XAT 2026 exam will be held in 109 cities today, January 4, 2026. Check here latest and live updates of Xavier Aptitude Test including exam timings, exam day instructions, dos and don’t, question paper analysis, difficulty level, expected cut offs and more.
XAT 2026 exam analysis and updates
XAT 2026 will be held today for admission to XLRI’s MBA programmes. The exam score will also be valid for admission to over 800 MBA colleges in India. The XAT will be held in a single session at various test centres across India. The number of XAT 2026 test cities is 109. Candidates have been issued their admit cards already. They must reach their test centres as per the reporting time.
XAT is usually of moderate to high difficulty level. This year too, it seems to maintain the same difficulty level. Candidates will get 180 minutes to solve 95 questions. Not all questions will be mandatory, but achieving sectional cut offs will be required.
XAT 2026 Reporting and Gate Closing Time
Check below XAT 2026 exam timing and reporting time for candidates. Reach on time to avoid inconvenience.
| XAT 2026 |
Timings |
|---|---|
| Exam timing |
2 pm to 5 pm |
| Reporting time |
12:30 pm |
| Gate closing time |
1:50 pm |
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
Here are key highlights of the XAT exam pattern 2026. Make your exam day strategy accordingly.
| XAT Exam Structure |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Computer Based Test |
| Exam sections |
Part 1: Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (170 minutes) Part 2: General Knowledge (10 minutes) |
| Duration of exam |
180 minutes |
| Number of questions |
95 |
| Total marks |
95 |
| Question Type |
MCQ |
| Number of answer choices |
Four |
| XAT marking scheme |
+1 mark for correct answer - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer - 0.10 marks for more than 8 un-attempted questions No negative marking in GK section |
LIVE UPDATE
XAT 2026 Exam Live Updates
- 12:19 AM IST• 4 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 live updates: Marking Scheme
XAT marking scheme is as follows:
+1 mark for correct answer- 0.25 marks for incorrect answer
- 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions
No negative marking in GK section
- 11:27 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
Total number of questions in XAT 2026
The total number of questions in XAT 2026 will be 95. It will be divided into 4 sections:
XAT Sections
Number of Questions
Decision Making
21
Verbal and Logical Ability
26
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
28
General Knowledge
20
Total
95
- 10:21 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
Will there be Essay Writing in XAT 2026?
There will be no essay writing in XAT 2026. The question paper will have only MCQs from VA-LR, QA-DI, Decision Making and GK.
- 9:35 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam: Paper sheet for rough work
Candidates will be provided rough sheets for calculation. If they don’t want to use on screen calculator, they can do rough work on the paper. They will, however, have to submit the rough paper before leaving the exam hall.
- 8:26 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam guidelines: Use of calculator
Use of onscreen calculator is allowed for XAT. Candidates cannot carry a scientific calculator in the exam centre.
- 7:33 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 live updates: Can XAT 2026 test centre be changed now?
XAT 2026 test centre cannot be changed now. Candidates will have to take the exam at the venue mentioned in their admit card.
- 6:25 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam day: Stationary to carry
Candidates can carry a blue/black ball point pen to the XAT exam centre for signing attendance sheet. They will be however, provided the same at exam centre too.
- 5:34 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam: Can a candidate appear for the exam at another centre?
XAT 2026 candidate can appear for the exam at the test centre mentioned in their admit card. They cannot appear for it at any other examination centre.
- 4:23 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam timings
XAT 2026 will be conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm, without break. There will be only 1 shift for the exam.
- 3:31 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam guidelines: dress code
There is no specific dress code for XAT. However, candidates should avoid wearing jackets and hoodies. They can wear plain cardigan and sweater instead.
- 3:04 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 admit card: Digital copy not valid
Digital copy of the XAT 2026 admit card will not be valid. Candidates will have to show the hard copy to gain entry.
- 2:23 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 admit card download
XAT 2026 admit card download link will be active until tomorrow, but candidates should download it today only and get two print outs.
- 2:06 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 candidate identification
Candidates will undergo mandatory frisking before entry into the examination centre. The admit card and other documents will be verified too.
- 1:52 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam: Items prohibited at centre
Jewellery, jacket, calculator, watches, phone, electronic devices or any item containing metal are not allowed inside the exam venue.
- 1:33 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
Photo required for XAT exam day
In case of any discrepancy in the photo on admit card, candidates must carry a recent passport size photo.
- 1:28 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 exam day: Photo IDs required
Candidates can carry any one of the following:
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- Voter ID card
- Passport
- Driving License
- 1:20 PM IST• 3 Jan 2026
XAT 2026 admit card: No. of copies
Candidates must carry two copies of the XAT admit card 2026 to the exam centre in A4 size sheet.
XAT exam is conducted in online mode so you don’t have to carry any stationary item apart from a blue/black ball point pen which is to be used for signing the attendance sheet.
Candidates should not carry to the examination centre, electronic items such as phone, watch, IPad, calculator, pager, etc. They should also not carry any metal items. Clothes and accessories having metal and metal jewellery are also prohibited inside the examination centres. Caps, headgears, sunglasses, clothes with pocket and hoodies are not allowed at the XAT exam centre. Candidates must also not carry bags and any other valuable item as candidates will not be allowed to carry anything inside the exam centre apart from a pen and documents. There will be no arrangement for depositing the bag at the exam centre.
Candidates must carry only a blue or black ball point pen on the XAT exam day, to sign the attendance sheet. They should not carry any other stationary item including books, note nooks, loose sheets, pencil, eraser, pencil bag, etc. to the test centre as everything else is prohibited.
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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.