XAT 2026: Registration (Open), Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern, Latest Updates
XAT 2026, conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, will be held on 4 January 2026 (2 PM – 5 PM). Applications are open now. Get complete info on dates, exam pattern, GK & DM, and preparation tips.
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📚 Explore XAT 2026 Sections
📌 XAT 2026 Highlights
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📅 Important Dates
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📢 XAT 2026 Notification
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✅ Eligibility Criteria
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📝 Registration Process
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📊 Exam Pattern
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📘 Syllabus
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🎯 Preparation Strategy
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🎟️ Admit Card
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📈 Exam Analysis
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🏁 Results
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❓ FAQs
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XAT 2026 Overview
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI for over 75 years, is among India’s most trusted national-level entrance exams for MBA/PGDM admissions.
XAT uniquely assesses Decision Making and critical thinking beyond academics. It is accepted by 250+ premier B-schools and conducted in 100+ test cities across India.
🆕 Latest Updates
- Applications Open: 10 July 2025
- Registration Closes: 5 December 2025
- Admit Card (Tentative): 20 December 2025
- Exam Date: 4 January 2026 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
- Exclusive Mock Test: 27 Sep 2025, 5 PM – 28 Sep 2025, 5 PM (apply by 24 Sep 2025)
📌 XAT 2026 Highlights
Key details about the XAT 2026 exam at a glance.
| 📘 Name of Exam | XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) |
|---|---|
| 🏫 Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur (on behalf of XAMI) |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://xatonline.in/ |
| 📅 Frequency | Once every year |
| 📝 Application Process | Online |
| 🗓️ Exam Date & Time | 4 Jan 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| 🏙️ Test Cities | 100+ across India |
| 🧩 Sections | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) Decision Making (DM) Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) General Knowledge (GK) |
| ❓ Total Questions (expected) | ≈95 |
| ⏱️ Duration | 180 minutes (170 min Part 1 + 10 min GK) |
| 🗣️ Medium | English (CBT) |
| 🏛️ Accepted By | 250+ B-Schools |
📘 Name of Exam
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
🏫 Conducting Body
XLRI Jamshedpur (XAMI)
🌐 Official Website
https://xatonline.in/
📅 Frequency
Annual
📝 Application Process
Online
🗓️ Exam Date & Time
4 Jan 2026, 2–5 PM
🏙️ Test Cities
100+ in India
🧩 Sections
VALR, DM, QA & DI, GK
❓ Total Questions
≈95
⏱️ Duration
180 minutes
🗣️ Medium
English (CBT)
🏛️ Accepted By
250+ B-Schools
📅 Important Dates For XAT 2026
Stay on top of the timeline to avoid missing key milestones.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | 10 July 2025 |
| Registration Closes | 5 December 2025 |
| Admit Card Download (Tentative) | 20 December 2025 |
| XAT 2026 Exam | 4 January 2026 (2 PM – 5 PM) |
| Exclusive Mock Test Window | 27 Sep 2025 (5 PM) – 28 Sep 2025 (5 PM) • Apply by 24 Sep |
Applications Open
10 July 2025
Registration Closes
5 December 2025
Admit Card (Tentative)
20 December 2025
Exam Date
4 January 2026 (2–5 PM)
Exclusive Mock
27 Sep 2025 (5 PM) – 28 Sep 2025 (5 PM), apply by 24 Sep
📢 XAT 2026 Notification – At A Glance
XLRI has announced that XAT 2026 will be conducted on 4 January 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Registration is currently open.
🕒 Exam Structure
- Part 1 (170 min): VALR, DM, QA & DI
- Part 2 (10 min): GK (no negative marking; not in percentile)
📝 XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
XAT eligibility is straightforward and inclusive for MBA/PGDM aspirants.
✅ Who can apply?
- Graduates from a recognized university (no minimum percentage explicitly mandated by XAT).
- Final-year students may also apply.
- Working professionals are welcome; no age limit.
🧾 For XLRI programmes
Individual XLRI programmes may stipulate additional criteria during shortlisting/selection. Refer to official XLRI programme pages for specifics.
🖊️ XAT 2026 Registration Process
Registration is open on the official website: xatonline.in.
📋 Step-by-Step: How To Apply
- Create an account at xatonline.in (valid email & mobile).
- Fill personal, academic, and work experience details.
- Select programmes/institutes (XLRI & XAT associates).
- Upload a recent photo & signature as per specs.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Download the confirmation & save payment proof.
📎 Upload Specifications (Reference)
| 📄 Document | ✅ Dimensions (approx.) | 📐 Format/Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 45mm × 35mm | JPEG/JPG (≤80 KB) |
| Signature | ~35mm × 80mm | JPEG/JPG (≤80 KB) |
📝 XAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
XAT is a computer-based test (CBT) of 180 minutes conducted in English. Part 1 (170 minutes) includes VALR, DM, QA & DI; Part 2 (10 minutes) includes GK.
