XAT Notification 2025

Important Dates, Highlights, Exam Pattern, Guidelines, Registration Process

Updated on 15th July 2024| 3:35 pm | #XATNotification2025

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is an online computer-based management entrance exam that enables successful candidates to get admission to premier B-schools in India. Conducted annually by XLRI  usually in January, with more than 1 lakh students registering for it.

The official XAT notification was released on 15th July 2024, which announced the beginning of the registration process for XAT 2025, candidates who are seeking admission to MBA courses can apply on the official website at xatonline.com, along with other details such as the registration process, application fee, and the necessary documents.

To do well in the XAT exam, it's important to create a good preparation plan and stick to it until exam day. While the preparation for XAT is similar to that of CAT, the decision-making section in XAT requires additional dedicated preparation. Read the article further to know the latest updates on XAT 2025 exam dates.

Start preparing for XAT 2025

What is the XAT Exam?

The Xavier Aptitude Test is a national-level exam that takes place annually usually in the first week of January and is managed by XLRI for the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). This exam is conducted for admissions to MBA and PGDM courses across more than 160 universities across India. The top business schools accepting the XAT exam include XLRI Jamshedpur & Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, SP Jain, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, and others.


XAT Notification 2025: Important Dates

The official XAT notification was released on 15th July 2024; however, based on past trends, the tentative timeline for the XAT exam 2025 will be as follows:

Event

Dates

Notification Release

15th July 2024

Registration Date

15th July 2024

Last Date to Apply for Colleges

30th November 2024

Last Date of Registration

10th December 2024 (Tentative*)

Admit Card Release

4th week of December 2024

Exam Date 

1st week of January 2025

XAT Answer Key 2025

2nd week of January 2025 

XAT Result 2025

Third/Fourth week of January 2025 

*These dates are based on the announcement for XAT 2024 made last year.


XAT Notification 2025: Highlights

The XAT exam 2025 will be on the same lines as the XAT 2024 in terms of the paper pattern. Given below is an overview of what the candidates can expect before they begin preparations for the XAT exam.

Highlights

Details

XAT Full-form

Xavier Aptitude Test

Official Website

xatonline.in

Conducting Body

XLRI Jamshedpur

Mode of Exam

Online (Computer-based)

Medium of Exam

English

Total Time

3 hours and 30 minutes

Total Questions

100-105

Sections

Part 1: Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Part 2: General Knowledge and Essay Writing

XAT Application Form

Online

Courses Offered

MBA, PGDM


XAT Eligibility Criteria

The XAT eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled by the candidates to appear for the exam. Here is the XAT eligibility for 2025 as per last year:

If a candidate fulfills the given XAT eligibility requirements, they are welcome to apply and appear for the exam.


XAT Notification 2025: Exam Pattern

There were a few changes in the XAT exam pattern in the past few years which are expected to remain the same for XAT 2025. The tentative XAT Exam Pattern in terms of the sectional sub-division is given below:

XAT 2025

Details

Sections

Part 1

Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)

Decision Making (DM)

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

Part 2

General Knowledge (GK)

Analytical Essay Writing (AEW)

Total Time

3 hours and 30 minutes

Number of Questions

100-105 questions

Marking Scheme

+1 for each right answer

-0.25 for every incorrect answer

The essay question is evaluated separately after shortlisting

Unattempted Questions

After 8 unanswered questions, -0.1 marks for every unanswered question

Now that we have an understanding of the tentative XAT 2025 exam pattern, here is a summary of the major parameters expected in XAT 2025:

Also Read: XAT Score vs Percentile


XAT Notification 2025: Syllabus

The XAT exam has a syllabus that is very similar to the other MBA exams in India. The only sections solely found in XAT are the Decision Making and Essay Writing sections. Here is a brief outline of the XAT syllabus for all the sections-

Section

Main Topics

Verbal & Logical Ability

Vocabulary, Para jumble, Grammar, Fill in the blanks, Analogy, Binary Logic, etc.

Decision Making

Data Arrangement, Assumptions, Complex Arrangement, Conclusions etc.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation

Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Caselets, Data charts, Tables, etc.

