The XAT 2026 exam will be held on January 4, 2026. The registration for the exam started on July 10, 2025, and will continue till December 5, 2025. Students who want to appear for the exam must fill out the form online on the official website – xatonline.in. It is a good idea to register early to get the exam center of one’s choice. After registration, the admit card for the exam will be available to download from December 20, 2025. The result of the XAT 2026 Exam is expected to be announced in the third week of January 2026.
XAT 2026 Exam Dates And Schedule
The XAT 2026 exam process starts with registration in July & continues until early January. Key events like admit card download, exam date, answer key release, and result declaration take place in December and January. Staying updated with these dates helps candidates plan their preparation and other formalities on time
Also Check: How to Build an Effective Study Timetable for XAT 2026
XAT 2026 Important Events
XAT Registration 2026: The registration for XAT 2026 is available on the official website at xatonline.in. To apply, candidates must create a login ID, complete the application form and pay the registration fee. There is no correction window, so the form must be filled carefully.
XAT Mock Test 2026: XLRI will conduct official mock tests for registered candidates before the main exam. These mock tests will help in understanding the exam pattern and structure. Candidates can access the mock tests by logging into their XAT account. For XAT 2026, two official mock tests are expected.
XAT Admit Card 2026: The admit card will be released online and can be downloaded using login credentials. A printed copy of the XAT admit card must be carried to the exam centre, as digital versions will not be accepted.
XAT Exam 2026: The exam will be conducted in computer-based mode at selected test centres. The question paper will include 95 questions across five sections: Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, English, General Knowledge, and Decision Making. The total duration of the exam will be 180 minutes. XAT 2026 will be held in a single session, and candidates must appear at the centre mentioned on their admit card.
XAT Response Sheet and Answer Key 2026: A few days after the exam, XLRI will release the response sheet and the official answer key. Candidates can view their responses and raise objections if they find any discrepancies. The exam authority will review all challenges and release a final answer key, if necessary.
XAT Result 2026: The result is expected to be announced by the third week of January 2026. It will be available in percentile format & can be downloaded using the login ID. The scorecard will be accessible until December 31, 2026.
XAT Cut Offs for XLRI 2026: The cut-offs for XLRI admission (batch 2026) will be released by the fourth week of January 2026. Admission to XLRI and other participating institutes will be based on these cut-offs.
Also Check: What's Next After XAT 2026 Result: Check Details to Prepare for XLRI GD/ PI
XAT 2026 Highlights
XAT 2026 is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted online. It includes four main sections and lasts for 3 hours. The exam has a mix of math, logic, English, decision-making, and general knowledge questions. Scoring is done based on correct and incorrect answers, with some penalties for leaving too many questions unanswered. The exam is considered moderately to highly difficult and is held in just one session. The cut-off for top institutes like XLRI usually goes above the 96th percentile mark.
To Sum Up
The XAT 2026 exam is an important national-level test for MBA admission, scheduled for January 4, 2026. Students can register online at xatonline.in until December 5, 2025. After registering, they must download the admit card starting December 20 and appear for the exam at their chosen center. The exam has four sections and lasts for 3 hours, testing math, logic, English, decision-making, and general knowledge. The results will be declared in the third week of January 2026. Scoring well in XAT 2026 is key for admission to top colleges like XLRI, which usually require a score above the 96th percentile. So, it is important to stay updated on dates, prepare well, and take mock tests to perform confidently in the exam.
