If you are planning to do an MBA or PGDM from a top B-school in India, you are probably waiting for the XAT exam date. XLRI Jamshedpur conducts this exam every year on behalf of XAMI (Xavier Association of Management Institutes). XAT 2027 exam will be held on January 3, 2027.
This exam opens doors to more than 250 top B-schools across India, including XLRI, XIMB, XIM University, and many more. What is unique about XAT is that it is known for its unique Decision Making section, which is not found in most other MBA entrance exams. XAT is a computer-based test (CBT). This blog covers everything you need to know about XAT exam date and other relevant details:
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XAT Exam Date 2027: Important Dates
Here are the official and most important dates for the upcoming XAT exam cycle, as announced by XLRI on the official website:
| Event | Date |
| XAT 2027 Registration | July 15, 2026 |
| XAT Registration Ends | December 6, 2026 |
| XAT Admit Card Download | December 20, 2026 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2027 Exam Date | January 3, 2027 (2 PM to 5 PM) |
| XAT Result 2027 | End of January 2027 |
How to Register for XAT 2027?
As XAT exam date 2027 is out, the registration process starts soon. Here is the step by step guide for a smooth registration process:
Step 1: Visit the official XAT website: xatonline.in
Step 2: Click on “New Registration” and enter your basic details like name, email, and mobile number.
Step 3: You will receive a unique XAT ID and a verification link on your email.
Step 4: Log in using your new XAT ID.
Step 5: Fill up all the required details of the XAT 2027 application form.
Step 6: Upload your recent photograph and signature as per the XAT guidelines
Step 7: Select up to 4 preferred exam cities.
Step 8: Pay the XAT registration fee of Rs 2,300 online. Candidates who prefer to take admission in XLRI programmes need to pay an additional fee of Rs 200.
Step 9: Download and save a copy of your filled XAT application form and payment receipt for future reference.
Important Update on XAT Exam Date 2027
XAT aspirants who register on Day 1, that is July 15, 2026, will get the first preference to choose their preferred exam city. They will receive the city confirmation by August 5, 2026.
Therefore, candidates are advised to register early rather than waiting until the last date.
XAT Exam Date 2027 Released – Know The Eligibility Criteria
- You must have a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from a UGC-recognised university, in any stream
- Final-year students who are awaiting results in 2027 can also apply
- Candidates with professional qualifications like CA, CS, or ICWA are also eligible
- There is no upper age limit or minimum work experience needed to appear for XAT
XAT Exam Pattern 2027
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) | 26 | 170 minutes |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | |
| General Knowledge (GK) | 20 | 10 minutes |
| Total | 95 | 180 minutes |
XAT 2027 Marking Scheme
- Each correct answer gets 1 mark
- Every incorrect answer has a negative marking of 0.25 marks
- You can skip up to 8 questions without any penalty. Beyond that, 0.1 marks are deducted for every skipped question
- The General Knowledge section has no negative marking.
The GK section does not count towards your overall percentile. However, XLRI considers GK scores separately during final selection.
XAT Exam Date 2027 Out- Centres To Choose From
XAT is conducted in over 100 cities across India, including major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, and many Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Top Colleges Accepting XAT Score
More than 250 B-schools accept XAT scores for MBA/PGDM admission, including-
| XLRI Jamshedpur | TAPMI Manipal | MICA |
| XIM University Bhubaneswar | Great Lakes Institute of Management | Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool) |
| IMT Ghaziabad | BIMTECH | FORE School of Management |
If your target is XLRI or any of the 250+ B-schools that accept XAT scores, mark your calendar now: registration opens July 15, 2026, and the XAT exam date 2027 is on January 3, 2027.
XAT Exam Date FAQs
The XAT exam is scheduled for January 3, 2027, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, in a single slot across India.
Registration for the upcoming XAT cycle (XAT 2027) opens on July 15, 2026, on the official website xatonline.in.
The registration window for XAT closes on December 6, 2026.
XAT is considered unique because of its Decision Making section and negative marking pattern, which many students find tougher than CAT’s format. Overall difficulty depends on individual strengths.
You need a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from a recognised university in any discipline. Final-year students can also apply.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts. You can appear for XAT every year as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
Generally, a percentile of 90+ is considered competitive for XLRI’s flagship BM and HR programmes, though cutoffs vary slightly each year based on difficulty level.
Yes. Every incorrect answer in Part A leads to a deduction of 0.25 marks. There is also a penalty for skipping more than 8 questions.
XAT is a Computer-Based Test (CBT), conducted online at designated test centres, not a pen-and-paper exam.
No, you cannot change the exam city after registration. To select your preferred city, you need to register early.
XAT scores are accepted in over 250 b-schools across India, including XLRI Jamshedpur, TAPMI Manipal, MICA, XIM University Bhubaneswar, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool), IMT Ghaziabad, BIMTECH and FORE School of Management.
