XAT Exam Dates 2026 were released on the Xavier School of Management's official website on July 10, 2025, along with the official notification. The XAT 2026 exam is slated for January 4, 2025. The XAT 2026 registration period became live online at xatonline.in, on July 10, 2025. Candidates can complete and submit the XAT 2026 registration form by December 5, 2025, with no scope for any extension, as per the authorities.
To learn more about the XAT exam dates 2026 and other significant XAT-related events, keep reading the entire article.
XAT Exam Dates 2026
The XAT 2026 exam date is January 4, 2026. The deadline for the XAT 2026 application form is December 5, 2025, and registration is still open. XLRI Jamshedpur will administer the XAT 2026 exam.
The exam will be conducted in a computer-based format in more than 70 cities at specific testing locations. More than 800+ B-schools across India will provide MBA/PGDM admissions through the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT). Candidates who want to take the XAT exam can use the table below to find out the crucial dates for upcoming XAT events.
XAT 2026 Exam Dates
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XAT 2026 Events |
XAT 2026 Dates |
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XAT 2026 registration starts |
July 10, 2025 |
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Official XAT Mock Test 2026 |
27-Sep-2025 to 28-Sep-2025
29-Oct-2025 to 01-Nov-2025
19-Nov-2025 to 20-Nov-2025
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Mock Test Registration Deadline |
November, 16, 2025 |
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XAT Form Correction 2026 |
Oct-14-2025 to Oct-16-2025
25-Nov-2025 to 27-Nov-2025
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XAT 2026 Registration Last Date |
December 05, 2025 |
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Release of XAT admit card 2026 |
December 20, 2025 |
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XAT exam 2026 |
January 04, 2026 |
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XAT 2026 answer key release and challenge |
Second week of January 2026 |
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XAT 2026 result announcement |
Third week of January, 2026 |
XAT 2026 Registration Date
XLRI Jamshedpur enabled the XAT 2026 registration link and published other crucial exam dates online on July 10, 2025, at xatonline.in. Candidates must submit the online XAT application form 2026 before the deadline, which is December 5, 2025, on the official website. The anticipated registration fee for the XAT in 2026 is Rs. 2200 for all categories, plus Rs. 200 for each additional program.
Following is a description of the XAT 2026 registration and application process:
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Go to xatonline.in to access the XAT 2026 website.
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Enter the necessary information by clicking on "New Registration".
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The candidate receives a special XAT ID and a registration link via their confirmed email address.
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To confirm your registration, click the link.
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Visit the XAT 2026 homepage and select "login."
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Type your email address and password to access the application form.
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Fill out every field on the XAT 2026 application form that is necessary.
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Before pressing the submit button, double-check the information.
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Pay the INR 2,200 XAT 2026 application fee with a credit/debit card, UPI, or online banking.
Candidates can select up to 6 cities while filling out the XAT 2026 application form. Based on availability, the testing authority assigns the candidate's top-choice city as the exam location. The test centre will be assigned in the following city that has been chosen if a seat is not available at the test centre in the first location of preference.
XAT 2026 Registration Fee
The basic XAT 2026 registration fee is ?2200, which is the same as in 2025. Indian candidates must pay an extra ?200 for each XLRI program they apply to. Indian candidates must pay ?2500 for the PGDM (GM) program through GMAT/GRE, whereas NRI/Foreign/PIO/OCI candidates must pay ?5000.
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XAT 2025 Exam Fee: INR 2,200
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XLRI Program Fee: An additional INR 200 per program
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Indian Candidate PGDM(GM) via GMAT/GRE: INR 2,500
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NRI/Foreign Candidate through GMAT: INR 5,000 for one or more programs
XAT 2026 Application Form Correction Window Dates
The XAT 2026 exam has two correction windows: The first one took place from October 14–16, 2025, and the second one is currently ongoing from November 25–27, 2025. The final window is the second one.
The deadline for candidates who have already registered is November 25, 2025, to November 27, 2025, at 9 A.M. Candidates are able to change their test city selections, papers, work experience, statement, and personal and academic details.
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XAT 2026 Application Form Correction
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Dates
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Registration begins
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10 July 2025
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Last date to apply
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December 5, 2025
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Registration Correction Window Phase 1
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October 14–16, 2025
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Registration Correction Window Phase 2
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November 25–27, 2025, at 9:00 PM
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XAT Exam Date
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January 4, 2026
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XAT Admit Card Date 2026
The XLRI Jamshedpur official website will host the publication of the XAT 2026 admit card, most probably on December 20, 2025. It contains all information relevant to the entrance exam, including the candidate's roll number, information on the XAT exam centre, reporting hours, and instructions for exam day.
From the time of release till the day of the test, XAT 2026 admit cards will be made accessible for download. Check out the instructions for downloading the XAT 2026 admit card, which must be brought to the testing location:
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Visit the official XAT 2026 website.
