XAT 2026 cut-offs are expected to follow similar trends as previous years, with top institutes like XLRI, XIM Bhubaneswar, and IMT Ghaziabad likely setting high percentile requirements. XLRI’s Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) programs are expected to have cut-offs around the 95–96 percentile for male candidates. Sectional cut-offs for XLRI will also play a crucial role in shortlisting. Other leading institutes such as TAPMI, Great Lakes, and GIM may set cut-offs in the 85–87 percentile range, while colleges like LIBA, IFMR, and BIMTECH are expected to accept scores in the 75–85 percentile band. Factors influencing cut-offs include exam difficulty, the number of test-takers, program demand, and diversity considerations. Understanding these trends will help candidates set realistic score targets for admission into top management programs accepting XAT scores.
XAT 2026 Expected Cut-offs for Top Institutes
Many top B-schools in India accept XAT scores for admission to their management programs. The expected XAT 2026 cut-offs for these institutes vary based on past trends and institute reputation. The table below shows the likely percentile requirements for popular colleges.
Also Check: XAT 2026 Fee Structure: Impact and Candidate Response
XLRI 2026 Sectional Cut-offs
The table given presents the programme-wise sectional XAT cut-off percentiles for 2025, as declared by XLRI. The cut-offs for XAT 2026 will be on similar lines:
How XAT Cut-offs Are Determined?
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) cut-offs are the minimum percentile scores required for candidates to be shortlisted for the next round of admission (such as GD-PI-WAT) at various participating institutes like XLRI, XIMB, and others. Here's how these cut-offs are generally determined:
- Difficulty Level of the Exam: If the XAT exam is tougher in a given year, the overall cut-offs are usually lower, since fewer students score high marks.
- Number of Candidates Appearing: A higher number of test-takers increases the competition, which can push the cut-offs higher, especially for top institutes like XLRI.
- Overall Performance of Candidates: If most students perform well, the average scores go up, and so do the cut-offs. On the other hand, if performance is low across the board, cut-offs may be lowered.
- Number of Seats Available: The total number of seats in each program plays a big role. Fewer seats mean higher competition, which can lead to higher cut-offs.
- Sectional and Overall Cut-offs: XAT is one of the few exams that considers sectional cut-offs in addition to overall scores. This means candidates must perform reasonably well in Quantitative Ability, Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, and General Knowledge to be considered.
- Program-specific Cut-offs: Cut-offs vary by course and specialization. For example, Human Resource Management (HRM) at XLRI may have a different cut-off than Business Management (BM).
- Academic and Gender Diversity Considerations: Some institutes may give slight relaxation in cut-offs for female candidates or those from non-engineering backgrounds to maintain a diverse classroom profile.
- Reservation Policies and Quotas: Institutes that follow government-mandated reservations may set different cut-offs for categories like SC/ST/OBC/EWS, which affects the overall cut-off trend.
- Previous Year Cut-off Trends :Institutes often look at the cut-off range from the past 2–3 years to maintain consistency. If the intake quality in previous years was too high or low, cut-offs might be adjusted accordingly.
XAT Cutoff 2025: Top MBA Colleges
In 2025, XIM University, MICA Ahmedabad, and IMT Ghaziabad set their cut-offs between the 90 and 92 percentiles. Similarly, institutes such as TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Chennai, and GIM Goa accepted scores in the 85 to 87 percentile range. Candidates can refer to the table below for the expected percentile cut-offs set by leading MBA colleges this year.
Final Thoughts
The XAT 2026 cut-offs for top B-schools like XLRI, XIM Bhubaneswar, IMT Ghaziabad, and others are expected to stay competitive, mostly ranging between 85 and 96 percentiles. Sectional cut-offs, academic diversity, and overall exam difficulty will play a key role in shortlisting candidates. Aspirants aiming for top-tier institutes must focus on both overall score & section-wise performance. By understanding these trends and preparing accordingly, candidates can improve their chances of securing admission to some of the best MBA programs in India through the XAT 2026 exam.
