XAT 2025 exam was held on January 5, 2025. Result will be released in the third week of January 2025. Know all about the XAT exam 2025, including dates, question paper analysis, exam pattern, syllabus, preparation, test cities, etc.
XAT 2025 exam
XAT 2025 was held on January 5, 2025. The XAT question paper 2025 was of moderate difficulty level. XLRI will release the XAT response sheet 2025 in the next few days,followed by XAT answer key 2025 and question paper.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is conducted for admission to MBA programmes of XLRI and over 800 other B-Schools in India. The XAT exam is conducted in Computer Based Test mode at various exam centres in over 70 cities across India. The XAT question paper consists of questions from four subjects – Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge. Read below all about XAT 2025 exam.
Q: What is the XAT question paper pattern?
XAT question paper is similar to other MBA entrance exams, i.e. it has a limited number of MCQs. Check the table below for th pattern of XAT question paper 2025:
XAT Exam Structure | XAT Exam Details |
|---|---|
Mode of examination | Online |
XAT sections | Part 1- Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation Part 2- General Knowledge |
Duration of exam | 3 hours |
Number of questions | 95 |
Total marks | 95 |
Number of answer choices | Five |
XAT marking scheme | 1 mark awarded for every correct answer 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer - 0.10 mark deducted for more than 8 un-attempted consecutive questions No negative marking in GK section |
Candidates must check out previous years' XAT question papers to have an understanding of the paper pattern, topic-wise weightage and types of questions. These official XAT question papers are available in PDF format for free download. They can download the question paper PDFs for practicing XAT questions.
Q: Which section of XAT question paper is lengthiest?
It depends upon each candidate which section of XAT exam paper they find lengthy. It also depends on the questions chosen for the exam in that particular year. However, it has been seen that Data Interpretation questions are usually lengthy. Overall, the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section has the maximum number of questions i.e. 28 and candidates have to solve at least 22-24 questions to meet the desired cut off. So, this section may appear lengthy to the candidate.
To some candidates, the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning section appears to be lengthy, because of dense reading comprehension passages and reasoning questions based on analogy, series, etc. The fact that both these sections are from the Part 1 of the XAT exam which is of 175 minutes makes it manageable as along with Decision Making, one can solve a decent number of QA-DI and VA-LR questions in 175 minutes.
Q: Is solving XAT question paper helpful in exam preparation?
Yes, solving XAT question paper is of immense help in exam preparation as one can get an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level of the questions, and learn time management. The XAT question papers of previous years also give you an idea of what type of questions (Reading Comprehension passages and poem) are asked in XAT. In fact, preparation of Decision Making section is totally dependent on XAT question papers. XAT question papers of previous years also act as practice test providing you with the opportunity to master speed and time management.
Candidates must solve previous years’ XAT questions paper of at least last five years, so that they are aware of the latest type of questions especially poem, RC passages and Decision Making passages.
Latest: XAT response sheet 2025 live updates- check date and process to download
XAT Answer Key 2025
The XAT answer key will be released as candidate response sheet about a week after the exam. The test takers will be able to download the XAT 2025 response sheet and answer key by using login credentials. Here’s how to download XAT response sheet and official answer key:
- Open XAT 2025 website in a new window
- Log in to XAT official website with user ID and password
- Click on ‘candidate response’ to generate answer key and question paper
- XAT answer key will be displayed
- Download the PDF and save on desktop
After downloading the XAT 2024 answer key check the correct options, marked in green, and your response mentioned after question ID to calculate your raw score. XLRI will provide the opportunity to challenge XAT answer key to candidates. If any test taker feels any of the answer keys is incorrect, they can raise objection via email.
Also Read: XAT 2025 answer key
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XAT Result 2025
XAT result 2025 will be declared by the third week of January 2025. The XAT 2025 result cum scorecard will be available for download from the official website. To check XAT 2025 result, candidates need to follow the below mentioned steps:
- Go to the official website of XAT 2025
- Click on 'Download XAT 2025 scorecard'
- Enter XAT ID and password
- Enter the security text
- Click on candidate scorecard and download it
Also Read:
What After XAT Result 2025?
After the XAT result 2025 announcement, the XLRI and other MBA colleges will begin the admission process for PGDM/MBA courses. The GE-PI round will begin with release of XAT cut off and PI shortlisting in February 2025. The XLRI admission process includes three stages:
Stage 1: PI shortlisting of candidates basis XAT score
Stage 2: Conduct of Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI)
Stage 3: Final selection of candidates for admission and release of merit list
For the admission process, the institute takes into consideration certain criteria. Given below are the main selection criteria taken into account for admission.
| XLRI Selection Criteria |
|
|---|---|
| XAT exam score |
Gender diversity |
| GD/PI performance |
Academic diversity |
| Academic scores |
Work Experience |
Also Read:
Q: What is the composition of the XAT question paper?
