To learn in detail about the latest XAT 2026 exam, read this article.
This article provides all the important details about the XAT exam. If you have decided to take XAT, it is important to know all the related information before starting preparation.
What is XAT?
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) in Jamshedpur, India. XLRI has been conducting XAT for over 70 years to select candidates for its management programs. XAT is one of the toughest entrance exams, and its scores are accepted by 11 XAMI member institutes, 83 associate institutes, and over 600 B-schools across India. To know more about XAT and its results, check this link:
XAT results.
XLRI, also known as Xavier School of Management, is one of India's top business schools. It offers flagship full-time residential programs like PGDM HRM and PGDM BM, along with executive and certificate programs for working professionals, such as Exec-FPM and BM.
More than 90,000 candidates appear for XAT every year to get admission into XLRI and related institutes.
Latest Changes in XAT 2026 Exam
XAT administration has made significant changes in the XAT exam pattern.
|
The number of questions has been reduced from 101 to 95.
The GK section now has 20 questions instead of 25, including 12 on current affairs and 8 on static GK.
The total exam time is reduced to 180 minutes from 210 minutes.
The exam is divided into two parts. Part 1 is 170 minutes, and Part 2 is 10 minutes for the GK section.
AEW has been removed from XAT 2026 and integrated into the GD/PI stages of XLRI selection process.
The GK score will be used only by XLRI Jamshedpur for final selection.
|
What is the structure of XAT exam?
XAT is moderately difficult, similar to other competitive exams. It was paper-based until 2017 but has been computer-based since 2018. The exam duration is 180 minutes and has four sections:
- Verbal Ability & Logical/Analytical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
- Decision Making
- General knowledge
| Section |
Questions |
Duration |
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning |
about 26 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Decision Making |
about 21 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
about 28 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| General Knowledge |
20 |
Part 2: 10 minutes |
| Total |
95 |
180 minutes |
XAT has 95 objective questions. Previously, the paper was divided into two parts, with Part I contributing to the final score and Part II including GK and Essay Writing. From 2024, the number of questions and duration have decreased. The exam now has sectional time limits: 170 minutes for Part I and 10 minutes for Part II. In Part I, there is -0.25 for incorrect answers and -0.10 after 8 unattempted questions. No negative marking in GK.
Syllabus for XAT 2026
There is no predefined
syllabus for XAT. Candidates should prepare based on previous year papers and exam pattern. The exam assesses reasoning, data analysis, interpretation, mathematics, decision-making, and general awareness. Given below are important points for XAT syllabus:
When is the XAT exam conducted?
The XAT exam for MBA/PGP programs will be conducted on January 04, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. It is a single-day, single-session test. The detailed notification with dates, fees, etc., is available on xatonline.in. Registration for XAT and XLRI is through a single form, but additional payment may be required for XLRI programs.
Events |
Dates |
Registration Opens |
July 10, 2025 |
Registration Closes |
December 05, 2025 |
Admit Card Download |
December 20, 2025 (Tentative) |
XAT 2026 Exam |
January 04, 2026 (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM) |
The exam will be conducted in 80+ cities across India. The official answer key and OMR sheet are released in the last week of January. The result is expected in the first week of February 2026.
The selection process begins after the result and cutoff announcement. XLRI sends hard copy of scorecard to registered addresses. Candidates should preserve it until admission is over. After the exam, candidates are called for GD and PI.
Note that XLRI admits based on XAT scores only, while other colleges may accept other scores like CAT.
Who can appear for XAT exam?
The
XAT eligibility criteria require a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years duration. There is no minimum marks requirement. Final-year students can also apply.
XLRI specifies program-wise eligibility criteria.
Which colleges/institutes accept XAT scores?
Approximately 700 colleges accept XAT scores across India. Given below are some top institutes accepting XAT scores:
| Some of XAMI Member Institutes |
| Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI) |
| Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar |
| Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Bangalore/ Chennai |
| Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai |
| Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi |
| Xavier Institute Of Management & Research, Mumbai |
| Other Management Institutes that accept XAT |
| Goa Institute of Management |
| SP Jain, Mumbai |
| Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad/Nagpur/Hyderabad |
| MICA, Ahmedabad |
| TAPMI, Manipal |
| Great Lakes Institutes of Management, Chennai |
| Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal |
| KJ Somaiya, Mumbai |
Did you Know: XLRI is a signatory of the UN-supported initiative PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education). It takes different social initiatives around the year and lays special emphasis on sustainability.
Admission Process
B-schools start selection rounds in February and finalize lists by April. After cutoffs, candidates are shortlisted for GD/GE, WAT, and PI. From XAT 2026, AEW is part of GD/PI for XLRI. B-schools have different cutoff criteria. Weights are assigned to XAT percentile, academic profile, GD/WAT/PI performance, work experience, extracurriculars, and diversity. Evaluation parameters vary across B-schools.
*Note that work experience is not mandatory for all B-schools. Some MBA programs may require 1-2 years of experience.
What’s the ROI of MBA programmes offered by XLRI?
Top B-schools like XLRI offer high ROI. A good XAT score leads to placements with top companies. XLRI has placements up to Rs. 50-60 lakhs per annum. Check some placement facts for XLRI:
- In 2023, Highest CTC was INR 60+ LPA from BFSI, Average CTC INR 30.73 LPA, Median CTC INR 29 LPA. 40.28% received Pre-Placement Offers.
- PGDM Batch 2022-24 received 437 domestic offers from 99 recruiters in BFSI, Consulting, Sales & Marketing.
- Bain and Co., BCG, Accenture, Amazon, ITC, PayTM, Microsoft made the highest offers.
- Over the last 5-6 years, average CTC for PGDM students has increased steadily.
How to Prepare for XAT 2026?
To ace XAT, candidates need smart preparation, dedication, and focus. Experts recommend 6-8 months of preparation. The goal is to increase attempts and accuracy. Given below are tips for XAT preparation:
- Start preparation early to avoid last-minute issues.
- Divide preparation into stages: concept-building, then mock tests.
- Read daily to improve comprehension, vocabulary, and GK. Read books, magazines, newspapers, business articles.
- Note formulas, tricks, shortcuts for math.
- Practice chapter-wise tests after revision.
- Take timed sectional tests.
- Attempt previous XAT papers and mocks.
- Analyze performance after each test to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Use shortcuts, approximation, elimination in practice.
- Decide time for each section, e.g., 55-60 minutes for Quant, 50-55 for Decision-making.
Do not focus only on favorite questions, as XAT has surprises every year.
FAQs Regarding XAT 2026
1. What is the validity of XAT scores?
XAT scores are valid for one year only.
2. What is the application fee for XAT?
The fee for XAT registration is Rs. 2200. Additional Rs. 200 for each XLRI program.
3. What is the course fee at XLRI?
Course fee at XLRI is Rs. 20.95 to 23.6 lakhs, depending on the MBA program.
4. What is a good score in XAT?
For XLRI, target 96 percentile. For other colleges, 90+ percentile is sufficient.
5. What are the age restrictions for XAT?
There is no age restriction for XAT.
6. How many times can I take the XAT exam?
There is no limit on the number of attempts for XAT.
7. Is XAT more difficult or easier than CAT?
Both XAT and CAT are difficult. Syllabus for verbal, reasoning, quant is similar. XAT has additional Decision-making and GK sections. CAT has tough DILR, XAT has challenging quant. Both are popular entrances to top B-schools.
_0.jpg?null)
_9.jpg?null)
