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XAT 2014: Watch out for surprises

This expert article shares some quick strategy and tips to anticipate surprise elements and help you to proceed accordingly in the preparation strategy for XAT 2014 It is being repeatedly stated by the XAT 2014 examination conducting committee that there may not be surprise elements in XAT. However, do surprises always mean something absolutely new and never appeared or it could be the questions on such forgotten topics which have not been marking their presence for the last few sessions? Prof S K Agarwal, verbal ability expert shares some quick strategy and tips to anticipate such questions and proceed accordingly in the preparation strategy. What appeared in XAT in last three years? XAT entrance examination has vast Verbal Ability syllabus. It is therefore very difficult to place questions on all the topics every year. Besides, XAT has been on the path of reducing number of questions and increasing the level of difficulty in Verbal Ability which calls for compact test structure. There were 34 questions in 2011 in Verbal Ability section, in 2012 they were reduced to 32 and in 2013 the number was further reduced to 30. XAT is famous for the variable marking system. However, in 2013 it got stabilized with equal marks to all the questions. In 2011, eight questions on reading comprehension passages carried 17 marks, while in 2013 there were 18 questions carrying 18 marks. The questions in XAT 2014 are expected to carry equal marks. Questions on following topics were prominent during the last three sessions - Reading comprehension passages, odd man out and analogy, synonyms, antonyms, usage of vocabulary words, fill in the blanks (Articles, prepositions, subject verb agreement), correction of errors (grammar and tenses), fill in the blanks with correct vocabulary words, Jumbled paragraphs. Number of Reading comprehension passages was increased to four in 2013. Anticipate the forgotten: Since 2011 there has not been any question on Figures of speech. There may be a few questions either on identifying the figures of speech in sentences or on defining the same. Idioms and one word substitutions e.g. abstemious, omnivores, cannibal, mansion, blasphemy, amphibious could also figure in the examination. Confused words like Flaunt/flout;

Founder/flounder; It's/its; Venal/venial and phrasal verbs like break down; break up; break off; break in were missing and there are all the chances that they would resurface in XAT 2014. XAT although may not bring forth any structural surprise but there could be questions from the topics which have not appeared for the past three years and which never appear in CAT. It can take the aspirants off guard. Key tips: Spend a few minutes on the XAT Verbal Ability syllabus. Revising a bit of vocabulary, figures of speech, confused words wont take more than one or two hours. You may go through the past XAT examination papers also. You will get a fair idea of the type of questions on such topics and can practice them a little. The key is not to cram your head but just brush up the topic as they do not involve any fresh understanding except a little practice. MBAUniverse.com wishes all the best to prospective XAT takers. They may attend and practice more questions on GK, Verbal Ability, Quant and decision making which are available on the site. XAT 2014 Result: XAT 2014 Result will be declared on Friday, January 31, 2014 on the XAT 2014 website. XAT 2014 candidates can check their XAT 2014 Result by visiting the XAT 2014 website. On visiting the XAT 2014 website, one has to click on the tab Download XAT Score Card on the left side of the page. After clicking it, you can download your XAT 2014 Score Card and view your XAT 2014 Result. After logging in, you can download and print your XAT 2014 Result in the form of the score card. Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more expert articles on XAT 2014