Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of India’s top MBA entrance exams, held every year by XLRI Jamshedpur. With more than 160+ premier B-schools accepting XAT scores, it is a first choice for MBA/PGDM candidates seeking options beyond the IIMs. This guide offers a complete list of XAT accepting colleges along with expected cutoffs, eligibility criteria, test pattern, and important preparation tips to assist you in planning your admission strategy for XAT 2026.
XAT 2026 Overview
| Feature |
Details |
| Exam Name |
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body |
XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Mode of Examination |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam Duration |
210 minutes (3 hours 30 minutes) |
| Tentative Exam Date |
First Sunday of January 2026 |
| Official Website |
career mantra |
Top XAT Accepting Colleges with Cutoffs (Expected for General Category)
| MBA College |
Expected XAT Cutoff Percentile |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM Program) |
95–96 |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM Program) |
93–94 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai (Profile-based) |
90+ |
| XIM University (XIMB), Bhubaneswar |
90 |
| IMT Ghaziabad |
85–90 |
| GIM Goa |
85 |
| TAPMI, Manipal |
80–85 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai |
80 |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai |
85 |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi |
80 |
| IRMA, Anand |
80 |
| LIBA Chennai |
75–80 |
| IFMR GSB, Krea University |
75–80 |
| BIM Trichy (Bharathidasan Institute of Management) |
80 |
| MICA Ahmedabad (via XAT + MICAT) |
80+ |
XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- Must hold a Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline.
- Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply.
- No minimum percentage and no age limit for XAT.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section |
No. of Questions |
Time Duration |
| Verbal and Logical Ability (VA) |
~26 |
Part of 175 mins |
| Decision Making (DM) |
~21 |
|
| Quantitative Ability & DI |
~28 |
|
| General Knowledge (GK) |
~25 |
15 minutes (separate) |
| Essay Writing |
1 Topic |
Included in 210 mins |
Marking Scheme
- +1 for every correct answer
- –0.25 for each incorrect answer
- –0.10 for more than 8 unattempted questions
- No negative marking in GK section
Best MBA Colleges for XAT Percentile Ranges
| XAT Percentile Range |
Expected MBA Colleges |
| 95+ |
XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR (profile-based), XIM Bhubaneswar |
| 90–95 |
IMT Ghaziabad, GIM Goa, TAPMI |
| 80–90 |
KJ Somaiya, FORE School, IRMA, LIBA, Great Lakes |
| 70–80 |
BIM Trichy, IFMR GSB, Welingkar Mumbai |
| 60–70 |
JIMS Rohini, XIME Bangalore, KIIT School of Management, ISBM Pune |
XAT Preparation Tips
Master Decision Making
- Practice ethical dilemmas and managerial caselets from past year papers.
Focus on Verbal Ability
- Improve reading speed and comprehension by reading editorials daily.
Revise Quant Basics
- Strong grasp of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation is crucial.
Solve Past Papers and Mocks
- Use time-bound mock tests and analyze errors after each test.
Prepare for Essay Writing
- Practice writing 250-word essays on social/business issues; read opinions from The Hindu & Business Standard.
Popular Keywords to Use
Final Thoughts
XAT continues to be a strong doorway to some of the best-ranked MBA schools in India. Due to its distinctive format — particularly the Decision-Making and Essay components — candidates need to strategize differently than in tests such as CAT or NMAT. Whether you’re targeting XLRI, SPJIMR, or KJ Somaiya, knowledge of cutoffs and college selection based on your likely percentile is the key to an intelligent admissions strategy.
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