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XAT Latest Updates
10 Jul, 2025 XAT registration 2026 starts @xatonline.in; the last date to register is December 5. Check Live Updates
The XAT 2026 Registration has started today, on 10th July 2025, and will close on 5th December 2025. The XAT 2026 Exam will be held on 4th January 2026, from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. in a CBT Mode in more than 80 exam cities in India.
The XAT is one of the competitive MBA Exams, accepted by more than 800 B-Schools in India, including XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad and etc.
- To appear in XAT 2026, candidates have to register online, upload the required documents and pay the registration fee of Rs. 2,200, with an additional fee of Rs. 200 for candidates interested in XLRI Programmes.
- More than 1 lakh candidates are expected to appear in XAT 2026, in which XLRI will offer 360+ MBA Seats in HRM, BM and GMP Courses. The other top colleges that accept XAT Scores will offer more than 20,000 MBA/PGDM seats in India.
- The XAT 2026 Exam will include 4 sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. The XAT Question paper will include a total of 95 questions with a time duration of 180 minutes(3 hours).
To be eligible for XAT 2026, candidates should have a bachelor's degree, with no minimum percentage requirement and no age limit. The shortlisted candidates will then have to go through a GD-PI Round, which will be conducted by separate universities, with the selection process starting from February 2026.
Candidates can check:
XAT 2026 Exam Overview
The XAT 2026 is a national-level entrance exam for MBA, which is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur.
The XAT 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 4th January 2026, in a CBT Mode, which will be accepted by more than 800 MBA Colleges in India.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) |
| Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| XAT 2026 Exam Date | January 4, 2026 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) |
| Exam Duration | 180 Minutes |
| Medium | English |
| Sections in the Exam |
|
| Number of Questions | 95 (including GK) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Fee | ₹2,200 (plus ₹200 per XLRI program) |
| Accepting Institutes | 800+ B-Schools including XLRI, XIMB, IMT |
Is the XAT 2026 form out?
The XAT Registration for the 2026 exam has started from today, 10th July 2025, and will continue till 5th December 2025. The Candidates will have to complete the registration process and submit the registration fee of Rs. 2200 and the required documents.
- XAT 2026 Exam Overview
- Is the XAT 2026 form out?
- XAT 2026 Exam Dates
- XAT 2026 Registration Process
- XAT: Registration Statistics
- XAT 2026: Registration Fees
- XAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
- XAT Previous Year Cutoff-Percentile Wise
- XAT 2026 Top Colleges
- XAT 2026 Seat Intake Overview
- XAT 2026: 6 Months Preparation Plan
- XAT 2026 Syllabus
- Comparison Between XAT and CAT
- XAT Previous Year Question Paper
- XAT 2026: Important Books
- Previous Year XAT Exam Analysis
- XAT 2026 Mock Test
- XAT 2026 FAQs
XAT 2026 Exam Dates
The XAT 2026 Exam dates have been officially released by XLRI Jamshedpur, which will be held on 4th January 2025, from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. in a CBT Mode.
XAT 2026: Important Dates
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration start date | July 10, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Registration Last Date | December 5, 2025 |
| Admit Card Download | December 20, 2025 |
| XAT Exam 2026 Dates | January 4, 2026 (2 PM to 5 PM) |
XAT 2026 Registration Process
For giving the XAT 2026 Exam, candidates have to register themselves for the exam and complete the whole registration process from the official website xatonline.in.
The XAT Registration process will include creating a new account, filling out the application form with personal and academic details, uploading documents, selecting the exam city, and paying the registration fee.
Stages of XAT 2026 Registration Process
| Stage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Visit the Official Website | Candidates have to visit the official website xatonline.in, and click on the register link on the homepage. |
| Create XAT ID | To create their XAT ID, candidates have to enter their name, email ID, and Mobile number, and have to set a password to generate the XAT 2026 Login ID. |
| Log in and Fill Application Form | Candidates have to use their login credentials and access the application form, fill in their personal details, academic background and work experience. |
| Upload Documents | Candidates have to upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature using the guidelines for size and format. |
| Select Test Cities & Programs | Candidates have to choose 2 preferred exam cities and select the program like BM, HRM and GMP. |
| Pay Application Fee | Candidates have to pay Rs. 2,200 for registering in XAT 2026, with an additional fee of Rs. 200 for the XLRI Program in an online mode. |
| Submit and Confirm | Before submitting, candidates should review the information and then click “submit” and download the confirmation page for future reference. |
XAT: Registration Statistics
The XAT Exam has shown growth from last year, as they have reached to high number of registrations in the year 2025.
