XAT Notification 2025 - Registration (Extended Till Dec 10), Exam Dates (OUT), Exam Day Guidelines

XAT Exam Dates, Highlights, Changed Exam Pattern, Registration Process, Revised XAT Fee, Exam Day Instructions

Updated on 21st November 2024| 1:06 pm | #XATNotification2025

The official XAT 2025 notification was released on July 15, 2024, which announced the beginning of the XAT 2025 registration process. Candidates who are seeking admission to MBA courses can apply on the official website at xatonline.com, along with other details such as the registration process, application fee, and the necessary documents.

The XAT 2025 exam is scheduled to be held on January 5, 2025. Registrations for the same are still open and will close on December 10, 2024. As a result, it's time for all the serious XAT aspirants to ramp up their preparation and practice as many mocks as possible at this time.

A good preparation plan and a stringent adherence to it are a must till the exam day. Though the preparation for XAT is comparable to CAT, the decision-making section in XAT necessitates additional preparation. Continue reading this article to know more about the latest updates and major changes for XAT 2025 exam.

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XAT Notification 2025

On July 15, 2024, the official XAT notification was released, which included all the important information, such as XAT 2025 registration window dates, XAT 2024 eligibility criteria, XAT 2025 exam dates, XAT syllabus 2025, XAT exam fee, and more.

According to the XAT 2025 notification, the registration process for the exam had already started on July 15, 2024, and will conclude on December 10, 2024

The XAT 2025 exam is set to take place on January 5th, 2025. This exam plays a crucial part in gaining admission to XLRI and other MBA colleges accepting XAT scores in India.


What is XAT Exam?

The Xavier Aptitude Test, or XAT, is a national-level entrance exam that usually takes place 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 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.


XAT Notification 2025 - Important Exam Dates

The XAT 2025 dates were announced by XLRI at the official website. As per the official notification released by XLRI, the schedule and important dates of XAT 2025 are mentioned in the table below for your reference:

XAT 2025 Events

XAT Exam Dates

XAT Notification Release

15th July 2024

XAT Registration Start Date

15th July 2024

XAT 2025 Registration Last Date (Extended)

10th December 2024

XAT Admit Card Release

20th December 2024

XAT Exam Date

15th January 2025

XAT Answer Key 2025

2nd week of January 2025

XAT Result 2025

Third/Fourth week of January 2025


XAT Notification 2025 - Key Highlights

Significant changes have been observed in the syllabus and paper pattern for XAT 2025. Given below is an overview of what the candidates can expect before they begin preparations for the XAT exam.

XAT Exam Highlight

XAT Exam Details

Exam Name

Xavier Aptitude Test

XAT Official Website

https://www.xatonline.in/

Conducting Body

XLRI Jamshedpur

Frequency

Annually

Registration Mode

Online

XAT Exam Mode

Computer-based

Medium of Exam

English

Total time

180 Minutes

Total Questions

95

XAT Exam Sections

Part 1: Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Part 2: Mock Keyboard Testing

Part 3: General Knowledge

XAT Marking Scheme

  • +1 mark for correct answer
  • - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer
  • - 0.10 marks for more than 8 unattempted questions
  • No negative marking in the GK section (Marks of the GK section will be counted in the final section process)

Courses Offered

MBA, PGDM


XAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

XAT 2025 registrations are ongoing, and before filling out the exam form, candidates must check that they meet the XAT exam eligibility criteria if they wish to take the exam.

Have a look at the XAT eligibility criteria 2025 to have a fair understanding of whether you are eligible to appear for the XAT exam or not.

If a candidate fulfills all of the above-mentioned XAT eligibility requirements, they should fill out the XAT application form as soon as possible as the last date to apply for the same is 30th November 2024.


XAT Notification 2025: Direct Link For XAT Registration

The XAT 2025 exam usually takes place in a single slot during the day which is all set to take place on 5th January 2025. Given below is the step-by-step XAT Registration Process 2025; all the serious XAT aspirants must hurry and fill out the XAT application form to avoid any last-minute hassle:

XAT Registration Steps

XAT 2025 Registration Procedure

Visit the official website of XAT 2025

All the new applicants for XAT 2025 must visit the official website (https://www.xatonline.in/) and click on the 'Registration' tab.

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 2025 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 2025.

Verify Your Email ID

Candidates must verify the email ID and get their XAT ID to log in and fill out the XAT application form.

Provide your information and scan the documents

    You need to fill in the following details:

  • Personal information
  • Educational qualifications
  • Work experience after graduation
  • Choice of XLRI PGDM programs
  • Preferred test cities
  • Make sure to have all your documents nearby and carefully review the instructions before proceeding with the scanning process.

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.

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 2025 application form, as any further changes will not be entertained once the XAT admit card is issued.


