Updated on Jul 07, 2025
Ankita Banerjee
XAT Cutoff 2026 is expected to be released by XLRI Jamshedpur in the fourth week of January 2026. The cutoff is determined by several factors such as the number of candidates appearing for the exam, the difficulty level of the question paper, the number of seats available, and previous years' cutoff trends. To check the cutoff, candidates must log in to their XAT account on xatonline.in using their XAT ID and Password.
The cutoff requirements of XAT 2026 Exam by XLRI Jamshedpur are expected to be within the 90th and 96th percentiles. XIMB University in Bhubaneswar is expected to set a cutoff in the 90–93 percentile range. For IMT Ghaziabad, MICA Ahmedabad, and GIM Goa, the cutoff score is likely to be between the 90th and 95th percentiles. For more detailed information about the XAT Cutoff 2026, students are advised to read the complete article.
Table of Contents
XAT Cutoff 2026: Important Dates
XAT 2026 Exam is scheduled to be held on 4th January, 2026. Candidates can download the provisional answer key in the 3rd week of January, 2026. XAT Results 2026 and the final answer key will be released on the 4th week of January, 2026. Refer to the table below to check important events of XAT 2026 and expected dates.
| Important Dates |
| 4th January, 2026 |
| 3rd week of January, 2026 |
| 4th week of January, 2026 |
| 4th week of January, 2026 |
Factors Determining XAT Cutoff 2026
Several dynamic factors contribute to determining the XAT Cutoff 2026, including the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. Candidates can refer to the following to know about the factors and their contribution to the cutoff score determination for XAT 2026.
- Total number of candidates appearing for XAT Exam: A higher applicant volume increases the cutoff range.
- Difficulty level of the question paper: A more challenging question paper is likely to result in slightly lower raw-score requirements.
- Number of seats available: Programs with fewer seats are likely to be more selective, which may demand higher cutoff requirements.
- Previous years’ cutoff trends: Past years’ cutoff scores decide the given years' cutoff requirements. For instance, in 2025, XAT Cutoff ranges from the 91st to the 96th percentile. So, in 2026, candidates must expect higher cutoff ranges than in 2025.
XAT Cutoff 2026: Steps To Check
To check XAT Cutoff 2026, candidates must log in to their XAT account using their login ID and password. Candidates must follow the steps below to check category-wise cutoff marks for XAT 2026 Exam.
- In the first step, candidates need to go to the XAT exam website at xatonline.in and click on XLRI Cutoff 2026.
- In the second step, candidates have to log in using their XAT ID and password to log into their account.
- Once logged in, students can view the XAT cutoff list and their shortlist status.
- Lastly, for future reference, candidates need to download the cutoff list and print it.
Read More: XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
XAT Cutoff 2026: Category-wise Cutoff (Expected)
XAT Cutoff 2026 will differ across the General and Reserved categories. Additionally, it will vary significantly across engineers and non-engineers, as well as among males and females. For instance, at XLRI Jamshedpur, the cutoff for male engineers in BM programs is expected to be at the 96th percentile. In contrast, the cutoff for female engineers is expected to be at the 91st percentile. At XIMB University, Bhubaneshwar, the cutoff percentile for the General category will be between the 90th and 93rd percentile. For more details, candidates can refer to the table below to know the expected XAT category-wise cutoff percentile requirements by top MBA colleges in India.
XAT Cutoff 2026: Marks Vs Percentiles
In XAT 2026, candidates scoring around 40+ marks are expected to fall between the 96.5 and 96.9 percentile range. Accordingly, those scoring between 39 and 40+ marks are expected to be secure at the 97.4th percentile. Candidates can check below to know the marks vs percentiles in XAT 2026 Exam.
Read More: XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Section-wise Cutoff Marks Vs Percentiles
Besides total scoring, XAT Cutoff 2026 also depends on sectional scores. XLRI and other MBA colleges consider section-wise scores of candidates to invite them for a personal interview or group discussion. For a better understanding of candidates, the following table presents section-wise scores vs percentile requirements for XAT 2026 Exam.
XAT Cutoff 2026: Previous Years’ Cutoff Marks
Besides the number of applicants and seats available in colleges, the XAT Cutoff 2026 is also dependent on previous years' cutoff trends. Candidates can refer to the tables below to check XAT Cutoff 2025 for XLRI and other MBA colleges.
XAT Cutoff 2025: XLRI
In XLRI, XAT Cutoff varies by gender and stream. For the BM program, the overall cutoff for both male engineers and non-engineers is at the 96th percentile. In contrast, for females in both streams, the cutoff is the 91st percentile. Refer to the section-wise cutoff percentiles determined by XLRI for 2025, presented below.
