The Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is a national level entrance exam for MBA and PGDM courses conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur and other associated colleges. Several thousand students appear for the exam every year in order to gain admission into the premier B-Schools of India.
So, if you are to take the XAT in 2026, here’s everything you would need to know regarding XAT registration, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, preparation and cutoff trends
XAT 2026 Registration: Dates and Process
XAT 2026 registration process is open. But, the applicants should try to register before the deadline, as to avoid problems at the last moment.
To finalize registration:
Log on with a valid email ID and cell number.
Insert personal, academic and programmatic preferences.
Scan documents according to instructions.
Complete the online exam fee payment.
Be sure to print this page as confirmation.
Be sure to register on time to be safe. Refer to the XAT exam page for further details.
XAT Exam Dates 2026
XAT 2026 will be held in January 2026, (check the registration page for the exact date). The admit card will be available for download one week prior to the examination date.
XAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2026
The XAT Exam pattern enables aspirants to strategize their preparation in an efficient manner:
Administration: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Length: 3 hours
Sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge
Scoring: Marks: Correct answer +1, Wrong answer -0.25
These consist of Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. The important thing is to know the syllabus well.
Refer to the XAT 2026 details for the complete exam pattern and syllabus.
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
Check your eligibility before you apply:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
Students in their final year may also apply.
Final-year students can also apply.
No age limit.
XAT Preparation Tips 2026
Practice with previous years’ question papers.
Give frequent mock tests.
Reformulate formulas, rules of decision and verbal rules.
Emphasize managing time in practice.
For the GK section keep abreast of current affairs.
XAT Cutoff and Counselling
Each of the XAT 2026 participating institutes has its own cutoff. Good institutes such as XLRI usually have a 95 + percentile requirement. Those who clear the sectional cut off are called for GD, PI and WAT rounds.
The counselling schedule is notified after the results and the final merit list is made according to performance in the exam and counselling rounds.
Also Read: XAT Prediction Criteria
