XAT 2026 Expected Cutoff, Score vs. Percentile & Top 15 Colleges List

Category: MBA Entrance Exams | Read Time: 6 Minutes

Are you ready for the "Big Test" after CAT? Or maybe you have just walked out of the exam hall and are frantically searching: "Which college can I get with my XAT score?"

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is often called the "Second Best" MBA exam in India, but for many, it is the Golden Opportunity. With a unique exam pattern and a gateway to premium institutes like XLRI and IRMA, XAT is a game-changer.

In this post, we break down the XAT 2026 Expected Cutoff, the Top 15 Colleges accepting XAT, and why this exam is a massive advantage for Gujarat-based aspirants.

1. Top 15+ Colleges Accepting XAT (With Cutoffs)

Unlike CAT, which is primarily for IIMs, XAT opens doors to a diverse range of elite B-schools. Here is the list of the Top 15 institutes, ranked by their usual cutoff range.

Tier 1: The Dream League (90+ %ile)

These are the flagship institutes. You need high accuracy here.

Rank	College Name	Expected Cutoff (%ile)	Key Highlight
1	XLRI Jamshedpur (BM)	96+	India's Oldest B-School
2	XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM)	93-95	Best HR Program in Asia
3	XLRI Delhi-NCR	92-94	Same legacy, prime location
4	XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB)	90-92	Top-tier legacy institute
5	IMT Ghaziabad	90-91	"Mecca" of Marketing
6	IMI New Delhi	88-90	Corporate-focused, great ROI

 

Tier 2: The High Performers (80-89 %ile)

Excellent placements and brand value. A safe zone for serious aspirants.

Rank	College Name	Expected Cutoff (%ile)	Key Highlight
7	MICA Ahmedabad	80-85 (+ MICAT)	Best for Advertising & Digital Marketing
8	IRMA Anand	80-85	Premier Rural Management Institute
9	GIM Goa	85-88	Rising star, great campus & profile
10	TAPMI Manipal	80-85	Strong Finance & Operations
11	Great Lakes (Chennai)	80-85	One-year fast-track MBA experts
12	FORE School (Delhi)	80-85	Strong Delhi-NCR industry connect
13	KJ Somaiya (Mumbai)	80-82	Huge alumni base in Mumbai

 

Tier 3: The Best Backups (70-79 %ile)

Good ROI and decent start to your career.

Rank	College Name	Expected Cutoff (%ile)	Key Highlight
14	LBSIM Delhi	75-80	Known for Finance
15	LIBA Chennai	75-80	Strong South India presence
16	Welingkar (Mumbai/BLR)	70-75	Innovative programs & location
17	XIME Bangalore	70-75	Disciplined culture

 

2. XAT 2026 Expected Cutoff Analysis

Based on the difficulty levels of XAT 2025 and 2024, the cutoffs typically hover in a specific range. Note that XLRI has Sectional Cutoffs (you need to clear specific scores in VALR, DM, and QA individually).

XLRI Jamshedpur: Business Management (BM)

• Engineer (Male): 96+ %ile
• Engineer (Female): 91+ %ile
• Non-Engineer (Male): 95+ %ile
• Non-Engineer (Female): 90+ %ile

(Note: These are expected figures based on previous year trends and may vary based on 2026 paper difficulty.)

3. Score vs. Percentile: The 2025 Trend

"How many questions do I need to get right to hit 99%ile?"

Here is the data from the previous year (XAT 2025) to give you a realistic target:

• 99+ Percentile: Score 41 - 43 Marks
• 95+ Percentile: Score 32 - 34 Marks
• 90+ Percentile: Score 28 - 30 Marks
• 85+ Percentile: Score 24 - 26 Marks
• 80+ Percentile: Score 21 - 23 Marks

Target: If you can net 30 correct marks, you are likely safe for a top-tier call.

4. The "Hidden" Negative Marking Rule Explained

This is the #1 doubt students have. Unlike other exams where skipping a question is safe, XAT penalizes you for being too passive.

• Correct Answer: +1 Mark
• Incorrect Answer: -0.25 Mark
• The "Unattempted" Penalty: You can leave up to 8 questions blank (unattempted) for free.
• However, starting from the 9th unattempted question, purely leaving it blank will cost you -0.10 marks per question.

Strategy Tip: You cannot simply "skip" the whole paper. It is often better to take a calculated guess or select your strongest areas to minimize blank answers.

 

5. XAT vs. CAT: How is it Different?

Many students make the mistake of preparing for XAT exactly like they did for CAT.

Feature	CAT (Common Admission Test)	XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
Primary Skill	Speed & Accuracy	Decision Making & Stamina
Duration	2 Hours	3 Hours 30 Minutes (approx.)
Key Section	DILR (Data Interpretation)	Decision Making (DM)
GK Section?	No	Yes (Crucial for XLRI Interview)

 

Key Takeaway: XAT tests your managerial ethics and ability to sit through a long, grueling paper. It’s a test of endurance.

6. XAT Benefits for Gujarat Students (Home Advantage)

For MBA aspirants in Gujarat, XAT is arguably the most important exam because it unlocks prestigious institutes right here in the state.

• IRMA (Anand): The Institute of Rural Management Anand is a premier institute. It accepts XAT and is perfect for those looking for a high-ROI degree with social impact.
• MICA (Ahmedabad): Known as the "Mecca of Marketing." While MICA has its own exam (MICAT), XAT scores are valid for the qualifying round.
• Ahmedabad University (AMSOM): A rising star in the management education space, accepting XAT scores.
• PDEU (Gandhinagar): Offers excellent infrastructure and energy/infrastructure management programs.

7. Last-Minute Preparation Tips

• Crack the DM Code: Practice past 10 years of Decision Making questions. Do not rely on "mock" questions for DM; only official past papers are accurate for the logic XAT uses.
• Focus on Accuracy: With the -0.10 unattempted penalty, don't panic. It is better to lose 0.10 than 0.25.
• GK Matters Later: Don't stress too much about GK for the cutoff, but read up on current affairs (last 6 months) for the interview stage.

Conclusion

XAT 2026 is your chance to turn the tables. Whether you are aiming for the legacy of XLRI or the specialized prestige of IRMA in Gujarat, a good XAT score is your ticket.

Keep this page bookmarked! We will update the official Answer Key and Response Sheet links right here as soon as XAT releases them.

All the best for your exam!