If you're preparing to take the XAT exam, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements. In this article, we'll provide insights into the XAT eligibility criteria for 2025 and other relevant information. Let's dive in and explore the details you need to know.
XAT 2025
XLRI Jamshedpur, one of the premier business schools in India, conducts the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) for admission to its esteemed management programs. This computer-based test attracts nearly 90,000 ambitious individuals each year, all vying for a spot in the highly competitive B-schools across the country. Scheduled in the month of January, XAT is not only known for its rigour but also as the second-largest MBA entrance exam, setting a challenging benchmark for the brightest minds in India.
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2025: General Requirements
Candidates of all educational backgrounds take the XAT exam. However, you must fulfil certain requirements in order to appear for the exam. Here are the standard guidelines as per XAT Eligibility 2025:
Nationality Criteria
- The Indian candidates, NRIs, and foreigners can apply for the exam.
- NRI and Foreign Candidates can also apply on the basis of GMAT (except Dubai and Kathmandu candidates where candidates have an option of directly appearing for XAT).
Academic Qualifications
- Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree of a minimum three years a duration or equivalent from a recognized authority in any discipline.
- Final-year students are also eligible to apply for the exam.
- Candidates who completed their graduation in 1980s, with a 2-year bachelor's degree, are not eligible.
- There is no minimum aggregate marks criterion for appearing in XAT 2024.
- Candidates with a PG degree need to provide their PG percentage in the application form instead of their graduation percentage.
- Candidate needs to clear all backlogs before admission through XAT.
Age Limits
- There is no upper or lower age limit for XAT 2025.
No. of Attempts
- There is no restriction on the number of attempts for XAT.
Latest Changes in XAT 2025 Exam-
XAT administration has introduced significant changes in the XAT exam pattern.
Reduction in the overall number of questions: Earlier XAT used to have 101 questions which have been reduced to 95 questions that will be in the MCQ format.
Reduction in GK questions: Gk section will now have 20 questions instead of 25. This section will include 12 questions on current affairs and 8 questions from static GK ensuring a balanced assessment of candidates' current awareness and foundational knowledge.
Changes in Exam time: The total XAT 2025 exam time is reduced to 180 minutes instead of earlier 210 minutes.
XAT exam in 2 parts: The XAT 2025 exam has been divided into two parts. Part 1 is allocated 170 minutes and Part 2 is solely on the GK section which will be conducted in 10 minutes.
Removal of Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) Test: Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) has been removed from XAT 2025. This component section has been integrated with the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI) stages of the XLRI selection process.
GK Score: The score from the General Knowledge section will be exclusively utilized by XLRI Jamshedpur for its final selection process.
XLRI Programme-wise Criteria
Apart from the general eligibility rules,
XAT-accepting institutes prescribe programme-wise criteria. If you wish to apply for XAT 2025, you must check the eligibility criteria of particular institutes as well as for their programmes. Here, we present an overview of specific eligibility criteria, as per the programmes offered by XLRI:
- Human Resource Management
- Minimum three years of bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute.
- NRI and foreign candidates can apply through GMAT/XAT.
- Students in final year of examination can apply if their result will be declared by June, 2025.
- Business Management
- Bachelor’s degree of 3 years duration in any stream.
- NRI and foreign candidates can apply through GMAT/XAT.
- Students in final year of graduation can apply but result must be declared by June 10, 2024.
- General Management programs (PGDM)
- Bachelor’s degree from a recognized Indian or foreign university with 3 years of duration.
- Managerial/supervisory experience of 5 years of experience by March 31, 2025.
- XAT/ GMAT/GRE score will be considered. (GMAT/GRE exam must have been cleared between December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2024.)
- Fellow Programme in Management (FPM)
Candidates can apply for this programme based on one of the three routes: 1.) XAT 2025 2.) UGC-JRF/NET; GMAT/GRE/GATE 2024-25
3.) Two-year full time MBA/ PGDM/ equivalent from XLRI, one of the IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, XIM Bhubaneswar, SP Jain, IRMA, School of Management of an IIT, TISS or ISI with a CQPI of a minimum 6.00/8.00/ equivalent. Additionally, they must have obtained either:
BE/ B.Tech. degree/ equivalent with at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST) and a minimum 2 years of relevant work experience.
or
Bachelors degree/ equivalent of at least three years duration with a minimum 60% marks (50% for SC/ST) and Post-graduation (MBA/Master's degree in any discipline) from a recognized university or a higher learning centre in India/abroad with a minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).
or
Integrated Master's degree (in any discipline) of four/five years, with a minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST), attained after completing 10+2 or equivalent.
or
Professional qualification like CA/ ICWA/ CS with a minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).
- Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EXEC-FPM)
- MBA/ PGDM/ equivalent or GMP/PGPX or One-Year fulltime residential programme in Management (with at least 60% marks).
- Currently working in a full-time job and holds a minimum of 5 years of full-time managerial/ executive/research/teaching experience as on March 31, 2025.
Admission to this course doesn't require XAT scores.
![XAT Decision making ebook](http://mba.hitbullseye.com/sites/default/files/750x200-xat-ebook.jpg)
Note that there are no caste-based reservation provisions for appearing in XAT. However, the XAT associate institutes and other B-schools may have their own reservation policies for admissions.
Once you have gone through the XAT eligibility criteria, you can proceed towards
XAT 2025 Registration. For more information, you can visit the official website (https://xatonline.in/).