The Verbal section was exceptionally tough, featuring five lengthy RC passages, parajumbles, verbal reasoning, and a new image-based question. A poem and grammar-based questions added to the pressure, making time management a key challenge.
5 RCs
2 Parajumbles
3 Verbal Reasoning
1 New Image-based Question
1 Poem
2 Error-based questions & 1 Fill in the blank
Percentile
Score (VA)
99.9%ile
14+
99%ile
13
95%ile
11
90%ile
9
80%ile
7
70%ile
4
2. Decision Making
The DM section proved arduous, with lengthy scenarios requiring nuanced judgment. It included Ethical Dilemmas (Lengthy/Medium) and Business Decisions (Lengthy/Medium).
Percentile
Score (DM)
99.9%ile
12+
99%ile
11
95%ile
8
90%ile
6
80%ile
4
3. Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
QA & DI maintained traditional difficulty. Arithmetic dominated the basic Quant questions. DI included:
1 Table-based DI
1 Caselet
1 Time & Distance DI (Graph)
1 Line Graph DI (2 Diagrams)
Percentile
Score (QA & DI)
99.9%ile
14+
99%ile
13
95%ile
10
90%ile
8
80%ile
6
Expected Cutoffs for XLRI
XLRI – Business Management (BM)
Category
VA-LR
DM
QA-DI
Overall
Male
6–7
5–6
9–10
30–32
Female
5–6
4–5
8–9
28–30
XLRI – Human Resource Management (HRM)
Category
VA-LR
DM
QA-DI
Overall
Male (Eng)
7–8
5–6
8–9
29–31
Female (Eng)
6–7
4–5
7–8
27–29
Male (Non-Eng)
7–8
5–6
7–8
27–29
Female (Non-Eng)
6–7
4–5
6–7
26–28
Section-Wise Topic Breakdown
I. Verbal Ability Breakdown
Topic
Questions
Difficulty
Sentence Correction
2
Moderate
Cloze Test
1
Moderate
Para Jumbles
2
Moderate
Critical Reasoning
3
Moderate
Visual Reasoning
1
Moderate
RC – Prose
15
Hard
RC – Poem
2
Hard
II. Quantitative Ability Breakdown
Area
Topics
Q's
Difficulty
Arithmetic
SI, Ratio, Averages
3
Easy–Mod
Algebra
Logs, Indices, Coord Geometry
5
Mixed
Geometry
Circles, Quadrilaterals, Mensuration
5
Mod–Hard
Modern Math
Probability, HCF-LCM
3
Mixed
Data Interpretation
Graphs & Tables
6
Moderate
Data Interpretation
Logic-based Sets
6
Moderate
Final Takeaway
XAT 2025 rewarded strong reading comprehension, ethical clarity in decision-making, and smart selection in Quant/DI. Accuracy over volume was the key strategy.