To learn in detail about the tentative XAT 2027 exam, read this article.
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level test conducted every year in the first week of January. It is held by XLRI on behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI).
XAT scores pave the way to MBA admissions in the prestigious B-schools of the country like XLRI, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, SP Jain, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, etc. Apart from 11 XAMI member institutes, over 250 other renowned academic institutions accept XAT Scores for their management programmes.
Important Updates:
- General Knowledge (GK) Score: The GK section has no negative marking and will not contribute to the overall percentile/score but will be used by XLRI in its final selection process.
- Analytical Essay Writing (AEW): Removed from the written exam; now integrated into the GD/PI stages.
- Unattempted Questions Penalty: 0.10 marks deducted for every unattempted question beyond 8.
XAT Notification 2027 (Tentative)
One of the toughest management entrance exams, XAT tests the candidate's ability in verbal, quant, data interpretation, decision-making and general knowledge. It is a computer-based test of 180 minutes and comprises 95 MCQs. In order to score well in XAT, students need to have a proper preparation and exam strategy in place.
All the essential information like XAT exam date, registration, result date, etc. will be available on its official site https://xatonline.in. The official notification is expected later in 2026. For your convenience and early planning, we have given the tentative dates for XAT 2027 below (based on historical patterns):
Recent Changes in XAT Exam Pattern
|
Reduction in the overall number of questions: Reduced to 95 MCQs.
GK Questions: 20 questions (12 current affairs, 8 static GK).
Exam Duration: 180 minutes (Part 1: 170 min for core sections; Part 2: 10 min for GK).
Sectional Breakdown: VALR: 26 Qs, DM: 21 Qs, QA & DI: 28 Qs, GK: 20 Qs.
Removal of Analytical Essay Writing (AEW): Shifted to GD/PI stage.
GK Scoring: No negative marking; not used for percentile but considered by XLRI.
Unattempted Penalty: 0.10 marks after 8 unattempted questions (core sections).
|
XAT Important Dates 2027 (Tentative)
| Events |
Tentative Dates |
| Registration Opens |
Likely July/August 2026 |
| Registration Ends |
Likely November/December 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date |
Late December 2026 (Tentative) |
| XAT Exam Date |
Early January 2027 (Tentative, likely first Sunday) |
| XAT Answer Key/Response Sheet |
Shortly after exam (Tentative) |
| XAT Result 2027 |
Late January 2027 (Tentative) |
Did you Know: Established in 1949, XLRI is the oldest B-school of India.
Additionally, you must know about the basic facts related to XAT.
XAT 2027: Brief Overview
| Exam Name |
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) |
| Conducting body |
XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam type |
National Level Post-Graduate exam |
| Periodicity |
Once in a year |
| Score/Percentile Validity |
One Year |
| Mode of the Exam |
Online (CBT) |
| Duration of the Exam |
180 min. |
| Annual No. of Test Takers |
90,000 - 1 lakh |
| Exam Pattern |
Objective questions (MCQs) |
| Number of questions |
95 MCQs |
| Syllabus |
Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General Knowledge |
| Negative Marking |
-0.25 for wrong answer; -0.10 after 8 unattempted (core sections); No negative for GK |
| Programmes Offered by XLRI |
Business Management (BM), Human Resource Management (HRM) and General Management Programme (GMP) |
| Official website |
https://xatonline.in |
* No Essay in written exam; AEW component administered during GD/PI.
For more detailed information on XAT exam and XLRI programmes, check the official website
https://xatonline.in.
XAT Notification FAQs
- What is the last date for XAT 2027 registration?
- Likely November/December 2026 (Tentative; official notification awaited).
- What is the XAT 2027 exam date?
- Early January 2027 (Tentative, likely first Sunday).
- When will the XAT 2027 admit card be released?
- Late December 2026 (Tentative).
- What is the XAT exam pattern?
- 180 minutes, 95 MCQs in 4 sections, with specific negative marking rules.
E-305, Industrial Area, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab 160055, IN
