XAT 2011 Analysis and Answer key

XAT 2011 had 101 questions this year. The time allotted for the test was 120 minutes and 20
additional minutes for writing an essay. The maximum marks for the test being 253 with
sectional split given in the table below. There were 5 options for each question. There was
differential marking within each section. Though there was no clear mention of progressive
negative marking this year, there was a mention of 1/4th negative of the marks(s) allotted per
question which may be deducted. There was no sectional time limit mentioned in the paper.
There were 3 sections in all with different number of questions in each section. The breakup of
questions according to sectional area along with detailed breakup of questions carrying different
marks and sectional scores is given below.

No. of Total
S.No. Section Marks per question
questions Marks
Analytical Reasoning 1(1), 2(8), 3(12),
1 24 67
and Decision Making 4(1), 5(2)
Data Interpretation
1(7), 2(14), 3(14),
2 and Quantitative 43 117
5(8)
Ability
Verbal Ability and 1(13), 2(8), 3(12),
3 34 69
Logical Reasoning 4(1)
TOTAL 101 253

Sectional analysis is given below. Number of questions with ‘x’ marks per question is mentioned
in bracket where ‘x’ refers to the marks allotted per question.

ANALYTICAL REASONING AND DECISION MAKING

The breakup is given below.

SECTION Questions
Logical Caselets (7) 16
Decision making sets (3) 8
TOTAL 24

The possible cutoff score is 17. The time allocation could be 40 minutes.

DATA INTERPRETATION AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITY

The sectional breakup is given below

Topic Total number of questions

Number system 4
Arithmetic 2
Algebra 8
Geometry and Mensuration 8
 Higher Math 0
Data Interpretation(8 sets) 19
Data Sufficiency 2
TOTAL 43

The possible cutoff score is 24. The time allocation could be 45 minutes.

VERBAL ABILITY AND LOGICAL REASONING

The breakup is given below

SECTION Questions
Para jumbles 2
Punctuation 1
Fill in the Blanks 6
Critical Reasoning 14
Odd one out 3
Reading 8
Comprehension(2)
TOTAL 34

The possible cutoff score is 18. The time allocation could be 35 minutes.

ESSAY WRITING: There was no essay. Instead, the following paragraph was given:

"The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to
employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but
assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and
which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption
enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it."

One had to give judgment on this with appropriate justification and corroborate it with example.
SECTIONAL SCORES AND OVERALL CUT-OFFS
The overall level of the paper was difficult. Following is the summary of the above analysis.

Time Total Possible Correct Possible

Section Questions
Allocation Attempts Attempts Scores
Analytical
Reasoning and 24 40 9-10 7-8 20+
Decision Making
Data Interpretation
and Quantitative 43 45 14-15 10-11 30+
Ability
Verbal Ability and
34 35 12-13 10-11 24+
Logical Reasoning
TOTAL 101 120 minutes 35-37 27-29 75+

The Expected cut-off is given below for each Institute.

Expected Expected Cut-off

INSTITUTE
Cut-off Percentile
XLRI - BM 61-63 98+
XLRI - PMIR 59-62 97+
XIM-Bhubaneswar 57-59 95+
SP Jain 56 95+
LIBA,Chennai 54 93+
GIM,Goa 51 92+
IFMR,Chennai 46 87+
Kirloskar,Bangalore 43 86+
XIME,Bangalore 40 83+
XISS,Ranchi 38 78+

XLRI, XIM and SP-Jain consider sectional cut-offs as well. Profile based calls are given at SP
Jain. Hence, a marginal decrease in percentile can be expected.

Disclaimer: The above cutoffs are only suggestive in nature and may differ from the actual
cutoffs. Roots Education cannot be held responsible for any decision taken by the candidate on
the basis of the above information.

ANSWER KEY IN THE NEXT PAGE

XAT 2011 – ANSWER KEY

SERIES - C

Question Answer
No key
1 D
2 C
3 C
4 E
5 B
6 B
7 B
8 C
9 B
10 D
11 C
12 D
13 E
14 A
15 E
16 A
17 D
18 A
19 E
20 E
21 D
22 C
23 E
24 E
25 E
26 C
27 E
28 D
29 E
30 D
31 B
32 C
33 A
34 C
35 E
36 A
37 B
38 C
39 D
40 B
41 A
42 C
43 D
44 A
45 A
46 B
47 C
48 A
49 D
50 A
51 E
52 C
53 E
54 D
55 B
56 D
57 C
58 B
59 C
60 D
61 D
62 C
63 A
64 B
65 E
66 D
67 E
68 A
69 B
70 D
71 C
72 E
73 D
74 E
75 C
76 E
77 E
78 A
79 A
80 C
81 D
82 C
83 D
84 E
85 A
86 D
87 D
88 E
89 A
90 B
91 A
92 B
93 C
94 B
95 C
96 E
97 E
98 D
99 B
100 E
101 E