Updated on 01 Oct 2026
By Kartikay Sharma, Content Creator
Check the below points for latest XAT exam 2027 updates:
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is an entrance test conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission into its MBA in Business Management (BM) and MBA in Human Resource Management (HRM) courses. XAT score is also recognised by more than 150 participating institutions and almost 700 other B-schools across India. The admission process generally includes Essay Writing and Personal Interview rounds for shortlisted candidates. XLRI admission via XAT exam based upon the cut-offs decided by the XLRI admission committee. Candidates who meet the required XAT cut-off are shortlisted for the subsequent Essay Writing and Personal Interview rounds.
XAT is a MBA entrance exam that takes place at the national level by XLRI Jamshedpur every year. This exam is conducted online and the scores of this exam are accepted by many business schools in India. XAT 2027 registration is ongoing, while application correction and mock test are the next upcoming events. Below is a highlight of the most important details for XAT 2027:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2027 |
| Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Level | National-level MBA Entrance Exam |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| XAT 2027 Exam Date | January 3, 2027 |
| Exam Timing | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Medium | English |
| Purpose | Admission to MBA/PGDM programmes |
| Current Status | XAT 2027 registration ongoing |
| Registration Start Date | July 15, 2026 |
| Registration Last Date | December 6, 2026 |
| Admit Card Date | December 20, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Accepted By | 250+ B-schools |
| Test Cities | 100+ cities across India |
XAMI Institutes are member institutes of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI), for which XLRI organizes the XAT test. XAMI has 12 member institutes, among which are some renowned institutes like XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, and XIME.
XAT Associate Member Institutions
XAT Associate Member Institutes are separate management institutes who take XAT scores for admitting candidates to their MBA/PGDM courses, but are not part of XAMI. There are 134 XAT Associate Member Institutes. Some of the prominent institutes are KIIT School of Management, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, BIMTECH, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI, IRMA, and MICA.
XAT 2027 exam dates have been released, and the registration process is now ongoing. Students are advised to remain updated on the XAT 2027 registration, test series, form correction, admit card, test date, response sheet, answer key, and score card. The table below provides the complete XAT 2027 exam schedule, including tentative dates.
| XAT 2027 Events | Dates/Timeline |
| XAT 2027 Mock Test 1 | August 30, 2026 |
| XAT 2027 Mock Test 2 | September 30 – October 1, 2026 |
| XAT 2027 Registration | July 15 – December 6, 2026 |
| XAT 2027 Form Correction | October 2026 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Mock Test 2 | October 2026 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Mock Test 3 | November 2026 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Admit Card | December 20, 2026 |
| XAT 2027 Exam Date | January 3, 2027 |
| XAT 2027 Response Sheet | January 2027 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Answer Key | January 2027 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Result | January 2027 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Cutoff Release | January 2027 (Tentative) |
XAT 2027 eligibility criteria require candidates to have a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised university. Unlike many other MBA entrance tests, XAT does not have any minimum percentage and age criteria for the candidates. Students from any stream, along with eligible professionals, can apply for XAT exam.
| Eligibility Parameter | XAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised university |
| Minimum Marks | No minimum percentage requirement; candidates must have passed their bachelor's degree |
| Age Limit | No age limit |
| Final-Year Students | Eligible to apply, subject to fulfilling the required graduation conditions |
| Working Professionals | Eligible if they meet the prescribed educational qualification |
| CA/CS Candidates | Candidates with recognised professional qualifications equivalent to a bachelor's degree may apply |
| NRI/Foreign/PIO/OCI Candidates | Candidates generally require a bachelor's degree of at least three years' duration and may apply to XLRI through GMAT/GRE, as applicable |
XAT 2027 registration process is done online for students who want admission into MBA and PGDM courses based on the XAT score. XAT 2027 application form and registration can be done on the official XAT site during the given period. XAT 2027 registration period begins from July 15, 2026 to December 6, 2026.
XAT 2027 application fee can be paid online using a debit card, credit card or net banking. The application fee is the same for candidates across categories.
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| XAT Application Fee | INR 2,300 |
| XLRI, Jamshedpur Application Fee | INR 200 |
Candidates need to upload the following documents while filling out the XAT 2027 application form:
The uploaded documents should be clear and meet the prescribed size and format requirements to avoid issues during application submission.