Q: How many questions will be on the XAT 2024 question paper?
XAT Admit Card 2025
The XAT 2025 admit card could be download their XAT admit card/hall ticket from the official XAT website using their User ID and password. Given below are the steps to download the admit card below:
- Visit the official website of XAT 2025: xatonline.in
- Click on 'download admit card' tab
- Enter XAT User ID and date of birth and click on login
- Next, click on admit card tab
- Option to download XAT admit card will appear
- Click on download and save as pdf
XAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
- The candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree of minimum three-year duration or equivalent in any discipline from a UGC recognized university.
- Students in their final year of bachelor's degree or awaiting their results are also eligible to appear in XAT.
- There is no minimum score requirement for XA, but for participating institutes, the minimum score requirement is 50 percent for General category and 45 percent for Reserved category.
Also Read: XAT Eligibility Criteria, Age Limit, Reservation Criteria, Work Experience
XAT Exam Dates 2025
The XAT 2025 dates were announced by XLRI at the official website. Check the table below for schedule and important dates of XAT 2025:
| XAT 2025 Events |
XAT 2025 Dates |
|---|---|
| XAT 2025 registration start date |
15-Jul-2024 |
| XAT 2025 registration last date |
30-Nov-2024 10-Dec-2024 |
| XAT admit card 2025 download begins |
20-Dec-2024 26-Dec-2024 |
| XAT exam 2025 |
05-Jan-2025 |
| XAT 2025 answer key release and challenge |
First week of January, 2025 |
| XAT 2025 result announcement |
Third week of January, 2025 |
XAT Registration Process 2025
The XAT application form 2025 is available at xatonline.in website. Aspirants are required to fill the XAT form by creating an account on the website. Check below, XAT 2025 registration cum application process:
- Open XAT 2025 website in a new window: https://xatonline.in/
- Click on 'Registration' tab
- Enter name, phone number, email ID, password and captcha code
- A unique XAT ID and registration link will be shared in the verified email ID
- Click on the link to verify your registration
- Go to XAT 2025 homepage again
- Click on ‘login’
- Then enter email ID and password
- Enter all the details asked in the form and upload photo and signature
- Cross check the information before submitting the form
- Pay the XAT application fee of INR 2,200 through credit/debit card, UPI or net banking
- If you select XLRI Jamshedpur as preferred college in the form then you will have to pay additional amount of INR 200.
XAT Test Cities 2025
The XAT exam will be conducted 110 cities. The examination body has increased 34 new cities to the test city list. Candidates can choose up to six cities for test centre allotment during XAT registration. Check the list of XAT test cities below:
| XAT Test Cities 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Agra |
Dibrugarh |
| Ahmedabad |
Durgapur/Asansol |
| Aurangabad City (Maharashtra) |
Ernakulam |
| Allahabad |
Gandhinagar |
| Ambala |
Goa |
| Amravati |
Gorakhpur |
| Amritsar |
Guwahati |
| Bengaluru |
Gwalior |
| Berhampur |
Hooghly |
| Bhatinda |
Hubballi(Hubli) |
| Bhilai Nagar |
Hyderabad |
| Bhopal |
Indore |
| Bhubaneswar |
Jabalpur |
| Chandigarh/Mohali |
Jalandhar |
| Chennai |
Jaipur |
| Coimbatore |
Jammu |
| Cuttack |
Jamshedpur |
| Dehradun |
Kannur |
| Delhi-NCR |
Kanpur |
| Dhanbad |
Kolkata |
| Kota |
Kottayam |
| Kurnool |
Madurai |
| Lucknow |
Mangalore |
| Mumbai |
Mysuru (Mysore) |
| Nagpur |
Nashik |
| Patna |
Siliguri |
| Pune |
Surat |
| Raipur |
Thiruvananthapuram |
| Rajahmundry |
Tiruchirappalli |
| Ranchi |
Tirupathi |
| Roorkee |
Tiruvallur |
| Rourkela |
Tejpur |
| Sambalpur |
Udaipur |
| Vadodara |
Udupi |
| Vijayawada |
Varanasi |
| Warangal |
Visakhapatnam |
| Rajkot |
Jorhat |
| Shillong |
Naharlagun |
| Newly Added XAT Test Cities |
|
| Anantapur | Chikkaballapur |
| Arrah |
Davanagere |
| Bhagalpur |
Hazaribagh |
| Darbhanga |
Hisar |
| Muzaffarpur |
Kalaburagi |
| Bilaspur |
Kurukshetra |
| Mehsana |
Shimla |
| Baddi |
Ajmer |
| Balasore | Bikaner |
| Dhenkanal |
Jodhpur |
| Kolhapur |
Nanded |
| Patiala |
Sikar |
| Ujjain |
Karimnagar |
| Salem |
Vellore |
| Aligarh |
Bareilly |
| Haldwani |
Moradabad |
| Muzaffarnagar | Kalyan |
XAT Pattern 2025
XAT exam pattern has been revised. In 2025, the XAT will be conducted for 180 minutes only. The question paper will be divided into two parts with sectional time limit. There will be no essay writing section in XAT 2025. Check the highlights of XAT exam pattern 2025 as shared by XLRI below:
