XAT Exam 2025

XAT 2025: Exam 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:

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

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XAT 2025: 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:

Learn more about the XAT exam by clicking here.

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XAT 2025: Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet the XAT eligibility criteria to take the exam.  Here is the XAT eligibility for 2025 as per last year:

• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree that took three years or more to complete in any discipline from a recognized Institute.
• Candidates in the final year, who will graduate by 10th June 2025, are also eligible to appear for 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 given XAT eligibility requirements, they are welcome to apply and appear for the exam.

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XAT 2025: Registration Process

The examination is usually held on the first Sunday of January 2025 in a single-day session. Here are the steps to register in advance for XAT Exam to avoid any last-minute hassle:

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.

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Application Fees

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

• XAT Registration Fee (without late fee) - INR. 2100/-
• Aspiring candidates for the XLRI program(s) are required to pay an extra fee of INR 200/- for each program.

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XAT Admit Card

XAT admit cards will be accessible in the last week of December 2025 till the day of the examination. To download the XAT admit card, candidates should log in to the official website using their User ID and password. Upon logging in, they can select the “Download Admit Card” tab and save the XAT admit card in PDF format. It's advisable to print a copy of the document for future use.

Details mentioned on the XAT admit card are as follows:

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

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

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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. 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 B-Schools that consider XAT scores for admissions:

• XLRI
• XIME
• XIMB
• TAPMI

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 is highly esteemed in India and is often considered a top choice alongside IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta.

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

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XAT Exam 2025: Result

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 enrolment 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 2025: Exam Pattern

The tentative XAT Exam Pattern in terms of the sectional sub-division is given below:

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:

• XAT 2025 will contain 100 to 105 questions.
• Candidates will have 175 minutes to complete Part 1, after which it will be locked and they will proceed to the next part.
• There is no negative marking for the General Knowledge section.
• The GK and AEW sections are only reviewed for the interview stage and do not influence the XAT cutoff.
• All MCQs will have five answer choices with one right answer.

Read: XAT 2024 Analysis and Expected Cut-off

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XAT 2025: Syllabus

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

For further details, click here.

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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.