XAT 2026 Exam Date (Jan 4), Registration (Ongoing), Application Form, Exam Pattern, Admit Card, Syllabus, Result, Counselling

Latest Updates

• The registration for XAT Exam would close on December 5, 2025
• The admit card for XAT Exam will be released on 20 December 2025
• The exam would be conducted on 4th January, 2026
• The result will be announced on 31st January, 2026

The XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) 2026 will be conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on January 4, 2026 (Sunday). The XAT 2026 registration process has already begun on July 10, 2025, and will continue until December 5, 2025.. For XAT 2026, the exam pattern, eligibility criteria, and marking scheme remain the same as the previous year, with the test being held in computer-based mode across 70+ cities in India.

The XAT Exam will be conducted in 70+ cities online (computer-based mode). The XAT exam is a national-level examination that facilitates students with the options of securing an management seat in over 800 B-schools in India. The XAT exam pattern for 2026 is similar to that of other Management exams like CAT, NMAT, etc. It consists of two parts: Part 1, an aptitude test with three sections (Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation), and Part 2, a General Knowledge section, with no negative marking for the latter. For an exact idea of the XAT Exam Syllabus students are advised to check XAT Exam Previous Year Papers and Mock Tests.

XAT Exam: Quick Highlights

The table below shows a quick overview of the XAT Exam 2026.

What is the XAT Exam?

The Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level computer based examination for MBA and PGDM programs. The exams make students eligible to secure their seat in over 800 management colleges across India.  The XAT Exam Syllabus 2026 consists of two parts: Part 1, an aptitude test with three sections (Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation), and Part 2, a General Knowledge section, from both the parts a total of 95 questions are asked, which has to answered in 180 minutes. Approximately 80,000 to 1,00,000 students appear for XAT every year. 

XAT 2026: Exam Schedule 

The XAT Exam 2026 will be held on the first Sunday January 2026, as per the schedule. The XAT 2026 Registration is expected to begin in July 2026 this year. Students are advised to keep a regular check on the official website for latest updates regarding XAT 2026 Exam Notification.

Eligibility Criteria

The table below shows the XAT 2026 Exam Eligibility.

XAT 2026: Exam Pattern

XAT 2026 syllabus will include two parts: Part 1, an aptitude test with three sections (Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation), and Part 2, a General Knowledge section. The XAT Exam paper 2026 will include 95 questions for 95 marks for a total duration of 180 minutes (3 hours). The table below shows a detailed overview of the XAT Exam 2026.

XAT Exam Registration 2026

Candidates willing to appear for the XAT 2026 will have to fill the application form and submit all the required documents within the time frame. The step-by-step XAT Exam 2026 registration process is explained below:

1. Visit Official Website: Go to https://xatonline.in.

2. Click on "Register": Start by creating a new account using your email ID and phone number.

3. Fill Application Form: Log in and enter personal, academic, and work details.

4. Upload Documents: Upload your photo and signature as per the given format.

5. Select Programs: Choose XLRI programs or other institutes accepting XAT (optional).

6. Pay Fees: Pay the application fee online through net banking, card, or UPI.

7. Submit Form: Review all details and submit the form.

8. Save Confirmation: Download or take a screenshot of the confirmation page.

XAT 2026 Registration Fee

The table below shows the XAT registration fees for the year 2026.

XAT 2026 Preparation Tips

To get a decent score in this XAT 2026 exam, preparing with a personalized plan is very important. From understanding the syllabus to solving mock tests, preparation for the XAT exam requires a special focused strategy. Some of the key expert curated tips for the XAT 2026 exam preparation are:

