Updated on Jun 14, 2025
Sanhita Kundu
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 4th January 2026. The registration process will tentatively begin on 15th July, 2025, and conclude on 10th December, 2025. The exam will be conducted in CBT mode and consist of two parts. Part 1 will assess Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Interpretation. Part 2 will focus on General Knowledge. The total duration of the exam will be 180 minutes, within which candidates must attempt 95 multiple-choice questions. XAT Result 2026 is expected to be released in the 3rd week of January, 2026. Those who qualify for the exam will be eligible to apply to the top MBA colleges such as XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University, MICA Ahmedabad, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, FORE School of Management, etc.
XAT 2026: Exam Dates
XAT 2026 Registration Process will tentatively take place between 15th July and 10th December 2025. Registered candidates can download their admit cards from 20th December, 2025. For more updates on XAT 2026 Exam Dates, candidates can check the table below.
XAT 2026: Exam Highlights
XLRI Jamshedpur will host the exam in CBT mode. Candidates will have a total of 3 hours to complete the test. To check other information related to XAT 2026, candidates should check the table below:
XAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 requires a Bachelor's degree of a minimum 3 years duration in any discipline. Aspirants who are in the final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for XAT 2026 Exam. There is no upper age limit as candidates can apply as long as they are graduates. XAT Eligibility Criteria does not include minimum qualifying marks, and it allows all graduate candidates who have graduated from recognised universities in India. Candidates can refer to the table below to check the eligibility criteria for XAT 2026.
XAT 2026 Application Process
XAT Application Process 2026 will tentatively start from 15th July, 2025, and will be active till 10th December, 2025. Candidates need to fill out the application form online at xatonline.in The steps for XAT Registration 2026 are as follows:
- Candidates need to log in to xatonline.in.
- Click on 'New Registration' where they need to put their first and last names and email IDs.
- Candidates receive a unique XAT ID and registration link via their verified email addresses.
- Click on the link to complete XAT Registration.
- Candidates need to go to the homepage and click on "Log in" again using their Email ID and Password.
- Next, they need to fill out personal, academic, and work experience-related information.
- Candidates must upload the required documents.
- Following this, they can choose up to 6 test cities and XLRI programs.
- Next, need to make a payment online.
- Lastly, they need to click "Submit" and then download the confirmation page.
XAT 2026 Registration Fee
XAT 2026 Registration Fee is INR 2200, but with each XLRI program addition, candidates must pay INR 200 extra. For foreign candidates, the fee is INR 5000. Candidates can refer to the table below to check that fees vary according to the application type for XAT 2026 Exam.
XAT 2026 Syllabus
XAT Syllabus 2026 is divided into four key sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. Amongst these sections, the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section holds the highest weightage distribution, i.e., 28%. For a detailed understanding of XAT Syllabus 2026, key topics are given below:
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
XAT paper will be divided into two sections, i.e., Part A and Part B. For Part 1, students will have 170 minutes, and within the remaining 10 minutes, candidates must answer 20 questions from General Knowledge. Candidates can refer to the table below for the XAT 2026 Exam Pattern, including the marking scheme.
XAT 2026 Preparation Tips
To achieve a perfect 100 in the XAT 2026 Exam, candidates must first understand the exam pattern and syllabus. Aspirants must note that the difficulty level of the XAT 2026 exam is relatively high, and to prepare, they will need at least six months. The Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section has the highest percentage, followed by the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section. Below are five key tips for XAT 2026 candidates to excel in the exam.
- Develop a study plan: Candidates must allocate 8 hours a day to cover at least two sections daily. In the first 6 hours, they can cover key topics of each section, and in the last 2 hours, they can practice mock test question papers.
- Read editorials, magazines, and newspapers: To improve general awareness and reading comprehension skills, candidates can read magazines, newspapers, and editorials.
- Join online study groups: Candidates can join online study groups on Facebook and YouTube to stay updated with the latest information on the XAT 2026 Syllabus.
- Solve Mock Test papers: Candidates are advised to solve mock test papers daily to understand the exam pattern, improve speed, and precision.
- Strengthen Quantitative Ability: Candidates should focus on key areas of quantitative ability, such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, to improve accuracy. Candidates can refer to XAT 2026 Books, such as Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha and How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma, to strengthen their knowledge.
XAT 2026 Admit Card
XAT Admit Card 2026 is expected to be released on 20th December, 2025. The download link will be available at xatonline.in. Below are some simple steps highlighted to download the admit card.
How to Download XAT 2026 Admit Card?
- Candidates need to log in through xatonline.in.
- Then they have to click on the “Download admit card” option.
- Candidates must enter details such as ID, and Password/date of birth to view the admit card.