General Knowledge

Economics and Finance, Books, Authors, the Constitution of India, Current Affairs, etc.


XAT Notification 2025: Registration Process

The examination will be held in the first week of January in a single-day session. Here are the steps to register in advance for the XAT Exam to avoid any last-minute hassle:

Step

Instructions to Register

Visit XAT 2025 Official Website

New applicants should open the official website and click on “Register 2025”.

Register and Enter Your Personal Details

Fill in the required details and submit the form.

You will receive a verification email from XLRI.

Click on the link and you will be redirected to the Application form.

Verify Your Email ID

Candidates must verify the email ID and get their XAT ID to login and fill in the form.

Fill in your details and scan the documents.

You will be required to fill in the following details

Personal information

Educational qualifications

Work experience after graduation

Choice of XLRI PGDM programs

Preferred test cities

Keep all your documents handy and read the instructions carefully before scanning them.

Remit the application fee online and register successfully.

The registration fees can be paid online through credit/debit/UPI or Net banking.

After the payment, you can register for the exam successfully.

Download the application form and take a printout for future reference.

Ensure that you save the application form and print it. The enrolment ID mentioned on the form will help you download your XAT admit card later on.

Other Important Points

As we are aware that XAT can completely shift its pattern, it is necessary to encircle some important pointers regarding registration as stated below:

XAT Application Fee

The XAT Exam Fees are not differentiated based on the category of the candidate, unlike most other MBA Entrance Exams. Apart from the XAT Application fees, candidates also need to pay for the programs that they wish to apply for:

XAT Admit Card

XAT admit cards will be available from the last week of December till the day of the examination. Candidates can download the XAT admit card by logging in to the official website with the User ID and password. Once logged in, click on the “Download Admit Card” tab and download the XAT admit card in a PDF format. Take a printout of the document for future reference.

The following details will be mentioned on the XAT admit card:

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


Premier B-Schools that Accept XAT Score

The XAT 2025 Exam, like CAT, helps aspiring candidates gain admission to the best B-schools in India. After clearing the XAT cutoffs candidates will garner the opportunity to clear the GD-PI rounds for admissions to MBA and PGDM programs. Some of the best B-Schools that accept the XAT scores are mentioned below.

XLRI Jamshedpur is the most prominent among these colleges and acts as the convener of the XAT Exam. The HR program is considered to be one of the best in Asia let alone India. The Business Management course is one of the best in India and is generally the candidate’s dream college uttered in the same breath as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, or IIM Calcutta.

An elaborate list of colleges accepting the XAT Score will be available on the official XAT 2025 website.

For further details: Colleges accepting XAT Score


XAT Exam 2025: Result

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


Selection Process After XAT 2025

All the institutes that accept the XAT scores conduct their own admission processes and interview rounds. The admission process through XAT for XLRI Jamshedpur primarily follows three steps. These 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
Shortlisted candidates must undergo a group discussion and interview round. These rounds will be conducted in various centers across several cities and shortlisted candidates will have to choose 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.


Conclusion

XAT is often considered a challenging MBA entrance exam with fewer applicants, possibly due to its difficulty level and the limited number of accepting institutions. However, candidates preparing for CAT may find value in also considering XAT, as many MBA entrance exams share similarities in their structure. Candidates should consider taking multiple entrance exams to broaden their options.

FAQS

XAT is held only once every year in the first week of January. The registrations for XAT 2025 will begin in the second week of July 2024.

Here is a list of the top B-schools accepting the XAT scores

  • XLRI Xavier School of Management
  • 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)

XAT is comparatively easier to pass than CAT as it provides candidates with more time and flexibility. In CAT, candidates must answer 66 questions within 120 minutes, which means they have approximately 49 seconds per question. While, in XAT, there are 76 questions to be answered in 175 minutes, allowing around 138 seconds per question. Consequently, candidates who take the CAT often struggle due to the constraints of speed and time. On the other hand, XAT enables candidates to allocate time for reading and eliminating choices while answering questions.

No, electronic gadgets including calculators are not allowed inside the examination hall.

Suggested Readings

XAT 2025 XAT Syllabus XAT Exam Pattern XAT Eligibility XAT Online Classes