1. Understand the Exam Pattern: Know all sections—Decision Making, Verbal Ability, Quant, GK, and Essay (for XLRI).

2. Focus on Decision Making: Practice ethical and logical scenarios—unique to XAT. No formulas, just reasoning.

3. Read Daily: Improve comprehension and vocabulary by reading editorials, articles, and opinion pieces.

4. Focus on Math Basics: Revise arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Focus on accuracy.

5. Practice GK Regularly: Stay updated with current affairs and static GK—especially business and economy.

6. Attempt XAT Exam Mock Tests Weekly: Take full-length mock tests and analyze your weak areas.

7. Manage Time Wisely: Learn to switch between sections smartly; don’t waste time on one question.

XAT Exam Best Books

XAT 2026 Exam Result

The XAT 2026 results will be declared after the commencement of the XAT 2026 Exam and is expected to be declared in February 2026. The scores in XAT results will be considered for the XAT colleges for admission purposes. To access and download the XAT scorecard 2026, the candidates will have to log in using their application ID and password on the XAT 2026 Official Website. Candidates are advised to keep a check on the official website for latest updates regarding XAT 2026 Exam. The detailed process to download the XAT result is shown below.

• Go to the official website of XAT 2026
• Click on 'Download XAT 2026 scorecard'
• Enter XAT ID and password
• Enter the security text
• Click on candidate scorecard and download it

XAT Colleges 2026

The table below shows the list of colleges participating in the XAT Exam.

XAT Counselling Process

After the XAT Results are announced, the participating B-schools initiate the XAT counselling process, by shortlisting candidates based on their XAT Scores. Furthermore, the XAT counselling process includes Group Discussions, and Personal Interviews. A detailed step-by-step guide to the counselling process is shown below.

1. Result Declaration: XLRI announces XAT results and releases scorecards online.

2. Shortlisting by Institutes: Participating institutes shortlist candidates based on XAT scores and their individual cut-offs.

3. Interview Call: Shortlisted candidates are invited for GD-PI-WAT rounds (Group Discussion, Personal Interview, and Written Ability Test).

4. Final Selection: Institutes evaluate overall performance – XAT score, academic record, work experience, and interview performance.

5. Admission Offer: Selected candidates receive admission offers via email or official portals.

6. Document Verification: Candidates must verify documents and pay fees to confirm admission. 

The table below shows some of the key dates concerning the XAT Exam 2026.

The XAT Entrance exam syllabus includes a total of 2 parts. The first part consists of Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, while the second part consists of General Knowledge. A brief understanding of the XAT syllabus helps students to get familiar with the exam pattern and difficulty. Below is the XAT EXAM section-wise syllabus and important topics.

XAT 2026 Verbal and Logical Ability Syllabus

The XAT Exam Verbal and Logical Ability important Topics are shown in the table below.

XAT 2026 Decision Making  Syllabus

The XAT Exam Decision Making important topics are listed below in the table.

XAT 2026 Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Syllabus

The XAT Exam Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation important topics are listed below in table.

XAT 2026 General Knowledge Syllabus

The XAT Exam General Knowledge important topics are listed below in table.

XAT previous year papers are available to download. The questions asked in the XAT previous year paper are from logical reasoning, quantitative skills, and language skills. Students may download the XAT Exam Previous Year Question papers listed below.

The XAT Exam cutoff 2026 will be the minimum score required for admission to XLRI and various other B-Schools. The table below shows XAT previous year Cutoff.

FAQs

Ques. What is the XAT exam given for?

Ans. The XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur, primarily for admission to MBA/PGDM programs at XLRI and other participating B-schools across India. 

Ques. Do XLRI accept cat scores?

Ans. No, XLRI Jamshedpur primarily uses the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) for admissions, and it does not accept CAT scores for its PGDM programs. 

Ques. Is XAT accepted in IIM?

Ans. No, XAT score is not considered for admissions in IIMs.

Ques. Is GK counted in XAT?

Ans. The XAT GK section is scored but plays no role in your percentile.

Ques. What is the syllabus of XAT?

Ans. The XAT 2026 exam syllabus includes Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.

Ques. Is grammar asked in XAT?

Ans. The Language section of the XAT exam includes Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc.