XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan: A Day-by-Day Schedule to 3 January
This XAT 60 day preparation plan starts on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 and ends on Saturday, 2 January 2027, the day before the exam. It is built around a fact that most plans ignore: if you are also writing CAT on 29 November, a quarter of your 60 days belongs to CAT. So the plan shares the first weeks with CAT, restarts fully on 2 December, and uses eight timed mocks and three weeks of XAT-only work to get you to 3 January ready.
- The XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan at a Glance
- What You Are Preparing For
- The Four Phases
- The Daily Routine in Each Phase
- The Day-by-Day XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan Calendar
- Section Rules Inside the XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan
- How to Run Your Eight Mocks
- Adjusting the Plan to Your Situation
- Frequently Asked Questions
The XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan at a Glance
On 4 November you are exactly 60 days from the exam. That is enough time to sharpen a profile you already have, and not enough to build one from nothing at a relaxed pace. The structure below is designed for the most common case: a candidate who is writing CAT first and XAT five weeks later.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start and end | Day 1 is Wed 4 Nov 2026; Day 60 is Sat 2 Jan 2027 |
| Exam | Sun 3 Jan 2027, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Day 61) |
| CAT in the middle | Sun 29 Nov 2026 is Day 26 |
| Full XAT mocks | Eight: 8 Nov, then 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23 and 27 Dec |
| Last full mock | Sun 27 Dec, seven days before the exam |
| Rest days | Fri 1 Jan and Sat 2 Jan |
What You Are Preparing For
The XAT facts below come from XLRI’s own website and 2027 bulletin, which we last checked on 27 October 2026. XLRI’s site could not be reopened while we prepared this version, so please recheck the latest notices on the official XAT website and in the XAT 2027 bulletin before relying on a date.
| Part | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) | 26 | 170 minutes combined |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | ||
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QADI) | 28 | ||
| Part 2 | General Knowledge (8 static, 12 current affairs) | 20 | 10 minutes |
Other official dates that sit inside this plan: registration closes on 6 December 2026 (Day 33), and the admit card is expected from 20 December 2026 (Day 47), marked tentative by XLRI. For the full timing breakdown, read our guide to how the 180 minutes work.
The Four Phases
| Phase | Days and dates | Main goal | Full XAT mocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. CAT plus a DM habit | Days 1 to 25 (4 to 28 Nov) | Keep CAT preparation first; add 45 minutes a day of Decision Making and GK | 1 (Sun 8 Nov, diagnostic) |
| 2. CAT day and recovery | Days 26 to 28 (29 Nov to 1 Dec) | Write CAT, rest, restart gently | None |
| 3. XAT build | Days 29 to 46 (2 to 19 Dec) | Full XAT routine, repair weak areas, four timed mocks | 4 (6, 9, 13, 16 Dec) |
| 4. Peak and taper | Days 47 to 60 (20 Dec to 2 Jan) | Final mocks, revision, admit card, rest | 3 (20, 23, 27 Dec) |
The Daily Routine in Each Phase
The routine in this XAT 60 day preparation plan changes with the phase, so you never have to wonder how long to study. Each block ends with a line in your error log, so the log, not your memory, tells you what to fix next.
| Phase | Block | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 25 | CAT preparation | As per your CAT schedule | This is still your main work |
| Decision Making | About 30 minutes | Two cases a day; write your reasoning before you read the solution | |
| General Knowledge | About 15 minutes | Current affairs, plus one static topic a day | |
| Days 29 to 55 | Decision Making | About 75 minutes | Cases, a review of your reasoning and your recurring mistakes |
| VALR | About 75 minutes | Timed passages, verbal-ability sets and logical reasoning | |
| QADI | About 90 minutes | Topic questions, data interpretation sets and a short mixed set | |
| General Knowledge | About 20 minutes | Current affairs and a static recap | |
| Error log and formulas | About 30 minutes | Write each mistake as a rule and revise one formula page |
The Day-by-Day XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan Calendar
Every date and weekday in this XAT 60 day preparation plan was generated in code, so the mock days land on Sundays and Wednesdays. The Focus column tells you what to emphasise inside the routine for that phase.