XAT 2027 application form can be accessed from the website, xatonline.in. The candidates need to first register themselves and then fill out the application form, putting in all their details. Check below step-by-step XAT application process:
Step 1: Visit the official XAT 2027 website, xatonline.in.
Step 2: Click on ‘New Registration’ and enter the required details.
Step 3: After registration, a unique XAT ID and verification link will be sent to the registered email ID.
Step 4: Open the verification link to confirm the registration.
Step 5: Visit the XAT 2027 homepage and click on ‘Login’.
Step 6: Enter the registered email ID and password to access the application form.
Step 7: Fill in all the required details in the XAT 2027 application form.
Step 8: Review all the information carefully before submitting the form.
Step 9: Pay the applicable XAT 2027 application fee through the available online payment options.
Candidates have the option of choosing up to six test cities during the process of completing the XAT 2027 application form. The center allotment is usually done considering the choice of cities and availability of seats for the same. In case there is no center allotted in the choice of the first city, the center allotment can be made from any other chosen cities.
After the XAT 2027 registration process is complete, XLRI will have a 2-day period in which the candidate will be able to correct the application form. In this 2-day period, the candidates will be able to make corrections on some particular fields such as their test cities preference, photograph, and signature. This correction period is free of cost, and candidates may make changes any number of times in the corrected application form.
XAT 2027 syllabus is divided into four primary categories: VALR (Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning), DM (Decision Making), QA & DI (Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation), and GK (General Knowledge). It is important for the candidates to know the topics in each of these sections in order to prepare well.
| XAT Syllabus Section | Key Topics/Details |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) | Reading Comprehension, poems, grammar, vocabulary, critical reasoning and paragraph-based questions |
| Decision Making (DM) | Caselets and passages based on business, ethical and situational scenarios |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, number systems and data analysis |
| General Knowledge (GK) | Static GK and current affairs related to business, economy, politics, awards and other important events |
Decision Making section is a distinctive part of the XAT exam. It evaluate the skills of the candidate in comprehending situations and choosing the right way out after analyzing the situation. Some of the significant topics are:
Sample Question: XAT Decision Making
Question: A company needs to choose a vendor for a project. Four vendors have submitted their offers. The company wants to consider cost, experience, quality and delivery time.
What is the best way to select the vendor?
Options:
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1 and 4
Answer: C. 3 only
This question tests the candidate's ability to analyse a situation and make a balanced decision.
VALR section evaluates the candidate’s proficiency in language, their reading and reasoning capacity. Important subjects covered in this segment are:
Example: Choose the sentence that best completes a paragraph about the impact of technology on education.
A. Technology has completely replaced teachers.
B. Digital tools can support learning when used effectively.
C. Students no longer need textbooks.
D. Online classes are always better than classroom learning.
Answer: B. Digital tools can support learning when used effectively.
QA & DI section includes mathematical concepts and data interpretation. Candidates should focus on:
Example: A shop sells 200 products in January and 250 products in February. What is the percentage increase in sales?
A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 35%
Answer: B. 25%
XAT GK Syllabus
GK comprises static General Knowledge and current affairs. Some important topics to be covered are:
Current Affairs
Example: Which organisation conducts the XAT exam?
A. IIM Ahmedabad
B. NTA
C. XLRI Jamshedpur
D. AICTE
Answer: C. XLRI Jamshedpur
XAT exam pattern 2027 would remain unchanged from the previous year, which has four different sections like Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. Essay Writing section has been discontinued and the number of GK questions has been decreased. Future updates on any other changes would be available only after the XAT Mock Test is officially released.
The XAT question paper consists of 95 questions carrying 95 marks. The section-wise distribution is given below:
| XAT Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Making | 21 | 21 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 26 |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | 28 |
| General Knowledge | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 95 | 95 |
Candidates should understand the XAT 2027 marking scheme before appearing for the exam, as incorrect answers attract negative marks.
| XAT Marking Scheme | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.25 |
| Unanswered Question | 0 |
| More than 8 Unanswered Questions | -0.10 |
Example: If a candidate answers 50 questions correctly and 10 incorrectly, the raw score will be 50 - 2.50 = 47.50 marks. If the candidate also leaves more than eight questions unanswered, an additional 0.10 marks may be deducted as per the marking rules.
Is GK Counted in XAT Percentile?
GK section is not taken into account while calculating the XAT percentile. This percentile is determined based on the marks scored in decision making, VALR, and QA & DI. But the marks scored in GK can be taken into consideration by various institutes for admission interviews.
