GK Section in XAT can be Tricky

Imagine having to prepare for a section which you know will not be accounted for in your shortlisting percentile, but will impact the final selection in your favorite B-school. Sounds tricky, right? Well, that’s Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT 2020) for you.

XAT 2020 is one of the toughest management entrance exams conducted in India and is your gateway to the 11 XAMI member colleges, including XLRI Jamshedpur. Also, the XAT 2020 is accepted by 150 XAT colleges like Great Lakes Chennai, GIM Goa, IMT Ghaziabad, and TAPMI Manipal, etc.

XAT 2020 will have four sections to be completed in 180 minutes.

1. Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning – 24 to 26 Questions
2. Decision Making – 21 to 24 Questions
3. Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, and Data Sufficiency – 25 to 27 Questions
4. General Knowledge – 25 Questions

Click here to read about the XAT 2020 exam pattern and syllabus.

What is the GK Section?

1. The GK Section in XAT 2020 will have 25 questions
2. The questions in the GK section will be a mix of static and current affairs
3. There is no negative marking in XAT 2020’s GK section
4. Maximum questions are single-statement based
5. Starting 2019, the is no sectional time limit for GK section.

Why is the GK Section Crucial?

The GK section score in XAT 2020 will not be considered while calculating the final percentile. However, it is taken into consideration when you are shortlisted for further rounds – GD, WAT, and PI. Having a score between 8 to 10 in the GK section is impressive and can fetch you somewhere around 90 percentiles.

How to Approach the GK Section?

Since we already know that the marks in the GK section will not be included in the final score, but still critical. It is essential to understand how to approach this section, both while preparing and attempting.

1. Read newspapers daily and keep track of all-important happenings in and around India and the world. Keep yourself abreast in the fields of sports, politics, economics, business, and awards. Brush up essential historical events, geography, and science topics. Going through previous year papers will give a fair amount of idea about the kinds of questions that are asked in static affairs. Doing well in the GK section has a lot to do with the knowledge you have acquired over a while and not just rote learning.
2. Unlike previous years when there were separate 25 minutes given to GK and essay, there will be no extra time given for GK section in XAT 2020. Please dedicate no more than 10 to 12 minutes at the beginning of the XAT 2020 exam paper and do not leave it for the end. Leaving the GK section un-attempted may still fetch you a percentile, but you will not be shortlisted for further selection rounds.

GK Section Over the Years!

1. The GK section over the years has been moderate to difficult
2. The question breakup over the last four years is as follows:

3. There has been equal stress given to both – static and current affairs
4. In XAT 2019, the break up of questions was as follows:

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