| Day | Date | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed 4 Nov | Read the official XAT pattern. Do two Decision Making cases and write your reasoning first. Start the error log. CAT work continues as your main block |
| 2 | Thu 5 Nov | Two DM cases, 15 minutes of current affairs. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 3 | Fri 6 Nov | Two DM cases. Start a one-page list of static GK topics. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 4 | Sat 7 Nov | Review the week: redo the DM cases you got wrong. 20-minute GK recap. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 5 | Sun 8 Nov | XAT mock 1 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM), a diagnostic to set your baseline. If a CAT mock is due today, take the XAT mock tomorrow instead |
| 6 | Mon 9 Nov | Analyse mock 1. Tag each lost mark as a concept gap, a careless reading or a timing issue. Note your DM error pattern |
| 7 | Tue 10 Nov | Two DM cases. One XAT-style passage, such as a poem or an unusual text, for 20 minutes. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 8 | Wed 11 Nov | Two DM cases and one static GK topic. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 9 | Thu 12 Nov | One DM case and one verbal-ability set. 15 minutes of current affairs. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 10 | Fri 13 Nov | Two DM cases. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 11 | Sat 14 Nov | Weekly review: redo wrong DM cases. 20-minute GK recap. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 12 | Sun 15 Nov | CAT mock day. XAT work limited to 15 minutes of current affairs |
| 13 | Mon 16 Nov | Two DM cases. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 14 | Tue 17 Nov | Two DM cases and one static GK topic. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 15 | Wed 18 Nov | One DM case. One XAT-style passage for 20 minutes. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 16 | Thu 19 Nov | Two DM cases. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 17 | Fri 20 Nov | Two DM cases. 15 minutes of current affairs. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 18 | Sat 21 Nov | Weekly review: redo wrong DM cases. 20-minute GK recap. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 19 | Sun 22 Nov | CAT mock day. XAT work limited to 15 minutes of current affairs |
| 20 | Mon 23 Nov | Two DM cases. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 21 | Tue 24 Nov | One DM case and one static GK topic. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 22 | Wed 25 Nov | One DM case. 15 minutes of current affairs. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 23 | Thu 26 Nov | Light revision. No new XAT material. CAT blocks as scheduled |
| 24 | Fri 27 Nov | Light day: CAT formula sheet and error log only. Sleep early |
| 25 | Sat 28 Nov | Day before CAT: no XAT work, no new material. Check documents and the route to your centre |
| 26 | Sun 29 Nov | CAT day. Give it everything. Nothing else is planned today |
| 27 | Mon 30 Nov | Rest. At most one hour of CAT analysis. Do not start XAT work |
| 28 | Tue 1 Dec | Restart gently: re-read the XAT pattern and your error log. Four DM cases |
| 29 | Wed 2 Dec | Full XAT routine begins: DM, VALR, QADI, GK and error log. Rebuild your formula sheet |
| 30 | Thu 3 Dec | Full routine. Focus on DM repair, using your old error log |
| 31 | Fri 4 Dec | Full routine. QADI: arithmetic and data interpretation sets |
| 32 | Sat 5 Dec | Make sure your XAT application is complete: registration closes tomorrow, 6 December. Full routine |
| 33 | Sun 6 Dec | XAT mock 2 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM); registration closes today |
| 34 | Mon 7 Dec | Analyse mock 2. Fix the top two error types. Light routine otherwise |
| 35 | Tue 8 Dec | Sectional: Decision Making, 21 questions, timed. Then review |
| 36 | Wed 9 Dec | XAT mock 3 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM), mid-week |
| 37 | Thu 10 Dec | Analyse mock 3. DM repair set |
| 38 | Fri 11 Dec | Sectional: VALR, 26 questions, timed. Then review |
| 39 | Sat 12 Dec | Sectional: QADI, 28 questions, timed. Weekly GK recap |
| 40 | Sun 13 Dec | XAT mock 4 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM) |
| 41 | Mon 14 Dec | Analyse mock 4. Fix the top two error types |
| 42 | Tue 15 Dec | DM focus day: six cases in a row, then review your reasoning |
| 43 | Wed 16 Dec | XAT mock 5 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM) |
| 44 | Thu 17 Dec | Analyse mock 5. VALR repair: passages and verbal-ability sets |
| 45 | Fri 18 Dec | QADI repair: data interpretation sets and your three weakest topics |
| 46 | Sat 19 Dec | Revision day: formula sheet, error log, flagged questions. No new topics from tomorrow |
| 47 | Sun 20 Dec | XAT mock 6 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM); the admit card is expected from today (tentative), so check the website in the evening |
| 48 | Mon 21 Dec | Analyse mock 6. Download, print and check your admit card as soon as it is out |
| 49 | Tue 22 Dec | DM sectional and a GK practice round of 20 questions in 10 minutes |
| 50 | Wed 23 Dec | XAT mock 7 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM), mid-week |
| 51 | Thu 24 Dec | Analyse mock 7. Fix the top error type only |
| 52 | Fri 25 Dec | Short sectionals of 20 minutes each (DM, VALR, QADI), then review. Check your centre address and route |
| 53 | Sat 26 Dec | Revision day: formula sheet, error log, flagged questions. Light GK recap |
| 54 | Sun 27 Dec | XAT mock 8 (180 minutes at 2:00 PM), the last full mock |
| 55 | Mon 28 Dec | Light analysis of mock 8. Fix your final strategy: section order, scan time and skip rule |
| 56 | Tue 29 Dec | Three short timed sets, one per section, then review. GK recap |
| 57 | Wed 30 Dec | Light day: two DM cases, one passage, 20 easy QADI questions. Pack your documents |
| 58 | Thu 31 Dec | Very light: formula sheet and error log only. Early night |
| 59 | Fri 1 Jan | Rest. Short walk, no new material. Prepare your bag, admit card and ID |
| 60 | Sat 2 Jan | Rest. Early night. Exam tomorrow: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
Key takeaway
The shape of this XAT 60 day preparation plan matters more than any single day. Protect CAT in November, restart XAT cleanly on 2 December, and let the eight mocks and their analysis decide what you fix in the last five weeks.