On-Screen Calculator and Section Switching
An on-screen calculator is available to candidates during the XAT exam. Candidates are also provided with rough sheets for calculations. Using mental calculations where possible can help save time during the exam.
The XAT question paper is divided into two parts, and candidates can switch between sections within the respective part:
XAT is known to be one of the tough exams for entrance into the MBA programs in India due to the unique feature of decision-making and types of questions that are asked in VALR and QA & DI. But, there are other exams like CAT, CMAT, NMAT and MAT which vary in terms of structure, time limit, number of questions and scoring method. The table below provides a quick comparison.
| Parameter | XAT | CAT | CMAT | NMAT | MAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | XLRI | IIMs | NTA | GMAC | AIMA |
| Exam Mode | CBT | CBT | CBT | CBT | CBT & PBT |
| Total Questions | 95 | 68 | 100 | 108 | 150 |
| Total Marks/Score | 95 | 204 | 400 | Scaled score: 36–360 | Scaled score: 200–800 |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes | 120 minutes | 180 minutes | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Number of Sections | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Main Sections | VALR, Decision Making, QA & DI, General Knowledge | VARC, DILR, Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning | Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Economic & Business Environment |
XAT 2027 preparation will demand a planned approach to studying, practice, and revision. As the test comprises four parts, like Decision Making, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation and General Knowledge, a candidate must devote enough time to all of these subjects. Check below the key tips for XAT 2027 preparation:
Check below XAT 2027 four-month strategy:
| Preparation Phase | Main Focus | How to Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 Months | Syllabus coverage and practice | Study for around 6–8 hours daily. Divide time between concepts and practice. Identify and note down weak areas. |
| Next 1.5 Months | Mock tests and sample papers | Take full-length and sectional mock tests regularly. Analyse your performance and work on questions or topics where you make mistakes. |
| Last 15 Days | Revision | Revise important concepts, formulas and previously attempted questions. Prepare a strategy for selecting questions during the exam. |
| Final Days | Final practice | Take a few final mock tests, revise key topics and practise previous XAT question papers. Avoid starting completely new topics. |
Decision Making is one of the unique features of XAT exam. This section consists of caselets and passages on topics related to business, ethics, and real life situations. Candidates have to analyze the passage and choose the best possible solution for the problem.
XAT question paper pattern has not changed much in the past years. Candidates will be able to learn about the level of difficulty of questions and the trend by referring to the past year question papers. The following is the XAT paper analysis for the last three years.
| XAT Exam Year | Paper Analysis in Brief |
|---|---|
| XAT 2026 | The overall difficulty level was moderate, with some challenging questions in the Decision Making section. VALR was slightly tougher than the previous year. QA had relatively easier questions, while the Data Interpretation portion was comparatively difficult. |
| XAT 2025 | The paper was of moderate difficulty. Decision Making questions were somewhat lengthy but manageable. Quantitative Aptitude was moderately difficult, while VALR and GK were relatively easy. No major surprises were reported in the paper. |
| XAT 2024 | The QA & DI section was relatively difficult, while Decision Making was largely manageable. The DM section included seven sets with three questions each. VALR had 26 questions, including 13 based on Reading Comprehension. |
XAT 2027 admit card will be released by XLRI, Jamshedpur through the official website of XAT, xatonline.in. Candidates can get the admit card with the help of their login IDs. XAT 2027 Admit Card will be issued on December 20, 2026. XAT admit card will have important information related to the examination center, time, etc. Check the steps below to download the XAT exam admit card 2026:
Candidates appearing for XAT 2027 should follow the instructions mentioned on their admit card and reach the allotted test centre on time.
Along with a printed copy of the XAT 2027 admit card, candidates should carry a valid photo ID for verification. Acceptable ID proofs may include:
XAT 2027 results will most likely be announced in the month of January 2027 by XLRI, Jamshedpur through its official website xatonline.in. The candidates are advised to check their XAT scorecard from their login IDs provided by the organization. XAT scores are used by XLRI and other institutions to shortlist the applicants. Check below process to check XAT result 2027:
XAT 2027 scorecard is valid for the relevant admission year. Candidates should download and save their scorecard after the result is released, as the download link may be available for a limited period.
