XAT 2026: Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation, Question Paper, Mock Test, Cut Offs, Top Colleges

If you score above 85 percentile in XAT you may get selected for admission to top tier 1 and tier 2 MBA colleges such as XIMB-Bhubaneswar, SPJIMR-Mumbai, IMT-Ghaziabad, GIM-Goa, TAPMI-Manipal, IRMA-Anand, MICA-Ahmedabad, Great Lakes Institute of Management, LIBA-Chennai, KJ Somaiya-Mumbai, Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad, Institute of Finance and International Management, Bangalore, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Amity Business School, Noida, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, Xavier Institute of Social Services, Ranchi.

The XAT cut offs of the abovementioned colleges fall in the range of 85 to 95 percentile. However, in different admission years, the cut offs could be different. You should check the XAT cut offs for these colleges individually to have a better understanding of admission process for that year.

XLRI - Xavier School of Management provides various PGDM courses to students across Business Management and various other streams. XLRI admission to PGDM BM and HRM is based on XAT scores. Candiadtes seeking admission to XLRI Jamshedpur must meet both the overall and sectional cutoffs in order to be eligible for further PI round. During XLRI 2024 admission, the XAT 2024 cut off for PGDM BM for male candidates was 96 percentile and for female candidates was 91 percentile. For PGDM HRM, the XAT cut off for male candidates was 95 percentile and for female candidates, it was 90 percentile. Therefore, considering the preious years' cutoff, the lowest percetile to get into XLRI for BM and HRM courses ranges between 90 and 96 percetile for the students belonging to the General AI quota. 

XAT 2026 registration process is expected to begin in the second week of July 2025. Official announcement of commencement of XAT registration process 2026 will be made by XLRI in newspapers and its website. Interested candidates will have to register for XAT 2026 by creating a login ID at xatonline.in website. The XAT application fee will be INR 2200. Candidates will have to pay the fee to submit the XAT application form.

For the General AI category students, the Manipal University XAT cutoff 2023 was 85 percentile for admission to the MBA in Banking and Financial Services, MBA in Human Resources Management, MBA in Marketing, and MBA in International Business courses. For Master of Business Administration (MBA), the XAT cutoff percentile was 80. The University offers MBA admission via its affiliated college called TA Pai Management Institute.  

Both BULMIM and BIMTECH are reputed management colleges in India. BULMIM (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Usha & Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management) is located in New Delhi, and BIMTECH (Birla Institute of Management Technology) is located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Since you have scored 86 percentile in XAT you have a decent chance of getting admission in both colleges. However, the final selection will depend on various factors such as your preference of location, course curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, and placement opportunities. Here is a brief comparison of BULMIM and BIMTECH based on various parameters: Ranking: Both colleges are well-ranked and reputed. BIMTECH is consistently ranked among the top 50 management colleges in India, while BULMIM is ranked among the top 100. Course Curriculum: Both colleges offer a two-year full-time PGDM programme with a similar course curriculum. However, BIMTECH offers a wide range of specializations such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, and International Business, whereas BULMIM offers only two specializations - Marketing and Finance. Faculty: Both colleges have a team of experienced faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. Infrastructure: BIMTECH has a sprawling campus spread over 7.5 acres with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a well-stocked library, computer labs, auditorium, and sports facilities. BULMIM also has a decent infrastructure with a library, computer labs, and a seminar hall. Placements: Both colleges have a good placement record with reputed companies visiting the campus for recruitment. However, BIMTECH has a better placement record and a higher average package as compared to BULMIM. Based on the above comparison, BIMTECH seems to be a better option than BULMIM. However, it is always advisable to visit the campus, interact with the faculty and students, and conduct thorough research before making a final decision.

XLRI - Xavier School of Management provides various PG and other courses to students across Business Management and various other streams. XLRI is one of the top B-schools in India, so competition is pretty fierce. Typically, they look for candidates with higher percentiles like above 95. The table below shows the general cutoff for PGDM ib Business management and Human Resource Management for the current and previous years.

PGDM in Business Management - XLRI Jamshedpur: XAT percentile Cutoff (General-All India)

PGDM in Human Resource Management - XLRI Jamshedpur: XAT percentile Cutoff (General-All India)

Every candidate is informed by XLRI Jamshedpur about their selection via email. The interview round is held in February-March and the offer letter are sent to selected candidates in April-May. Those who would not receive the confirmation letter, may consider that they are not selected for admission. Candidates must keep a check on their emails. They must keep checking spam folders too. It is also very important use the correct and fully functional email ID for XAT registration as that is the main contact point for communication from the institute.

