The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a top MBA entrance exam in India administered by XLRI Jamshedpur. A good XAT score can get you admission into top-rated B-schools such as XLRI and other top colleges in the country. The guide provides you with comprehensive information on the top MBA colleges accepting XAT 2026 scores, including cutoffs, rankings, fees, and preparation.
XAT 2026 Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025 |
| Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 210 minutes (3 hours 30 minutes) |
| Frequency | Once a year (first or second Sunday of January) |
| Tentative Exam Date | January 5, 2025 (Expected) |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
| College Name | Program | XAT Cutoff (Percentile) | NIRF/Private Ranking |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | PGDM (BM), PGDM (HRM) | 94–96 (BM), 92–94 (HRM) | Top 10 B-Schools |
| XIM University (XIMB), Bhubaneswar | MBA (Business Management) | 90–93 | Top 25 Private B-Schools |
| IMT Ghaziabad | PGDM, PGDM (Marketing/Finance) | 90–92 | Top 30 Private B-Schools |
| TAPMI Manipal | PGDM | 85–88 | Top 40 B-Schools |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | PGPM, PGDM | 80–85 | Top 30 Emerging B-Schools |
| IRMA Anand | PGDM (Rural Management) | 80–85 | Niche: Rural Management |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management | MBA, MBA (Finance, HR, etc.) | 82–85 | Top 40 B-Schools |
| LIBA Chennai | PGDM | 78–82 | Jesuit B-School, Industry-Linked |
| GIM Goa | PGDM, PGDM (BIFS, BDA) | 85–88 | Top 50 B-Schools |
| FORE School of Management, Delhi | PGDM | 78–82 | Well-Established in North India |
| IFMR GSB – Krea University | MBA | 75–80 | Finance-Focused, Research-Driven |
| Welingkar Mumbai | PGDM | 75–80 | Known for Innovation & Design |
XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for XAT 2026 and apply to XAT-accepting institutes, candidates must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline.
- There is no minimum marks requirement (XLRI does not specify % criteria).
- Final-year students are also eligible to apply.
- No age limit or restrictions on number of attempts.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Duration | Marking |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | ~26 | +1/-0.25 per question | |
| Decision Making | ~21 | +1/-0.25 per question | |
| Quantitative Aptitude & DI | ~28 | +1/-0.25 per question | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | ~25 | Not counted in initial cutoff | |
| Essay Writing | 1 | Part of evaluation | Subjective |
| Total Duration | 210 minutes |
Top XAT Accepting Colleges – Fees Overview
| College Name | Approx. Total Fees |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | ₹25–27 Lakhs |
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | ₹20–22 Lakhs |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ₹20–22 Lakhs |
| TAPMI Manipal | ₹17–19 Lakhs |
| GIM Goa | ₹18–20 Lakhs |
| K J Somaiya, Mumbai | ₹18–19 Lakhs |
| LIBA Chennai | ₹15–16 Lakhs |
| FORE, IFMR, Welingkar | ₹14–16 Lakhs |
Best Books for XAT 2026 Preparation
| Section | Recommended Books |
| Verbal & Logical | Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis), High School Grammar (Wren & Martin), TIME RC Booklet |
| Decision Making | Jabbing the XAT (IMS), XAT Decision Making Guide (Career Launcher), previous year papers |
| Quant & DI | Arun Sharma QA, R.S. Aggarwal Quant, Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams |
| General Knowledge | Manorama Yearbook, Lucent GK, Current Affairs (PIB, The Hindu, GK Today) |
| Essay Writing | Editorial Reading (The Hindu/Indian Express), opinion columns, past XAT essay topics |
Final Thoughts
XAT is a very conceptual and off-beat MBA test. Decision Making and Essay Writing differentiate it from CAT. To crack XAT 2025, you need to work on not just Quant and English, but also scenario-based reasoning based on actual real-life situations.
90+ percentile in XAT can bring in a call from XLRI, and 80+ percentile can provide entry to premium institutes such as XIMB, GIM, TAPMI, and IMT. Practice mock tests, decision-making caselets, and essays in the final months.
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