XAT 2025 Exam: Notification, Dates, Application Process, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Preparation Guide

What is XAT Entrance Exam?

XAT is a national-level management entrance exam that considers the candidates' aptitude for business management and is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). XAT is held once a year in January and is accepted by several reputed management universities across India. Students must have a strong foundation in the fundamental concepts and develop their essential thinking and analytical skills to crack the XAT exam.

The XAT 2025 exam is designed to assess the candidates' aptitude for business management and is divided into two parts. 

Part I comprises objective-type questions from different sections like Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation. 

Part II comprises subjective-type questions and an essay writing section.

This exam is typically held in the first week of January every year, and the registration process for the same starts in August. The XAT exam is a computer-based test comprising multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from four sections - Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK).

The Verbal and Logical Ability section consists of questions on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. The Decision Making section includes ethical and moral dilemmas, caselets, and situational analysis. The Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section consists of questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. The General Knowledge section covers topics like current affairs, business, economics, and politics.

The exam duration is 3.5 hours, and there is a negative marking for wrong answers. The exam pattern may vary from year to year, and the difficulty level of the exam is known to be high.

XAT Exam Highlights

XAT is a speed-based test. It is designed to assess the candidate's communication skills, business acumen, and quantitative aptitude. Check out the highlights of the XAT 2025 exam in the table below:

XAT Exam Dates 2025

XAT 2025 Registration is expected to begin in the second week of JAN 2025. Candidates who wish to attempt XAT must know the crucial XAT exam dates to complete the application, admit card download, and other steps on time.

The table below shows the expected dates of the XAT 2025 exam:

XAT 2025 Application Form

Here is the complete information related to the XAT 2025 application form:

1. Applicants can fill and submit the application form through online mode, no offline method is provided.
2. Registration for XAT Exam 2025 has started from 15th July 2024.
3. Before filling the application form, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria given below.
4. Start with a registration procedure by entering the name, email id, and contact details to generate login credentials.
5. Upload the necessary document such as certificates/mark sheets/identity proof in the prescribed format.
6. Fill the application form with details such as personal details, academic details, work experience details.
7. The authority has provided the facility to make corrections in the application from 28th to 29th September 2024.
8. After filling the form, select the XLRI programmes as per the candidate's preference and select the preferred test city.
9. Candidates are advised to complete the registration procedure before 30th November 2024 as this will be the last date to apply.
10. Please do not forget to carry a printout of the application form with you after submitting it for further use.

XAT Exam Application Fee:

• The application fee for XAT 2025 is different for each category of candidate.
• No offline method is provided to submit the application fee.
• For online mode, Debit Cards (Rupay, Visa, Master Card, Maestro), Credit Cards, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards and Mobile Wallets are available.

We are providing the application fee below in tabular format:

How to Apply for XAT Exam 2025?

For the step-by-step procedure to fill the XAT 2025 form, please refer to the given section:

Step 1: Visit the XAT website (link is given above).

Step 2: On the home page, click on the “Sign Up” button to proceed.

Step 3: Enter the valid email address and phone number to register and generate login details.

Step 4: Press the “Save & Exit” button to proceed.

Step 5: After registration, upload the scanned photograph and signature as per the given specifications.

Step 6: Fill the form with the academic and work experience details.

Step 7: Click on the “Final Submit” button to proceed.

Step 8: Now select the XLRI program as per your preference and the test city.

Step 9: Get started with the payment option by clicking on the “Payment” button.

Step 10: Submit the registration fee using the available payment gateways.

Step 11: Press the "Submit" button.

Step 12: A confirmation page will be displayed on the screen.

Step 13: Print a copy of the form and keep it in a safe place until the admission procedure.

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

1. The eligibility criteria for the XAT 2025 exam that must be fulfilled for admission into all XAMI member colleges and other business schools that accept XAT scores are as mentioned below:
2. Candidates must have a three-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university.
3. Candidates appearing for the final year examination of the Bachelor's course or awaiting their results can also apply for the XAT exam provided they submit their Bachelor's certificate and mark sheet before the end of the admission year.

Age Limit for XAT 2025:

There is no age limit to apply for the XAT 2025 exam. Both recent graduates and working professionals are eligible. Also, only students who expect to complete their final exams before June 10, 2025, are eligible to apply.

XLRI Eligibility Criteria 2025:

Candidates seeking admission to programs offered by XLRI can check the eligibility below for each course:

XAT Eligibility for admission to XLRI courses through GMAT scores:

1. NRI or foreign candidates seeking admission to courses offered by XLRI and other partner business schools can apply through their GMAT score. GMAT scores are valid only if obtained between December 1, 2019, and December 31, 2024.
2. Indian candidates seeking admission through GMAT scores are eligible to apply only for the General Management program.
3. NRI and foreign candidates can apply for General Management, Business Management, and Human Resource Management offered by XLRI.

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XAT 2025 Registration Procedure

XLRI Jamshedpur will start accepting registrations for XAT exam in July 2025. Aspiring candidates need to follow the steps given below to complete registration and application for XAT:

1. Visit the official website of XAT.
2. Find and select the “New Registration” link.
3. Accurately provide the details required to create a new account.
4. Generate XAT login credentials including login ID and password.
5. Log in to access the XAT application form.
6. Enter the required details in the application form and choose the exam city for XAT 2025 as per your preference.
7. Upload the photograph and signature as per the specified guidelines.
8. Pay the XAT 2025 processing fee and submit the application.

After completing the XAT 2025 registration process, applicants must ensure to download a copy of the duly filled form and payment receipt for further use.

XAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The XAT exam is a timed exam. Candidates have a specific time limit to complete each section. The XAT exam is conducted online and consists of 104 to 105 questions that candidates must complete within a time frame of 210 minutes.

The table below presents the key features of the XAT exam pattern 2025:

XAT 2025 Preparation Tips

Here are some effective XAT 2025 exam preparation tips to score better:

1. Get a good night's sleep every day, at least 7-8 hours without fail.
2. Having a fixed schedule is very important for XAT 2025 preparation as consistency is the key to success.
3. Try to prioritize the sections that require more work.
4. During preparation, maintain some physical activities, don't spend all your time studying.
5. Try to solve mock tests every day to score better in the exam.
6. Gather all the study materials such as notes, reference books, mock tests, and formula sheets.

XAT 2025 Books

Candidates can check out the given Table to know the most popular books to prepare for the exam:

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XAT 2025 Mock Tests

Taking the XAT 2025 mock exam is a crucial aspect of exam preparation. This assessment allows candidates to assess their preparation. This way, they can learn about the areas that require extra attention. Also, candidates can formulate effective preparation strategies to strengthen their mastery of the challenging sections.

XLRI offers an official XAT mock exam on its website that follows the exact pattern of the real exam. Candidates taking the official XAT mock test can familiarize themselves with the exam environment.

Apart from practicing with the official XAT mock exam, candidates can also take unofficial mock exams provided by PW MBA Online Coaching. Join PW Coaching for comprehensive syllabus coverage, 24/7 doubt support, and regular test series to strengthen XAT exam preparation.

XAT Preparation 2025: Points to Remember

XAT 2025 is considered to be tougher than CAT, CMAT, and SNAP. Hence, merely preparing for CAT is not sufficient for cracking XAT. Students who are planning to apply for XAT 2025 must focus on preparing for sections based on their strengths and weaknesses. Going through the previous year’s XAT exam analysis will also be quite helpful. The first and foremost step in XAT exam preparation is having a clear understanding of the revised XAT exam pattern and syllabus:

Last 6 Years XAT Paper Format

In India, more than 150 prestigious B-schools accept XAT results, including - XLRI Jamshedpur, MICA Ahmedabad, XIM Bhubaneshwar, IMT Ghaziabad, and S P Jain Mumbai. One of the clearest MBA entrance exams is the XAT, which makes available question papers, answer keys, and the option for candidates to request a score recount.

XAT Exam Day Guidelines

1. XAT candidates must follow the guidelines laid down by the examination authority for a smooth exam day. Here are some key guidelines for the XAT exam day that candidates must follow:
2. XAT 2025 Admit Card is a mandatory document to carry on the exam day, so you must carry two copies of the same
3. Soft copies of the XAT Admit Card and other photo ID documents will not be accepted as valid, so candidates must carry hard copies of the documents
4. Reach the exam centre one hour before the reporting time mentioned on the admit card
5. Do not carry any electronic items like mobile phone, watch, calculator, etc. to the exam centre
6. Do not carry any stationery (except a blue pen) or food items to the exam centre
7. Do not carry any handbag or valuables and follow the dress code mentioned on the XAT 2025 Admit Card.

XAT 2025 Exam Center

Here is the list of XAT 2025 test cities in a two-column table format:

XAT 2025 Admit Card

XAT 2025 Admit Card is expected to be released in the third week of December 2024. Candidates can get their XAT Admit Card from the official website of XAT using their User ID and Password.

1. Below are the steps to access and download the XAT Admit Card:
2. Visit the official website of XAT.
3. Click on the link to download the admit cards.
4. Enter the XAT User ID and date of birth to log in.
5. On the next page, click on the XAT Admit Card button.
6. Also, candidates can access the option to download the XAT Admit Card.
7. Proceed to download the admit card and save it as a PDF.
8. Candidates should also get a printout of the XAT Admit Card to use on the day of the exam.

XAT 2025 Answer Key

XLRI will release the XAT Answer Key online a week after the successful completion of the XAT exam. Candidates appearing for the XAT exam will be able to download the XAT 2025 Answer Key and Answer Sheet using their login credentials.

Below are the steps to access and download the official XAT Answer Key and Answer Sheet:

1. Login to the XAT 2025 website.
2. Login to the official XAT website using the username and password.
3. Click on the link to get the Answer Key and Answer Sheet.
4. Next, click on the download option and save it to the desktop.

After downloading the XAT 2024 Answer Key, candidates must check the correct options marked on their answer sheet. If candidates find any discrepancies in their answer sheet, they must challenge the XAT Answer Key. Examinees can raise objections via email if necessary.

XAT Result 2025

XAT 2025 results will be released 15-20 days after the exam. They will be tentatively released in the third week of January 2025. Candidates will need to download their scorecards from the official websites of XAT and XLRI. A brief description of the XAT 2025 result download process is given below:

1. Open the XAT ONLINE website – xatonline.in
2. Click on the “Scorecard” tab
3. Enter your XAT User ID and date of birth and click on “Login”
4. Download the XAT result and scorecard and save a copy in PDF format

The XAT result and scorecard will be valid for admission only for one year in most of the participating universities. If a candidate wants to drop a year, he or she will have to appear for the exam again in the next session. The XAT scorecard will be available for download only for a limited period, so candidates should download their copy as soon as it is released and retain it.

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XAT 2025 Expected Cut Offs

The following table shows the anticipated XAT cut-offs for various colleges in 2025:

Participating Institutes of XAT 2025