XAT 2026 Score vs Percentile: Expected Marks for 99 Percentile and XLRI Cut-offs
Following the successful conduct of the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 on January 4, candidates are now evaluating their performance using the recently released response sheets. Understanding the XAT 2026 score vs percentile correlation is vital for aspirants to estimate their chances of securing a seat in elite B-schools like XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR, and XIMB.
Quick Info Table
| Organization/Board Name | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 |
| Exam Date | January 4, 2026 |
| Result Date (Expected) | Third Week of January 2026 |
| Official Website | xatonline.in |
XAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile (Overall)
Based on the difficulty level of this year’s paper—which was rated as moderate to difficult—preliminary analysis suggests that a raw score of 38–42 is likely to fetch a 99+ percentile.
| XAT Percentile | Expected Raw Score (Out of 75) | Admission Prospect |
| 99+ | 38 – 42 | Top Choice for XLRI BM/HRM |
| 95 – 98 | 33 – 37 | Competitive for SPJIMR, MICA, XIMB |
| 90 – 94 | 27 – 32 | Strong for IMT-G, IMI-D, GIM |
| 85 – 89 | 24 – 26 | Good for TAPMI, KJ Somaiya, IRMA |
| 80 – 84 | 21 – 23 | Eligible for Mid-tier B-schools |
Sectional Marks Required for 99 Percentile
XAT is unique for its sectional cut-offs. To reach the 99th percentile overall, candidates typically need high accuracy across the three core sections.
- Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR): 15–17 Marks
- Decision Making (DM): 14–15 Marks
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 15–17 Marks
XAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The XAT percentile is calculated based on the performance in Part 1 (VALR, DM, and QA-DI). The General Knowledge (GK) section is evaluated during the final selection process but does not contribute to the overall percentile.
- Correct Answer: +1 Mark
- Incorrect Answer: -0.25 Mark
- Unattempted Questions: No penalty for the first 8 skipped questions. A penalty of -0.10 marks applies to every skipped question thereafter.
- GK Section: No negative marking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Calculate Your XAT 2026 Score
- Visit the Official Site: Go to xatonline.in.
- Login: Enter your XAT ID and Date of Birth to access the “Candidate Response” portal.
- Download Response Sheet: Open the PDF showing your marked answers vs. the correct options.
- Count Responses: Total your correct answers and multiply by 1.
- Apply Penalties: Multiply total wrong answers by 0.25 and subtract.
- Unattempted Penalty: Check if you skipped more than 8 questions; deduct 0.10 for each excess skip.
- Final Score: Sum these values to get your raw score out of 75.
Expected XAT 2026 Cut-offs for Top B-Schools
XLRI Jamshedpur usually releases separate cut-offs for Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) based on gender and academic background.
XLRI Jamshedpur (Expected)
- BM (Male – Engineering): 96+ Percentile
- BM (Female – Engineering): 91+ Percentile
- HRM (Male – Engineering): 95+ Percentile
- HRM (Female – Non-Engineering): 87+ Percentile
Other Participating Institutes
- SPJIMR Mumbai: 93–95 Percentile
- XIM University (XIMB): 90–92 Percentile
- IMT Ghaziabad: 90+ Percentile
- MICA Ahmedabad: 80–85 Percentile (Plus MICAT score)