The admission authorities will consider both sectional and overall XAT score while shortlisting candidates for group discussion and personal interview round of XLRI admission. Candidates must perform well in all the sections of XAT exam as well as in the for group discussion and personal interview to be selected for admission.

Candidates planning to take admission to XLRI Jamshedpur need not fill a separate form. The XAT application form 2025 will include a field in which the candidates have to select XLRI course in which they want to take admission.

However, candidates can select only XLRI Jamshedpur as a preferred college in the XAT application form. There is no option of selecting other XAT accepting colleges in the application form. For XAMI member institutes or other MBA colleges accepting XAT score for admission, you will be required to register separately on their respective official websites when the applications open. Most of the XAMI institutes start MBA application process after XAT result declaration. However, keep a check on the admission schedule of your target college, so that you don’t miss the application deadline.

Candidates can apply for XLRI Delhi's Business Management programme on the official website by selecting the course and campus option while filling the XAT application form which is released in the first week of August every year. If they do not mention XLRI Delhi has their preferred exam in the XAT application form, they will not be eligible for admission to the institute. Candidates must remember that there is no separate application form for XLRI PGDM programmes, so they need to make the selection of institute in the XAT application form only. There is no option to edit the field in the form later so candidates must mention the institute in the XAT application form. There is no provision of filling the admission form after the exam or after result announcement.

Yes, XAT is slightly tougher for candidates with non-Engineering background as the Quantitative Aptitude section is of higher difficulty level. However, they can crack it if they work on the fundamentals of Math and practice questions of all difficulty levels. It will take time but they will be able to crack XAT's quant section if they dedicate extra hours to it. Aspirants can find XAT study material online in various online study groups. Students’ groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. share study material with each other. One can also download MBA exam preparation apps to get relevant and useful study material.

The good part about XAT is that, it has different cut offs for candidates belonging to different academic backgrounds. As part of its commitment to academic diversity, the institute has lower cut offs for candidates from non-engineering background than candidates from engineering background.

Xavier Aptitude Test is a very popular Master of Business Administration entrance exam as it is a gateway to about 800 Business-schools in India. About 95,000 students appear for Xavier Aptitude Test every year. Students from diverse fields and academic backgrounds appear for Xavier Aptitude Test to pursue Master of Business Administration courses at top B-Schools in India. In Xavier Aptitude Test 2023, about 98,000 students registered for the Xavier Aptitude Test exam. In XAT 2024, about 1.35 lakh applied. For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Xavier Aptitude Test exam page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam). I hope this will help you.

XLRI Jamshedpur offers various scholarships to meritorious and economically backward candidates. A list of the scholarships offered for the final year candidates is listed below:

1. T Thomas
2. Pirojsha Godrej
3. Alumni Scholarship
4. Aditya Birla Scholarship
5. Capital First Scholarship
6. Geeta Saxena Memorial
7. XLRI Diamond Jubilee (Juniors)
8. XLRI Diamond Jubilee (Seniors)
9. Vasantha Sankaran Scholarship
10. Kalyan Ganguly XEF Scholarship
11. Joseph M Sciortino (for ST Students)
12. OP Jindal Engineering & Management
13. Government of India for (ST) Students
14. Naveen Jain & Distinguished Alumni Award

For more information, you may visit the Shiksha XLRI Jamshedpur page. (https://www.shiksha.com/college/xlri-xavier-school-of-management-Jamshedpur-28564). I hope this will help you.

XAT is conducted on the first Sunday of every January so it can be XAT 2026 exam date is likely to be January 4, 2026 (if the trend doesn't change). Official announcement will be made by XLRI Jamshedpur in the second week of July 2025. The exam will be held in a single shift and the duration will be 3 hours.

Chances are very less with limited college options at such a low score. The popular colleges that accept XAT score in the range of 90 percentile. Even Tier-2 MBA colleges accept XAT score in the range of 70 percentile and above. So, you have very few option with 43 percentile.

Moreover, since there is a lot of competition in XAT, the admission cut offs are unlikely to fall that low in any college.

You may take the XAT exam next year with better preparation and score high in order to get a good MBA college. Take a year and prepare afresh. Join a coaching institute if you can or prepare by self for 6-8 hours every day. If you prepare well for about a year, you will be able to score well in the exam and get admission.

XAT selection criteria and admission process of XLRI Jamshedpur includes shortlisting of candidates on the basis of XAT score or GMAT score, group discussion and personal interview. The final selection is based on criteria such as entrance exam score, group discussion, personal interview, academic record, work experience, academic diversity and gender diversity. Meeting the XAT cut off is the minimum requirement to be eligible for XLRI MBA admission. Candidates who do not meet the minimum XAT cut off are not shortlisted for group discussion and personal interview round of the MBA admission process. Along with the XAT score, the institute will also take into consideration candidate's academic record (class 10, 12 and graduation score) for shortlisting candidates.

If the XAT application form is filled before the declaration of the result for Bachelor's degree, then the marks up till the last semester or year, for which the result has been declared, should be mentioned. In the "Academic Detail" section, put the aggregate marks or percentage up to the last examination taken. Note that they are awaited by giving an option to specify the same and selecting or specifying "Result Awaiting" or "To be Announced." You must ensure that all other details entered or filled in by you are correct and complete. You may also update or inform the XAT authorities once your final results are declared. Always check the XAT official website or their support for the most recent set of instructions given on these issues.

No, Meeting the Xavier Aptitude Test cut-off is the minimum requirement to be eligible for Xavier School of Management (XLRI) admission. Students who do not meet the minimum Xavier Aptitude Test cut-off are not shortlisted for group discussion and personal interviews. Along with the Xavier Aptitude Test score, the institute will also take into consideration the student's academic record (class 10, 12, and graduation score). For more information, visit the Shiksha Xavier Aptitude Test cutoff page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-cutoff). I hope this will help you.

Yes, candidates with less than 50 per cent in aggregate in graduation are eligible for admission to PGDM courses in XLRI. Candidates need to have minimum passing marks in Graduation. They must have however, completed their graduation from a recognised university only. Candidates planning to seek admission to an MBA college other than XLRI must check its eligibility criteria as the minimum score requirement of AICTE approved colleges is 50 percent (45 percent for Reserved categories). But having 50 per cent and above score is not a guarantee for getting selected for admission. You will need to clear the admission round which is based on XAT cut off percentile. If you do not meet the XAT cut off percentile you will not be selected for XAT personal interview round, which is the main parameter for MBA admission in XLRI.

Students can select only Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur as a preferred college in the Xavier Aptitude Test 2024 application form. There is no option of selecting multiple colleges in the Xavier Aptitude Test form. For seeking admission to other participating institutes, students have to fill out their forms separately at their respective websites. A list of the Xavier Aptitude Test Score Accepting College is mentioned below; 1- BITS Pilani 2- MICA Ahmedabad 3- Woxsen University 4- BIMTECH Greater Noida 5- Goa Institute of Management 6- Xavier Institute of Social Service 7- XLRI Xavier School of Management 8- K J Somaiya Institute of Management 9- St. Joseph's Institute of Management 10- FLAME University: School of Business 11- Institute of Rural Management Anand 12- Great Lakes Institute of Management 13- FORE School of Management, New Delhi 14- Loyola Institute of Business Administration 15- Xavier Institute of Management & Research 16- Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier University 17- Institute of Management Technology (Ghaziabad) 18- Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship 19- Xavier Institute of Development Action and Sciences (XIDAS) 20- St. Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMAR) 21- Xavier Business School (XBS), St. Xavier's University, Kolkata 22- St. Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Xavier Aptitude Test exam page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam). I hope this will help you.

When filling the XAT application form, you will be required to fill fields such as academic scores, government ID number, date of birth, colleges details, etc. So, you need to have the relevant documents with you when you are filling the form. Given below is the list of documents required for XAT registration below:

• Class 10 marksheet
• Class 12 marksheet
• Graduation marksheet
• Email ID and mobile phone number
• Date of Birth proof
• Address proof
• Aadhaar card
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• Scanned digital photograph of less than 1 MB
• Scanned signature of less than 1 MB
• Debit/credit card for application fee payment

While uploading the photo its dimension must be 200 x 230 pixels (preferred) and Size of file should be between 20kb-50kb. Dimensions scanned signature document must be 140 x 60 pixels (preferred) and Size of signature file should be between 10kb-20kb

The option to select test centre is not there in the XAT application form, but candidates can select cities where they can appear for the exam. XAT is conducted in about 79-80 cities across India and candidates get the option to choose two cites for centre allotment. They have to make this choice in the XAT application form. In the XAT application form, there is one field in which you have to select the test cities, you can simply select the cities of your choice from the drop down. The exam conducting authorities will allot a test centre in the city of first choice to every student. In case, the seat get filled in the centre of a particular city, the seat will be allotted to remaining candidates in the city selected as second option. The centre allotment is done on first come first serve basis. Candidates must fill the XAT application form and submit it as soon as they can so that they are allotted a centre in the city of their choice.

There is no set time limit to prepare for XAT exam, but you need a minimum of six months for preparation. Ideally candidates need to start XAT preparation by April, however, if they start by June or July too, they can complete the syllabus within time and have ample time for practice of sample papers and mock tests. In order to utilize six months that you have for XAT preparation, do the following:

• Make monthly, weekly and daily time tables to study and don’t deviate from that routine.
• Start with subjects which you are your weak spots. We suggest start with studying Quantitative Aptitude and English.
• For Reading Comprehension, read editorials of newspapers and magazines every day. Read fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, etc. for strengthening English vocabulary and comprehension.
• Download MBA exam preparation apps on your phone so that you can revise topics, solve reasoning or English puzzles anywhere when you get time.

 

Yes, you can definitely use CAT (Common Admission Test) preparation material to prepare for XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test), as there is a significant overlap in the syllabus and level of difficulty between the two exams. Both CAT and XAT have sections on Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning, which are common to both exams. However, XAT also has a separate section on Decision Making, and a section on General Knowledge, which is not present in CAT. So, while the preparation material for CAT can provide a good foundation for the common sections of XAT candidates should also practice specifically for Decision Making and General Knowledge sections, using appropriate study material and resources. In addition to CAT preparation material, candidates can also refer to XAT-specific preparation books and study material to get a better understanding of the exam pattern and type of questions asked in XAT. It's important to note that while the preparation material is important, the key to success in XAT is consistent practice and thorough understanding of concepts. So, candidates should focus on building their conceptual clarity, practicing regularly, and analyzing their performance to identify areas of improvement.

If you are planning to appear for the XAT exam by self study, you must start early as the syllabus is vast and tough. To cover the XAT syllabus by self study, candidates must refer to the books recommended for XAT preparation. You can take help from the following books to cover the XAT syllabus but do join a study forum to get help from mentors and peers when need be:

• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
• Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha/Arihant
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• Objective General English by Dr RS Agarwal and Vikas Agarwal
• High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
• Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma

Since Decision Making section is unique to XAT, study material for the same in not readily available. Thus the best source of preparation material for Decision Making section is XAT previous years’ question papers. This section has passages related to business situations. Candidates have to select the closest solution to the given situation from the list of four options. You have to make an informed decision regarding the decision which has be in favour of the larger good. This section essentially tests your ability to take objective decisions regarding various business situations and activities. Candidates can practice Decision Making questions from XAT question papers of previous years to know the types and difficulty level. In a way, this section is similar to Reading Comprehension and requires same skills as that.

XAT Preparation Tips: 1- Start solving XAT mock tests series. After solving each mock test analyze the time is taken and several correct attempts. 2- When you attempt the next mock test, try to solve it faster and with more accuracy than the previous one. 3- Keep aside an hour or two to analyze the problems that you face in solving mocks which type of questions takes more time, questions from which topics remained unsolved, which questions looked easy but your answer was incorrect, etc. This activity will make you understand your weak areas in which you need to work harder. 4- Along with solving mock tests and sample papers, spend the last month revising concepts and theorems. Make short notes for last-minute revision on the XAT exam day. 5- Focus on memorizing vocabulary and word meaning. If you haven't worked on these in the months before, don't worry. You can cover this part of VARC in the last month too. 6- The general Knowledge section is the easiest section of XAT so you can prepare for it in the last month. The questions in the GK section are memory based so all you need to do is memorize important events and occurrences. For more information, you may visit the Shiksha XAT exam page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-preparation). I hope this will help you.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) and CAT (Common Admission Test) are both popular management entrance exams in India. Both exams are known for their high level of difficulty and are considered challenging to crack. In terms of difficulty, it is difficult to compare XAT and CAT as both exams have their own unique characteristics.

However, XAT is considered to be more challenging than CAT in certain aspects such as:

1) Exam Pattern: XAT has a more varied exam pattern as compared to CAT. XAT has an additional section of General Knowledge, Essay Writing, and decision-making which requires a different skill set as compared to CAT.

2)Time Management: XAT has a higher number of questions as compared to CAT. And the time allotted for the exam is also relatively less. This makes time management a critical aspect for XAT aspirants.

3) Verbal Ability: XAT has a stronger focus on Verbal Ability as compared to CAT. The Reading Comprehension passages in XAT are usually longer and more complex than CAT. Which makes it more challenging. However, it is important to note that the level of difficulty of these exams varies from year to year, and it ultimately depends on the individuals preparation and skill set.

If you are planning to prepare for XAT exam by self study, you need to start early. At least six months before. XAT exam is conducted on the first Sunday of January every year. So, if you start preparing for the XAT in June or July, you will have good six months to prepare. Make a preparation plan that includes XAT syllabus coverage, problem solving sessions, mock tests and revision. Get hold of best books for XAT. Consult mentors or previous year toppers for selecting the best books for preparation. Join online study groups where you can get the help of mentors and peers for problem solving and clearing of doubts in topics. Work in tough topics first and then move to easier topics.

Solve a large number and variety of XAT mock tests to master the syllabus. You will need to do a rigorous work on XAT mock tests as for candidates who opt for self study, have to rely on practice.

Books for XAT Decision Making 1- Jabbing the XAT (with solved papers) by RK Jha 2- Analytical and Logical Reasoning by Arihant Publications 3- Target XAT (Past papers & mock tests) by Odisha Publication Books for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation 1- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal 2- How to prepare for Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma 3- Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha 4- Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha Books for XAT Verbal & Logical Ability 1- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis 2- Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey 3- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal 4- High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin 5- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh 6- Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation by Nishit K Sinha For more information, you may visit the Shiksha XAT exam page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-books). I hope this will help you.

XAT exam was held for 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, with the revision of exam pattern, it was held for 180 minutes in 2025. There is sectional time-limit in the test. 170 minutes are allotted to Part 1 comprising Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability. Part 2 has General Knowledge section to be solved in 10 minutes. No bio-break is allowed during the exam. Candidates have to finish the test in the given time limit only. The test screen will move from part 1 to part 2 the moment 170 minutes get over and once the 10 minutes of part 2 will be over, the test window will be locked. Candidates must keep saving their entries after every attempt as there is no provision in XAT to go back and review your answers once the time limit for that part is over.

 

XAT is an MCQ based test and all questions carry equal marks. The total marks of the exam is 100 and every question carries 1 mark. Decision Making carries 22 marks, Verbal and Logical Ability carries 26 marks, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation carries 28 marks and General Knowledge carries 25 marks.

There is negative marking too in XAT, that you should be aware of. Check below the marking scheme of XAT.

• One mark is awarded for each right answer
• 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer
• 0.10 marks is deducted for more than eight unanswered consecutive questions
• There is no negative marking in General Knowledge section
• Scores of General Knowledge section will not be considered for calculating XAT score 
• The score of Essay Writing will be taken into consideration at the time of PI shortlisting

It depends upon each candidate which section of XAT exam paper they find lengthy. It also depends on the questions chosen for the exam in that particular year. However, it has been seen that Data Interpretation questions are usually lengthy. Overall, the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section has the maximum number of questions i.e. 28 and candidates have to solve at least 22-24 questions to meet the desired cut off. So, this section may appear lengthy to the candidate. 

To some candidates, the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section appears to be lengthy, because of dense reading comprehension passages and reasoning questions based on analogy, series, etc. The fact that both these sections are from the Part 1 of the XAT exam which is of 175 minutes makes it manageable as along with Decision Making, one can solve a decent number of QA-DI and VA-LR questions in 175 minutes.

XAT exam is more Quantitative Ability and Verbal and Logical Ability based. Which is why these two sections have more weightage than rest of the section. And between these two, Quantitative Ability has more weightage. In terms of marks too, the Quantitative Ability has maximum weightage, i.e. 28 marks, followed by Verbal and Logical Ability with 26 marks, General Knowledge carries 25 marks and Decision Making carries 22 marks.

XAT Sections	Number of Questions	Total Marks
Decision Making	22	22
Verbal and Logical Ability	26	26
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	28	28
General Knowledge	25	25
Essay Writing	1 (out of 3 options)	To be evaluated at the time of shortlisting

XAT admit card is a proof of identity of the applicant. It is the main document required for appearing in the XAT exam thus it should be error free. Candidates must check the information mentioned on their admit card as soon as they download it and check for errors. Usually, there is no error in the XAT admit card but you should still check the details. Every XAT admit card contains the following information:

• Candidate’s name
• Candidate’s photo
• Candidate's date of birth
• Candidate's category
• Candidate’s XAT ID
• Exam date
• Exam time
• Exam venue
• Instructions regarding exam/exam day

In case of an error or misprint, you can get it rectified by the exam authorities by contacting the XAT helpdesk. However, you cannot change or update the XAT test centre and city. The allotment will be made according to your choice filled in the XAT application form, so in case you filled the test city which you didn’t intent to, you will need to make arrangement for appearing for the exam in that city.

Yes, the XAT admit card has a google map and address of the exam centre for candidates convenience. The candidates must find out the shortest route to the XAT exam centre via the google map a day before the test day because they are expected to be present at their respective test centre at the reporting time mentioned in the XAT admit card.

If the XAT exam timing is 2 pm to 5:10 pm then the reporting time for candidates will be 1:00 PM. Candidates must use the route map to reach their respective test centre on time to avoid delayed entry inside the exam hall for identification process. Candidates reaching the XAT test centre after the gates have been closed will not be allowed to enter the premises under any circumstances. They will have to seek special permission in case of unexpected reasons.

A digital copy of the admission card is not accepted at the testing location for the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), which is administered by XLRI. Typically, applicants must provide a printed copy of their XAT admission card to the testing location. Regarding the admission card and its format, it's crucial to adhere to the guidelines given by XLRI and the organisation in charge of administering the XAT. Please keep in mind, though, that regulations and processes are subject to change, therefore for the most recent information about the acceptance of digital copies of the admission card at the exam center, it is advised to check the XAT official website or get in touch with XLRI directly.

If you misplace your XAT admit card, you don’t need to panic. You can download another copy of the same from your XAT account. You can simply log in to your XAT account with application number and password to download it again. After downloading it, save it in a folder or in email so that you can take a print out anytime you want. The XAT admit card download link will be available for download till the exam day only so candidates must ensure that they have save a copy. If they need to download the XAT admit card after the exam for any reason, they will not be able to do it. Thus, they should save the PDT file of the XAT admit card in a folder or email.

After the release of the XAT answer key, candidates can expect the following events: XAT Result Declaration: After a few days of the answer key release, the XAT results are usually declared. Candidates can check their XAT result on the official website using their XAT ID and password. XAT Scorecard: Once the results are announced, candidates can download their XAT scorecard. The scorecard contains the candidate's overall and sectional scores, as well as the percentile rank. XAT Cut-off: The XAT cut-off for different programs and institutes will be released after the announcement of the result. Candidates who meet the cut-off criteria are eligible for admission. Selection Process: Shortlisted candidates will be called for the selection process, which may include group discussion GD Personal Interview PI and/or written ability test (What). The selection process varies from institute to institute. Admission: Finally, the selected candidates will be offered admission to the respective institute, and they will have to complete the admission formalities by submitting the required documents and paying the fees. It is essential to keep a track of the official website and notifications related to XAT to stay updated about the post-answer key events.

Xavier School of Management doesn't charge money for challenging the Xavier Aptitude Test answer key. The students have to send an email mentioning the question ID (Identity document) and answer they have an objection to and attach proof to support their objection at the Xavier Aptitude Test exams. The mail however is to be sent within a certain deadline. For more information, visit the Shiksha Xavier Aptitude Test answer key page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-answer-key). I hope this will help you.

The process to raise objection against XAT answer key earlier was through email, but from 2023 onwards the objection filing is through login. XLRI doesn’t charge money for challenging XAT answer key. To raise objection candidates, have to log in to their XAT account and fill the objection form. To claim objection, they need to upload a supporting document.

The candidates can also send an email mentioning the question ID and answer they have objection too and attach a proof to support their objection. The mail however is to be sent within a certain deadline.

The candidates will be informed via email if their objection to XAT answer key is accepted. In case of acceptance, the answer key will be revised and published again. In case, no objection is accepted, no revised answer key will be released.

XAT 2025 result will be announced in the last week of January 2025. The XAT scorecard will be released at the XAT website and can be downloaded by using application number and password created at the time of XAT registration. The candidate response sheet and answer key will be released on separate dates. The XAT response sheet will be released within a week of the exam and the XAT answer key will be released 3-4 days after.

 The final XAT answer key 2025 will be released only if any of the objections raised by candidates will be found valid. Following the release of final (updated) answer key, the XAT 2025 result and scorecard will be declared. The final answer key will be released in a downloadable PDF form.

