam analysis, the expected overall cutoff for XLRI BM was around 34, for XLRI HRM around 31, and for the Global MBA around 30, with defined sectional minimums for VA, DM, and QA.
Ques: How many questions could a candidate skip in XAT 2018 without penalty?
Ans: Up to 8 questions could be left unattempted without any penalty. Beyond that, a deduction of 0.05 marks was applied for each additional unattempted question.
Ques: Why is XAT 2018 still relevant for current aspirants?
Ans: XAT 2018 set the template for all subsequent CBT editions. Its section structure, DM caselet format, and marking scheme have served as the base from which later changes were made making it a critical reference paper for pattern understanding.
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