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XAT Exam 2026

Syllabus
Preparation
Application
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XAT Exam 2026

What's new in XAT 2026?

The new XAT 2026 Exam notification states the modifications to the paper pattern. This year, XLRI will conduct the XAT 2026 exam on January 04 , 2026, in a 180-minute format. The main change to the exam is the removal of the Essay Question from Part 2.

XAT Highlights:

  • Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level examination conducted by XLRI or Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI.
  • The exam is for admission to MBA/ PGDM programmes in XLRI.
  • For 75+ years XLRI is conducting XAT to select students at all India level to select students for management education.
  • Candidates can apply by registering online
  • Apart from XLRI and Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) member, 250+ B-Schools accept admissions for the management programmes
  • The exam pattern: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
  • XLRI offers courses like PGDM HRM, PGDM BM (Full-time residential programmes), Exec- FPM, and BM (Part-time Programmes for Working Executives), to name a few.
  • More than 1,00,000 candidates from all disciplines including Engineering, Commerce, Humanities, Science, Law apply and appear in the exam every year
XAT Exam 2026
XAT Exam Date January 04 , 2026
Registration dates July 10, 2025 to December 05, 2025
Admit Card Released On December 20, 2025 (tentative)
XAT Result January 17, 2026 (Expected)
XAT Scorecard January 17 – March 31, 2026
Registration fees ₹2,200
Application Fee for XLRI programmes ₹200
2026 Test Structure
Sections Negative Marking Marks Allotted
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning +1 for correct, −0.25 for incorrect, −0.10 for >8 unattempted questions 26
Decision Making 21
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 28
General Knowledge 1 mark for correct answer; no negative markings 20

XAT Application 2026

Application Highlights:

  • XAT Registration cum application process for the 2026 exam will start from July 10, 2025 to December 05, 2025
  • The fee for all category is ₹2,200, unless increased by the conducting authority
  • Candidates need to enter their personal and academic details while filling the form
  • The application form can be completed in a few simple steps
  • Candidates need to visit the official website of XLRI Jamshedpur.
  • While filling the form candidates need to pay the application fee as well as they need to upload the requisite documents.

XAT Syllabus

The XAT 2026 syllabus is designed to assess a broad range of skills across five key sections, making it one of India's most comprehensive MBA entrance exams. The XAT 2026 syllabus is available exclusively on its official website, detailing the comprehensive topics covered in the exam. XAT exam comprises various topics from Quantitative Ability, English Language & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and General Knowledge topics.

XAT Preparation

This exam has no age limits which is conducted online annually like CAT but with less time duration. The exam is divided into four sections:

  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
  • Verbal & Logical Ability
  • Decision Making & Analytical Reasoning
  • General Knowledge

Part 1.

  • Verbal and Logical Ability
  • Decision Making
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Part 2.

  • General Knowledge
  • Essay

Some of the preparation tips for the exam:

  • Make it a priority to get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night to keep your mind sharp and refreshed.
  • A well-structured routine is essential for XAT preparation. Consistency is the key to success, so follow a fixed study schedule.
  • Identify and prioritize the sections that require extra attention to improve your overall score.
  • Regularly solving mock tests will help improve your time management and build confidence for exam day.
  • Collect all necessary study materials in advance, including notes, reference books, mock papers, and formula sheets.

XAT Exam Highlights

XAT Exam Pattern 2026
Section No. of Questions Total Marks
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation 28 28
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning 26 26
Decision Making 21 21
General Knowledge 20 20
Total 95 95

Exam highlights:

  • Mode of Exam: XAT is conducted in online CBT mode at test centers located across 70+ major cities of India.
  • Medium of XAT Exam: The test is conducted only in English.
  • XAT Exam Duration: 180 minutes. Part 1 - 170 minutes, Part 2 - 10 minutes.
  • Number of Questions: 95 MCQs.
  • Number of Sections: Part 1 comprises 3 sections- Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation. Part 2 is General Knowledge.
  • XAT Marking Scheme: 1 mark awarded for every right answer and 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. No negative marking in GK.

XAT Ranking

XAMI Member Institutes
Institute Location
Loyola Institute of Business Administration Chennai
XLRI Xavier School of Management Jamshedpur
Xavier Institute of Social Service Ranchi
St. Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMR) Chennai
Xavier Institute of Management Jabalpur, MP
Xavier Institute of Management & Research Mumbai
Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship Bangalore
Xavier Business School (XBS), St .Xavier's University Kolkata
St. Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology Mangalore
Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier University Bhubaneswar
St. Joseph's Institute of Management Bangalore
Colleges accepting XAT
Institute Location
MICA Ahmedabad
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIM Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
S.P.Jain Mumbai
GIM Panaji
IIFM Bhopal
K J Somaiya Mumbai
Acharya IOM Bangalore
Amity Noida

XAT Counselling

Stages of Counselling: The counselling procedure has various stages. The detailed description of these stages are given below -

  • Firstly, students will have to register online and apply for the counselling process. Without registration they cannot participate in the selection round.
  • Students need to pay the registration fee (fee will vary according to the colleges/universities).
  • Second stage is to fill their choice and lock the same. It is to be noted that after the choice section is locked, the data cannot be altered
  • Third is the seat allotment round. Students will get seats according to their rank, preference of the course and availability of the seats. Candidates with good ranks will have the first choice to select colleges according to their interest.

FAQs

XAT stands for Xavier Aptitude Test, which is a national-level management entrance test.
The exam is conducted by XLRI – Xavier School of Management.
The registration process starts from July 10, 2025 - December 05, 2025.
  • MICA, Ahmedabad
  • S.P. Jain, Mumbai
  • XLRI, Jamshedpur
  • ITM, Navi Mumbai
  • Christ College, Bangalore
The application fees for XAT is ₹2,200.
There is no age limit.
Yes, XAT is more difficult than CAT. According to students and experts alike, the questions in XAT Quant, DI, and Verbal Ability are more difficult than those in CAT.
The XAT 2026 exam duration is 180 minutes (3 hours).
No, IIMs will not grant admission based on XAT 2026 exam scores.

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