To learn in detail about the tentative XAT 2027 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 XLRI – Xavier School of Management, formerly known as Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur. XLRI has been conducting XAT for over 75 years to select candidates for its management programs. XAT is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams, and its scores are accepted by 12 XAMI member institutes, 134 associate institutes, and over 250+ B-schools across India. XLRI Jamshedpur has released the
notification for XAT 2027. Candidates can apply online at xatonline.in.
XLRI is one of India's top business schools, which 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 1 lakh candidates appear for XAT every year to get admission into XLRI and other participating institutes.
XAT 2027 Exam Highlights
XAT administration made significant changes in the XAT exam pattern last year. This year, the pattern and structure have remained the same.
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The number of questions is 95.
The GK section now has 20 questions, including 12 on current affairs and 8 on static GK.
The total exam time is reduced to 180 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 the exam and integrated into the GD/PI stages of the XLRI selection process.
The GK score will be used only by XLRI Jamshedpur for final selection.
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What is the structure of XAT exam?
XAT is moderately difficult, similar to other MBA entrance 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 |
26 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Decision Making |
21 |
Part 1: 170 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
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. Last year onwards, 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. There is no negative marking in GK.
Syllabus for XAT 2027
There is no predefined
syllabus for XAT. Candidates should prepare based on previous year papers and exam pattern. The exam assesses logical reasoning, data analysis and interpretation, mathematics, decision-making, and general awareness. Given below are important points for XAT syllabus:
When is the XAT exam conducted?
The XAT exam is traditionally conducted on the first Sunday of January. XAT 2027 is scheduled for January 3, 2027. It is a single-day, single-session test to be conducted from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The official notification with exact dates, fees, and other details has been released on July 15, 2026, at xatonline.in, along with the registration process. Registration for XAT and XLRI is through a single form, but additional payment is required for applying to XLRI programs.
Events |
Dates |
Registration Opens |
July 15, 2026 |
Registration Closes |
December 6, 2026 |
Admit Card Download |
December 20, 2026 (Tentative) |
XAT 2027 Exam |
January 3, 2027 (from 2 PM to 5 PM) |
The exam will be conducted in 100+ cities across India. The official answer key and OMR sheet are expected to be released in the third week of January. The XAT 2027 result is likely to be declared in the fourth week of January 2027. Check the official website and this page of Hitbullseye for latest updates on XAT 2027.
The selection process begins after the result and cutoff announcement. 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?
In India, more than 250+ colleges accept XAT results. Some prestigious institutions that accept XAT results are listed below:
| Some of XAMI Member Institutes |
| XLRI – Xavier School of Management, 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 |
| IMI New Delhi |
| 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 finalise lists by April. After cutoffs, candidates are shortlisted for GD/GE, WAT, and PI. 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 continues to deliver strong placement outcomes with packages going up to INR 1.10 Crore (international) and INR 59 LPA (domestic). Check some placement facts for XLRI:
- In 2026, the highest international CTC stood at INR 1.10 Crore, while the highest domestic package was INR 59 LPA. The average CTC was INR 31.40 LPA, and the median CTC was INR 29 LPA. 42.5% of the batch received Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs).
- The PGDM (BM & HRM) Batch 2024–26 received 576+ domestic offers and 2 international offers from 145 recruiters.
- Consulting emerged as the top recruiting sector (36% of offers), followed by BFSI, ITES, and Sales & Marketing.
- Top recruiters included BCG, Accenture Strategy, Deloitte, EY Parthenon, Amazon, and other leading firms.
- Over the last 5-6 years, average CTC for PGDM students has increased steadily.
How to Prepare for XAT 2027?
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 2027
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. 2,300. Additional Rs. 200 for each XLRI program.
3. What is the course fee at XLRI?
Course fee at XLRI is INR 25.80 to INR 30.50 lakhs, depending on the MBA program.
4. What is a good score in XAT?
For XLRI, target 95–96+ percentile. For other top colleges (IMT, IMI, XIMB, GIM, etc.), 90+ percentile is generally 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. The syllabus for verbal, reasoning, and 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.
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