| XAT Exam Structure |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam sections |
Decision Making Verbal & Logical Ability Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation General Knowledge |
| Duration of exam |
180 minutes |
| Number of questions |
95 |
| Total marks |
95 |
| Language of paper |
English |
| Number of answer choices |
Four |
| 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 un-attempted questions No negative marking in GK section |
Also Read: XAT 2025 exam pattern revised; essay writing scrapped
XAT Syllabus 2025
XAT syllabus includes all the important topics from Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal & Logical Ability and General Knowledge. It has a unique section called Decision Making which is all about business decision. Preparation for XAT is to be done on the basis of topics included in the syllabus. Given below are some of the main topics of XAT syllabus 2025:
| XAT Sections |
XAT Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal and Logical Ability |
Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Para Jumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks |
| Decision Making |
Seating Arrangement, Logical Sequencing, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
Tables and Caselets, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, etc. |
| General Knowledge |
Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc. |
XAT Question Paper 2025
XAT question paper 2025 will have two parts. The format of questions will be MCQ. Given below is the table indicating XAT question paper break up and marking scheme:
| Parts |
XAT Sections |
Number of Questions |
Marks allotted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 (170 minutes) |
Decision Making |
21 |
21 |
| Verbal and Logical Ability |
26 |
26 |
|
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
|
| Part 2 (10 minutes) |
General Knowledge |
20 |
20 |
| -- |
Overall |
95 |
95 |
Download:
- XAT 2024 Question Paper
- XAT 2023 Question Paper
- XAT 2022 Question Paper
- XAT 2021 Question Paper
- XAT 2020 Question Paper
- XAT 2019 Question Paper
- XAT 2018 Question Paper
XAT Preparation 2025: Tips and Strategy
XAT preparation 2025 should be thorough as the exam is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams. Start preparing for the XAT atleast 6 months before. To help you in XAT exam preparation, we have listed down some key preparation articles:
| XAT Exam Preparation Articles |
|
|---|---|
| XAT Preparation 2025: All About Decision Making – Tips and Tricks |
|
|
|
|
XAT Mock Test 2025
Candidates must practice about 40-50 XAT mock tests during the preparation phase to be in full control of the syllabus as well as time duration. Official XAT mock test can be accessed at xatonline.in. Shiksha has prepared free XAT mock tests for candidates to practice. Click on the links below for access.
| XAT_Mock_Test_1 | MAT_Mock_Test_Solution-1 |
| XAT_Mock_Test_2 | XAT_Mock_Test_Solution-2 |
FAQs on XAT 2025
Q: What is the XAT 2025 exam date?
A: XAT 2025 exam date is January 5, 2025. The exam date was officially announced by XLRI Jamshedpur on July 15, 2024. The exam will be held in over 110 cities across India. Candidates will have to select the test city for exam centre allotment in the XAT 2025 application form.
Q: When will XAT 2025 registrations start?
A: XAT registration process 2025 started from July 15, 2024. The registration process will go on till December 10, 2024 and candidates will be able fill the exam form at the XATonline.in website.
Q: What is the syllabus of XAT exam?
A: The syllabus of XAT exam includes all the topics of Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge and Essay Writing. The Essay is evaluated only if the candidates is selected for PI on the basis of their score in VA, DM and QA sections.
Q: What type of questions are asked in XAT? Is there negative marking in XAT?
A: The XAT has multiple choice type questions with four options. The candidate has to choose the right answer from the given options only. There is negative marking of 0.25 marks in XAT and 0.10 marks are deducted for consecutive unanswered questions.
Q: Is XAT tougher than CAT?
A: Both XAT and CAT are exams of high difficulty level, and have their own challenges. While CAT has extremely difficult RC passages, XAT has Decision Making section which unique and requires business acumen to solve questions. XAT also has GK and Essay Writing. However, since XAT is conducted after CAT, aspirants can build on the experience from CAT to improve their performance in XAT. Also Read: Is XAT tougher than CAT?