But the total number of candidates that appeared has remained similar, which shows a gap between interest and candidates that have appeared.
Previous Year XAT Registration Statistics
| Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared | % Change in Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 142,235 | 124,000 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 135,000 | 88,000 | 40% |
| 2023 | 96,438 | 80,000+ | 36.3% |
XAT 2026: Registration Fees
The Candidates are supposed to submit the required fees for registering in XAT 2026, which is transparent. All the required fees are non-refundable and should be paid online during registration.
Registration Fee for XAT 2026
| Candidate Category | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Base XAT Registration Fee (all candidates) | ₹2,200 |
| Additional fee per XLRI programme (BM, HRM, GMP) | ₹200 per programme |
| Indian applicants for PGDM (GM) via GMAT/GRE | ₹2,500 |
| NRI / Foreign applicants via GMAT (one or more) | ₹5,000 |
Also, Check: XAT Registration Process
XAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
To apply for XAT 2026, candidates should fulfil the basic academic requirements, which ensure more access.
There is no required age limit or percentile requirement, but some XLRI Programs, mostly for the general management programs, require additional experience from the candidates.
For Foreign candidates, there is a specific eligibility requirement.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree of 3 years in any discipline. The Final year candidates are also eligible. |
| Minimum Percentage | There is no minimum percentage required; just passing graduation is enough. |
| Age Limit | No Upper or lower age limit. |
| Work Experience |
|
| Nationality / Mode for NRIs | Indian and foreign nationals can apply. The Foreigners or NRI candidates have to give the GMAT Exam. |
| Attempts Allowed | Candidates can give unlimited attempts, with no limit on the number of tries. |
| Program-Specific Criteria |
|
Also Read: XAT 2026 Eligibility
What is the pattern of the XAT exam 2026?
The XAT 2026 Exam will be conducted in a CBT Mode, in a time duration of 180 minutes.
- The Exam will be divided into 2 parts: Part 1, Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making & Quantitative Aptitude and Data interpretation, with a total of 75 questions in 170 minutes.
- Part 2 will be 10 minutes long, including the section of General Knowledge of 20 Questions.
- In the XAT Exam, +1 marks will be given for each correct answer, -0.25 will be deducted for each incorrect answer and -0.10 for more than 8 unattempted questions.
The Section of Essay Writing has been removed from the main exam and will now be evaluated in the GD-PI Round.
Section-wise Exam Pattern of XAT 2026
| Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 |
| General Knowledge | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 95 | 95 |
XAT Previous Year Cutoff-Percentile Wise
The XAT Cutoff is the minimum percentile that should be secured by the shortlisted candidates for GD-PI Rounds of B Schools that accept XAT Scores.
The XLRI Jamshedpur is the conducting body, and has the highest cutoff of 96th percentile, whereas other top institutes like XIMB, IMT, TAPMI, and GIM have cutoffs between 80 to 90 percentiles.
- XLRI HRM has a relatively lower cutoff of 93+ percentile, particularly for females/non-engineers.
- Top colleges such as IMT & XIMB have cutoffs of about 90–91 percentile.
- Lower-middle-rung B-schools such as TAPMI, GIM take scores between 75–85th percentiles, extending access.
- Sectional cut-offs are followed at XLRI, particularly for VALR, DM, and QA.
| Institute / Program | Cutoff Percentile (Overall) |
|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur – BM (2025) | 96+ |
| XLRI Jamshedpur – HRM (2025) | 93+ |
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | 90+ |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90+ |
| TAPMI, Manipal | 85–87 |
| GIM Goa | 85+ |
| FORE School of Management | 80–82 |
| LIBA Chennai | 75–78 |
| Great Lakes, Chennai | 80+ |
| IRMA Anand | 80 (with XAT) |
| KJ Somaiya, Mumbai | 85–86 |
Also, Read: XAT Cutoff
XAT 2026 Top Colleges
Many top MBA Colleges in India accept XAT scores for admission in their programs, which include XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University, IMT Ghaziabad and IMI Delhi.
A Few Top Colleges of XAT 2026 with their cutoff are:
| College | XAT Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur | 94 – 95 |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai | 93.50 – 95 |
| XIM University | 91 – 92 |
| Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar | 90 – 93 |
| Institute of Management Technology(IMT), Ghaziabad | 90 – 92 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | 80 – 85 |
| Goa Institute of Management | 85 – 90 |
| KJ Somaiya | 85 – 90 |
| IMI Delhi | 85 – 90 |
| FORE School of Management | 77 – 87 |
| IRMA Anand | 80 – 85 |
| LIBA Chennai | 80 – 85 |
| TAPMI Institute | 80 – 85 |
| MICA, Ahmedabad | 80 – 85 |
| NIBM Pune | 80 – 84 |
XAT 2026 Seat Intake Overview
The XAT Exam is conducted for admission in the XLRI Jamshedpur, but it is accepted in more than 800 B-Schools.