XAT Cutoff 2025: Top MBA Colleges
In 2025, XIM University, MICA Ahmedabad, and IMT Ghaziabad have set their cutoffs in the 90–92 percentile range. Accordingly, colleges like TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Chennai, and GIM Goa require scores around the 85th–87th percentile. Candidates can check below to know the cutoff percentile range determined by the top MBA colleges in 2025.
XAT Cutoff 2024 For XLRI
In 2024, for the BM program, male candidates had to secure an overall percentile of 96, with sectional cutoffs of 86 in QA, 83 in VALR, and 85 in DM. It indicates a sharp rise in cutoff requirements as compared to the 75th percentile in 2023. For the HRM program, overall cutoffs were slightly lower than BM programs, as male engineers required a score at the 95th percentile. Check category-wise cutoff requirements by XLRI in 2024 below.
XAT Cutoff 2023 For XLRI
In 2023, the overall cutoff score for the BM programs was 75, with higher cutoff requirements in the DM section. In contrast, for HRM programs, the cutoff percentile requirement was 90 (except for female non-engineers) with a strong emphasis on the DM section. Check the following table to know how XAT Cutoff 2023 percentile varied category, section and program-wise in XLRI.
Know More About XAT Syllabus 2026
XAT Cutoff 2026: XLRI Selection Process
XLRI initiates the selection process based on several parameters, including XAT scores, academic performance, and work experience of candidates. After reviewing these details, candidates are shortlisted for personal interview (PI) and Group Discussion (GD) rounds. The following steps are presented below:
- Shortlisted candidates are invited to GD sessions first, where their thoughts, ability to work in a team, and efficiency in handling group dynamics are assessed.
- Next, in PI rounds, candidates' suitability is assessed based on their academic history and career aspirations.
- The final selection is based on the XAT score, performance in the GD and PI, academic performance, and work experience.
- After evaluation, XLRI offers admission to candidates by sending an offer letter that includes program details, start dates, fees and instructions about formalities.
XAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
What factors are responsible for determining XAT Cutoff 2026?
The number of candidates appearing for the XAT 2026 exam, the total number of seats available in colleges, the difficulty level of the exam, and previous years' cutoff scores are the main factors that determine the percentile requirements of the XAT Cutoff 2026.
How to check XAT Cutoff 2026?
To check the cutoff list of the XAT exam, candidates need to visit the official website of XAT and then log in to their accounts using their XAT ID and password. Then they have to click on XLRI Cutoff 2026 link to view and download the cutoff range in a PDF format.
Does XAT have a sectional cutoff?
Yes, in the XAT exam, candidates must also consider the sectional cutoff percentile. Among the four key sections, the decision-making section holds the highest cutoff percentage in the XAT exam.
Is the 97th percentile in XAT 2026 enough for MBA admission?
No, besides the XAT scores, top MBA colleges consider GD and PI performance, academic qualification and career aspirations. After evaluating all of these factors, a candidate is proven suitable to take admission in the BM and HRM programs.
If I score around the 80th- 85th percentile in the XAT 2026 Exam, then which colleges can I get into?
If a candidate scores between the 80th and 85th percentile, then he/she can get an invitation from TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Chennai, GIM Goa, Great Lakes Gurgaon, K J Somaiya, Fore Delhi and NIBM Pune.
Which MBA colleges are available with XAT cutoffs of the 85th percentile and above?
MBA colleges such as XLRI, XIM University, MICA Ahmedabad, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI Manipal, and IMI Delhi are available with an XAT Cutoff of 2026 at the 85th percentile and above.
How is the XAT percentile calculated?
The XAT percentile is calculated using the formula: (XAT Rank / Total number of candidates) × 100. For example, if a candidate's rank is 100 and 100,000 candidates appeared for the exam, the candidate's percentile would be 90.
Are the XAT cutoff percentiles the same for all categories of candidates?
No, the XAT cutoff percentiles vary by candidate category, such as engineers, non-engineers, and gender. For some colleges, the tuition may vary by general and reserved categories.
Will a score of 27 be a good score in the XAT 2026 Exam?
Scoring around 27 is equal to the 95th percentile. So, it is a good score, but the cutoff requirements of top MBA colleges have been rising over the years. Hence, candidates must aim for a score higher than 27 to secure the 97th percentile.
Does XLRI consider a sectional cutoff in XAT Exam?
Yes, like other MBA colleges, XLRI also considers sectional cutoffs and puts the highest emphasis on decision-making and quantitative ability sections.
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