Updated on 4th June 2026 | 5:57 pm | #XAT2027
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a competitive national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI.
The XAT 2027 notification is expected to be released on the official XAT website in the second week of July.
The XAT exam is expected to be held on 3rd January 2027. Candidates should regularly check the official website for the latest updates on registration, exam dates, admit card, and pattern.
Serious XAT 2027 aspirants should start their preparation early to improve their chances of getting into their dream B-school through XAT.
The Xavier Aptitude Test, or XAT, is a national-level exam that is usually held in the first week of January every year. The XAT exam is conducted by XLRI on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). This exam is conducted for admissions to MBA and PGDM courses across more than 160 top MBA colleges in India. Some of the prominent B-schools that accept XAT scores include XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, SP Jain, K.J. Somaiya, TAPMI, and others.
The XAT question paper usually consists of 95 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. The XAT cutoffs for XLRI’s PGDM-BM & HRM program are usually above 95 %ile for male candidates and 92 %ile for female candidates.
Check the XAT 2027 tentative exam dates in the table given below
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XAT 2027 Events |
XAT Exam Dates |
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XAT Notification release |
Second week of July, 2026 |
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XAT registration starts |
Second week of July, 2026 |
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XAT Registration last date |
First Week of December, 2026 |
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Release of XAT admit card 2027 |
Fourth Week of December, 2026 |
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XAT exam 2027 |
January 3, 2027 |
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XAT answer key release and challenge |
Second week of January 2027 |
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XAT 2027 result announcement |
Third week of January, 2027 |
To stay updated on all the latest information on XAT, visit XAT 2027 Notifications
The XAT exam will allow students to apply for admission to XLRI and other top institutes for the batch of 2027-29. Here are the relevant details to know about the exam:
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XAT Exam Highlights |
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XAT Exam Highlight |
XAT Exam Details |
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Exam Name |
Xavier Aptitude Test |
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XAT Official Website |
https://xatonline.in/ |
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Conducting Body |
XLRI Jamshedpur |
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Frequency |
Annually |
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Registration Mode |
Online |
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XAT Exam Mode |
Computer-based |
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Medium of Exam |
English |
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Total time |
180 Minutes |
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Total Questions |
95 |
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XAT Exam Sections |
Part 1: Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Part 2: Mock Keyboard Testing Part 3: General Knowledge |
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XAT Marking Scheme |
No negative marking in the GK section (Marks of the GK section will be counted in the final section process) |
All XAT aspirants must adhere to the XAT 2027 eligibility criteria and ensure that they fulfil every requirement before filling out the XAT application form. Candidates must know that their candidature will stand cancelled in case of any discrepancy found in their eligibility status.
Have a look at the XAT eligibility criteria 2027 to have a fair understanding of whether you are eligible to appear for the XAT exam or not.
XLRI is expected to release the XAT notification in July 2026, most likely around the second week of July, based on the previous year’s timeline.
No, the official XAT exam date has not been confirmed yet on the official XAT website. Based on the usual first-Sunday-of-January pattern, the exam is expected around early January 2027, but candidates should wait for the official notification for confirmation.
XAT registration usually starts in July every year. Like previous year, this year too the registration is expected to start around the second week of July.
Given below is the step-by-step XAT Registration Process 2027. All serious XAT takers must hurry and fill out the XAT application form to avoid any last-minute hassle:
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XAT Registration Steps |
XAT Registration Procedure |
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Visit the official website of XAT exam |
All new applicants for XAT 2027 must visit the official website |
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Register and enter your Personal Details |
Fill in your credentials and provide the necessary details required to generate a login ID and password to proceed with the XAT application form. Once done, you will receive a verification email from XLRI. Click on the link, and you will be redirected to the XAT application form 2027. |
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Verify Your Email ID |
Candidates must verify their email ID and get their XAT ID to log in and fill out the XAT application form. |
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Provide your information and scan the documents |
You need to fill in the following details:
Make sure to have all your documents nearby and carefully review the instructions before proceeding with the scanning process. |
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Remit the application fee online and register successfully |
You can make the registration payment online using a credit/debit card, UPI, or net banking. After the payment, you can register for the exam successfully. |
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Download the application form and print it out for future reference |
Ensure that you save the application form and print it. The enrollment ID provided on the form will be used to download your XAT admit card later on. |
Make sure that you check each and every point in detail before submitting your XAT application form, as any further changes will not be entertained once the XAT admit card is issued.