Congratulations on scoring 82 percentile in XAT. While selecting the colleges to apply for admission, you should consider various factors such as your preferred specialisation, location, fee structure, placement record, and faculty. Based on your XAT score, you may consider the following colleges: Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMT) Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai (GLIM) T. A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal (TAPMI) Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai (LIBA) Goa Institute of Management, Goa (GIM) Institute for Financial Management and Research, Sri City (IFMR) Please note that the selection criteria for admission may vary from college to college, and some colleges may have a higher cutoff than others. Hence, it is advisable to research and apply to multiple colleges to increase your chances of admission.

VIT Business School Vellore cutoff 2024 is yet to be released for admission to the MBA courses. However, considering the previous year's XAT cutoff, the MBA cutoff percentage stood at 70 for the general AI quota. In 2022 as well, the cutoff was the same. So, considering the past two years MBA cutoffs, candidates must aim to secure between 70 and 80 percent to get a call from VIT Business School. Tabulated below are the last year's XAT and MAT MBA cutoffs to estimate the cutoff percentage for this year. 

Exam	2023
MAT (percentile)	80
XAT (percentile)	70

 

The XAT selection criteria and admission procedure at XLRI Jamshedpur comprise applicant shortlisting based on XAT or GMAT scores, group discussion, and personal interview. Meeting the XAT cut off is the bare minimum for admission to the XLRI MBA program. Criteria such as admission exam score, group discussion, personal interview, academic record, job experience, intellectual diversity, and gender diversity are used to make the final decision. 

Candidates are shortlisted based on their XAT results, which have a major weight in the entire evaluation. Communication skills, analytical abilities, and other attributes are evaluated by the Group discussion and Personal Interview rounds.

Since the XAT scorecard is the main proof of the candidate’s attendance and passing the entrance exam, the XAT result cum scorecard of every candidate contains their personal details and scores. Given below is the lift of information that is printed on every candidate’s scorecard.

• Name of the candidate
• Gender of the candidate
• Address of the candidate
• XAT ID
• Date of XAT exam
• Date of Birth
• Validity of the XAT scorecard
• Sectional percentiles
• Sectional scores
• Sectional percentiles
• Overall percentile

Candidates must check the details carefully and incase of any error in personal details, candidates must reach out to exam authorities for rectification. The marks and percentile will not be changed as there is no provision of rechecking or revaluation. However, if it is a glaring misprint then candidates may apply to the admission cell and seek updation.

Sectional cut off for XAT refers to the minimum percentile fixed for each section of the exam that candidates have to meet. For example, if the Quantitative Aptitude cut off is 85 percentile for XAT, that means a candidate must have scored 85 percentile or more in the section of XAT to be eligible for group discussion and personal interview shortlisting. Check the below tables for PGDM BM and PGDM HRM for XAT 2023.

XAT Sectional cut offs for PGDM BM

General Engineers	VA	DM	QA	Overall
Males	75	75	85	95
Females	75	75	80	92
General Non-Engineers	VA	DM	QA	Overall
Males	75	75	85	95
Females	75	75	80	92

 

XAT Sectional cut offs for PGDM HRM

General Engineers	VA	DM	QA	Overall
Males	90	75	85	93
Females	90	75	65	91
General Non-Engineers	VA	DM	QA	Overall
Males	90	75	70	90
Females	75	75	60	88

 

XAT score is calculated on the basis of raw scores obtained a candidate in each section. In the XAT exam, every correct answer carries 1 mark and every incorrect entry carries – 0.25 marks. There is no negative marking for skipping a question. But, in case of eight consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted. XAT has about 99 questions on which the score calculation is done. So, for example, if you have got 70 questions correct and 8 questions in correct, then your raw XAT score will be 70 – 1 = 69.

If you have not answered 8 questions consecutively, then your score will be 69- 0.10 =  68.90. This raw score will be further calculated to arrive at XAT percentile. Check here the XAT percentile calculation process: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/xat-score-vs-percentile-how-much-xat-score-will-get-me-99-percentile-blogId-52337

TAPMI XAT cutoff 2024 is yet to be released. The registration is ongoing for XAT 2024 exam. XAT cutoff will be released soon after the release of XAT result. However, considering the past year trends, the expected TAPMI XAT cutoff for 2024 will range between 80 and 85 percentile for the General All India category students. This is the estimated cutoff range, the actual cutoff may vary depending on various factors such as the number of candidates appearing for the exam, difficulty level of the paper, and the number of seats available for admission. 

