XAT 2026: Exam Date is January 4, Registration Open; Check Fees, Eligibility, Top Colleges, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation
XAT 2026 exam date is January 4, 2026, 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM. XAT 2026 Registration last date and time is extended to December 11, 2025 till 11.59 PM. XAT 2026 registration fees is Rs 2,200. XAT exam duration is 3 hours from 2.00-5.00 PM. There is no change in XAT exam pattern 2026, which will comprise of 95 questions spread across four sections. XAT exam duration is 3 hours (180 minutes). XAT full form is Xavier Aptitude Test, and it is the mandatory exam for admission in XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi campuses. Read complete details on XAT 2026 fees, exam schedule, pattern, syllabus, how to register, top XAT colleges and more.
What is XAT Exam?
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is the mandatory exam for MBA admission in XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT exam scores are also accepted by 250+ MBA colleges accepting XAT scores. XAT is India’s second largest MBA entrance exam after CAT. Last year, 142,235 candidates had registered for the XAT 2025 exam. XAT exam is considered to be tougher than the CAT exam as it includes as unique “Decision Making” section, and has five options for each question (CAT has four options). Check the XAT Exam Pattern 2026 below.
XAT 2026 Exam Date is January 4, 2026. Check more details about the XAT 2026 exam in the table below.
XAT 2026 Exam Highlights
| XAT EXAM PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| XAT Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) |
| Who conducts XAT Exam? | Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur |
| XAT Official Website | xatonline.in |
| XAT Exam Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| XAT Registration Last Date | December 11, 2025 (closed) |
| XAT Registration Last Date | December 5, 2025 |
| XAT Exam Fees | Rs. 2200 |
| Top MBA colleges accepting XAT scores | XLRI, XIMB, IMI, IMT, FORE, Great Lakes, GIM Goa |
| Total Questions | 95 MCQs |
| XAT Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Number of Sections | Four; Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge |
| Number of Answer Options | 5 |
| XAT Marking Scheme | +1 Mark for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Wrong Answer; 0 for Un-attempted Question |
XAT Exam Dates 2026
XAT Exam Date 2026 is January 4, 2026. XAT notification 2026 was released on July 10. XAT 2026 Registration Last Date and Time is December 11, 2025, till midnight. Check the XAT 2026 schedule and important dates in the table below.
XAT Exam Dates 2026
| XAT 2026 Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| XAT 2026 Notification Release Date | July 10, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Registration Start Date | July 10, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Registration Last Date and Time | December 11, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Admit Card Release | December 20, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Exam Date | January 4, 2026 |
| XAT 2026 Answer Key release date | To be announced |
| XAT 2026 Result Date | To be announced |
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
XAT 2026 eligibility criteria are as below:
- A candidate should have completed bachelor’s degree.
- A final year student in graduation is also eligible to apply for XAT.
- There is no minimum or maximum age limit to apply for the XAT exam
Read complete details on XAT Eligibility 2026
XAT Registration 2026
XAT 2026 Registration start date was July 10, 2025. XAT 2026 registration last date has been extended to December 11 from December 5, 2025. XAT registration can be completed on XAT official website. Check how to apply for XAT 2026 exam in table below. XAT 2026 Registration Fees is Rs. 2,200. XAT registration direct link is also available on XAT official website.
XAT Registration 2026
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 Visit Website | Visit XAT Official Website |
| Step 2 Register | Register with Basic details to get XAT ID and Password |
| Step 3 Fill Personal Details | Fill in Complete Personal Details in Registration and Application Form |
| Step 4 Fill Academics | Fill in Academics from class 10 onwards, on the next page of XAT form |
| Step 5 Fill Work Ex & Choose Programs & Exam Cities | Fill in Details of Work Experience, XLRI Programmes, choice of XAT Test Cities |
| Step 6 Documents Details | Upload Scanned copies of documents of Required size |
| Step 7 Declaration | Mark tick on the Declaration to complete the process |
| Step 8 Pay XAT Fees | Make Payment online for XAT Registration Fees 2026 and XLRI Programme Application Fee |
XAT Application Form 2026
XAT 2026 Application Form has been released online by XLRI Jamshedpur on its official website, www.xatonline.in. Candidates can apply for the exam from July 10 to December 11, 2025. The application process includes registration, XAT exam form filling, uploading documents, and payment of the application fee. During XAT exam form filling, candidates must ensure accuracy in academic and personal details, as incorrect information may lead to disqualification.
Read complete details on the XAT Application Form 2026.
XAT Registration Numbers
XAT is India’s second-largest MBA entrance exam after CAT. More than 1.5 lakh candidates are expected to register for the XAT 2026 exam. Last year, 142,235 candidates registered for the XAT 2025 exam. Check year-wise XAT registration trends in the table below. Read XAT Registration Numbers’ historical trends.
