XAT 2026: Registration (Ongoing), Exam Date (Jan 4), Mock Test, Syllabus, Pattern, Question Papers

Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is a common entrance exam conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes. XAT is conducted annually and nearly 1 lakh candidates appear in it every year. Apart from XLRI and 10 other XAMI member colleges, 250 participating B-schools accept XAT scores for admission to their post-graduate management programmes such as MBA, PGDM and Executive MBA. According to Shiksha, over 800 MBA colleges across India accept XAT score for admission.

Key Aspects of XAT exam:

• Candidates have to attempt 95 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.
• There will be no Essay Writing or subjective type questions in XAT 2026.
• XAT is a high difficulty level exam and requires long term preparation of atleast 6-9 months.
• Preparation for XAT without mock tests is incomplete. So, candidates must practice a good number of XAT mock tests of various difficulty levels.
• XAT cut offs for XLRI's PGDM-BM programme are usually around 95 percentile for male candidates and 92 percentile for female candidates.

Latest Updates:

• XAT 2026 official mock test dates announced, register by Sept 24
• XAT 2026 registration cum application started on July 10, apply now
• XAT 2026 registration started, what's new in XAT exam

XAT is a speed-based test where the candidate has to solve 95 questions in 180 minutes. It is designed to assess candidate's communication ability, business acumen and quantitative aptitude skills. Check key highlights of XAT 2026 exam in the table below:

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now

What's New in XAT 2026?

Check below a few recent changes in the XAT exam. 

• There will be no sectional time limit in XAT 2026
• Candidates can toggle between sections
• Number of XAT test cities is 109 this year
• Candidates can select 6 test cities in the XAT application form
• XAT application fee remains unchanged 

Candidates must ensure they meet the minimum eligibility criteria for XAT before applying. Otherwise, their candidature will be cancelled. Given below are the latest XAT eligibility criteria and academic requirments:

• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree of minimum three years duration or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised university.

• Students in their final year of bachelor's degree or awaiting their results are also eligible to appear for XAT.

• There is no minimum marks requirement in graduation criteria for XAT exam. Candidate should have passing marks in their bachelor's degree programme.
• Working professionals and candidates with professional degrees (CA/CS) can also appear in the exam.
• There is no age limit for XAT 2026. Fresh graduates as well as working professionals can appear for it. 

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now

Also Read: XAT Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Reservation Criteria, Work Experience

The XAT application form 2026 submission window is open till December 5, 2025. Candidates have to register at the official website and create an account to fill and submit the XAT form. Given below is the XAT 2026 registration and application process:

• Log on to XAT 2026 website xatonline.in
• Click on 'New Registration' and enter relevant details

• A unique XAT ID and registration link will be shared in the verified emai ID

• Click on the link to verify XAT registration

• Go to XAT 2026 homepage and click on ‘login’

• Enter email ID and password to open the application form

• Fill all the mandatory fields of the XAT 2026 application form

• Cross check the information before clicking on submit button

• Pay INR 2,200 as XAT 2026 application fee through credit/debit card, UPI or net banking

• For selecting XLRI as preferred college, candidates will have to pay INR 200 additionaly

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now

Candidates can select upto six cities in the XAT application form 2026. The XAT centre will be alloted to the candidate in the city selected as first preference. If a seat is not available at the test centre in the first city of preference, candidates will be allotted a centre in the next city chosen. The details of test centre will be mentioned in the XAT 2026 admit card only.

Check the list of test cities for XAT 2026

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XAT syllabus 2026 consists of all the important topics of Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. Decision Making is a unique section for which there is no syllabus so you can refer to previous years' question papers and sample test papers for preparation. Check below some key points about XAT 2026 syllabus:

• XAT Decision Making section will present scenarios drawn from both personal and professional lives. Candidates will be required to apply critical thinking, problem solving skills, and prioritization to make informed decisions
• XAT Verbal & Logical Ability section includes questions from Critical and Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, English Grammar, Vocabulary, Parajumbles, Cloze Test, etc. 
• In the XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section, the topics include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, etc.
• And in the GK section of XAT exam, the topics pertain to politics, culture, society, personalities, business, art & entertainment, sports, inventions, innovation, world, economy, science, technology, books, etc.

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now

Download: XAT Question Papers (PDFs)

XAT preparation needs at least six to nine months. Being one of the toughest MBA entrance exams, XAT requires dedicated time and effort. Consistency is the key in XAT preparation. The syllabus comprises four sections: Decision Making, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now

In XAT, it is important to pay equal attention to all four sections as sectional cut offs play an important role in selection to XLRI, Jamshedpur. So, divide your study hours among these sections equally. Gain conceptual clarity in each subject. Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses viz. the XAT syllabus 2026; then begin with strong areas. This will give you confidence in dealing with tough topics. Listed below are some key tips for making XAT 2026 exam preparation strategy:

• Get hold of XAT books and study material. These are available online and at coaching institutes.
• Join study groups online on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Telegram and WhatsApp.
• Develop a study plan which should include daily, weekly and monthly time table.
• Start with topics you are already familiar with and on which you have a good control.
• Keep two hours aside daily for reading, vocabulary building and revision of Maths formulae.
• After completing a topic or a concept, solve two-three problems based on it to know if you have completely understood it.
• Focus on completing XAT syllabus first and then move to solve XAT mock tests. Practice at least 25-30 mock tests for best performance.
• Analyse every XAT mock test result to understand the gaps to fill. 
• Focus on improvng speed and accuracy with the help of mock tests and online practice sessions.
• Ensure mental and physical well being in your XAT preparation journey to make the best out of it.

Also Read:

XAT 2026 preparation tips, strategy and expert guide

XAT 2026 essay writing topics - tips and preparation

To perform well in the XAT 2026, read the below listed articles containing XAT exam strategy and tips suggested by experts. Click on the links below to read:

XAT exam pattern was revised last year. Essay writing section was removed and number of questions in GK section were reduced to 20. Here are the sectional details as per the XAT 2026 exam pattern: 

Also Read: XAT 2025 exam analysis

XAT 2026 Registrations Open- Register Now