XAT 2026: Answer Key (Out), Response Sheet (Out), Cutoff, Result (Jan 31), Counselling, Updates

The XAT 2026 provisional answer key has been released on January 9, 2026. Test takers can log into their online portals to download the XAT answer key. Earlier, the XAT 2026 response sheet was released on January 6, 2026, and the results are expected to be out on January 31. The XAT 2026 exam was conducted on January 4, 2026, in an online, computer-based test mode, in a single session from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. 

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for MBA admission to over 250 colleges in India. Students eager to know more about the XAT 2026 exam can go through the XAT 2026 expected percentile score analysis, exam dates, admit card, etc. 

Check the table below for the major highlights of XAT 2026 exam.

Also Read: Do You Know THESE Latest Changes in XAT?

The XAT full form is Xavier Aptitude Test and it is a national-level entrance exam conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur for the selection of candidates from across the country for admission to MBA/PGDM courses offered by XLRI and 10 other XAMI member institutes. Additionally, over 250 B-schools across India accept XAT exam 2026 scores for admission to various postgraduate courses. The XAT exam has been conducted by XLRI for more than 75 years and it is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams among aspirants who wish to pursue higher education in the field of management.

XLRI was founded in 1949 by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and is based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. XLRI began by offering courses for management and trade unions in 1949 before setting up a two-year, full-time program in industrial welfare in 1953. In 1955, it took on the name Xavier Labor Relations Institute and became India's oldest business management school.

The XAT 2026 exam dates & schedule have been released by the exam authorities online on the official website. Students can refer to the XAT 2026 exam dates listed in the table below.

The first step toward taking the XAT exam is signing up by filling out the XAT application form. To begin the XAT 2026 registration, candidates must first create their XAT ID and password on the official website. Applicants can follow the instructions given below to create their XAT account. 

• Visit the official website for XAT 2026.
• Click on the ‘Register’ button displayed on the top right corner of the page.
• Fill out your basic information, such as name, email address, contact number, location, and password.
• Once the form is successfully submitted, the newly created XAT ID and password will be displayed on the screen. Candidates should note down these credentials for future reference.
• After creating the XAT ID, verify your email address by visiting the ‘unique registration link’ that will be sent to your email ID.
• Once you have created and verified your login credentials, proceed with the remainder of the registration process.

XAT Application Last Date To Apply 2026

The XAT registration process 2026 began on July 10, 2025, and continued till December 11, 2025. If planned to appear for the XAT exam 2026, complete the registration process and pay the application fee within the stipulated deadline. The XAT application schedule and exam dates have been posted on the official website @xatonline.in

Meeting the eligibility criteria for the XAT exam is vital for candidates who want to pursue an MBA course at any college or university that accepts XAT scores. Students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for XAT are bound to be rejected for admission during further assessment rounds. The detailed XAT 2026 eligibility criteria are given below.

• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum duration of three years or an equivalent degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

• Final-year students can also apply for the exam. A providential certificate or a previous year's mark sheet is mandatory for registration in such cases.

• Individuals with a professional degree like CA/CS are also eligible for the XAT exam 2026.

• Candidates are not required to meet a minimum aggregate marks/percentage criteria in their bachelor’s degree for the XAT exam.

• There is no upper age limit for candidates to apply for XAT.

• There is no limit to the number of attempts a candidate can take for the XAT exam.

• Candidates who are foreign nationals can also apply for the XAT exam, based on their GMAT scores.

The XAT 2026 admit card will be made available online for registered candidates only. No hard copies of the XAT admit card are sent to candidates via post or mail. To download the admit card for XAT exam 2026, candidates should follow the instructions given below.

• Candidates need to visit the official website for XAT 2026.

• On the website, candidates need to find and click on the ‘Login’ button

• Candidates need to provide their login credentials, including their XAT ID and Password to log in to their account.

• Once they have successfully logged into their account, candidates need to find the ‘Admit Card’ tab and click on it.

• The option to download the admit card should be displayed on the Admit Card page.

