XLRI '99

(Jan 3, 1999)

Time : 2½ Hrs. (10 am to 12:30 pm)

Total Questions 195 (BMD) / 215 (PM&IR) + an essay (Section 4)

Negative Marking : 33%

Section No. Name Time Questions (BMD) Questions (PM & IR)
1 Language 45 min. 75 75
2 GK + Logic 30 min. 60 80
3 Quantitative 45 min. 60 60
4 Essay 20 min. 1 1

No rough sheet was provided/no calculators allowed.

 XAT 2002
Finally XAT 2002 was conducted. Although this time there was nothing like the paper
being cancelled etc. the complete exercise was conducted the way it should have
been done at XLRI. Students were excited … a few nervous also … obviously this was
one of the last few good tests remaining … and with the results of the IIMs out, the
stakes were high.
The paper was THE TYPICAL – XAT type, with three sections, sectional time limits,
different colour papers for different sections of the question paper.
This year also the total number of questions in the test was 200. The section on
Quantitative areas was tough. Topics like Function, Sets, Permutations and
Combinations were predominantly asked. Although there was relatively less emphasis
on Vocabulary, a couple of tough Reading Comprehension passages appeared. The
Essay topic this time was relatively easy as compared to the last year’s topic. This
year also the topic tested students on three areas viz. expression, knowledge and
clarity of thought. The G.K. section was again, of moderate difficulty level, and
covered a whole range of topics.

There was a clearly stated negative marking of 1/3 per wrong question.

Structure of Test

Sectional Time Limits

Section No. of Questions (in minutes)

Verbal Ability 80 40

Quantitative and Analytical

60 50
Reasoning
General knowledge and
60 30
Awareness

Essay 1 Topic 20

Section I : Verbal ability

The English section as it should have been was based on the typical XLRI pattern –
Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies etc. – No questions on Sentence correction, Para
formation etc.

Total number of questions in the section was 80. Total maximum time allowed for the
section was 40 min.

Question Types :
Synonyms : The questions here were asked in the typical XLRI format - two
passages (each containing 10 underlined words) were given and students were
required to choose the correct synonym for each of the words underlined.

Antonyms : Direct questions … words given … followed by options. Total number of

questions was 10

Fill in the blanks : In all 15 questions were asked on this topic. The same were
based on the story of a man and his sons.

Analogies : These typical relational questions had a lot of weightage this time also.
Questions like Pint : Quart etc. were asked. This set did require a lot of usage of
hardcore vocabulary. Not many questions from the daily usage vocabulary, but the
student who would have revised vocabulary before the tests … would definitely have
benefited.

Reading Comprehension Passages : 3 (total) – 20 Questions in all

Topics :

1. XLRI, its evolution and the unique features of the institute – 8 Questions

2. Article from Reader's Digest

3. Extract from - Shakespeare’s “King Henry” (tough one).

Analysis: Overall the section was an easy one. There was no major deviation in the
types of questions. A relatively easy section. Most of the students were able to
attempt around 60 – 70 questions.

Section II: Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning

This section was definitely a nightmare for the students, obviously it will create the
real differentiator. The section in all had 6 sets of data on ‘Counting’ (permutations
& combinations on rolling of four differentiable dice), ‘Sets’, ‘Functions’, ‘Number
series’, ‘Matrices’ and finally ‘Word Formation’.

The questions on Functions and the ones on Counting were both manageable, the
others were tough.

A few sample questions are as :

1. Questions based on Functions were of the following type:

It is given that

f(x) = q if x=0

f(x) = b+c – cx + f(x-1) if x>0

f(x) = 2bx + f(-x) if x<0

 Find f(19), f (10), f (9), f (7),and f (21)

2. Question on 4 six faced dices being rolled and the various combinations of
outcomes possible.
3. Series 18,27,64,125, 216, 343, …
4. Fibonacci series 0 1 1 2 3 5 8
5. Questions to find the next no. in the series like 235, 678…

Analysis: The difficulty level here can be described as tough. The questions were not
direct and it was difficult to solve even 2/3rd’s of the questions in the stipulated time.
Most of the students were able to solve questions in the range of 30 – 40.

Section III: General knowledge and Awareness

The GK Section was not very focused in terms of the area of questioning. It had
questions from History, Geography, thermodynamics, Archimedes’s principle,
Economics, Current affairs, Books and Authors, reason for inflation etc. – but none
concerning actual Facts and Figures etc. A total of 60 questions were asked and
obviously the time limit of 30 minutes was more than sufficient. Luckily … like the
last year, this year too, the GK section did not have any questions on Labour Laws.
The paper was of moderate level of difficulty and an attempt of 40 can be considered
to be good. Some questions asked were:

1. When was plannig commission constituted?

2. When was Nobel Prize for economics started?
3. Why do clouds float?
4. What is the definition of Inflation?
5. When did China enter the WTO?
6. Is Panchayati Raj a three-tier system?
7. Who is the U.S. Ambassador to India ?
8. Where was the WTO ministerial conference held in 2001?
9. What is the number of judges in International court of justice?
10. Name the author who did’nt influence Gandhi much?
11. Who gave the title ‘Sardar’ to Vallabh Bhai Patel?
12. What was the effect of Vedas on the Indian civilization?
13. Which river is mentioned most in the Vedas?
14. What is the cause of Goiter ?
15. When was the first solar eclipse recorded in India?
16. Which country is called the ‘Sugar Bowl of the world’?
17. Which country is India’s largest foreign trade partner?
18. If a refrigerator door is kept open, what would be the effect on the room
temperature?
19. A glass tumbler is filled with water and contains some ice. If the ice melts
what would the impact be on the water level ?
20. What is Mastricht Treaty?
21. Where are Cryogenic engines used?
22. What is ‘Garuda’?
23. Which Indian state has the maximum forest cover?
24. Which Indian state has the maximum well irrigated area?
25. Which incident triggered the Quit India Movement?
26. Which company has the punchline ‘Everyone’s Invited’?
27. What is the cause of Green – House effect?
 28. Which of the given taxes is not levied by the central government?

Analysis: The difficulty level here can be described as moderate. A good attempt
can be around 30 – 40 Questions.

A few questions that we could get from the students are as:

Q. Arrange in chronological order of state formation:

(a) Chhattisgarh, Uttranchal, Jharkhand
(b) Uttranchal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
(c) Jharkhand, Uttranchal, Chhattisgarh
(d) Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttranchal

Ans. (a)

Q. Top management in a company is involved in:

(a) Supervising
(b) Controlling
(c) Planning
(d) Motivation

Ans. (c)

Q. "Physical attractiveness" results in:

(a) Jealous in peers.
(b) Gives an impression that the person is wise, wealthy & good natured.
(c) Gives an impression that the person is dumb.
(d) None of these.

Q. Who measure National Income in India?

(a) CSO
(b) ISI
(c) CSI
(d) FCI

Q. Gitagovinda is written by whom?

(a) Tulsi Das
(b) Ved Vyas
(c) Kabir Das
(d) None of these

Q. Who is the author of Madhusala?

(a) Harivanshrai Bacchan
(b) Maithali Sharan Gupt
(c) Tulsi Das
(d) None of these

Q. Who is the CEO of HLL?

(a) K Dadiseth
(b) Gurcharan Das
(c) M S Banga
(d) Rajiv Kayal