XAT Registration Numbers
| XAT Year | Total Number of Registrations | % Increase/ Decrease |
| XAT 2025 | 142,235 | 5.36% |
| XAT 2024 | 135,000 | 38% |
| XAT 2023 | 98,242 | 23% |
| XAT 2022 | 80,000 | — |
XAT Exam Centres 2026
XAT 2026 exam centres are spread over 106 cities in 26 States and Union Territories in India. Check complete list of XAT exam centres in table below.
XAT Exam Centres 2026
| State/UT | Test Cities |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Tejpur |
| Bihar | Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh/Mohali |
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| Delhi NCR | Delhi-NCR |
| Goa | Goa |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Ambala, Hisar, Kurukshetra |
| Himachal Pradesh | Baddi, Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu |
| Jharkhand | Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Chikkaballapur, Davanagere, Hubballi(Hubli), Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Mangalore, Mysuru(Mysore), Udupi |
| Kerala | Ernakulam, Kannur, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Amravati, Aurangabad City, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Patiala |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruvallur, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Durgapur/Asansol, Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri |
XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Overall, XAT Paper Pattern is quite different from CAT exam. XAT exam pattern is designed to assess a candidate’s decision-making/ analytical-thinking, language skills, quantitative aptitude, and general knowledge. The XAT 2025 exam pattern comprises a total of 95 questions spread across four key sections. These include Decision Making (21 questions), Verbal and Logical Ability (26 questions), Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (28 questions), and General Knowledge (20 questions). Each question carries one mark, making the total to 95 marks. Note that XAT Essay Writing section was removed from XAT 2025 exam pattern. Check table below for a clear understanding.
XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Part | XAT Sections | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
I | Decision Making | 21 |
I | Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 |
I | Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 |
II | General Knowledge | 20 |
| Total | 95 |
XAT Syllabus 2026
XAT 2026 syllabus can be divided into four sections: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. MBAUniverse.com has compiled the syllabus for each section, based on official information from XLRI Jamshedpur and the type of questions that have appeared in past XAT exams. Check highlights below. You can also download the XAT Exam Syllabus PDF from the link below.
- VA&LR section: This section includes critical & analytical reasoning, reading comprehension (including poems & passages), vocabulary, basic English grammar, and other related exercises such as para jumbles and cloze tests.
- Decision Making (DM) Section: This section presents scenarios drawn from both personal and professional lives of managers and leaders in organisations. Candidates will be required to apply critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and prioritisation to make informed decisions.
- Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation: The questions in the QA section are primarily formulated around 10th standard Mathematics. Notably, the emphasis is on application-oriented problems. The questions on DI are about clear interpretation, summarization and insightful analysis of the data.
- General Knowledge Section: The General Knowledge section in the XAT exam has 20 questions. Out of these, 12 questions are on current affairs, and 8 questions are from static GK. This mix allows for a balanced evaluation of candidates’ awareness of both ongoing events and foundational knowledge. It is important to note that scores from the General Knowledge section are not considered while calculating the XAT percentile. However, XLRI Jamshedpur uses GK scores during its final selection process.
XAT Exam Analysis 2025
The XAT 2025 exam was conducted by XLRI on January 5, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. While the overall difficulty level of the exam was moderate, many test-takers found the Decision Making and Verbal sections to be relatively lengthy. Here is a brief analysis of the XAT 2025 exam paper.
- Total Questions: 95 (including 20 in GK with no negative marking).
- Total Duration & Structure: 180 minutes exam divided into VA, DM, QA-DI and GK sections.
- Section-wise Difficulty:
- Decision Making: Moderate and lengthy.
- Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning: Moderate to difficult, also lengthy.
- Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation: Moderate.
- General Knowledge: Easy to moderate.
- Key Takeaway: Time management and accuracy, especially in lengthy sections, were crucial for scoring well.
Read the complete XAT 2025 exam analysis.
XAT Preparations 2026
Cracking XAT 2026 requires focused preparation across three core sections: Verbal Ability, Decision-Making, and Quantitative Ability. The General Knowledge section is not used for calculating percentile, but must not be ignored. These XAT preparation tips can help youmaximisee your performance.
- Understand XAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus: As detailed above, familiarise yourself with the XAT syllabus and sectional structure. Knowing the number of questions in each section will help you prioritise your preparation.
- XAT 2025 Books: Referring to the right books is key to XAT 2026 preparation. XAT preparation books are the same as books used for CAT preparation since both tests are designed to assess similar skills. Check the latest editions of Arun Sharma’s CAT preparation books.
- Focus on Decision-Making: Practice decision-making caselets daily, as this section is unique to XAT. Review past years’ papers to identify common patterns and improve your problem-solving approach.
- Enhance Verbal Reasoning: Develop critical reasoning and comprehension skills by reading diverse materials. Focus on tackling RC passages, grammar questions, and logical reasoning problems.
- Strengthen Quantitative Ability: Concentrate on key areas like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Regularly solve practice problems and take timed mock tests to boost speed and accuracy.
- Brush up your General Knowledge: Follow current affairs and static GK topics, covering both national and international news. Review business and economic developments relevant to the economy and business.