The XAT registration usually ends in the first week of December. However, all serious XAT takers should complete the XAT exam registration process as soon as possible. To ensure a smooth registration experience, we recommend that candidates complete the process at least 3-4 days prior to the deadline. This will help students avoid any unnecessary hassle at the last minute and complete the entire process smoothly and within the given time frame.
As we are aware that XAT can potentially change its pattern significantly, it's important to highlight some key registration pointers as follows:
The XAT Exam Fees are expected to remain the same as those of last year. Apart from the XAT Application fees, candidates also need to pay for the programs that they wish to apply for:
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Particulars |
XAT Application Fees |
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XAT registration fee |
INR 2200 |
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Additional fee for XLRI programmes |
INR 200 per programme |
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NRI/Foreign Candidates applying through GMAT |
INR 5000 |
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Indian candidates applying for XAT through GMAT |
INR 2500 |
The exam conducting body does not officially release any specific XAT syllabus 2027. However, we have compiled a list of topics that have been asked in the XAT examination over the years to provide you with a gist of the areas from where the majority of questions are asked in the exam. The following is the XAT 2027 syllabus, and candidates should prepare accordingly.
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XAT 2027 Exam Syllabus |
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XAT Exam Sections |
Part 1
Part 2
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The XAT exam has a syllabus that is very similar to that of other MBA exams in India. While it covers core topics, it distinguishes itself with sections dedicated to decision-making. To provide a more precise overview, here's an outline of the XAT syllabus across all sections:
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XAT Exam Sections |
Main Topics Covered Under XAT Syllabus 2027 |
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Verbal & Logical Ability |
Vocabulary, Para jumble, Grammar, Fill in the blanks, Analogy, Binary Logic, etc. |
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Decision Making |
Data Arrangement, Assumptions, Complex Arrangement, Conclusions, etc. |
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Caselets, Data charts, Tables, etc. |
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General Knowledge |
Economics and Finance, Books, Authors, the Constitution of India, Current Affairs, etc. |
Yes, final-year graduation students can fill the XAT exam application form, provided they complete their final exams within the deadline mentioned in the official notification.
The official last date for the XAT 2027 form has not been announced yet. Based on the XAT 2026 timeline, registration is usually expected to close around early December.
For XAT 2027 registration, candidates will generally need a valid email ID and mobile number, scanned photograph, scanned signature, academic details, work experience details if applicable, program preferences, and payment details. The final document requirements should be checked once the official XAT registration form is released.
Yes, GK is important for XAT exam, but it is usually not counted in the XAT percentile calculation. The GK score is generally considered during the later selection process by XLRI and other participating institutes. So, candidates should prepare for GK seriously.
XAT admit cards is released in the last week of December, and remains accessible until the day of the examination. Once available, the XAT admit card 2027 can be downloaded from the official website. Candidates can use their XAT login ID and password to download the XAT 2027 admit card.
Candidates must download their XAT 2027 admit card only after carefully verifying that the details are correct. In case of a discrepancy, contact the test helpdesk via the official website. It's mandatory to carry a printed copy of your XAT admit card to the XAT exam center on the day of the exam. To download the XAT admit card, follow these steps:
Once the XAT admit card is released, candidates must verify the details mentioned on the admit card. In case of any discrepancy, they can contact the XAT helpdesk.
Ensure that you carry the XAT admit card with you on the day of the examination; otherwise, entry inside the hall will not be permitted.
It is very important to have a thorough strategy and a customised study schedule in the last days before the exam, as these are crucial days when you cannot afford to lose any precious time doing something that will not contribute to your score. One should aim to have a proper test-taking strategy in order to ace XAT exam
Here are a few tips straight from the horse's mouth to help you prepare better and to answer the most asked question - “How to prepare for XAT 2027?” in this last mile, as follows:
Every year, the number of XAT exam centers keeps on increasing with the increased demand for the XAT exam. XAT is most likely to be taking place in 110 different cities. XLRI has recently added 34 new cities to the XAT test city list. Candidates can choose up to six cities for XAT exam center allotment at the time of filling out the XAT application form.
Given below is the list of XAT test cities for your reference. Check the list and make the necessary arrangements well before the exam.