Check the breakdown of the total seat intake of XLRI and other top colleges accepting XAT Scores.
XLRI Jamshedpur: Program-wise Seat Intake
| Program | Seat Intake (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Business Management (BM) | 180 |
| Human Resource Management (HRM) | 180 |
| General Management Program (GMP) | 120 |
| Total (XLRI Jamshedpur) | 480+ |
Other Top Colleges Accepting XAT: Estimated Seat Intake
| Institute Name | Seat Intake (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | 360 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 480 |
| TAPMI, Manipal | 420 |
| Great Lakes, Chennai | 240 |
| FORE School of Management, Delhi | 180 |
| GIM Goa | 300 |
| LIBA Chennai | 240 |
Also, Check: XAT College Predictor
XAT 2026: 6 Months Preparation Plan
The XAT 2026 Exam will be conducted on 4th January 2026, giving enough time for candidates to prepare accordingly.
Unlike CAT, XAT also involves Decision-Making and GK Section, which demands a more detailed study.
We have provided a proper 6-month plan for the candidates who are willing to appear in XAT 2026.
6-Month XAT 2026 Study Plan (Month-wise Breakdown)
| Month | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Month 1 (July) |
|
| Month 2 (August) |
|
| Month 3 (September) |
|
| Month 4 (October) |
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| Month 5 (November) |
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| Month 6 (December) |
|
XAT 2026 Syllabus
The XAT 2026 Syllabus will include 4 main sections: Verbal and logical ability, Decision making, Quantitative ability, and Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
The Syllabus for XAT 2026 has not yet been released, but it will be according to the previous year's patterns and will include unique skills and decision-making, which is only for XAT.
Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR)
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Fact-based, opinion-based, abstract RCs |
| Critical Reasoning | Assumptions, Inference, Strengthen/Weaken |
| Vocabulary | Word usage, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms |
| Grammar & Sentence Correction | Error spotting, Sentence rearrangement |
| Para-jumbles | Logical sequencing of sentences |
Decision Making (DM)
| Topic Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Ethical Dilemmas | Business or personal situations with moral choices |
| Analytical Reasoning | Situational caselets, cause-effect, prioritisation |
| Data-Based Decision Making | Tables, charts with decision-oriented questions |
| Managerial Judgement | Scenarios involving teams, conflict, and targets |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA-DI)
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance |
| Algebra | Equations, Inequalities, Functions |
| Geometry & Mensuration | Lines, Angles, Circles, Triangles, 3D figures |
| Number Systems | LCM, HCF, Remainders, Factors |
| Modern Math | Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Set Theory |
| Data Interpretation | Pie charts, Tables, Graphs, Caselets |
General Knowledge (GK)
| Area | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Static GK | History, Polity, Geography, Art & Culture |
| Current Affairs | National & International News (last 6–8 months) |
| Business & Economy | Government schemes, GDP, Budget, Monetary policies |
| Awards & Sports | Nobel, Olympics, National Awards |
| Miscellaneous | Books & Authors, Important Days, Environment |
Candidates can also check:
Comparison Between XAT and CAT
The CAT and XAT are both top MBA Entrance exams in India, but they have different exam patterns, syllabus and participating institutes. The CAT is for IIMs and top B-Schools, and XAT is for XLRI Jamshedpur and is accepted by XIMB and SPJIMR.
Both exams test the candidate’s aptitude, knowledge and logical reasoning.
| Features | XAT | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | XLRI, Jamshedpur | IIM |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduate in any stream from a recognised university | Graduate with 50% aggregate (45% for reserved category candidates) from a recognised university |
| Sections | 4 | 3 |
| Exam mode | Online | Online |
| Exam duration | 180 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Difficulty level | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Exam fee | INR 2,200 | INR 2,400 (INR 1,200 for Reserved category students) |
| Registration process | Online | Online |
XAT Previous Year Question Paper
| Exam Date | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2024 | Check Here | Download PDF |
| January 8, 2023 | Check Here | Download PDF |
| January 2, 2022 | Check Here | Download PDF |
XAT 2026: Important Books
For XAT Preparation, candidates require a few important books according to the different sections, which are from different authors. The Candidates should have these books for better preparation and a study plan.