- Take Regular Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests and analyse your performance after each. Focus on understanding errors and improving time management for each section. Take free XAT Mocks on MBAUniverse.com.
- Finally, Manage Stress: Don’t let the exam stress overpower you. Manage it with daily smart preparation and stress busters like music and exercise.
XAT Mock Test 2026: Take Free Mocks Online
XAT Mock Test is the best preparation tool for exam preparation. According to XAT Toppers, you should take 10-15 XAT Mocks to improve your question solving skills. So, if you are looking for free XAT Mock Tests, based on previous year papers, check MBAUniverse.com XAT Mock Tests. They are 100% based on Previous Years’ Actual XAT Papers on actual XAT 2025, XAT 2024, XAT 2023, XAT 2022 and older XAT papers.
Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Exam Scores 2026 with Cut Offs
Top MBA colleges accepting XAT exam scores 2026 include XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, MICA, IMI, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, FORE, among others. XAT 2026 cut-off for these colleges is shared below. XAT 2026 Cut Off for XLRI is also given in the table below.
XAT 2025 Cut Offs: MBA BM
Check below the XAT 2025 cut-offs for the MBA Business Management programme:
| Stream | Gender | Overall XAT percentile | QA percentile | VALR percentile | DM percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Male | 96 | 88 | 84 | 84 |
| Engineer | Female | 91 | 82 | 80 | 80 |
| Non-Engineer | Male | 96 | 88 | 84 | 84 |
| Non Engineer | Female | 91 | 82 | 80 | 80 |
XAT 2025 Cut Offs: MBA HRM
Check below the XAT 2025 cut-offs for the PGDM Human Resource Management programme:
| Stream | Gender | Overall XAT percentile | QA percentile | VALR percentile | DM percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Male | 95 | 83 | 90 | 87 |
| Engineer | Female | 90 | 73 | 85 | 80 |
| Non-Engineer | Male | 93 | 76 | 90 | 87 |
| Non Engineer | Female | 87 | 68 | 85 | 80 |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Exam Scores 2026
| MBA Colleges | XAT Cut off %ile required |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | 94-95 |
| XIM University | 91-92 |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 91-92 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90-91 |
| IMI New Delhi | 92-93 |
| FORE New Delhi | 85-87 |
| TAPMI Manipal | 85-87 |
| GIM Goa | 85-86 |
| Great Lakes Chennai | 85-86 |
| IRMA Anand | 83-84 |
| K J Somaiya Mumbai | 80-82 |
| LIBA Chennai | 80-82 |
| Welingkar Mumbai | 75 |
XAT Admit Card 2026: How to Download?
XAT Admit Card 2026 download start date is December 20, 2025. XLRI will upload the Admit card on the official XAT exam website xatonline. in.The XAT admit card is a mandatory document for entering the XAT exam centre. Check these steps to download the XAT 2026 admit card:
- Go to the XAT website online. in
- At the login page, enteryour XAT ID and password to view and download the XAT Admit Card.
- Save the Admit Card and take a print on A4-size paper
Read complete details on the XAT Admit Card 2026.
XAT Answer Key 2026
XAT Answer Key is released to maintain transparency in the exam and to help candidates check their responses against the correct answers. The XAT 2026 answer key will be released 3-4 days after the exam date on the official website. You can download your answer key from the official website by logging in with your login ID and password. The candidate response sheet will be released separately to enable the exam takers to raise & file objections to the answersthath appear wrong to the test takers.
XAT 2026 Contact Information
You can contact XAT 2026 officials on following email and phone numbers.
Postal Address: XLRI, Admission Office, C. H. Area (East), Jamshedpur – 831001, Jharkhand, India
- Phone: +91 657 665 3203 | +91 657 665 3204
- Email: admis@xlri.ac.in
- Website: https://xatonline.in
XAT Result 2026
XAT 2026 Result will be released in the third week of January 2026. Immediately after the result declaration, XLRI and other top B-schools start announcing their shortlist on the basis of XAT scores and other parameters in their shortlisting criteria for the final selection round.
The admission process in XLRI depends upon your performance in three major areas – Your exam score, your academic record, and performance inthe Personal Interview round. There are three stages through which the XLRI Admission Process is completed, they are:
Stage 1: Performance in XAT Exam
Stage 2: Shortlisting by XLRI for PI round
Stage 3: XLRI Final Selection Process comprising PI Round
Your final admission offer depends upon your performance in all three stages of the XLRI selection process. Other colleges accepting XAT scores have a different admission process and criteria.
In summary, the XAT 2026 entrance exam is the mandatory exam for MBA admission in XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT 2026 exam date is January 4, 2026. XAT 2026 registration last date in India is December 11, 2025. XAT 2026 exam fees are Rs 2200. Read XAT 2026 exam pattern, syllabus, registration, colleges accepting and more inthe above article.
XAT Frequently Asked Questions
Request call back
