XAT Exam Registration 2026: Exam Dates, Pattern, Syllabus, Admit Card, Preparation Tips
Latest Update: XAT exam registration for 2026 has started on July 10th and will continue until December. Earlier, XLRI announced the date for the XAT 2026 exam on its official XAT website. The XAT exam 2026 is a national-level entrance exam. Over 100,000 candidates apply for it each year. Read the article to get complete details about XAT registration 2026.
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) exam will be conducted on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The application window for XAT started on July 15, 2024. To register for the exam, candidates need to complete the online application form and submit the required fee on the official website xatonline.in. The XAT exam will be conducted in a single session at more than 100 test centres across India. The duration of the XAT exam is 3.5 hours, and it will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode.
XAT 2026 Important Dates
Find the XAT 2026 exam dates schedule below:
| XAT Events | XAT 2026 Dates |
| XAT 2026 registration form date | July 10, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 registration last date | December 05, 2025 |
| XAT 2026 admit card date | December 20, 2025 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2026 exam date | January 4, 2026 |
| Response sheet of XAT 2026 | January 2026(Expected) |
| XAT 2026 result date | January 2026(Expected) |
Read More – XAT Syllabus – Section-wise important topics
XAT Registration: XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for XLRI Jamshedpur, you need:
– A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, with a minimum duration of three years, in any discipline.
– Even if you are waiting for your final-year Bachelor’s degree results, you can still apply.
– There are no specific mark requirements or age limits.
XAT Registration Process
XLRI commenced XAT registration on July 10, 2025. Below are the steps to register for XAT:
- Go to the official XAT website, xatonline.in, and click on the “register” tab.
- Create a new account to receive the XAT ID and registration link.
- Set a login password for your XAT account.
- Log in and select your preferred exam city for XAT.
- Upload your photograph and signature.
- Select your nationality and programme, and fill in the required details.
- Pay the registration fee and submit your application.
Read More: XAT Cutoff
XAT Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | No.of Questions | Marks Per Question | Total Marks |
Suggested Time Allocation |
| PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A | ||||
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 1 | 26 | 55-60 |
| Decision Making | 21 | 1 | 21 | 50-55 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 28 | 1 | 28 | 55-60 |
| Total | 75 | 75 | ||
| PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check | ||||
| PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks | ||||
| General Awareness | 25 | 1 | 25 | No Negative Marks |
| Essay | The essay will be assessed if the candidate is shortlisted for the interview. | |||
Part A questions have a negative marking of – 0.25 for each incorrect response. In addition, there is a penalty of -0.1 mark for every unattempted question after 8 unattempted questions.
Read More – XAT Exam Pattern
XAT Syllabus 2026
The exam conducting body has not officially released a syllabus for the XAT exam. However, below is a compilation of topics that have been asked in the XAT examination over the years. The following is the XAT 2026 syllabus, and candidates should prepare accordingly.
| XAT 2026 Sections | XAT 2026 Syllabus |
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc. |
| Decision Making | Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Business, Politics, Science, Economy, Static GK, Sports, Prize and World, Government, Award, Constitution of India, etc. |
Read More – MBA vs PGDM – Differences, salaries, jobs, higher education
XAT Registration: Exam Preparation Tips
To prepare for the XAT 2026 entrance exam, students can follow these tips:
- Create a structured study plan for the XAT 2026 exam.
- Study each topic from the XAT syllabus section by section.
- Take notes and make flashcards for shortcuts, formulas, techniques, tricks, and vocabulary.
- Read the newspaper daily to improve vocabulary and general knowledge.
- Practice XAT mock tests and regularly solve previous year’s question papers.
XAT Exam Analysis 2026
Based on the previous year’s XAT examination analysis, the upcoming exam is expected to be moderately difficult. Once the exam is over, a detailed analysis of the XAT exam 2026 will be available on this website based on feedback from students and experts.
Read More: XAT Analysis
XAT 2026 Response Sheet and Answer Key
The XAT answer key and response sheet are typically published 3-4 days after the exam. Students can access and download their XAT answer key and recorded responses on the official XAT website at xatonline.in.
XAT Results 2026
The XAT 2026 results are expected to be released by XLRI Jamshedpur in the last week of January 2026. By logging in with their XAT login credentials, candidates will be able to download the XAT 2026 scorecard from the official website, xatonline.in.
Read More: How to prepare for XAT in one month?
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Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the XAT exam?
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission into MBA and PGDM programmes at over 160 top B-schools across India.
- When will the XAT 2026 exam be conducted?
The XAT 2026 exam is scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 2026.
- How can I register for the XAT 2026 exam?
Registration for XAT 2026 can be completed online by visiting the official XAT website (xatonline.in), filling out the application form, and submitting the required fee.
- What is the application fee for the XAT 2026?
The application fee for XAT 2026 is Rs. 2200.
- What is the eligibility criterion for applying for XAT 2026?
To be eligible for XAT 2026, candidates need a Bachelor’s degree of a minimum of three years duration in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students awaiting results can also apply.
- What is the pattern of the XAT exam?
The XAT exam consists of Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, General Knowledge, and Essay writing sections conducted in computer-based test mode over 3.5 hours.
- Is there any negative marking in the XAT exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking of -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer and -0.10 marks for leaving more than eight consecutive questions unanswered, except in the General Knowledge section, which has no negative marking.
