XAT Preparation Strategy for Last few days days!

#1 - Understand the Patterns - Practice using Past year Papers
In exams like XAT along with logical, verbal and analytical skills candidates are silently evaluated on their ability to cope up with pressure & their time management skills. Each exam(CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP etc) has a specific format and also complexity levels of questions across different sections varies from exam to exam. Solving past years papers at home by setting up exactly same amount of time would help you in gaining more confidence and better time management.
Its highly recommended that you attempt at least 2-3 XAT papers in next 7 days by sitting exactly for 2.5 hours and attempting all sections including GK and Essay writing as well(allot 20 minutes extra for essay writing) .
Past Year Papers of XAT from 2005 - 2016 are available at:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2011/08/xat-papers-xat-past-years-papers.html

Understand the Pattern and Recommended Do's and Dont's:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2012/01/xat-exam-pattern-format-duration.html

#2 - Learn to write a good Essay
Even though XAT essay writing doesn't contributes in XAT percentile, still it plays a major role in your final selection in top colleges like XLRI. A good essay is surely going to increase your chances in final selection in XLRI and XIM-B
Below XAT Essay Writing Tips would help you:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2011/11/xat-essay-tips-and-topics.html
Also you must check XAT Essay topics from 1999 to 2014 to know what topics you can get in XAT 2015:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2007/12/xat-2008essay-topics.html

#3 - Read about Current Affairs
Reading about current affairs is not just going help you in tackling GK questions in XAT, it will also help you in preparing for upcoming Personal Interviews and give you more confidence. Even though GK marks would not be used for determining your percentile, still it's going play a critical role in your final selection towards the next stages.

Check your Current affairs knowledge by taking this Free Online GK Test:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2014/11/free-online-general-awareness-test-2014.html
You can read about Current Affairs, download current affair related notes from:
http://howtoprepare4cat.blogspot.in/2014/11/general-knowledge-2014-current-affairs.html

Important tips for cracking XAT

Do not leave lot of questions unattended as it can result in negative marking. In XAT 2016 there was negative marking of 0.05 marks if number of unattended questions by a candidate were more than 13.
Each question will have 5 options which means probability of randomly choosing a wrong answer is 0.8 which is 0.05 higher when compared to exams having questions with 4 option.
1/4th Mark is deducted if you answer a question incorrectly
Unlike CAT, XAT is based on pen and paper format - this means you will have flexibility to switch from one section to the other. Get yourself familiar with using OMR sheets!
You should start with section you are more comfortable and confident with
Do not attempt a section in which you are least confident for the end, attempt it in middle
Never start attempting a comprehension or Logical Reasoning question(with lots of inputs) in Last 5 minutes. In last 5 mins, try to attempt questions which are short in description.
Do smart selection of questions - there is no point in correctly attempting a complex question by spending 12 mins whereas in the same time you could have had attempted 4 simple questions.
Have sectional cutoffs in mind - its advisable that while attempting a section avoid getting over enthusiastic and spend too much of time in one section alone
While attempting Part II quickly attempt General Knowledge questions to ensure you have ample time for essay writing.
Carry black or blue ball point pens only for filling OMR sheets - do not use gel or ink pens
Attempt past year question papers to make yourself familiar with type of questions asked