XAT 2027: dates, pattern, fee and eligibility
XAT 2027 is on Sunday, January 3, 2027, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The test is 180 minutes with about 95 questions. The application fee starts at ₹200. Registration closes 6 December 2026.
Key dates
From the exam body’s own pages, checked 6 Nov 2026.
| Registration open | 15 July 2026 source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Registration close | 6 December 2026 source ↗ |
| Admit card | December 20, 2026 (tentative) source ↗ |
| Exam date | Sunday, January 3, 2027, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM source ↗ |
| Result | Last week of January 2027 source ↗ |
| Score card download | Score card downloadable between January 31 and June 30, 2027 source ↗ |
Pattern, marking and eligibility
| Conducted by | XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI (Xavier Association of Management Institutes) source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based (on-screen exam interface with built-in scientific calculator), single afternoon slot source ↗ |
| Sections | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) · about 26 Decision Making (DM) · about 21 Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) · about 28 General Knowledge (GK) - separate 10-minute part, XLRI-only use · about 20 · 10 (2026 overview PDF (linked from the XAT 2027 home page)) source ↗ Part 1 (VA&LR + DM + QA&DI) is 170 minutes with no sectional time limit. The XAT 2027 home page pattern table gives the same counts (26/21/28/20, total 95) but labels them approximate. |
| Total questions | 95 source ↗ Approximate ('expected'), including 20 GK. |
| Total time (minutes) | 180 source ↗ 170 min for Part 1 + 10 min for GK per the home page table. |
| Marking | Correct: 1 Wrong: -0.25 Unattempted: Free to skip up to 8 questions; each skipped question after the 8th costs -0.1 Gk section: +1 correct, no negative marking, not counted in percentile (used only by XLRI) source ↗ |
| Eligibility | Graduation: Recognised Bachelor's degree of at least 3 years in any discipline Final year allowed: true Final year deadline: final exams completed by June 11, 2027 Indian candidates: must appear for XAT 2027; NRI/Foreign/OCI/PIO may apply through GMAT source ↗ No minimum graduation percentage is stated in the FAQ. Only post-graduation full-time work experience is counted; the FAQ lists no work-experience eligibility condition. |
| Application fee (₹) | General: 2300 Xlri per programme extra: 200 Indian via gmat gre for PGDM GM: 2600 Nri foreign pio oci via gmat: 5000 source ↗ A single fee is stated; no separate reserved-category fee appears in the bulletin. |
| Accepted by | Score recognised by 250+ institutes (XLRI plus XAMI members and associate institutions); each institute sets its own weights and process source ↗ |
What the exam body has not published
We leave these out rather than guess. Check the official site for updates.
- Score validity: The bulletin only gives the score-card download window (Jan 31 - Jun 30, 2027); a stated validity period was not found.
- Attempts rule: No attempt limit or multiple-sitting rule found in the XAT 2027 bulletin, FAQ or home page.
Home page has a commented-out stale banner (Jan 5, 2027 / Dec 10) that is ignored; bulletin, FAQ and live timeline all say Jan 3, 2027 and Dec 6, 2026. Pattern counts are 'approx'.
XAT 2027: common questions
When is XAT 2027?
Sunday, January 3, 2027, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Result: Last week of January 2027.
What is the XAT 2027 exam pattern?
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), about 26 questions; Decision Making (DM), about 21 questions; Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), about 28 questions; General Knowledge (GK) - separate 10-minute part, XLRI-only use (10 min), about 20 questions.
What is the XAT 2027 application fee?
General: 2300; Xlri per programme extra: 200; Indian via gmat gre for PGDM GM: 2600; Nri foreign pio oci via gmat: 5000.
Who can apply for XAT 2027?
Graduation: Recognised Bachelor's degree of at least 3 years in any discipline; Final year allowed: true; Final year deadline: final exams completed by June 11, 2027; Indian candidates: must appear for XAT 2027; NRI/Foreign/OCI/PIO may apply through GMAT.