Is XAT 2027 registration open?

Yes. XAT 2027 registration is open on the official XAT website, xatonline.in.

What is the last date to register for XAT 2027?

The official XAT website lists December 6, 2026 as the registration closing date.

What is the XAT 2027 exam date?

The official XAT website lists January 3, 2027 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM as the XAT 2027 exam date.

How many questions are expected in XAT 2027?

The official XAT website lists 95 questions across VALR, Decision Making, QA and DI, and General Knowledge.

XAT 2027 Registration Open: Apply Online for XLRI and 250+ MBA Colleges

Q: Is GK counted in XAT percentile?

The official website states that GK does not contribute to the overall percentile or cutoff score, but it can be considered in XLRI's selection process.

XAT 2027 registration is now open, making it one of the most important current updates for MBA aspirants who are preparing for CAT 2026 and other national-level management entrance exams. XAT is especially important for students targeting XLRI Jamshedpur, XAMI member institutes and several other private B-schools that accept XAT scores.

This article summarizes the official XAT 2027 update in an answer-first format. It covers registration dates, the application link, exam pattern, marking scheme, preparation implications after CAT, and the key differences students should remember while planning for XAT.

Quick answer

XAT 2027 registration is open at xatonline.in. The official XAT website lists July 15, 2026 as the registration opening date, December 6, 2026 as the registration closing date, December 20, 2026 as the tentative admit card download date, and January 3, 2027 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM as the exam date.

XLRI Jamshedpur conducts XAT on behalf of XAMI. The exam is accepted by 250+ B-schools and is conducted in 100+ test cities across India, according to the official XAT website.

Latest XAT 2027 update

Update	Official detail	What aspirants should do
Registration status	XAT 2027 registration is open.	Create an account only through the official XAT website or official application portal.
Registration opens	July 15, 2026	Start early so document, payment or city preference issues do not pile up near the deadline.
Registration closes	December 6, 2026	Submit the form before the last date instead of waiting for the final week.
Admit card	December 20, 2026, tentative	Download the admit card and check reporting time, city and ID instructions carefully.
Exam date	January 3, 2027, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM	Use December after CAT for XAT-specific Decision Making and GK revision.
Accepted by	250+ B-schools	Shortlist colleges that accept XAT along with CAT, NMAT, SNAP and other scores.

Why XAT matters for CAT 2026 aspirants

XAT is not just a backup exam after CAT. For many serious MBA aspirants, it is a parallel opportunity because it opens access to XLRI and many other B-schools that may not use CAT as their only admission route.

The official XAT website highlights that the exam is usually held in January, which gives students additional preparation time after CAT. This matters because a student can use the CAT preparation base for Quant, Verbal and DI while separately preparing for XAT Decision Making and General Knowledge.

Students targeting XLRI should treat XAT as a primary exam, not a side option.
CAT preparation helps with large parts of XAT, especially Quant, DI and Verbal.
Decision Making needs dedicated practice because it is structurally different from CAT sections.
General Knowledge does not usually require the same daily time as Quant or Verbal, but it should not be ignored for XLRI selection.

XAT 2027 exam pattern

The official XAT website lists four broad areas: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. The total number of questions is listed as 95, with a total duration of 180 minutes.

Section	Approx questions	What it tests
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning	26	Reading comprehension, critical reasoning, vocabulary, grammar, para jumbles and related verbal reasoning exercises.
Decision Making	21	Business, personal and professional scenarios requiring prioritization, ethical judgment and problem solving.
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation	28	Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, modern math and interpretation of data sets.
General Knowledge	20	Static GK and current affairs.
Total	95	180 minutes overall.

XAT 2027 marking scheme

The official XAT website states that each question carries 1 mark and that 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer. It also mentions a penalty for excessive skipped questions: candidates can skip up to 8 questions without penalty, after which a 0.1 mark penalty applies per additional skipped question.

The GK section is different from the main scored sections. The official website states that GK has no negative marking and does not contribute to the overall percentile or cutoff score, but it can be considered in XLRI's selection process.

Correct answer: 1 mark.
Incorrect answer: negative marking of 0.25 marks.
Skipped questions: no penalty up to 8 skipped questions.
After 8 skipped questions: 0.1 mark penalty per additional skipped question.
GK: no negative marking and not counted in overall percentile or cutoff, but relevant for XLRI selection.

How to apply for XAT 2027

Students should apply only through the official XAT website and official application portal. Avoid unofficial links, forwarded payment links, social media screenshots or third-party pages that ask for login or payment details.

Visit the official XAT website: xatonline.in.
Use the official XAT 2027 sign-up or application link.
Register with a valid email ID and mobile number.
Fill personal, academic and programme-related details carefully.
Upload documents in the required format.
Select test city preferences based on realistic travel convenience.
Pay the application fee through the official portal.
Save the confirmation page, payment proof and login details.

XAT preparation plan after registration

For students preparing for CAT 2026, XAT preparation should be layered on top of the existing CAT plan instead of becoming a completely separate burden. The smartest approach is to keep CAT as the main exam until November and then increase XAT-specific work after CAT.

Decision Making should begin earlier because it rewards judgment, consistency and exposure to scenario types. GK can be prepared through short recurring blocks, especially after CAT, while Quant and Verbal continue through mocks and analysis.

Timeline	XAT preparation focus
August to September 2026	Continue CAT basics; begin light Decision Making practice once or twice a week.
October to November 2026	Take CAT mocks seriously; add XAT verbal and decision-making sets without disturbing CAT revision.
After CAT 2026	Shift to XAT mocks, Decision Making, GK revision and no-sectional-limit attempt strategy.
Final two weeks	Revise mistakes from XAT mocks, practice controlled attempts and review GK snapshots.

XAT vs CAT: what changes in preparation?

CAT has three major sections: VARC, DILR and QA. XAT overlaps with CAT in Verbal, Quant and DI, but adds Decision Making and General Knowledge. XAT also allows more flexibility because the official website highlights no sectional time limits and the ability to switch between sections.

This means students should not copy their CAT attempt strategy blindly into XAT. In XAT, section order, time distribution, skipped question management and Decision Making accuracy can change the final outcome.

Area	CAT approach	XAT adjustment
Quant and DI	Core concepts, timed practice and set selection.	Similar base, but continue mixed QA-DI practice after CAT.
Verbal	RC-heavy reading and verbal reasoning.	Add grammar, vocabulary and analytical reasoning practice.
Decision Making	Not a CAT section.	Practice ethical and business decision scenarios separately.
GK	Not part of CAT scoring.	Prepare current affairs and static GK because XLRI may consider it in selection.
Time limits	Sectional timing is central in CAT.	XAT allows section switching, so attempt order must be planned separately.

Sources and verification links

The details in this article were curated from official XAT pages available on August 6, 2026. Students should use the official website as the final source before submitting the form or making payment.