- They need to click on the admit card option.
- Applicants must download and take at least two copies of the printout of XAT Admit Card 2026.
XAT 2026 Answer Key
The provisional answer key for XAT 2026 will be released in the third week of January 2026. Using the answer key, XAT candidates will be able to calculate their scores, and in case of any discrepancies, they can raise objections as well. The steps for downloading the answer key are presented below:
- Candidates must access xatonline.in and click on the "answer key and objection” option.
- A login page will appear, and students must log in using their ID and password.
- Candidates have to click on the "answer key and question paper".
- The XAT Answer Key will be available, and candidates can download it in PDF format.
Note: In case of raising objections against any answer, students must upload a supporting document, and based on that, XLRI will review the answer key again.
XAT 2026 Result
It is expected that XAT Result 2026 will be available in the fourth week of January, 2026. Candidates must download their scorecards from the official XAT website. The scorecard will include candidates' names, date of birth, gender, XAT ID, date of examination, validity duration (1 year), section-wise scores and percentiles, and overall scores. Candidates can refer to the steps for downloading the XAT Scorecard below.
How to Download XAT 2025 Result?
- Access xatonline.in.
- Click on the 'scorecard' option.
- Enter XAT User ID and date of birth.
- Click on 'login'.
- Download the XAT result and save it in a PDF format.
XAT 2026 Cutoff
XAT Cutoff 2026 will vary across colleges. For example, the cutoff marks of XLRI Jamshedpur are expected to be between 94 and 95. For XIM University, the cutoff score is expected to be between 91 and 92, whereas at LIBA Chennai, it will range between 80 and 82. Candidates can refer to the table below to see how the XAT Cutoff 2026 will vary across different institutes.
XAT 2026: Top Accepting Colleges
1000+ MBA institutes across India will accept XAT 2026 Scores. However, after qualifying for the XAT exam, candidates need to appear for personal interviews and group discussions to secure admission to top MBA colleges. The list below is provided for candidates to know which top MBA colleges will accept XAT 2026 scores.
- XLRI Jamshedpur
- XIM University
- MICA Ahmedabad
- IMT Ghaziabad
- IMI New Delhi
- St. Joseph's Institute of Management
- Xavier Business School (XBS), St.Xavier's University, Kolkata
- K J Somaiya Institute of Management
- FORE School of Management, New Delhi
- Loyola Institute of Business Administration
- Welingkar Mumbai
XAT 2026 FAQs
Who is eligible for XAT 2026 Exam?
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 requires a bachelor's degree. Candidates should either have completed their graduation or be in their final year of study. There is no upper age limit and no minimum qualifying marks requirement.
Can I choose XLRI Programs during XAT registration?
Yes, candidates can choose the BM, HRM, and GM programs at XLRI, but they need to pay an additional INR 200 with the registration fee, which is INR 2,200.
XAT 2026 Exam will offer which programs to candidates?
After qualifying for the XAT 2026 Exam, candidates can pursue postgraduate programs in business management, human resource management, and general management. Accordingly, they can also pursue doctoral-level programs in the Fellow Program in Management and the Executive Fellow Program in Management.
How many questions will be there in XAT 2026 Exam and from which sections?
A total of 95 MCQs will be there in XAT 2026 question paper covering sections like Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision-Making, and General Knowledge.
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section will contain which topics in XAT 2026 Exam?
The Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section will contain topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Venn diagrams, Tables, Graphs, and Charts in the XAT 2026 Exam.
What documents are required for XAT Registration 2026?
Candidates need to have a recent passport photo, a signature, mark sheets of their class 10 and 12, a marksheet, and a provisional certificate of graduation, and identity proofs. For working candidates, they must submit proof of their work experience.
What are the test cities for XAT 2026 Exam?
The XAT 2026 Exam will be conducted in major cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and others. Candidates can choose up to 6 test cities according to their convenience.
What to do after completing XAT Registration Process 2026?
After receiving confirmation, students should save the confirmation page and begin preparing for the test, as its difficulty level is quite high. They can attend mock tests and solve previous years’ question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern. On 20th December, 2025, XAT 2026 Admit Card is expected to be released.
What should be the target percentile for XLRI?
If candidates want to get an interview call from XLRI, then they need to secure at least 95% marks. The cutoff percentile of XLRI varies between 95% and 97%. Therefore, candidates must secure a percentile of 95 or higher to secure their spots at XLRI.
Will there be any negative marking in XAT 2026 Exam?
Yes, -0.25 will be applied for each incorrect answer. Candidates will also get a penalty of 0.1 marks if they leave more than eight questions unattempted. The penalty will be applicable from the 9th unanswered question.
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