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All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night

in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find

that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are

dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open

eyes to make it possible.

T.E. Lawrence XATDeciphered

ANUSHEEL SHRIVASTAVA

YOUNG MONK :-)

XAT Deciphered

Your Voyage to XLRI

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What makes XLRI Jamshedpur so special A few XL-ent facts!

(Not the usual gyan)

XLRI has all the usual great elements of an MBA

programme a cheerful hostel life, fun campus

events, good people to interact with, some brilliant

faculty, awesome placements, etc. etc. But there are afew things that set XLRI apart, give it a unique

flavour.

More the merrier maxim does not hold true in a B-

School, in my opinion. XLRI has a smaller batch size

(even with two different programmes) than most of

the IIMs. Placement considerations apart, I particularly like this fact. Everyone knows everybody else in their

batch at XLRIone need not get lost in crowd. The fact that its a private college also plays some role in the richinteractions.

A pet peeve at B-Schools, the Gender Ratio, is not a concern here.

Thanks to the PMIR (HRM) programme, XLRI has a rather favourable

ratio of girls (a rare sighting on some campuses!). Yes, its not without

reason that XL ki Kudiyaan have a song dedicated to them nuff

said!

Those from IITs/NITs do find the campus woefully small. Yes, if you

have been used to hundreds of acres of space, no doubt XLRI wouldseem inadequate (not so with me, having studied in space-poor Mumbai all my life!). But just like the lesser

number of students argument, a small campus too has an advantage one is never far from activity. With

everything/everyone close by, people are involved by default its

difficult to isolate yourself. And the biggest convenience of all: a one-

minute run from your bed to the early-morning class!

While trying to find out more about XLRI before actually landing on

campus, one thing that every past/present student told me about was

the XL Culture. I was highly sceptical about this before getting tocampus. Every B-School is bound to have its own share of

events/traditions/culture, right? Lekin XL mein kuchh baat hai

http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/

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Perhaps its all the above reasons that make it seem close-knit. Add to that the

absence of campus curfews or hostel restrictions, and its a rather free

community. The various events/traditions passed along on for years connect

XLers as much as 25 years apart (for all the curious janta, these

events/traditions unfortunately cannot feature on this forum some thingsshould never leave campus!). I dont want to exhort too much on the XL Culture, and many alumni too will

have tongue firmly in cheek while mentioning it, lest we take it too seriously. Its one of those things that can be

done justice to only by experiencing.

While on paper these may only amount to facts, it is all these

points and many other intangibles which have contributed

towards making my two years at B-School a highly enriching

experience, one which I know could never be replicated in anyother surrounding.

- Miti Vaidya

Source: http://insideiim.com/what-makes-xlri-jamshedpur-so-special-a-few-xl-ent-facts/

Above excerpts are taken from an article written by

Miti Vaidya (an XL alumnus) for

www.insideiim.com

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XAT DECIPHERED

Well! Well! The days have

arrived when the brightestminds of country compete

among themselves in a race

to enter the hallowed

portals of XLRI School of

Business and Human

Resources. Here are a few

pointer that may help you to

tackle the dreaded monster

called XAT:

Dont get afraid of the decision making cases and avoid them totally. Do practice a few decisionmaking cases from the previous papers and increase you familiarity with them. The questions

on Decision making in XAT paper are comparatively easy and could be easily attempted.

However, the logical reasoning questions are complicated and difficult to attempt. Its

important that students select the right questions to answer. However please keep in mind that

this time XAT will have REAL LIFE BUSINESS CASES. They dont require any business knowledge;

however knowledge of common business terms and application of reasoning in business

situation will help you a lot.

DM is a logical step by step process, so don t get over tensed in this section. This is definitely ascoring section. Initial suggestion would be take a previous year XAT paper and go through this

section check your consistency if it is low, then u need more practice and need to refer some

books or financial/business newspapers that gives u an idea of actual decisions being taken.(

For example, you can refer to the book: Ethical Dilemmas by Martin Cohen)

TACKLING THE DECISION MAKING

BE IN TOUCH WITH THE CURRENT HAPPENINGS, MANY ATIMES QUESTIONS/ CASELETS/ BUSINESS SCENARIOSRESEMBLETHECURRENTSITUATIONS

GET YOURSELF ACQUAINTED WITH COMMON BUSINESS/ECONOMICS/ACCOUNTING/FINANCETERMS & JARGONS.

WELCOMETO XLRI

(OH! WAITTHERE'S GD/PI ALSO :D :D)

PERSISTENCE

SELECTRIGHT

QUESTIONS

ACCURACY

MAKEBUSINESSSENSE/ HAVEALOGIC

NEVERCOMPROMISEON ETHICS

BESTOPTIONASPERPRESCRIBEDCONDITIONSINCASE

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Cover the syllabus one by one. Breaking it up in units is a good idea. Cover each unit one byone. Focus on the theory first and then on the PRACTICAL APPLICATION based questions.