No, cut offs of XAT participating colleges are different from each other. These colleges fix cut off percentiles for admission individually basis certain criteria determined by their respective admission cells. XAT cut off for XIMB is different from XAT cut off for TAPMI. XAT cut off for XIMB is usually around 90-93 whereas XAT cut off for TAPMI is 80-85. On the other hand, XAT cut off for KJ Somaiya-Mumbai is 85-90. Most of the MBA colleges shortlist candidates for admission on the basis of overall XAT percentile. However, the candidates must aim to meet sectional XAT cut offs too in the exam to avoid an unwanted situation at the time of admission. Before applying for admission, candidates must check the selection criteria of their target colleges to be sure of requirements. 

XLRI Jamshedpur releases the XAT cut offs every year in the month of February after the result announcement. The XAT exam is held on the first Sunday of January and the result is announced in the last week of January. And within a week of result announcement, the XAT cut offs are released.

The XAT cut offs are released at the official website of XLRI Jamshedpur and are available for download without login. The XAT cut offs are released for PGDM-HRM and PGDM-BM gender and academic stream wise. The document contains sectional and overall cut off percentiles for male, female, male non engineering and female non-engineering categories. Selection of candidates for the Personal Interview and Group Discussion round of XLRI admission is done on the basis of these category wise cut offs.

For the students in the General All India category, the Goa Institute of Management XAT cutoff was 85 percentile based on the previous year's score. Hence, based on the cutoff trend from the previous year, a candidate should receive an XAT score above or between the 80th and 85th percentile. 

XIMB domicile cut off for XAT generally range around 80 to 50 for admisison to the MBA porgramme. XIMB Bhubaneswar XAT cut off 2024 is yet to be released. However, considering the past years' trends, the expected XAT percentile for XIMB will range between 90-93 for the General All India category students. This is the estimated range and the actual cutoffs could be higher or lower.  

 

International Management Institute Kolkata accepts XAT/ CAT/ CMAT/ GMAT scores for admission to the Post Graduate Diploma in Management programme. IMI Kolkata XAT cutoff 2024 is yet to be released for the PGDM course. During the IMI Kolkata cutoff 2023, the XAT percentile stood at 70 for the General All India category student. So, considering the previous year's cutoff percentile, candidates seeking admission to the IMI Kolkata must secure 70 percentile or above in the case of the General category. 

The ideal time to start preparing for the Xavier Aptitude Test XAT depends on your level of familiarity with the test format and your overall academic and work experience. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended to start your XAT preparation at least six months before the exam date to give yourself sufficient time to cover all the topics and practice enough mock tests. If you are already familiar with the XAT exam pattern and have a good understanding of the topics, you can start your preparation three to four months before the exam date. In this case, you should focus more on practicing mock tests and refining your test-taking strategy. On the other hand, if you are new to XAT and have limited exposure to the test format and the type of questions asked, you may need more time to prepare. In this case, it is recommended to start your preparation at least six months before the exam date. You can start by familiarizing yourself with the XAT exam pattern and syllabus, studying the relevant topics in depth, and practicing mock tests regularly. Ultimately, the best time to start your XAT preparation depends on your individual circumstances and goals. It is important to create a study plan that works for you and stick to it consistently to maximize your chances of success.

Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management.

Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.

You need to study with a well-thought-out plan if you want to succeed on the XAT management exam. The following are some advice from experts on how to make a plan to prepare for the XAT:

1. Make a list of the topics that need to be covered by the preparation materials using the XAT syllabus.
2. Schedule your study time on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis.
3. Focus on the subjects that receive the most questions, taking into account the time you have available.
4. You can join online study groups or look for a mentor to help you with your at-home preparation.
5. Set a time limit for each section to allow for comprehensive planning.
6. Start reading editorials in newspapers and magazines for reading comprehension.
7. Review the mathematical formulas and concepts from classes 9 and 10 for the quant section.
8. Spend the last month studying for mock XAT exams and evaluating your progress.

Visit this link to access the section-by-section plan provided by the expert: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-preparation.

The Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section of Xavier Aptitude Test have the maximum number of questions that is 28, followed by Verbal and Logical Ability with 26 questions. General Knowledge will have 20 questions while Decision Making will have 21 questions in the Xavier Aptitude Test. For more details, you may visit the Shiksha Xavier Aptitude Test exam pattern page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/xat-exam-pattern). I hope this will help you.