• Candidates should click on ‘Download’ and save their admit cards in PDF format.

XAT 2026 will be conducted in a single slot on the first Sunday of January 2026. The exam timings were changed this year, instead of being held from 9.30 am to 12.40 pm, the exam will be held from 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm. The total duration of the XAT 2026 exam will be 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes).

Check out the exam day guidelines for XAT 2026 that must be followed by all candidates to ensure a smooth examination experience:

• Make sure to print the XAT 2026 admit card on an A4 size paper and bring your admit card and original ID proofs as specified in the admit card. Check if the photo and the signature of the candidate are properly printed. Keep the digital admit card on your mobile phone. You must affix your photograph as required, there is an assigned space in the admit card where the photo has to be pasted with glue before handing it over for verification at the XAT exam 2026 test centre.

• Reach the examination center at least 90 minutes before the exam begins to avoid last minute hassles. Verify the seating arrangements once you reach the exam center. Also verify your documents with the verification personnel.

• Use the writing pad provided to complete all rough work. The writing pad with all pages intact will have to be returned along with the pen after completion of the examination to the hall invigilator. Do not waste writing pad pages as no extra writing pad will be given to the candidates.

• Use the washroom beforehand.

• Do not apply henna or mehndi on the palm side. This instruction is mainly given to girls attempting the examination. This is suggested as applying mehndi on the palm side will cause trouble in capturing the candidate’s biometric fingerprint which is mandatory for entering the examination lab.

• Do not use the keyboard ever during the examination; this will lock your computer system.

• Any kind of gadget is prohibited in the exam lab. Do not carry them with you. Otherwise, the examination will be cancelled for the candidate.

XAT answer key is released to help candidates match their responses with the correct answers. Initially, XLRI Jamshedpur releases the provisional answer key on which candidates can raise objections. Here are the steps one needs to follow to download the XAT 2026 answer key.

• Visit the official website of XAT 2026.

• Click on the ‘Login’ tab located on the top-left corner of the page.

• Enter your XAT ID and Password to login.

• After successfully logging in, click on the "Candidate Response" tab.

• Download the answer key and check your responses.

XAT 2026 Percentile vs Marks

XAT 2026 Good Score

Candidates will be able to download their scorecards for XAT 2026 from the official website. A physical copy of the scorecard can also be requested from XLRI by candidates. To avail of this option, candidates need to pay Rs.300 as Demand Draft (DD) payable to XLRI, Jamshedpur, at Jamshedpur. Candidates can follow the instructions given below to check the XAT 2026 result.

• Candidates need to go to the official website for XAT 2026 - xatonline.in

• Candidates need to click on the ‘Login’ button located in the top-left corner of the page.

• Candidates need to provide their registered email and password to log into their account.

• Once successfully logged in, candidates need to click on the "Scorecard" button.

• The XAT 2026 result will be displayed on this page.

• Candidates can download their results and save it in PDF format for future reference.

Also Read:

Check out the expected XAT 2026 cutoff provided below.

XAT Cut Off 2026 for PGDM-HRM

XAT Cut Off 2026 for PGDM-BM

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The XAT 2026 selection process begins after the XAT results are declared. Typically, the selection process begins in the month of February. The selection process consists of three rounds, Group Discussion, Written Aptitude Test/Essay Writing, and Personal Interview. Candidates who have successfully passed the cutoff requirements for the XAT exam will be eligible for the selection process. It includes the following stages.

• Appearance in the XAT 2026 exam.

• Shortlisting of candidates based on the cutoff requirements of participating institutes.

• Further selection rounds involve Group Discussion, Written Aptitude Test/Essay Writing, and Personal Interview.

• Final selection is done on the basis of the candidate's performance in the prior selection rounds and considering other factors.

  • Candidate Profile

  • Previous Academic Scores

  • Work Experience (if applicable)

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Check out the list of the top XAT 2026 participating colleges you can consider applying for.

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Check out the XAT 2026 exam pattern provided in the table below.