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XAT Test Cities 2027 |
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Agra |
Dibrugarh |
Anantapur |
Chikkaballapur |
Ahmedabad |
Durgapur/Asansol |
Arrah |
Davanagere |
Aurangabad |
Ernakulam |
Bhagalpur |
Hazaribagh |
Allahabad |
Gandhinagar |
Darbhanga |
Hisar |
Ambala |
Goa |
Muzaffarpur |
Kalaburagi |
Amravati |
Gorakhpur |
Bilaspur |
Kurukshetra |
Amritsar |
Guwahati |
Mehsana |
Shimla |
Bengaluru |
Gwalior |
Baddi |
Ajmer |
Berhampur |
Hooghly |
Balasore |
Bikaner |
Bhatinda |
Hubballi(Hubli) |
Dhenkanal |
Jodhpur |
Bhilai Nagar |
Hyderabad |
Kolhapur |
Nanded |
Bhopal |
Indore |
Patiala |
Sikar |
Bhubaneswar |
Jabalpur |
Ujjain |
Karimnagar |
Chandigarh/Mohali |
Jalandhar |
Salem |
Vellore |
Chennai |
Jaipur |
Aligarh |
Bareilly |
Coimbatore |
Jammu |
Haldwani |
Moradabad |
Cuttack |
Jamshedpur |
Muzaffarnagar |
Kalyan |
Dehradun |
Kannur |
Ranchi |
Tirupathi |
Delhi-NCR |
Kanpur |
Roorkee |
Tiruvallur |
Dhanbad |
Kolkata |
Rourkela |
Tejpur |
Kota |
Kottayam |
Sambalpur |
Udaipur |
Kurnool |
Madurai |
Vadodara |
Udupi |
Lucknow |
Mangalore |
Vijayawada |
Varanasi |
Mumbai |
Mysuru (Mysore) |
Warangal |
Visakhapatnam |
Nagpur |
Nashik |
Rajkot |
Jorhat |
Patna |
Siliguri |
Shillong |
Naharlagun |
Pune |
Surat |
Raipur |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Rajahmundry |
Tiruchirappalli |
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There are 800+ MBA colleges in India that accept the XAT exam score for admission to their MBA/PGDM programs. Here's a list of some well-known top colleges accepting XAT score:
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Colleges accepting XAT scores |
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XLRI Jamshedpur |
XLRI Delhi NCR |
XIM Bhubaneswar |
IRMA Anand |
GLIM Chennai |
TAPMI Manipal |
FORE Delhi |
GIM Goa |
LIBA Chennai |
BIM Tech Noida |
MICA |
IMT Ghaziabad |
KJ SIMSR Mumbai |
Welingkar Mumbai |
LBSIM Delhi |
BIM Trichy |
XLRI Jamshedpur is the most renowned among these institutions and oversees the organization of the XAT Exam. The HR program is regarded as exceptional, not only within India but across Asia. The Business Management course offered by XLRI Jamshedpur is the top choice for many MBA aspirants and is often considered one of the finest courses alongside MBA/PGDM by IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta.
The XAT answer key will be released about a week after the exam. Candidates can download the XAT response sheet and answer key using their login details. Here’s a simple guide to downloading it:
After downloading, review the correct answers (highlighted in green) and compare them with your responses listed next to each question ID. This will help you calculate your raw score. If you believe any answer in your XAT response sheet needs to be corrected, XLRI allows you to raise objections via email.
XAT results will be declared in the last week of January 2027. Here is a stepwise approach for downloading your XAT 2027 scorecard:
Note: Download the XAT 2027 result document and take a printout for future reference.
XAT scores are accepted by 250+ B-schools in India, including XLRI, XIMB, MICA, IMT Ghaziabad, GIM, TAPMI, and XIME. Candidates should check the official XAT participating institutes list before applying.
XAT is held once a year. It is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI.
XAT and CAT are both competitive MBA entrance exams, but their difficulty lies in different areas. CAT is often more speed-driven, while XAT gives comparatively more time per question but includes unique sections like Decision Making and General Knowledge. Therefore, XAT is not necessarily easier than CAT; it requires a different preparation strategy.
No, calculators and electronic gadgets are not allowed in the XAT exam. Candidates must solve Quant and DI questions without a calculator.
Yes, Decision Making is one of the most important sections in XAT 2027. It is a unique XAT section and plays a key role in overall exam performance.
Yes, CAT preparation can help with XAT 2027, especially in Quant, DI, and Verbal Ability. However, candidates must separately prepare for Decision Making and GK.