Section Rules Inside the XAT 60 Day Preparation Plan
These rules stay the same through the whole plan, so you do not have to decide them under pressure on 3 January.
- Decision Making: this is the section that makes XAT different from other MBA exams. Read each case twice, list who is affected, weigh each option against the facts given and write your reasoning down before you check the answer. Your error log should say whether you missed a fact, misjudged a stakeholder or changed a correct answer.
- VALR: XLRI describes this section as covering reading comprehension (including poems, cartoons and passages), vocabulary, grammar and critical reasoning, so practise on varied material and not only on standard passages.
- QADI: pick the questions you can finish first, flag the long ones and keep a one-page formula sheet. For a general method, see our guide to choosing which questions to attempt.
- General Knowledge: 20 questions in 10 minutes means about 30 seconds each. GK has no negative marking, so attempt all of them, and remember that it is not part of the percentile.
- Skip rule: you can leave 8 questions blank free of cost. After that, each blank costs 0.1 and a wrong answer costs 0.25, so a blind guess pays off only at roughly a 12% chance of being right. Before your 8 free skips are used, a guess breaks even at 20%.
- Section order: there are no sectional time limits, so decide your order in mocks 2 to 4 and keep it. Part 1 averages about 2.27 minutes a question across 75 questions.
How to Run Your Eight Mocks
The eight full-length mocks in this XAT 60 day preparation plan are a demanding load, so treat each one as a lesson. Take mocks 2 to 8 at the real slot time, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with the 10-minute GK part at the end, and sit at a desk. XLRI has said that previous papers are on its website, which is a useful source when you run out of full mocks. For how to review a mock properly, read our guide on how many mocks to take and how to analyse them.
- Before the mock: sleep properly, eat as you will on exam day and keep your phone out of reach.
- During the mock: follow your section order and your skip rule. Do not pause the timer.
- After the mock: spend about as long on analysis as you did on the attempt. Tag each lost mark as a concept gap, a careless reading or a timing issue.
- Next day: fix the top two error types with targeted practice and do not try to fix everything.
Do not do these three things
In this XAT 60 day preparation plan, do not start a brand-new topic after 20 December. Do not take a full mock in the last six days. Do not compare your mock scores with other people’s, since mock scales differ. Compare yourself with your own last two mocks.
Adjusting the Plan to Your Situation
- If you are not writing CAT: use Days 1 to 25 of the XAT 60 day preparation plan as extra XAT time. Spend about two hours a day on QADI and VALR basics on top of the DM habit, and take the first mock as planned on 8 November.
- If you are writing CAT: protect it. Our 30-day schedule for CAT runs alongside Phase 1. If a CAT mock lands on a Sunday, move the XAT diagnostic by a day rather than skipping either.
- If you are also writing SNAP: its three tests fall on 13, 19 and 26 December, so on those days replace the planned XAT mock with the SNAP test and shift the mock to the next day. SNAP is only 60 minutes, so it also works as speed practice.
- If you work full-time: keep the order of the blocks but cut each to about an hour on weekdays and use weekends for the long sessions. Our 90-day schedule may suit you better if you have the time to start earlier.
In short, the best XAT 60 day preparation plan is the one you can repeat daily without burning out. Keep CAT first in November, build the XAT routine in December and trust your error log.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 60 days enough for XAT 2027?
It is enough to improve a profile you have already built, if you follow a routine and analyse your mocks. It is not enough to learn everything from scratch comfortably, and no plan can guarantee a percentile.
When is the XAT 2027 exam?
Sunday, 3 January 2027, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, as a computer-based test lasting 180 minutes.
How many mocks should I take in 60 days?
This plan uses eight full XAT mocks, on 8 November and 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23 and 27 December. Quality of analysis matters more than the count, so cut a mock rather than skip its analysis.
How should I split time between CAT and XAT?
Keep CAT as your main work until 29 November and add about 45 minutes a day of Decision Making and GK. After CAT, switch to a full XAT routine of about five hours a day.
Does General Knowledge count toward the percentile?
No. GK has no negative marking and is not part of the percentile or cut-off. It is considered only for XLRI programmes.
When does XAT registration close?
On 6 December 2026, according to the XAT website as last checked on 27 October. Confirm the date on the official site and do not leave the application to the final day.
What if I miss a day of the schedule?
Skip the lowest-priority block and move on. Never stack two days of work onto one, and never skip a mock analysis to catch up.