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Press the "Download admit card" button.
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After providing information such as your XAT User ID and birthdate, click "login."
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Simply select the "admit card" tab, download the PDF, and print it off.
XAT Exam Date 2026
The Xavier School of Management (XLRI) annually administers the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), a national entrance exam, to candidates wishing to enroll in MBA and PGDM programs at more than 1000+ Indian colleges and universities. The XAT 2026 exam will be administered online as a computer-based test on January 4, 2026.
XAT Answer Key Dates 2026
According to the notification, XLRI will publish the XAT 2026 answer key and response sheet shortly after the test, probably in the second week of January 2026. Candidates can use the objection window to contest the XAT answer key by logging in with their XAT ID and password.
The candidate response sheet and the preliminary XAT answer key will be made available in response sheet form. Check the steps for downloading the XAT 2026 answer key and response sheet:
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Open this link or go to the XAT 2026 website: https://xatonline.in/
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Go to the "response sheet" tab.
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Username and password
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Candidate response to produce answer key and question paper' should be clicked.
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The XAT answer key will be shown.
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Click the download icon, then choose "Save Link As."
XAT Results Dates 2026
The Xavier School of Management (XLRI) will make the XAT exam 2026 results available online in the third week of January 2026. Applicants will be able to download their XAT 2026 Scorecard and view their sectional and overall percentile on the official website. Additionally, XLRI will mail the candidates a physical copy of their XAT 2026 scorecard in exchange for a Demand Draft (DD) for Rs. 300 made out to XLRI Jamshedpur, payable in Jamshedpur.
Shortlisted candidates will get invitations to the final selection rounds, which include the Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Aptitude Test (WAT), following the announcement of the results.
Keep note that the analytical essay writing test will be conducted during the GD/PI phase instead of during the main exam set to take place on January 4, 2026, so prepare well.
A quick explanation of the XAT result download process is provided below:
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Go to xatonline.in to access the XAT ONLINE website
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Select the "Scorecard" tab.
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After entering your XAT User ID and birthdate, click "login."
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Save a copy of the XAT result cum scorecard as a PDF by downloading it.
For admission to XLRI Jamshedpur, the XAT result and scorecard would be valid for just one year. An applicant will need to retake the exam if they want to skip a year.
XAT Cut-off Dates
XLRI Jamshedpur is anticipated to disclose the XAT 2026 cut-off for each program, probably in the first week of February 2026. Candidates asked to participate in further selection stages, such as group discussions, written ability tests, and personal interview rounds, must satisfy the specified cut-off.
XAT Selection Process 2026
Based on their XAT 2026 result, applicants will be shortlisted for the selection process and invited to take the Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT) rounds. All participating institutes will execute the XAT selection process nationwide, perhaps in February or March 2026.
XAT Cut-offs: Top MBA Colleges
Top MBA Colleges that participate in the XAT release admission cut-offs to narrow down the list of candidates for interviews and personal interviews on their websites. Look at some of the top XAT institutes' predicted cut-off scores and percentiles for MBA admission:
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XAT colleges
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XAT cut-off score
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XAT cut-off percentile
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XLRI-Jamshedpur
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35.5-38.5
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94-92
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XIMB-Bhubaneswar
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30.5-32.5
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90-93
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SPJIMR-Mumbai
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32.5-34.5
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93.50-95
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IMT-Ghaziabad
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30.5-32
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90-92
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GIM-Goa
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27.5-30.5
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85-90
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TAPMI-Manipal
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26-27.5
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80-85
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IRMA-Anand
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26-27.5
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80-85
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MICA-Ahmedabad
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26-27.5
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80-85
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Great Lakes Institute of Management
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26-27.5
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80-85
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LIBA-Chennai
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26-27.5
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80-85
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KJ Somaiya-Mumbai
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27.5-30.5
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85-90
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FAQs for XAT 2026 Exam Dates
Q1. In what format will the XAT 2026 be administered?
The XAT exam 2026 will be a computer-based test that will be delivered online.
Q2. When will XAT registration for 2026 begin?
XAT enrolment for the year 2026 began online on July 10, 2025.
Q3. When is the last day to apply for the XAT 2026?
Candidates have until December 5, 2025, to submit their XAT 2026 application.
Q4. When is the XAT exam in 2026?
The XAT exam is scheduled for January 4, 2026.
Q5. Is the XAT administered twice yearly?
XAT is a once-a-year national-level MBA entrance exam.
Q6. Is the XAT a difficult test?
Compared to the CAT exam, the XAT is a less challenging MBA entry exam. Candidates who are preparing for the CAT exam can also take the XAT 2026 exam because the syllabi for both of these MBA exams are identical.
Q7. What month is the XAT exam held each year?
Every year in the month of January, the XAT exam is given online.
Q8. Is there a yearly XAT?
Yes, the XAT exam is only given once a year.