XAT Exam Pattern 2026: Format, Marking Scheme, Time, Syllabus

The XAT exam pattern lies in stark contrast to those of other popular entrances like CAT, NMAT, and SNAP. And this is precisely why you need to know the ins and outs of the XAT format. Unlike CAT, it has more sections, is significantly longer, has a bias towards verbal reasoning, and includes a highly subjective section on decision-making.

XAT 2026 will be held on 4th January 2026, a mere six weeks after CAT exam. This will leave students scrambling to reorient their approach according to the XAT exam pattern. To avoid the last-minute madness, acquaint yourself with the XAT format beforehand. Keep reading to discover about the XAT 2026 exam pattern, its different sections, peculiar marking scheme, and time limits. We will also cover the syllabus and important topics to be covered under XAT.

XAT exam pattern 2026- Highlights

The XAT exam pattern dictates different rules for its negative marking scheme. Add to this the fact that the XAT pattern has undergone noteworthy changes over the years, particularly in 2023.

XAT Exam Structure	Exam Details
Number of sections	Part 1 – Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Part 2 – General Knowledge
XAT time limit	3 hours and 5 minutes (185 minutes) Part 1 – 170 minutes Keyboard check – 5 minutes Part 2 – 10 minutes
Number of questions	95 (Total expected)
Number of answer choices	Five
Mode of examination	Online
XAT marking scheme	+1 mark for correct answer – 0.25 marks for incorrect answer – 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No negative marking in the GK section

Read More – XAT Syllabus – Section-wise syllabus and important topics

XAT Marking Scheme: Total Marks and Negative Marking

The XAT exam pattern has many other peculiarities. You’re allowed to skip between questions as well as sections as long as you’re in the same part. The GK section is scored, but plays no role in your percentile. 

For the first three sections—verbal and logical ability, decision making, quantitative ability, and data interpretation—there will be negative marking of -0.25 for every incorrect answer and +1 for every correct one. The last two sections—GK and essay writing—have no negative marking. 

One critical point to keep in mind is that there is no negative marking for the first 8 non-attempted or skipped questions. However, for every question skipped beyond the eighth one, you lose an additional 0.1 marks. This is done to discourage rampant question-skipping. 

XAT Exam Pattern 2026 – Detailed overview

Now, this is where things get interesting. You can expect around 95 questions. While there are no particular sectional time limits, you’ll be given 170 minutes for the first part (the first three sections) and 10 minutes for the third part, with 5 minutes in between for a mock keyboard check. 

While you can skip between sections, you can’t skip between parts, nor can you submit any part before the allotted time is up.

Read More – Direct Link to Download CAT Answer Key and Response Sheet 2026

Unlike CAT, you will get much more time per question, although that doesn’t necessarily make the paper easier. With a higher difficulty level, the cutoffs for XAT run very low. For instance, last year, students with just 25 marks out of a maximum of 75 marks received XLRI GDPI calls.

Clearing the XAT will largely depend on your strategy, which questions to attempt and which to skip, knowing all the different variables and parameters. Your strategy will also depend on the XAT syllabus and XAT 2026 exam pattern.

Read More – XAT Cutoff – How much do you need to score to get into top colleges

XAT exam pattern 2026 – Marking scheme

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 is expected to follow the same structure as the XAT 2026 exam pattern. Below is a detailed overview of the expected exam format:

Total Questions: The exam is expected to have 100–102 questions.

Marking Scheme:

1. Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
2. Each incorrect answer incurs a deduction of -0.25 marks.

General Knowledge (GK) Section:

1. The GK section is scored but does not contribute to the candidate’s percentile or cutoff calculations.
2. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the GK section.

This structure ensures a balanced evaluation of candidates’ aptitude while allowing strategic flexibility in attempting questions.

XAT exam pattern – Key changes over the years

The XAT exam pattern has undergone several facelifts over the years to reflect the changes in the management and business landscape requirements.

The essay section was first scrapped in 2018, then reintroduced in 2022, and has since been scrapped again. The number of questions per section is rarely fixed. It fluctuates between 21 and 27 based on the exam paper-setting body’s guidelines.

XAT decided to eliminate all subjective questions in 2019, but it reneged on its decision and brought them back in 2019.

Back then, students could skip up to 12 questions without being penalised. This number has now been cut down to 8. In 2023, the number of questions in the DM section was increased along with the allotted time, which now became 185 minutes.

Read More – CAT Syllabus – Sectional breakdown along with important topics

XAT exam pattern – Section-wise breakdown

Here is a granular sectional breakdown of all that is part of the XAT exam.

Read More – Top MBA Colleges in India

FAQs on XAT Exam Pattern

Is GK score counted in XAT?

No, the GK score is not added in the overall XAT percentile. However, it’s counted in the final admission process by XLRI and other colleges. Additionally, there is no negative marking for the GK section. It does not affect your score for the other sections, but it is a deciding factor in your final selection.

What is the pattern of XAT 2026 exam?

XAT 2026 exam pattern has been updated with number of questions and test duration. This will include a total of 95 questions from 4 sections. From VALR section, 26 questions will be asked, from DM, a total of 21 questions will be asked. 28 questions will be asked from the QA & DI section, and 20 questions will be from GK.

The marking scheme for XAT is as follows:

• 1 mark for each correct answer.
• -0.25 mark for each incorrect answer.
• -0.1 mark for each unanswered question after 8th skipped question.

Is XAT online or paper based?

The XAT exam is online and have to be attempted in a computer-based test (CBT) mode. The candidates have to go to a designated exam center in one of the 100+ cities the exam is held.

How to get 99.99 percentile in XAT?

If you want a high percentile in XAT, maybe 99 or more, target 30 or more points. You need 25 or more points for a 95 percentile. For a 90 percentile, one needs at least 23 points, while an 85 percentile needs a minimum of 21 points on XAT scores. One must compare XAT score vs percentile to understand better.

Cracking the XAT exam with 90+ percentile could pave the way for you to take admission to renowned programs in XLRI, XIMB, GIM Goa, IMT Ghaziabad, and IMI Delhi. But to do so you’ll have to first get used to the XAT exam pattern. Keeping that in mind, the IMS CATapult Live Online program has been designed to help students ace CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, and other crucial exams. With over 100 hours of intensive two-way classes and 50+ masterclasses combined with 90+ mock tests for 12 + exams and thousands of practice questions with video solutions, the IMS CATapult Live Online program is the perfect choice for those looking to get into the best MBA colleges in India.