XAT Exam Dates 2026 (OUT): Registration, Exam on Jan 4, Admit Card, and Result Dates

XAT exam is usually conducted on the first Sunday of January. Therefore, candidates can expect XAT 2027 to be held on January 3, 2027.

XAT exam duration is 180 minutes in a single slot. Part 1 of XAT exam is conducted for 170 minutes, while Part 2 is held in last 10 minutes.

One must start preparing for XAT around six to eight months in advance. This timeline allows sufficient time to cover syllabus and practice using mock tests before the exam.

Yes, you can fill the form first and pay the fee later. Once the XAT registration ID is created, candidate's details get saved in the accounts. They can login anytime and fill the application form and pay the fee. However, they need to complete the process before the last date of form submission and fee payment. It is advised that candidates pay the XAT fee on the same day as form filling.

As per the past exam trends, registration starts in the first week of July. XAT 2027 registration will likely begin in first week of July 2026.

XAT application window generally closes in the second week of December. For the XAT 2027 cycle, the registration would end in the second week of December 2026.

Yes six months are enough to prepare for XAT if you plan it well. You will need about 8 hours every day for it. Use first four months to cover exam syllabus and last two months for practice. 

XAT results are typically announced in mid-January. If past trends are followed, This exam is similar with the general expectation that scorecards.

Admit cards are usually released in late December. For the XAT 2027 cycle, the documents are scheduled for release in the last week of December 2026. For XAT 2026, the admit cards were available for download prior to the January exam date

XAT syllabus includes all important topics related to Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.

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.

There is no provision to submit XAT application form online. The process to register for XAT exam is completely online. All the activities are conducted online at the xatonline.in website such as registration, form filling, fee payment. Candidates can fill the XAT application form on a desktop/laptop/tablet or any device with internet. Fee payment is to be done through debit/credit card or net banking.

Yes, the XAT exam has negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong attempt. Unanswered questions have no negative marking but if there are 8 consecutive unanswered questions, 0.10 marks will be deducted.

Thus, the candidates must select questions to solve very carefully in the XAT exam. They should solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. The XAT exam has sectional time limit too, so you may not want to waste time on a question that you cannot solve accurately.

You stand to lose both time and marks. So be careful in selecting questions in the XAT exam.  The sectional cut off for XAT is usually 80 percent accuracy. Practice a lot of mock tests to develop this skill.

XAT exam was held for 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, with the revision of exam pattern, it was held for 3 hours 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.

If a candidate has appeared for the XAT exam before and is only attempting again for score improvement, then they can prepare for it with mock tests only. But if a candidate is appearing for the XAT exam for the first time and is not familiar with the syllabus, they cannot prepare with XAT mock tests only. XAT syllabus coverage is necessary before starting XAT mock test practice.

Ideal time to start XAT mock test practice is after covering the syllabus. When you're thorough with all the concepts and formulae, you will be able to solve all types of questions in the XAT mock test. XAT exam is conducted in January first week, so one should start mock test practice in November and dedicate two months to it.

Yes six months are enough to prepare for XAT if you plan it well. You will need about 8 hours every day for it. Use first four months to cover exam syllabus and last two months for practice. 

XAT syllabus for Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude are same as CAT syllabus. Decision Making and General Knowledge syllabus are not a part of CAT syllabus. Thus, XAT aspirants have to study more than CAT aspirants, which is why one needs to have a XAT specific preparation plan in order to score above 95 percentile.