XAT 2025: Exam Date (Jan 5), Registration (Last Date Nov 30), Syllabus, Pattern, Mock Test

What is XAT Exam?

The Xavier Aptitude Test, or XAT, is a national-level exam that is usually in the first week of January every year. The XAT exam is conducted by XLRI on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). This exam is conducted for admissions to MBA and PGDM courses across more than 160 top MBA colleges in India. Some of the prominent B-schools that accept XAT scores include XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, SP Jain, K.J. Somaiya, TAPMI, and others.

The XAT question paper consists of 95 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. The XAT cutoffs for XLRI’s PGDM-BM & HRM program are usually above 95 %ile for male candidates and 92 %ile for female candidates.

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XAT 2025 Exam Dates

The XAT 2025 dates were announced by XLRI at the official website. As per the official notification released by XLRI, the schedule and important dates of XAT 2025 are mentioned in the table below for your reference:

To stay updated on all the latest information on XAT 2025, visit XAT 2025 Notifications

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XAT 2025 - Key Highlights

XAT 2025 will allow students to apply for admission to XLRI and other top institutes for the batch of 2025-27. Here are the relevant details to know about the exam:

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XAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

XAT 2025 registrations are ongoing, and before filling out the exam form, candidates must check that they meet the XAT exam eligibility criteria if they wish to take the exam.

Have a look at the XAT eligibility criteria 2025 to have a fair understanding of whether you are eligible to appear for the XAT exam or not.

• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university of three years or more in any discipline.
• Candidates in their final year of a bachelor's degree or with their results awaited are also eligible to take XAT 2025 (date of graduation should be by 10th June 2025).
• There are no age bars for candidates aspiring to take the XAT exam.
• The XAT exam does not require a minimum pass percentage.
• GMAT exam is required for NRI students.

If a candidate fulfills the above-mentioned XAT eligibility requirements, they must hurry to fill out the XAT application form as the last date to apply for the same is 30th November 2024.

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XAT Registration Process 2025

The XAT 2025 exam usually takes place in a single-day session which is all set to take place on 5th January 2025. Given below is the step-by-step XAT Registration Process 2025; all the serious XAT takers must hurry and fill out the XAT application form to avoid any last-minute hassle:

Make sure that you check each and every point in detail before submitting your XAT 2025 application form, as any further changes will not be entertained once the XAT admit card is issued.

Other Important Points

As we are aware that XAT can potentially change its pattern significantly, it's important to highlight some key registration pointers as follows:

• There is no specific age limit to register for XAT 2025.
• XAT Registration dates are extensible and will be governed by XLRI, the test administrator.
• In case there is a delay in registration, you can be sure that the XAT admit cards will be available on time.

XAT Registration Fee 2025

The XAT Exam Fees remain the same for all candidates, unlike the majority of other MBA Entrance Exams, which are differentiated based on category. Apart from the XAT Application fees, candidates also need to pay for the programs that they wish to apply for:

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XAT Admit Card 2025

XAT admit cards will be released on 20th December 2024 and will remain accessible till the day of the examination. Once available, the XAT admit card 2025 can be downloaded from the official website - https://www.xatonline.in/. Candidates can use their XAT login ID and password to download the XAT 2025 admit card.

How to download the XAT Admit Card?

Candidates must download their XAT 2025 admit card only after carefully verifying that the details are correct. In case of a discrepancy, contact the test helpdesk via the official website. It's mandatory to carry a printed copy of your XAT admit card to the exam center on the day of the exam. To download the XAT admit card, follow these steps:

• Visit the official website of XAT 2025: https://www.xatonline.in/
• Click on the 'Download Admit Card' tab.
• Enter XAT User ID and date of birth and click on login.
• Next, click on the admit card tab.
• The option to download the XAT admit card will appear.
• Click on download and save as PDF.

Details Mentioned on the XAT 2025 Admit Card

Once the XAT admit card is released, candidates must verify the details mentioned on the admit card. In case of any discrepancy, they can contact the XAT helpdesk.

• Name
• XAT ID
• Date of Birth
• Date of Test, Reporting Time, and Gate Closure
• XAT Exam Duration
• XAT exam center address and XAT test city
• Reference number and emergency contact number
• Candidate's signature and photograph
• Supervisor's remarks and signature
• Instructions regarding XAT 2025

Ensure that you carry the XAT admit card with you on the day of the examination; otherwise, entry inside the hall will not be permitted.

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Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score

The XAT 2025 Exam, like the CAT, helps aspiring candidates gain admission to the best B-schools in India. Once the candidates meet the XAT cutoffs, they will have the chance to proceed to the GD-PI rounds for admissions to MBA and PGDM programs. Below are some of the top colleges accepting XAT scores for admissions:

• Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur (XLRI)
• Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME)
• Xavier Institute of Management & Research (XIMR)
• Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)
• T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)
• MICA
• Goa Institute of Management (GIM)

XLRI Jamshedpur is the most renowned among these institutions and oversees the organization of the XAT Exam. The HR program is regarded as exceptional, not only within India but across Asia. The Business Management course offered by XLRI Jamshedpur is the top choice for many MBA aspirants and is often considered one of the finest courses alongside MBA/PGDM by IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta.

