XAT 2026: Registration, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, And Top Colleges

The Xavier Aptitude Test, or more simply, the XAT, is a prominent exam that is given each year by XLRI Jamshedpur. The test is solely devised for the purpose of giving admissions into the different MBA and PGDM programs offered by XLRI, as well as into over 160 top-ranked management schools in India. The XAT is highly valued and prized for being of top academic standards, and it has come to stand as one of the most rigorous but ultimately rewarding management entrance exams to become available to aspiring management students. The exam is most rigorous in the sense that it examines candidates in a range of areas, such as in analytical reasoning, in decision-making ability, and in verbal ability with regard to communication, and is consequently best suited for candidates who seek to take leadership-oriented programs in the practice of business management.

Significant Dates of XAT 2026
The online process of registration for the XAT 2026 exam began on the day of July 10, in the year 2025, and the process of such registration is going to continue until the cut-off date of December 5, 2025. The real exam of XAT 2026 is going to happen on the day of January 4, in the year 2026, and it is going to take place in a total of 110 cities all around India. Furthermore, the admit cards of such exams are going to be available to candidates in the last week of December in the year 2025.Candidates should register in advance to prevent technical problems at the eleventh hour.

 
The Procedure for Applying for the XAT 2026 Test
The registration process of XAT is highly simple and straightforward. Candidates who wish to appear must first visit the official website of the application process, make an account, and then proceed with filling out the online application form present there. The registration fees, paid in order to fill out the application, can also be submitted online by a debit or credit card, or through net banking facilities available. Applicants can also choose to directly apply for XLRI programs while applying, but they must pay an extra fee for that. After submission, the candidate needs to download the confirmation page for their records.

XAT 2026 Eligibility Conditions
Candidates should have a bachelor's degree of at least three years of duration from a reputed university in order to appear in XAT 2026. Candidates who are in their final year with the production of their degrees by June 2026 can also appear. No age limit or minimum percentage is required. The GMAT scores can also be utilized by foreign applicants for admissions.

 
XAT 2026 Pattern of Paper
There has been a significant change in the pattern of the XAT exam in recent years with the aim of improving and simplifying the process of the whole test for the candidates. This specific exam is divided into two parts:

Part I: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision-Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation.
Part II: It is comprised of General Knowledge and also includes the essay writing skill.

The entire test duration is about 190 minutes with one mark for each correct answer, and a 0.25 marks penalty for incorrect answers. The XAT exam pattern emphasizes analytical thinking and managerial judgment in preference to memorization.

XAT 2026 Syllabus
The syllabus for XAT 2026 includes:

Verbal & Logical Ability: Reading proficiency, vocabulary, and analytical reasoning.
Decision Making: Ethical judgment and situation analysis questions.
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation: Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, and Graph-based questions.
General Knowledge: Static GK, business news, and latest happenings.
The essay question assesses clarity of thought, essay coherence, as well as essay writing proficiency.

Participating Colleges in XAT 2026 and Their Respective Cutoff Marks
The scores obtained in the XAT examination are recognized and accepted by a variety of esteemed and prestigious educational institutions. This list includes prominent names such as XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM Bhubaneswar, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMT Ghaziabad, and TAPMI Manipal. Following the declaration of the results, each of these institutes takes the initiative to publish their individual XAT cutoff scores that candidates must meet to qualify for admission.

The XAT 2026 exam result is expected to be declared in January 2026. The students who are shortlisted then further move on to take up group discussions along with personal interviews, as a process of final selection.

 
Also Read: CAT 2025- Pattern of Examination and Preparation Strategy