To begin preparations for XAT exam 2026, aspirants must first become familiar with the XAT 2026 syllabus. Although XLRI, Jamshedpur does not specify a definite syllabus for XAT to maintain flexibility in the exam pattern, some specific topics and subjects have been included in the exam for many years. Take a look at the important topics covered in each section of XAT 2026:

XAT 2026 will be held across several XAT 2026 exam centers in 79 test cities in India. The candidates were required to fill out one XAT Test City in the application form.

A good preparation plan should be complemented with XAT 2026 exam preparation tips and guidelines while preparing for XAT. Check out the best tips for XAT preparation mentioned below:

• Candidates must fully understand the format of the XAT exam 2026, which includes the number of sections, question types, and time constraints. Additionally, candidates ought to allow enough time to acquaint themselves with the syllabus and identify the subjects on which they possess a basic comprehension.
• Create a thorough study library with excellent study materials, such as XAT books, online resources, and video lectures. Find a mentor to assist you with your studies and look for XAT 2026 coaching centers that offer crash courses.
• Candidates are required to take four to five mock exams per week in order to improve their practice and comprehension of the questions that will be asked on the XAT exam 2026. Examine your errors and confirm that you comprehend the fundamental ideas after each practice test.
• Make sure you assess your performance thoroughly after each mock exam so you can identify your areas of weakness and strengthen them. You should also focus on answering questions quickly by identifying the ones that require too much time. 
• Given the limited time allotted for the XAT exam 2026, consider time management immediately. Set a timer and complete practice questions as if they were part of the actual exam to increase your accuracy and speed.
• Focus on building a strong conceptual foundation for the reasoning and quantitative sections rather than just memorizing shortcuts. You will be able to respond to a variety of questions if your concepts are clear.
• Read articles from newspapers, magazines, and the internet to broaden your vocabulary as you prepare for the VARC section. Regular reading will help you become more proficient at reading comprehension.
• Consider carefully going over and evaluating the main concepts, calculations, and techniques from the last few weeks. Try to limit your revisions to the subjects you know a lot about or are proficient in. Do not pick up new subjects at this time.

Check out the list of best books for XAT 2026 which are recommended by experts for XAT preparation mentioned below:

Best Books for XAT Decision Making

Best Books for XAT Verbal and Logical Ability

Best Books for XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Best Books for XAT General Knowledge

XAT previous year question papers are a vital source for exam preparation. Analysing these papers helps one understand the exam pattern and the types of questions that are frequently asked.

It also aids in time management by practising the time-bound tests, which mirror the actual exam scenario. Furthermore, solving these papers boosts confidence and helps one identify the areas that need more focus. Download the XAT previous year papers PDF provided below.

The XAT Sample Papers are an excellent resource for increasing exam preparedness for the XAT exam 2026 and aiming for a high score. Here are some benefits of practicing the XAT example sample papers:

• XAT sample papers help in improving speed, accuracy, and time management. Students will be able to know the time they have to devote to each section by solving the sample papers of XAT.

• XAT exam sample papers also help in identifying their strong and weak areas in XAT preparation. Aspirants can devote their time and adjust their preparation strategies accordingly.

• Solving XAT sample papers 2026 will help the candidates get familiar with the type of questions that will be asked in XAT 2026. It will help them be better prepared and get to the answers quicker.

• You can get sample papers of XAT as many times as you want from various sources online. You can solve sample papers and practice problems multiple times to analyze your progress.

• You can practice and utilize new tips and tricks when solving sample papers. It is a good way to find out what works and what does not work.

The XAT 2026 mock test will be released in the last week of December 2024, on the official website for XAT (xatonline.in). Candidates can access the mock test by visiting the official website for XAT and clicking on the ‘Mock Test’ tab/link displayed on the homepage. Mock tests are a crucial part of any student's preparation for entrance exams. These mock tests help students gauge their level of preparedness against the exam pattern and the syllabus for the XAT exam. That being said, it is important that XAT aspirants take the official mock test for XAT since this mock test will resemble the actual XAT exam most accurately.

Also Read:XAT 2026 QA & DI Practice Questions & Answers