📊 Section-Wise Distribution (Approx.)
| Section | Important Topics | Questions (≈) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALR | Critical/analytical reasoning, RC (incl. poems/cartoons), vocabulary, grammar, para-jumbles, cloze, etc. | 26 | Within Part 1 (170 min) |
| Decision Making | Real-life scenarios from personal/professional contexts; judgement, prioritization, ethics. | 21 | Within Part 1 (170 min) |
| QA & DI | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern math; DI with interpretation, summarization, insights. | 28 | Within Part 1 (170 min) |
| GK | Static GK (≈8) + Current Affairs (≈12) | 20 | 10 min (Part 2) |
| Total | — | ≈95 | 180 min |
📐 Marking Scheme
| Type | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| All scored MCQs (Part 1) | +1 | -0.25 |
| GK (Part 2) | No negative | No negative |
*GK doesn’t contribute to overall percentile/cutoff; considered in XLRI selection.
🚫 Skipping Penalty
- Skip up to 8 questions: no penalty.
- Beyond that: -0.1 per skipped question.
📚 XAT 2026 Syllabus (Guided)
XAT does not publish a rigid syllabus; the following list is curated from trends and official overview.
📅 XAT Study Planner
Prioritize DM and RC-heavy VALR early; keep daily GK reading. Use weekly full mocks + deep analysis for best results.
📘 How To Prepare For XAT 2026?
XAT tests Decision Making uniquely along with VALR, QA & DI, and GK. Preparation should blend concept mastery, practice, and judgement calibration.
🧠 Phase 1: Build Concepts & DM Frameworks
- Refresh QA & DI basics, strengthen RC & CR foundations.
- Study common DM themes: ethics, conflict, constraints.
- Practice quick data parsing & note-making for RC/DI.
⏱️ Phase 2: Timed Sets & Mini Mocks
- Solve topic-wise drills; weekly DM set marathons.
- Maintain a GK journal; revise weekly compendiums.
- Track accuracy & decision rationale in a logbook.
📊 Phase 3: Full Mocks + Deep Analysis
- Practice slot-length (3-hour) mocks with XAT-like interface.
- Calibrate skipping strategy (protect from skip-penalty).
- Build section-ordering & time budgeting for Part 1.
✨ Tip: Keep DM answers consistent with facts given, fairness to stakeholders, and long-term sustainability.
📝 Mock Tests for XAT 2026
| Topic | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALR | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here |
| Decision Making | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here |
| QA & DI | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here | Click here |
🎯 Section-wise Preparation Strategy For XAT 2026
- How to ace VALR for XAT?
- How to ace Decision Making?
- How to ace QA & DI?
- How to analyse XAT mocks effectively?
- Day-before-XAT checklist
📘 Decision Making – Suggested Resources
- Previous Years’ XAT DM Sets (must-do)
- Business Ethics & Case Judgement Practice
- Analyze editorials for stakeholder perspectives
📘 VALR – Suggested Resources
- High-level RC practice (poems, philosophy, arts)
- Advanced CR & para-jumbles practice
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- Wren & Martin – Grammar
📘 QA & DI – Suggested Resources
- NCERT Mathematics Books (6–10) for basics
- Arun Sharma – Quantitative Aptitude
- Sarvesh Verma – Quantum CAT (targeted for QA)
- DI sets with summarization & inference focus
📘 GK – Suggested Resources
- Daily newspapers: The Hindu / Financial Express
- The Economist (long-form awareness)
- Manorama Yearbook
- Monthly current affairs compendiums
📍 XAT 2026 Test Cities
XAT is conducted in 100+ cities across India. Choose your preferred city during registration.
🎫 XAT 2026 Admit Card
Admit cards are tentatively available from 20 December 2025 on xatonline.in.
📥 How To Download:
- Visit the official XAT website and log in.
- Go to the “Admit Card” section.
- Download and save/print the PDF.
✅ Things To Carry On XAT Exam Day
- Printed XAT 2026 Admit Card
- Valid Government Photo ID
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Mask/sanitizer as per center guidelines
- Medical/scribe documents (if applicable)
❌ Do NOT Carry
- Electronic gadgets (phones, smartwatches, calculators, etc.)
- Wallets, bags, study material
- Food & beverages (except allowed items as per instructions)
- Metallic accessories; restricted clothing/items as per test-center rules
📊 XAT 2026 Exam Analysis
Detailed slot-wise analysis (difficulty, section trends, expected percentiles) will be available post-exam. Track changes in DM case styles, VARC RC genres, and QA topic weights.
Use previous years’ analyses as a benchmark for pacing and selection strategy in mocks.
📊 XAT 2026 Results
Learn about result timelines, scorecards, and next steps.
📅 Expected Result Window
Results are typically released in January. Download the scorecard from the official website when announced.
📈 Scorecard Details
Section-wise and overall scores/percentiles are shared. Normalization is applied across test forms.
🧾 Response Sheet & Answer Key
Response sheets and keys are published prior to results for transparency and objections (as notified on the official site).
📝 After Results: What Next?
- Shortlists & PI/WAT schedules are released by individual institutes.
- Follow each institute’s portal for status and documentation.
- Prepare for interviews focusing on DM rationale & GK awareness.
XAT 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
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📥 Start Free Prep NowGet in touch (XLRI)
XLRI – Xavier School of Management, C. H. Area (East), Jamshedpur – 831001, Jharkhand, India
0657-6653203 / 04 / 05 • admis@xlri.ac.in
Caution: Admissions to XLRI programmes are purely merit-based. No Management/NRI Quota. Beware of fraudulent claims.