Xavier Aptitude Test

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 is a national-level management entrance exam scheduled for 4th January 2026. The registration process will likely start from 15th July 2025 and end by 10th December 2025. The exam will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode and consists of two parts. Part 1 includes sections on Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Interpretation. Part 2 is dedicated to General Knowledge.

Candidates will have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the exam, which includes 95 multiple-choice questions. XAT is widely accepted by over 1000 MBA institutes across India, including top colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University, MICA Ahmedabad, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, and FORE School of Management.

The XAT 2026 results are expected to be announced by the third week of January 2026. Qualifying candidates can apply to various prestigious MBA programs, making XAT a crucial exam for aspiring management students.

XAT 2026 Exam Dates

The XAT 2026 exam will be held in January 2026 for admission to top MBA colleges. It is important for students to know the key dates related to the exam. These include the registration start and end dates, admit card release, exam day, answer key, result, and cutoff. Staying updated with these dates helps with better planning for the exam.

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

Before applying for the XAT 2026 exam, students must verify that they meet the eligibility criteria. These include education, age, and other qualifications. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree or in their final year can apply. There is no age limit or minimum marks required. Even students with CA, CS, or ICWA qualifications are eligible to appear for the exam.

XAT 2026 Application Process

The XAT 2026 application will be open from 15th July to 10th December 2025. Candidates must apply online by registering, filling the form, uploading documents, and paying the fee. The following steps explain the application process clearly.

Steps to Apply for XAT 2026:

• Visit the official website xatonline.in and register with name and email.
• Receive a unique XAT ID via email and complete the registration.
• Log in using email ID and password.
• Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details.
• Upload the required documents.
• Choose up to 6 test cities and preferred XLRI programs.
• Pay the application fee online.
• Submit the form and download the confirmation page.

XAT 2026 Registration Fee

The fee for registering for XAT 2026 varies based on the candidate type. General registration costs INR 2,200. If applying for an XLRI program, an extra INR 200 is added. NRI and foreign candidates have to pay INR 5,000 as the registration fee.

XAT 2026 Syllabus

The XAT 2026 syllabus comprises various sections to assess different skills. It covers Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Decision-Making, and General Knowledge. Each section has specific topics and a predetermined number of questions to assess candidates thoroughly.

XAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The XAT 2026 exam is conducted online and comprises a total of 95 questions. It tests skills in Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Knowledge. The exam lasts 3 hours, with a clear marking scheme for correct, incorrect, and unattempted answers.

XAT 2026 Preparation Tips

Preparing well for XAT 2026 can improve the chances of scoring high and getting admission into top MBA colleges like XLRI. Focus on understanding the exam pattern, practising regularly, and managing time effectively. Here are six simple and professional tips to help candidates prepare better for XAT 2026.

• Understand the XAT 2026 syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly to plan your study effectively.
• Create a study schedule that covers all sections, including Verbal Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability.
• Practice previous year XAT question papers to get familiar with the types of questions asked.
• Take regular mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and time management skills for XAT 2026.
• Focus on weak areas by revising important concepts and practising more questions from those topics.
• Stay updated with current affairs for the General Knowledge section of XAT 2026 by reading newspapers and magazines regularly.

XAT 2026 Admit Card

The XAT Admit Card 2026 is expected to be released on December 20, 2025. Candidates can download it from the official website xatonline.in. Here are easy steps to download the admit card.

How to Download XAT 2026 Admit Card?

• Visit xatonline.in and log in.
• Click on the “Download admit card” link.
• Enter your ID and password or date of birth.
• Click to view the admit card.
• Download and print at least two copies of the admit card.

XAT 2026 Answer Key

The provisional answer key for XAT 2026 will be released in the third week of January 2026. Candidates can use it to check their scores and raise objections if needed.

Steps to download the answer key:

• Visit xatonline.in and click on "answer key and objection."
• Log in with ID and password.
• Click on "answer key and question paper."
• Download the answer key PDF.

If there is any objection, upload a supporting document. XLRI will review it again.

XAT 2026 Result

The XAT Result 2026 is expected in the fourth week of January 2026. Candidates can download their scorecards from the official XAT website. The scorecard will show details like name, date of birth, gender, XAT ID, exam date, validity (1 year), section scores, percentiles, and overall marks..

How to Download XAT 2025 Result?

• Visit 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

The XAT Cutoff 2026 will differ for each college. For instance, XLRI Jamshedpur’s cutoff is expected to be around 94 to 95, XIM University’s cutoff may range between 91 and 92, and LIBA Chennai’s cutoff is likely to be between 80 and 82. Candidates can refer to the table below to view the expected cutoff scores for various institutions.

XAT 2026 Top Accepting Colleges

Over 1000 MBA institutes across India will accept XAT 2026 scores. However, after clearing the XAT exam, candidates must participate in personal interviews and group discussions to gain admission into top MBA colleges. The following list highlights some of the leading MBA institutes that 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