XAT Notification 2025: Major Changes In XAT Exam Pattern

The revised XAT exam pattern 2025 has been announced, and significant changes have been observed in the latest exam structure and XAT paper pattern. The Essay Writing section has been scraped out, and the number of questions in the General Knowledge section has been reduced. The duration has also been reduced from 210 minutes to 180 minutes.

As per the latest XAT exam pattern 2025, the question paper will be divided into two parts, which can be categorized as follows:

Note: Mark that Candidates will have 170 minutes to solve the questions in the first part, there will be no sectional time limitation, and 10 minutes will be allotted for the GK section. PwD candidates will get an extra 20 minutes for each section.

The table given below briefly explains the XAT exam pattern 2025 to provide you with a fair idea of what can be expected from a candidate.

XAT 2025 Details

Exam Structure

XAT Exam Sections

Part 1: Decision Making, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation

Part 2: General Knowledge

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test

XAT 2025 Duration

Overall: 180 Minutes

Part 1: 170 Minutes

Part 2: 10 Minutes

Number of Questions

95

Marking Scheme

  • +1 mark for correct answer
  • - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer
  • - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions
  • No negative marking in the GK section

XAT Marking Scheme 2025

The XAT paper pattern also includes detailed guidelines regarding the XAT marking scheme. It includes details for mark distribution per correct, incorrect, and unattempted questions in the XAT paper. The following is the brief XAT 2025 marking scheme.


XAT Notification 2025: Revised XAT Application Fee

Unlike most other MBA Entrance Exams, the XAT Exam Fees is not differentiated based on the candidate's category. Apart from the XAT Application fees, candidates also need to pay for the programs that they wish to apply for:

Particulars

XAT Application Fees

XAT 2025 registration fee

INR 2200

Additional fee for XLRI programmes

INR 200 per programme

NRI/Foreign Candidates applying through GMAT

INR 5000

Indian candidates applying for XAT through GMAT

INR 2500


XAT Notification 2025 - Important Exam Day Instructions

It is mandatory for candidates to follow the guidelines provided by the conducting body on the XAT 2025 exam day. If any candidate is found breaking the rules, he/she may face inconvenience. The XAT 2025 exam day guidelines are as follows:

Don't Forget Your XAT Admit Card

XAT is no different from other entrance exams, thus it is essential for all the candidates to bring a hard copy of their admit card. Candidates need to have at least two printed copies of the XAT 2025 admit card as instructed by XLRI Jamshedpur. Make sure to have your admit card with you before you arrive at the exam center, as no candidate will be allowed to enter without it.

Check Your Exam Center Location in Advance

The exam center is assigned to the candidate on the basis of preference of location and will be printed on the XAT 2025 admit card. It's usually a good idea to visit the exam center a few days prior to the exam date to familiarize yourself with the location and avoid any last-minute hassles on the date of the exam.

Documents To Be Carried On XAT 2025 Exam Day

Apart from the two printed copies of the XAT admit card 2025, candidates are also required to carry certain other documents for verification purposes. The documents that the need to carry are as follows:-

Since the XAT 2025 exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode, a rough sheet and a pen will be provided if needed. Hence, candidates are not required to carry those items.

XAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines

XAT 2025 Exam Day Instructions - After Entering The Exam Hall


Conclusion

XAT is widely considered as a challenging MBA entrance exam with fewer applicants, probably due to its difficulty level and the limited number of institutions accepting it. However, candidates preparing for CAT may find value in considering XAT as an option, as they both share similarities in their structure apart from the decision making section. Candidates should look to give as many entrance exams as they can in order to broaden their options.

Frequently Asked Questions

XAT is held only once every year in the first week of January. The registration for XAT 2025 started in the second week of July 2024, i.e., on July 15, 2024, and is still ongoing. All serious XAT aspirants are advised to hurry up and fill out their application forms to avoid any last-minute hassles.

Here is a list of the top B-schools accepting the XAT scores

  • XLRI Xavier School of Management
  • Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME)
  • Xavier Institute of Management & Research (XIMR)
  • Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)
  • T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)
  • MICA
  • Goa Institute of Management (GIM)

XAT is comparatively easier to pass than CAT as it provides candidates with more time and flexibility. In CAT, candidates must answer 66 questions within 120 minutes, which means they have approximately 49 seconds per question. While, in XAT, there are 76 questions to be answered in 175 minutes, allowing around 138 seconds per question. Consequently, candidates who take the CAT often struggle due to the constraints of speed and time. On the other hand, XAT enables candidates to allocate time for reading and eliminating choices while answering questions.

No, electronic gadgets including calculators are not allowed inside the examination hall.

Suggested Readings

XAT Preparation Tips XAT 2025 Online Classes XAT Test Series Free Resources For XAT Preparation