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The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 is a prestigious national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for over 75 years. Scheduled for January 4, 2026, it is a computer-based test designed to assess candidates’ aptitude for management education. The exam covers four key sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge, comprising 95 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 3 hours.
XAT stands out due to its unique Decision Making section, which tests candidates on complex situation analysis and ethical judgment—critical skills for future managers. The General Knowledge section includes both current affairs and static GK topics, contributing only to final selection in some institutes, not percentile calculations.
Widely accepted by over 250 B-schools including top institutions such as XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB Bhubaneswar, IMT Ghaziabad, and SPJIMR Mumbai, XAT remains one of India’s most challenging MBA entrance exams. The exam features a structured marking scheme rewarding accuracy with negative marking for wrong answers and penalty for excessive skipping.
XAT 2026 challenges candidates’ analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and general awareness, making it a comprehensive test of managerial aptitude essential for admission into elite MBA/PGDM programs.
Candidates will get the complete guide on XAT 2026 exam by going through this article.
Name of Exam
Xavier Aptitude Test
Exam Level
National Level
Conducted by
XLRI Jamshedpur
Courses offered
MBA/PGDM
Exam Mode
Online
Application Mode
Exam Frequency
Once in a year
Exam Duration
3 Hours
Exam Medium
English
XLRI has released the XAT 2026 notification, with the exam scheduled for January 4, 2026. Registration opened on July 10, 2025, and will close on December 5, 2025. The exam will be held online.
The date of the XAT 2026 exam is January 4, 2026. On July 10, 2025, the XAT 2026 registration process began. The XAT 2026 registration process can be completed online at xatonline.in. The deadline to register for XAT 2026 is December 5, 2025. Read about the dates and activities of the XAT 2026 exam below:
Events
Event Dates
Notification Release
July 10 2025
Registration Start
Registration End
December 5 2025
Admit card Release
December 20 2025 (Tentative)
XAT 2026 Exam Date
January 4, 2026
Answer key release
January 12, 2026
Result Declaration
January 20, 2026
On the xatonline.in website, the XAT application form 2026 is now accessible. Applicants must make an account and register on the website. The registration and application procedure for XAT 2026 is provided below:
The XAT 2026 eligibility criteria are straightforward and inclusive, making the exam accessible for a wide range of candidates:
The XAT 2026 pattern is anticipated to be same to that of the year before. This year, there is one change, though. According to the material posted on the XAT 2026 official website, the exam would not have a sectional time limit. Only the overall time limit will apply. There was a sectional time limit until last year. Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation made up the first 170 minutes of the XAT question exam. The second portion included a 10-minute GK segment. There are 180 minutes in all. In XAT 2026, the questions will be multiple-choice questions. The XAT 2026 paper design is explained in detail below.
Section
No of Questions
Marks Allotted
Time Allocation
Verbal and Logical Ability
26
170 minutes
Decision Making
21
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
28
General Knowledge
20
10 minutes
Total
95
180 minutes
The XAT 2026 admit card will be made available online. The download link will be accessible via the exam's official website. The instructions to download the XAT 2026 admit card are listed below:
Steps to download XAT 2026 Admit Card-
The XAT 2026 syllabus is structured into four main sections:
Below is a detailed breakdown of each section, including the types of questions and key topics covered:
1.Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR)
Major Topics:
(Includes 12 current affairs and 8 static GK questions)
Key Topics:
Current Affairs (National, International, Business, Economic, Science, Environment, Awards, Politics, Sports)
Static GK:
One of the best ways to prepare for XAT is to practice XAT sample papers in 2025. This year, XAT has gone online and the candidates must prepare accordingly. With the help of XAT sample papers, practice papers, and previous year's question papers, candidates can become familiar with the test pattern and also gain insights into the types of questions asked in the exam.
The XAT 2026 result will be declared in the third week of January 2026. Candidates can check and download their scorecards online using their XAT login credentials (User ID and Date of Birth) on the official website [xatonline.in].
Steps to check your result:
A week after the results are announced, XLRI Jamshedpur will reveal the XAT 2026 cutoffs. The XLRI cutoffs will be made public according to course and category. Individuals who fulfill the requirements will be selected for the in-person interview stage of the 2026 MBA Business Management and MBA Human Resource Management admissions batch.