{"id":17860,"date":"2025-09-29T06:27:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T06:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/?p=17860"},"modified":"2025-09-29T06:27:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T06:27:18","slug":"xat-2026-cut-off-for-top-mba-colleges-check-percentile-admission-criteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/xat-2026-cut-off-for-top-mba-colleges-check-percentile-admission-criteria\/","title":{"rendered":"XAT 2026 Cut Off for Top MBA Colleges: Check Percentile &#038; Admission Criteria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/exam\/33\/xat-2025\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XAT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a premier <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/course\/1\/mba\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MBA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> entrance exam in India, organized every year by XLRI, Jamshedpur. With more than 1,00,000 students sitting for it each year, XAT is a doorway to some of the best B-schools in India. The admission season of 2025 will be very competitive, and knowledge of the XAT cut-off scores for leading MBA colleges will be essential for strategizing your applications properly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, we present a detailed picture of XAT cut offs for the year 2025 comprising expected percentiles, admission process, section-wise criteria, and other important insights.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why XAT for MBA?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Accepted by 150+ B-Schools including XLRI, XIMB, IMT, and TAPMI<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Conducted by XLRI \u2014 one of India&#8217;s leading management institutes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Tests decision-making skills, a feature not available in CAT<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Good ROI from well-known colleges at lower fees and improved placement numbers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Best MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Scores \u2013 Cut Off 2026 (Expected)<\/b><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Institute Name<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Expected Overall Cut-Off (Percentile)<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Sectional Cut-Off (VARC\/DM\/QA)<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Courses Offered<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XLRI Jamshedpur (BM)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">95-96<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80+ each<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Management<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">93-94<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">75+ each<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human Resource Management<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XIM University (XIMB)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90-91<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70+<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MBA-BM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IMT Ghaziabad<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No strict sectional cut-off<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TAPMI, Manipal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">85-88<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moderate sectional cut-offs<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great Lakes, Chennai<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80-85<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not applicable<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRMA Anand<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80 (with profile)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decision Making critical<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM-RM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LIBA Chennai<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No strict sectional<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GIM Goa<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">85-87<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Profile-based consideration<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FORE School, Delhi<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">85-87<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not mandatory<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PGDM<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Section-Wise XAT Cut Offs 2026 (XLRI BM &#8211; Expected)<\/b><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Section<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Cut-Off (Percentile)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verbal and Logical Ability<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">75-80<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decision Making<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">78-80<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quantitative Ability<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">80-85<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall Percentile<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">95-96<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>XAT Exam Pattern Highlights 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duration: 3 hours (plus 10 mins for essay writing)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sections: Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, General Knowledge, Essay<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marking Scheme: +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, -0.10 for &gt;8 unattempted questions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essay: Taken into account in the final selection round at XLRI and some other institutions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Admission Process Through XAT 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appear for XAT 2026 (Expected Date: Jan 5, 2025)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Score &amp; Percentile Released (Mid-January 2025)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortlisting by Colleges (Based on XAT cut offs)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GD-PI-WAT Rounds (Feb \u2013 March 2025)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Admission Offers (April 2026 onwards)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>XAT Cut Off vs Profile-Based Shortlisting<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a few colleges such as XLRI and XIMB follow strictly percentile cut offs, a few others such as GIM, Great Lakes, TAPMI adopt profile-based shortlisting where academic performance, work experience, and diversity are also taken into account.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Scholarships Based on XAT Score<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merit-based and need-based scholarships are provided by top B-schools such as XLRI, IMT, and XIM University to students with high XAT scores. Always refer to official websites for the latest eligibility criteria and deadlines.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT \u2013 Placement Overview<\/b><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Institute<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Average Package (2024)<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Top Recruiters<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XLRI Jamshedpur<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u20b932.7 LPA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BCG, McKinsey, HUL, Goldman Sachs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">XIMB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u20b916.3 LPA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deloitte, ICICI, PwC, Cognizant<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IMT Ghaziabad<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u20b915.0 LPA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EY, KPMG, Amazon, Flipkart<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TAPMI, Manipal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u20b914.0 LPA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infosys, Accenture, HDFC Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GIM Goa<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u20b913.7 LPA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asian Paints, TCS, Reckitt, KPMG<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>FAQs<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Q1. What is a good score in XAT 2025 to get into XLRI?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A: A percentile of 95+ with balanced sectionals is ideal for XLRI BM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Q2. Do all XAT-accepting colleges follow sectional cut-offs?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A: No, only XLRI and a couple of others like XIMB take sectional cut-offs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Q3. Does work experience play any role in XAT admissions?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A: Yes, some colleges like GIM, IMT, and TAPMI provide weightage to work experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Q4. Is the essay of XAT taken into consideration for shortlisting?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A: The essay is not scored for shortlisting but considered at final selection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Q5. Can I apply for more than one program in XLRI through one XAT form?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A: Yes, both BM and HRM programs are available for a single XAT registration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re aiming to get into top MBA colleges with XAT 2025, knowing cut-offs and strategically preparing is the key. XLRI, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI, and others have great career opportunities \u2014 but perform well in all sections and prepare for GD-PI with the same intensity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>My <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\"><b>Career Mantra<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t prepare for the exam \u2014 prepare for excellence. Good academics, a good XAT score, and good GD-PI performance can get you into the best B-schools. And don&#8217;t forget \u2014 there are scholarships, so set your sights high and apply wisely!<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Related Articles You May Like:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/course\/1\/mba\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top Private MBA Colleges Accepting XAT 2025<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/exam\/33\/xat-2025\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Prepare for XAT Decision Making Section 2025<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a premier MBA entrance exam in India, organized every year by XLRI, Jamshedpur. With more than 1,00,000 students sitting for it each year, XAT is a doorway to some of the best B-schools in India. The admission season of 2025 will be very competitive, and knowledge of the XAT cut-off [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[721],"tags":[789,858,856],"class_list":["post-17860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-xat-exam","tag-mba-admission-by-xat-score","tag-xat-2026-cut-off-for-top-mba-colleges","tag-xat-2026-registration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17860"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17863,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17860\/revisions\/17863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}