XAT 2025 is expected to be conducted on 5th January 2025. It is an important MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI. Last year, around 1.35 lakh people appeared for this exam. So you can imagine the competition. Not only that, it is considered one of the toughest MBA entrance exam. You will get to know everything about this exam in this blog.
What is XAT Exam?
XAT exam full form is the Xavier Aptitude Test. XAT is a national MBA entrance exam been conducted every year in the first week of January. XLRI conducts this test for the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). Its score is used for students to get into top MBA Colleges in the country like XLRI, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, KJ Somaiya, and TAPMI. Other than the 11 XAMI member schools, over 150 other famous schools accept XAT scores for their management programs. In total, more than 1,000 business schools across India accept XAT scores for various programs like MBA, PGDM, and Executive MBA programs.
XAT 2025: Overview
| Particular | Details |
| Total Number of Sections | 4 |
| Name of the Sections | Verbal & Logical Ability Decision Making Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation General Knowledge |
| Time Duration | 3 hours (180 Minutes) |
| Total number of Questions | 95 |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for correct answer - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer - 0.10 marks/question for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No negative marking in the GK section |
| Total Marks | 95 |
XAT Exam 2025: Important Dates
| Event | Dates |
| Registration Start | 15 July 2024 |
| Last date of registration | 10 December 2024 (Extended) |
| Admit Card Release | 20 December 2024 |
| XAT exam date | January 5, 2025 |
| Answer Key Release Date | 8 January 2025 (Tentative) |
| XAT Result Date | 22 January 2025 (Tentative) |
XAT 2025: Eligibility Criteria
You can check the eligibility criteria for XAT 2025 and see if you are eligible for XAT 2025:
- Academic Qualification: Candidates must hold a recognized Bachelor’s Degree of at least 3 years duration or an equivalent qualification in any discipline. Unlike some other exams (e.g., CAT and the corresponding IIMs admission criteria), there is no minimum qualifying marks requirement for the XAT 2025.
- Final Year Students: Candidates who are in the final year of their Bachelor’s Degree and will complete their degree by June 2025 are eligible to apply for XAT 2025.
- Age Bar: There is no age restriction for candidates wishing to appear for the XAT 2025 exam.
- Unified Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria for the XAT exam and admission to XLRI’s programs are the same.
- NRI and Foreign Candidates: NRI and foreign candidates can apply using valid GMAT scores, which is a relaxation compared to the requirement for domestic candidates.
XAT Exam 2025: Registration Process
To register for XAT 2025, follow the following steps:
1. Visit the Official XAT Website: Go to the official website of XAT (XLRI Jamshedpur). The website URL will be provided by XLRI. Registration has started.
2. Navigate to New Registration Link: Look for the "New registration" link on the website's homepage or in the navigation menu.
3. Create a New Account: Click on the "New registration" link and provide accurate details to create a new account. This will include your name, email address, mobile number, and other necessary information.
4. Generate Login Credentials: After creating the account, generate your XAT login credentials, which typically include a login ID and password. Make sure to keep these credentials safe and secure.
5. Log In and Access Application Form: Use the login credentials to log in to your account and access the XAT application form.
6. Fill in Application Details: Enter all the required details in the application form accurately. This includes personal information, educational background, work experience (if applicable), and other relevant information.
7. Choose Exam City Preference: Select the exam city for XAT 2025 according to your preference. Choose a city where you can easily travel to for the exam.
8. Upload Photograph and Signature: Follow the specified guidelines to upload your recent passport-size photograph and signature. Ensure that the uploaded images meet the specified size and format requirements.
9. Pay Application Fee: Pay the XAT 2025 processing fee using the available payment options on the website. The fee amount and payment methods will be mentioned on the website.
10. Submit Application: After completing all the steps and verifying the information provided, submit your XAT 2025 application form.
XAT 2025: Exam Pattern
XAT has a different exam pattern. Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation sections are the only sections which help you get a shortlist. The other two sections don't carry any negative marking and neither plays any role in getting you a shortlist. But, that doesn't mean you don't prepare for these section. Your main aim is not only getting shortlist, but getting admission in top college i.e XLRI. In the stage 2 of the admission process, these two sections plays an important part in the selection criteria as they have separate weightage. You can check the detailed XAT exam pattern below:
Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Marking Scheme |
Verbal & Logical Ability | 26 | No sectional time | +1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
Decision Making | 21 | No sectional time | +1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | No sectional time | +1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect |
General Knowledge | 20 | 10 minutes | No negative marking |
Total | 95 | 180 minutes | -0.10 marks per question for more than 8 unanswered |
XAT 2025: Complete Syllabus
The syllabus for the XAT exam is mostly similar to that of other MBA exams in India. However, it stands out with unique sections like Decision Making. There is NO essay Writing in XAT Exam, Essay writing will be a part of interview process. Here's a concise overview of the XAT syllabus across all sections:
| Section | Main Topics |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | Vocabulary, Para jumble, Grammar, Fill in the blanks, Analogy, Reading Comprehensions, Poems, etc. |
| Decision Making | Selection of the best decision among the available options in a particular set of situations |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | Arithmetic, Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Caselets, Data Interpretation, Data charts, Tables, etc. |
| General Knowledge | Awards, Economics and Finance, Books, Authors, Sports, the Constitution of India, Current Affairs, etc. |
XAT 2025: Admit Card
The XAT Admit Card is an important document that you need to have to enter the exam hall. Here's what you need to know about it:
- Availability: You can download the XAT admit card starting from the 20 December 2024 until the day of the exam.
- How to Download?: Log in to the official XAT website using your User ID and password. Look for the "Download Admit Card" tab and click on it to get your admit card in PDF format.
- Details Included: Your XAT admit card will have important information such as your name, XAT ID, date of birth, exam date and time, reporting time, exam duration, test center address and city, reference number, emergency contact number, your signature and photograph, supervisor's remarks and signature, and instructions for XAT 2025.
- Entry Requirement: Remember to carry your XAT admit card with you when you go to take the exam. Without it, you won't be allowed to enter the exam hall.
XAT 2025: Result
The XAT 2025 Result is expected to be announced in the last week of January 2025. To check your result and download the scorecard, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the Official Website: Log on to xatonline.in, which is the official website for XAT.
- Login: Enter your enrolment ID and registered password in the respective fields to access your account.
- Access Scorecard Section: Once logged in, navigate to the 'scorecard' section on the website.
- View Your Result: Your XAT 2025 result will be displayed on the screen. Check your scores and other relevant details.
- Download and Print: After viewing your result, download the XAT 2025 result document.
XAT 2025: Expected Score Vs Percentile
The table below shows the XAT scores versus expected percentile based on XAT 2024 XLRI admission in 2025:
| XAT %ile | Score (Expected) |
| 99+ | 35 |
| 97+ | 30 |
| 95+ | 27 |
| 93+ | 25 |
| 90+ | 23 |
| 87+ | 22 |
| 85+ | 21 |
| 80+ | 19 |
The percentiles and scores displayed in the table are based on the assumption that the exam in 2025 will have the same level of difficulty as it did in 2024.
Conclusion
In conclusion, XAT 2025 is a vital MBA entrance exam scheduled for January 5, 2025, and is highly regarded for its rigorous selection criteria. With four sections—Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge—the exam challenges aspirants in both reasoning and knowledge areas. Key dates include the admit card release on December 20, 2024, and the expected result announcement in late January 2025. The registration process, eligibility requirements, and comprehensive syllabus details make this exam an excellent opportunity for MBA aspirants targeting top business schools, including XLRI, and IMT Ghaziabad.
