XAT

Overview

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to its own postgraduate management programmes, and is also used as an admission criterion by many other XAMI (Xavier Association of Management Institutes) and associated business schools across India.

Who can apply

Candidates need a bachelor's degree of at least three years' duration (or equivalent) in any discipline from a recognised university. Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply, provided they complete their degree by the date XLRI specifies (10 June 2026 for the 2026 cycle). There is no upper age limit.

Exam pattern

XAT 2026 is a computer-based test with roughly 95 questions.

Each question carries 1 mark, with a deduction of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Candidates can leave up to 8 questions unattempted without penalty; beyond that, 0.1 marks are deducted per additional unattempted question.

Syllabus

XAT does not follow a fixed academic syllabus. Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation draw on standard postgraduate-entrance-level reasoning, English and mathematics skills. Decision Making, distinctive to XAT, tests judgment through case-based situations rather than a topic list. General Knowledge covers current affairs and static awareness.

Marking and results

Each correct answer earns 1 mark, incorrect answers lose 0.25 marks, and excess unattempted questions (beyond the first 8) lose 0.1 marks each. XLRI releases the result along with percentile scores, which participating institutes use for their own shortlisting and further rounds (written ability test/group discussion/personal interview).

Important dates

For the 2026 cycle, XAT registration opened on 10 July 2025 and closed on 5 December 2025, admit cards were made available from 20 December 2025, and the exam was held on 4 January 2026. XLRI announces the schedule for each cycle on xatonline.in.

Fees

For XAT 2026, the application fee was ₹2,200, with an additional ₹200 for each XLRI programme a candidate selects on the same application.

How to apply

Candidates register online on xatonline.in, fill in personal, academic and programme-preference details, upload the required photograph and signature, and pay the fee online. Selecting XLRI's own programmes on the same form requires the additional per-programme fee.

After the exam

After XAT results are declared, XLRI and other XAMI/associated institutes shortlist candidates using the XAT percentile along with academic and work-experience profile, followed by their own further rounds such as a written ability test, group discussion or personal interview, depending on the institute.

Preparation tips

Because Decision Making is unique to XAT and not covered in most other management entrance exams, practising XAT-specific case-based decision questions separately is important. The negative marking for excess unattempted questions means candidates should plan attempts carefully rather than skipping difficult questions freely. Regular reading of current affairs helps with the General Knowledge section, which has no fixed syllabus to revise from.

FAQs