| Section | Name of the Book | Author/ Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| QADI | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| How to Prepare for QA for CAT | Arun Sharma | |
| Data Interpretation for CAT | Nishit K Sinha | |
| Quantum CAT | S K Verma | |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Ajay Singh |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | |
| How to Prepare for VARC for CAT | Arun Sharma | |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | |
| Decision Making | Jabbing the XAT | R K Jha |
| Solved Papers | Gautam Puri | |
| Target XAT Simplified Edition | Disha Experts | |
| GK | Manorama Year Book | Mammen Mathew |
| Lucent’s Objective GK | Lucent Publications | |
| General Knowledge | Manohar Pandey |
Previous Year XAT Exam Analysis
Given below is the detailed section-wise paper analysis of last year’s XAT exam for your reference.
| Section Name | No of Questions | Distribution Of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 |
| Easy-Moderate | 17-18 |
| Decision Making | 21 |
| Moderate | 16-18 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 |
| Difficult | 15-17 |
| General Knowledge | 20 | Mixed Questions on Static GK and Current Affairs | Difficult | 10-11 |
| Overall | 95 | - | Moderate-Difficult | 59-68 |
XAT 2026 Mock Test
Mock tests are one of the important preparation tools for candidates who are preparing for XAT 2026.
These are the mock tests provided by Collegedunia. Candidates can give these tests for better preparation and have an idea of the type of questions that can be asked in the test.
Also, Read:
XAT 2026 FAQs
Ques. Will XAT 2026 be easy or difficult?
Ans. The XAT Exam is more challenging than other entrance exams like CAT, due to the inclusion of decision-making and general knowledge sections.
- The XAT Exam will test candidates' both aptitude and ethical reasoning, which makes it a proper entrance exam for Management.
- The Candidates who are well prepared, with strong logical skills the exam is crackable.
XAT 2026 Expected difficulty level
| Section | Difficulty Level | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Moderate to Difficult | Long Reading comprehension, with critical reasoning and tricky vocabulary |
| Decision Making | Moderate | case studies based on logical and ethical questions. |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Moderate to Difficult | Major focus on arithmetic questions, the data interpretation will be more time-consuming. |
| General Knowledge | Moderate | It will be a mix of static and current affairs. |
| Overall | Moderate to High | Unique structure and sectional complexity |
Ques. Is 27 a good score in XAT?
Ans. In XAT, a score of 27 in Part 1 is considered a good score, which translates to as 92-94th percentile, if the exam is of a moderate to difficult level.
With this score candidate will be eligible for top B-Schools like IMT Ghaziabad and XLRI HRM. For XLRI BM high score is typically required.
XAT 2026: Good Score
| XAT Score (Out of 75) | Expected Percentile (2026) | Target B-Schools |
|---|---|---|
| 34 – 36+ | 98 – 99.5 | XLRI BM (General), XIMB, IMT, TAPMI (top ranks) |
| 30 – 33 | 95 – 97.5 | XLRI HRM, XIMB, GIM, IMT Ghaziabad |
| 27 – 29 | 92 – 94 | XLRI HRM (for non-engineers/females), TAPMI, FORE |
| 24 – 26 | 88 – 91 | GIM, LIBA, Great Lakes, KJ Somaiya |
| 20 – 23 | 80 – 85 | Welingkar, IFMR, BIMTECH, Amrita |
Ques. How many seats are in XLRI Jamshedpur?
Ans. The XLRI Jamshedpur offer top programs for XAT, including BM, HRM, and an 18-month program for General Management for experienced professionals.
Seats in XLRI Jamshedpur
| Program / Campus | Seat Intake (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| PGDM – Business Management (BM) | 180 |
| PGDM – Human Resource Management (HRM) | 180 |
| PGDM – General Management (GMP/GM) | 120 |
| Total (All Programs) | 480 |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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The exam day for the XAT 2024 is set for Sunday, January 7, 2024. XLRI conducts XAT on behalf of XAMI. To choose the best candidates for management education, XLRI has been conducting XAT at the all-India level for more than 72 years. More than 160 institutes use the XAT score as a prerequisite for admission. On the official XAT website, you can register for the exam and find out additional information.
XAT is a competitive exam but you can ace this examination if you have invested right amount of time and dedication in the prepration. There are various tips and tricks that can be employed in your preparation strategy. Please check these tips and tricks from XAT Preparation Tips.
There is no minimum mark requirement to take XAT. Students in their final year of graduation registering for XAT can mentioned their expected CGPA/percentage.