A balance between speed and accuracy is important to successfully clear the examination.Serious aspirants should be good at both these variables. First try to enhance your accuracy by

solving diverse set of questions.

Maintaining an accuracy level of at least 75 to 80 per cent is very important. This also gives youthe leeway to, once in a while, mark an option based on chance.

XAT RCs are notorious for being perplexing & bewildering, Candidates needto understand the ideas contained in the paragraphs rather than just reading it

through. Reading diverse set of articles will help a candidate to be comfortable with

the difficulty level. Students should browse through domains like economics,

philosophy, psychology, anthropology, political science, life sciences, law etc. Be careful thatyou neednt have knowledge of these fields but having exposure to writing style will help a lot.

(TIME homepage for candidates has links for them, other coaching classes may also have the same)

SOLVE PREVIOUSYEAR XAT QUESTION PAPERS + 3 TO 5 MOCKS

(Very -Very Important)

APPLICATIONOF

KNOWLEDGESPEED ACCURACY

GOODRESULTS

THOU SHALT READ (And I mean a lot :D)

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Differential marking plays a crucial role in lowscoring tests and there are easy questions spread

among the difficult ones, XAT is more about

persistence and hard-core drilling, don't get

disappointed if you are not able to solve some, they

are supposed to be the way they are

Quant and DI are in one section, questions in general are slightly tough compare to CAT,however since the emphasis is more on LR/DM section, student

should expect a moderate to high difficulty level (not on the

lines of 2011 paper Optimistically!). Also understand the

fact that, XAT has a typical pattern of questions, which is

different from CAT or other exams, most of these Quant

questions are not tough as such but a candidate who is not

aware of general XAT pattern/level may find them difficult. Hence solving previous XAT paper is

sacrosanct.

Solving previous year IIFT papers will also give a help. XAT is all about -- your decision making abilities, working under pressure and deadlines, and the

ability to capitalise on ones' strengths. Have a strategy with a room for last minute changes.

DANGERS AHEAD

DIFFERENTIAL MARKING

(was there in 2011)

PROGRESSIVE NEGATIVEMARKING

( may come back, you neverknow)

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XLRIDOES NOT RELEASES MARKS FOR XAT(AND WE CANT HELP, SO ORDUNNO)

Please understand that XAT is not as predictable and repetitive as CAT/MAT/SNAP/ATMA/CET...etcetc.

Refer following, just to give you an idea:

XLRI percentile cut-offs

You can clearly see vast difference in two cut-offs and same was true for BM also. Additionally scores

predicted by coaching classes clearly indicate huge difference in percentage score required to attain

90%ile in these 2 years. Any guesstimate we are going to give you will do more harm than help. So

please try to maximize your score in various sections. Even now, if you want some number (off-course

with Caveat emptor) take 25 %( e.g. 7.5 out of 30) as rule of thumb for each section & 1/3 overall in

MOCKS. However in actual XAT go with an open mind and try to maximize your score in each section.

HRM

VA2010-93%ile

2011-85%ile

QT+DI2011-81%ile

2011-70%ile

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XAT Essay topics

1999: Television really is, another eye so you can see anywhere, another part of your heart so you canfeel and care about things you never felt and cared about before, another ear to hear strange music....

Thefirst and only international language.

2000 Ships are safer in the harbour. But they are not meant for the same. 2001 Economic Growth without distributive justice can only lead to violence 2002 Indian Economy in the Post WTO Era. 2003 To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity

and integrity.

2004 Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he choose as his master piece, Frank Lloydwright, the architect answered, The next one

2005 More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities. 2006: "India has the largest pool of talented manpower, but very few innovations and patented

products."

2007 - Economic Growth without environmental damage - a mirage or a reality 2008 - Gender imbalance will lead to Third world war 2009- "The Inherent vice of Capitalism is unequal sharing of blessings and the inherent virtue of

Socialism is equal sharing of misery"

2010 Earth provides enough to satisfy every mans need but not every mans greed need 2011 Analytical questions based on following excerpt from wealth of nations

The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals

would not only load himself with 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 man

who have folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it.

Critical analysis with real life examples were asked

Junta, please read the question carefully and answer accordingly its just not an essay, they want specific

answers as per certain points asked in the question

Disclaimer:

These observations are based on experience of XL students. Every attempt is been made to make them authentic

and accurate. However, these are in no way Official communication from XLRI. Always expect surprises in XAT

paper. Neither XLRI nor any of its students, giving tips on various forums, will take any responsibility for 100%accuracy of aforementioned information and tips. Aspirants are advised to use their own discretion.

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Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the

bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very

roughness stimulates the climber to steadiersteps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars,

fulfils itself.W. C. Doane

ANUSHEEL SHRIVASTAVA

Junior Graduate Student| Executive member External Linkages

Human Resource Management (2011-2013)

XLRI Jamshedpur