Q: In how may months can I prepare for XAT exam 2025?
A: Ideally, candidates must devote at least nine months to prepare for XAT exam. However, every candidate must decide upon the duration and plan of XAT preparation according to their capability and strengths and weaknesses viz. the XAT syllabus. So, plan your XAT 2025 preparation accordingly.
Q: What is the XAT application fees?
A: XAT application fee is INR 2,200, which is to be paid at the time for form filling. If a candidate wishes to apply to XLRI too, they have to pay an additional amount of INR 200. There is no fee relaxation for Reserved category students.
Q: Is only a good XAT score enough for admission to XLRI Jamshedpur?
A: No. Only having a good XAT score is not enough. You need to have a good academic record as well. XLRI admission process includes Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) as well. The test takers who meet the minimum XAT cut off are selected for GD and PI. Final selection for admission is based on candidate’s performance in XAT exam, GD, PI and academics.
Q: How many B-schools accept XAT score for MBA admission?
A: Apart from XLRI Jamshedpur, XAT score is accepted by over 1000 B-schools in India. Some of the top MBA colleges accepting XAT score are XIMB-Bhubaneswar, IMT-Ghaziabad, GIM-Goa, TAPMI-Manipal, IRMA-Anand, MICA-Ahmedabad, Great Lakes Institute of Management, LIBA-Chennai and KJ Somaiya-Mumbai.
Q: How many students appear for XAT exam on an average?
A: XAT usually receives about 90,000 applications every year, but for XAT 2024, the total number of applications received was 1.35 lakh. For XAT 2023, about 98,000 candidates had filled the online application form.
Q: For how long is XAT exam score valid for MBA admission?
A: XAT exam score is valid for admission to MBA courses of XLRI and top colleges for one academic year only. For example, XAT 2024 score is valid for 2024 academic year XAT 2025 score will be valid for 2025 academic session only. However, there are a few MBA colleges in India that accept XAT score from previous years too.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 5 days ago
Hello Sudhanshu,
If you're aiming for MBA colleges that accept XAT scores up to the 90th percentile and require separate registration before the exam, here are some options:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XAT Cutoff: 94-95 percentile Fees: ?24.80 Lacs Average Salary: ?32.70 LPA Registration: Separate registration re
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
For the General AI category students, the Manipal University XAT cutoff 2023 was 85 percentile for admission to the MBA in Banking and Financial Services, MBA in Human Resources Management, MBA in Marketing, and MBA in International Business courses. For Master of Business Administration (MBA), the
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, Osmania University does accept XAT scores for admission to their MBA program. However, the cutoff for XAT scores can vary each year based on the number of applicants and the competition. For the academic year 2024-25, the cutoff for XAT scores is around 25-27 percentile.
It's always a good idea
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
EMPI Business School accepts multiple national-level management exams, including XAT, for admitting students to its PGDM courses. In 2024, the XAT cutoff percentile for admission to the PGDM in International Business course was 60 for the students belonging to the General AI quota. So, candidates se
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The expected CAT/XAT percentile for GLIM G is about 80+.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 3 weeks ago
Top MBA colleges offering average CTCs above 12 LPA, with ST out-of-state reservations and accepting CMAT or XAT scores, include XLRI Jamshedpur (32 LPA, XAT), XIM Bhubaneswar (20 LPA, XAT), Great Lakes Institute of Management (15–17 LPA, CMAT/XAT), Goa Institute of Management (14–15 LPA, CMAT/XAT),
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Hii, The difficulty of XAT, CAT, or CMAT depends on individual aptitude and preparation, but generally:
- CAT: Considered the toughest, with high competition and emphasis on VARC, DILR, and Quant.
- XAT: Moderate, with an additional Decision-Making section and essay writing, testing analytical thinking.
- CM
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
No, a college ID card is not considered valid for identity verification in the XAT 2025 exam. Acceptable documents typically include a government-issued photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, passport, or driving license. Ensure your ID is original, valid, and matches the name on your
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) admits students through XAT and GMAT scores other than the CAT scores for their MBA (International Business) program. Here are the respective :-
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test):
The candidate using XAT can apply at IIFT for the MBA (IB). XAT is one of the tests
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Sandip University accepts various national-level exams for MBA admissions, including XAT. The XAT 2025 dates have been released. As per that, the exam is scheduled to be held on 5 Jan, 2025. Moreover, the applications for the same are expected to be released in the middle of December 2024.
S
Contributor-Level 10
i need the colleges name through XAT exam upto 90 percentile which need to be separately registered before exam?