XAT Exam Info - ThinkMBA

Important Highlights

Particulars	Details
XAT Full Form	Xavier Aptitude Test
Conducting Institute	XLRI Jamshedpur (on behalf of XAMI – Xavier Association of Management Institutes)
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Mode	Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT)
Medium of Exam	English
Number of Accepting Institutes	XLRI and 250+ premier B-Schools in India
Courses Offered through XAT	MBA/PGDM
Score Validity	One year
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree of minimum three-year duration or equivalent in any discipline. Final year students are also eligible. No minimum aggregate for XAT, but institutes may require 50% (45% for reserved) in graduation.
XAT Exam Fees (Indicative)	INR 2,200 (plus taxes) (Additional fees for XLRI programs: INR 200 each)
Official Website	xatonline.in

Important Dates

Event	Tentative Date/Period
XAT 2026 Official Notification	Last week of July 2025
XAT 2026 Registration Starts	Second week of July 2025
XAT 2026 Registration Ends	First week of December 2025
XAT 2026 Admit Card Release	Last week of December 2025
XAT 2026 Exam Date	January 4, 2026
XAT 2026 Response Sheet/Ans	After the exam (e.g., XAT 2025 response sheet was released on Jan 7, 2025, answer key on Jan 10)
XAT 2026 Result Date	Third week of January 2026
XAT 2026 Exam Timings	Typically one slot (e.g., XAT 2025 was 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM, implying a 3.5-hour window including the GK section and essay, though recent patterns suggest 180 minutes for the main sections. XAT 2026 is expected to be 180 minutes: Part 1 – 170 mins, Part 2 (GK) – 10 mins)

Exam Pattern and Section Wise Break Down

Feature	Details
Exam Mode	Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT)
Total Duration	180 minutes (Part 1: 170 minutes, Part 2: 10 minutes)
Total Number of Questions	Approximately 95 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (Previous patterns mentioned around 100-105 questions, but recent information points to 95) (Essay writing has been removed)
Total Marks	95 (1 mark per question; GK scores usually not counted for percentile)
Number of Sections	4 sections in 2 Parts (Part 1: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; Part 2: General Knowledge)
Sectional Time Limit	No sectional time limit within Part 1 (170 minutes). Part 2 (GK) has a separate time limit of 10 minutes.
Order of Sections	Candidates can attempt questions from any section within Part 1. GK is in Part 2.
Marking Scheme	1 mark per correct answer; GK scores not counted towards percentile.
Question Types	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Section	Number of Questions	Time Allotted	Marks
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning	26	Shared 170 minutes for VALR, DM, and QA & DI	26
Decision Making (DM)	21	Shared 170 minutes for VALR, DM, and QA & DI	21
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation	28	Shared 170 minutes for VALR, DM, and QA & DI	28
General Knowledge (GK)	20	10 minutes	20
Total (excluding GK for percentile)	75	170 minutes	75
Grand Total	95	180 minutes	95

Score Vs Percentile

Percentile	2025	2024	2023
99.9	47	37	53
99.5	43	34	47
99	38.75	34	43
95	34.75	26	37.5
90	34.25	23	29
85	33.5	21	29
80	32	18	27

Percentile	2025			2024			2023
Percentile	VALR	DM	QA & DI	VALR	DM	QA & DI	VALR	DM	QA & DI
99	14.8	12.5	17.0	14.8	12.5	17.0	18.5	14.5	20.5
95	12.0	10.5	12.8	13.5	11.5	15.0	12.4	16.0	12.3
90	10.5	9.5	10.5	10.5	10.0	12.5	11.0	14.0	10.3
85	9.5	8.8	9.0	9.5	9.0	10.5	11.5	10.5	12.5
80	8.5	8.3	7.8	8.5	8.5	8.0	11.0	9.6	11.0

Syllabus

Arithmetic	Algebra	Geometry	Modern Maths	Number System	DI and LR
Percentages	Linear Equations	Lines and Angles	Permutation & Combination	Properties of Numbers	Bar Graphs
Profit and Loss	Quadratic Equations	Triangles	Probability	Factors and Multiples	Line Charts
Simple & Compound Interest	Inequalities	Quadrilaterals	Set Theory	HCF and LCM	Pie Charts
Ratio and Proportion	Functions and Graphs	Circles	Venn Diagrams (Math)	Divisibility Rules	Caselets
Averages	Logarithms	Polygons	Binomial Theorem	Remainders	Venn Diagrams
Mixtures & Alligations	Surds and Indices	Mensuration		Factorials	Mixed Graphs
Time, Speed & Distance	Polynomials	Coordinate Geometry		Base Systems	Data Sufficiency
Time and Work	Maxima and Minima	Trigonometry		Cyclicity / Unit Digit	Calculation-based
Partnership	Sequences and Series				Maxima/Minima Sets

Reading Comprehension			Verbal Ability
Main Idea	Specific Details / Facts	Application of Ideas	Para Jumbles	Odd Sentence Out	Fill in the Blanks
Inference	Author’s Tone / Style	Vocabulary & Idioms	Para Summary	Para Completion	Sentence Correction
Grammar			Cloze Test

Business & Ethical Situations			Logical Scenarios
Ethical Dilemmas	Resource Allocation	Situation Analysis	Data-Based Scenarios	Decision Tables	Fact vs Opinion
Managerial Decisions	Strategic Thinking	Organizational Problems	Prioritization Problems	Course of Action	Strengthen/Weaken Arguments
Behavioral Scenarios			Conflict Resolution

Static GK			Current Affairs
History	Science & Technology	Books & Authors	Business & Economy	Awards & Recognitions	Government Schemes
Geography	Art & Culture	Personalities	National Events	Sports	Environment & Ecology
Polity & Constitution	Important Days & Dates	Miscellaneous	International Affairs	Summits & Conferences	Obituaries

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