The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) XAT Colleges is one of the most prestigious MBA entrance exams in India conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. It is widely accepted by over 160+ B-schools across the country for MBA/PGDM admissions. If you’re planning to appear for XAT 2026, this blog offers a comprehensive list of top MBA colleges accepting XAT scores along with their expected cutoffs, eligibility, exam pattern, and key preparation insights.
XAT 2026 Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025 |
| 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 2025 |
| Official Website | career mantra |
Top XAT Accepting Colleges with Cutoffs (Expected)
| MBA College | XAT Cutoff Percentile (General) |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM Program) | 95–96 |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM Program) | 93–94 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 90+ (Profile-based) |
| XIM University, Bhubaneswar | 90 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 85–90 |
| TAPMI, Manipal | 80–85 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | 80 |
| GIM Goa | 85 |
| LIBA Chennai | 75–80 |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi | 80 |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management | 85 |
| IRMA Anand | 80 |
| IFMR GSB, Krea University | 75–80 |
| BIM Trichy | 80 |
| MICA Ahmedabad (for PGDM-C via XAT) | 80+ + MICAT |
Note: Cutoffs may vary for reserved categories, gender diversity, academic profile, or work experience.
XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- Must hold a Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
- No age limit or minimum percentage requirement.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Time Duration |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | ~26 | Part of 175 mins |
| Decision Making | ~21 | |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | ~28 | |
| General Knowledge (Not used for shortlisting) | ~25 | 15 minutes |
| Essay Writing | 1 Topic (evaluated after shortlisting) | Included in 210 mins |
Marking Scheme:
- +1 for every correct answer
- -0.25 for incorrect answers
- -0.10 for more than 8 unattempted questions
- No negative marking in GK section
Best Colleges for Different XAT Percentile Ranges
| XAT Percentile | 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 |
Preparation Tips for XAT
- Decision Making is unique to XAT; practice caselets and ethical dilemmas.
- Focus on reading comprehension and verbal logic for the VA section.
- Strengthen fundamentals for QA and practice DI sets.
- Regularly attempt mocks and past XAT papers.
Final Thoughts
With its unique exam structure and high acceptability, XAT is a great gateway to top MBA colleges beyond the IIMs. Whether you’re targeting XLRI or other reputed institutes, understanding cutoffs, refining your test strategy, and choosing the right colleges based on your expected percentile is crucial.
Keep track of official announcements and start your preparation early for best results!
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