As XAT exam is held in one shift only, there is no need for normalising scores by shifts. The percentile of the XAT is determined from the performance of a candidate as well as his/her raw score. Below is the indicative percentile chart for the XAT exam score.
| XAT Raw Score | XAT Percentile |
|---|---|
| 38.7 | 99.17 |
| 34.7 | 97.67 |
| 33.8 | 97.11 |
| 33.5 | 96.89 |
| 32.4 | 96.03 |
| 29.4 | 92.75 |
| 27.1 | 89.24 |
| 20.5 | 73.15 |
XAT 2027 cut-off for XLRI and other participating institutions would be declared once the XAT 2027 results are out. The cut off for programs and categories of XLRI would be determined by the institute itself and cut offs for admissions in other participating institutes shall be determined by themselves.
The following table shows the XAT 2026 cut-offs for XLRI's MBA Business Management (BM) programme:
| Category | Overall | QADI | VALR | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Male | 94 | 85 | 82 | 82 |
| Engineering Female | 88 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
| Engineering Transgender | 88 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
| Non-Engineering Male | 94 | 85 | 82 | 82 |
| Non-Engineering Female | 88 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
| Non-Engineering Transgender | 88 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
XAT 2026 cut-offs for XLRI's MBA Human Resource Management (HRM) programme are given below:
| Category | Overall | QADI | VALR | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Male | 92 | 80 | 87 | 85 |
| Engineering Female | 87 | 70 | 82 | 78 |
| Engineering Transgender | 87 | 70 | 82 | 78 |
| Non-Engineering Male | 90 | 73 | 87 | 85 |
| Non-Engineering Female | 84 | 65 | 82 | 78 |
| Non-Engineering Transgender | 84 | 65 | 82 | 78 |
XAT participating institutes determine their own cut-offs for shortlisting candidates for the subsequent admission process. The table below provides estimated XAT cut-off ranges for some popular MBA colleges.
| XAT College | Estimated XAT Score | Estimated XAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur | 35.5–38.5 | 92–94 |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 30.5–32.5 | 90–93 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 32.5–34.5 | 93.5–95 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 30.5–32 | 90–92 |
| GIM Goa | 27.5–30.5 | 85–90 |
| TAPMI Manipal | 26–27.5 | 80–85 |
| IRMA Anand | 26–27.5 | 80–85 |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 26–27.5 | 80–85 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | 26–27.5 | 80–85 |
| LIBA Chennai | 26–27.5 | 80–85 |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | 27.5–30.5 | 85–90 |
Note: The above college-wise cut-offs are indicative and may vary depending on the institute, programme, category and admission year.
XAT score is accepted by a large number of MBA colleges in India for admission to MBA and PGDM programmes. These institutes include XAMI member institutes, XAT Associate Member Institutions and other B-schools that use XAT scores to shortlist candidates for their management programmes.
| S. No. | XAMI Member Institute |
|---|---|
| 1 | Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai |
| 2 | Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago |
| 3 | St. Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMR), Mumbai |
| 4 | St. Joseph's Institute of Management, Bengaluru |
| 5 | St. Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology (AIMIT), Mangalore |
| 6 | Xavier Business School (XBS), St. Xavier's University, Kolkata |
| 7 | Xavier Institute of Management, XIM University |
| 8 | Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bengaluru |
| 9 | Xavier Institute of Management & Research (XIMR), Mumbai |
| 10 | Xavier Institute of Development Action and Sciences (XIDAS), Jabalpur |
| 11 | XLRI Xavier School of Management, Ranchi |
| 12 | Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi |
Yes, candidates generally need to apply separately to individual XAMI member institutes. The XAT application form does not serve as a common application for all XAMI institutes. Candidates should check the respective institute's admission process, application fee and deadlines and submit separate applications wherever required.
XAT 2027 selection process will start following the announcement of the XAT results. XLRI will release cut-off for each category and programme for the selected candidates. Students who get through the cut-off of XAT will qualify for further rounds of admission, which include PI and other evaluation procedures. Students selected by XLRI will have to undergo admission procedures and choose their preferred city of interview.
The XLRI admission process considers the candidate's XAT performance along with other aspects of their profile. The key parameters are given below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| XAT Score | Shortlisting is based on programme-wise and category-wise XAT cut-offs |
| Personal Interview | An important component of the final selection process |
| Essay Writing | May be considered as part of the assessment process, as applicable |
| Academic Scores | Academic performance is considered while evaluating the candidate's profile |
| Work Experience | Relevant work experience can strengthen the candidate's overall profile |
| Overall Profile | Final admission considers the candidate's performance across the applicable selection parameters |
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