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XAT Answer Key 2025

The XAT answer key will be released about a week after the exam. Candidates can download the XAT 2025 response sheet and answer key using their login details. Here’s a simple guide to downloading it:

• Go to the official XAT 2025 website.
• Log in using your XAT ID and password.
• Click on ‘Candidate Response’ to view the answer key and question paper.
• The XAT answer key will appear on the screen.
• Download the PDF and save it on your device.

After downloading, review the correct answers (highlighted in green) and compare them with your responses listed next to each question ID. This will help you calculate your raw score. If you believe any answer in your XAT response sheet needs to be corrected, XLRI allows you to raise objections via email.

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XAT Result 2025

XAT 2025 result will be declared in the last week of January 2025. Here is a stepwise approach for downloading your XAT 2025 scorecard:

• Log on to xatonline.in.
• Enter your enrollment ID and registered password.
• Visit the 'scorecard' section. Your result will be displayed on the screen.
• Download the XAT 2025 result document and take a printout for future reference.

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Selection Process After XAT Exam

Each of the colleges accepting XAT scores carries out their individual admission procedures and interview assessments. For XLRI Jamshedpur, the admission process through XAT chiefly involves three main steps, which are as follows:

Step1: Shortlisting Candidates
Candidates are required to clear the XAT cutoffs to be shortlisted for the following admission rounds.

Step 2: Group Discussion and Interview
Selected candidates are required to participate in a group discussion and interview session, which will take place in multiple centers across different cities. Shortlisted candidates will be given the opportunity to select their preferred location.

Step 3: Final Selection
The final list of candidates will be made based on the XAT scores, GD-PI rounds and academic background among other criteria. Thus, the list of final candidates will be asked to complete the formalities for admissions.

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XAT Exam Pattern 2025

Before attempting XAT 2025, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of its exam pattern to know what the paper looks like, which will provide a better vision of the exam and help prepare effectively.

The table given below briefly explains the XAT exam pattern 2025 to provide you with a fair idea of what can be expected from a candidate.

XAT Marking Scheme 2025

The XAT paper pattern also includes detailed guidelines regarding the XAT marking scheme. It includes details for mark distribution per correct, incorrect, and unattempted questions in the XAT paper. The following is the brief XAT 2025 marking scheme.

• For every correct answer in the MCQs, 1 mark will be awarded.
• For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted.
• If there are more than 8 unattempted questions, a 0.10 mark will be deducted for each unanswered question.
• Scores of General Knowledge section is only for final selection and not for shortlisting candidates for GD/Interview.
• All MCQs will have five answer choices with one correct answer.

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XAT Exam Syllabus 2025

The exam conducting body does not officially release any specific XAT syllabus 2025. However, we have compiled a list of topics that have been asked in the XAT examination over the years to provide you with a gist of the areas from where the majority of questions are asked in the exam. The following is the XAT 2025 syllabus, and candidates should prepare accordingly.

The XAT exam has a syllabus that is very similar to that of other MBA exams in India. While it covers core topics, it distinguishes itself with sections dedicated to Decision Making. To provide a more precise overview, here's an outline of the XAT syllabus across all sections:

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XAT Mock Test 2025

Every year, the conducting body for the XAT releases a mock test on the official website based on the actual paper pattern. This is to give students a taste of the real exam environment for better preparation. All serious XAT takers are advised to take the mock test to excel in the actual exam. The XAT Mock Test will cover all sections, allowing you to experience the exam's format and challenges firsthand.

How to Take the XAT 2025 Mock Test?

• Complete the XAT 2025 Registration Process: Make sure you have submitted your application for XAT 2025.
• Access the Mock Test Portal: The mock test portal link will be enabled in your application dashboard after you have submitted your application.

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XAT Test Cities 2025

XAT 2025 is all set to take place on January 5, 2025, in 110 different cities. XLRI has recently added 34 new cities to the XAT test city list. Candidates can choose up to six cities for XAT exam center allotment at the time of filling out the XAT application form.

Given below is the list of XAT test cities for your reference. Check the list and make the necessary arrangements well before the exam.

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XAT Exam Analysis 2025

Based on the previous year’s XAT examination analysis, the upcoming XAT exam is expected to be moderately difficult. Once the exam is over, a detailed analysis of the XAT 2025 will be available on our website based on feedback from our students and top MBA experts.

Check out the XAT 2025 analysis, number of good attempts, difficulty level and expected XAT Cut-off; visit XAT Exam Analysis 2025

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Conclusion

Undoubtedly, the XAT is widely regarded as one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams, and its relatively lower number of applicants may stem from various factors, including the perceived difficulty level and the limited college options that accept its scores. However, considering the similarities in paper pattern and syllabus with other MBA entrance exams like CAT, candidates preparing for the CAT exam may find it advantageous to also pursue the XAT. With many MBA entrance exams sharing a similar structure, aspiring candidates are encouraged to broaden their opportunities by attempting multiple entrance exams, maximizing their chances of admission to esteemed management institutes.