XAT 2027: Exam 3 Jan, Register by 6 Dec, Pattern, Colleges

Every XAT 2027 date XLRI has announced, and the stages after the test. Dates not announced yet are marked, with last year's date where XLRI published one.

Institutes other than XLRI set their own selection dates; see their websites.

Sources: XAT 2027 official website, Important Timelines; XAT 2027 FAQs; XLRI Admission Prospectus 2027; XAT 2026 e-Bulletin. Checked on 12 October 2026.

A bachelor's degree of at least three years, or its equivalent, in any discipline, from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply if they finish their final examinations by 11 June 2027. All Indian candidates must take XAT 2027; NRI, foreign, OCI and PIO candidates may apply to XLRI through GMAT instead.

XLRI's eligibility rule for XAT 2027 mentions no minimum percentage and no age limit. Institutes that use XAT scores may set their own conditions, so check each one.

Eligibility for XLRI's programmes

• PGDM (Business Management) and PGDM (Human Resource Management): a three-year bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised or deemed university; final examinations over by 11 June 2027.
• PGDM (Logistics and Supply Chain Management): a three-year bachelor's degree with first division, from an institution with a NAAC grade of at least "A". Four-year engineering graduates from institutions such as IITs and NITs do not need the NAAC grade.
• PGDM (General Management), 18 months: a three-year bachelor's degree, a full-time job and at least three years of managerial experience after graduation by 31 March 2027. Apply with XAT, GMAT or GRE.

XLRI counts only full-time work experience after graduation; internships and articleship do not count.

Sources: XAT 2027 FAQs; XLRI Admission Prospectus 2027. Checked on 12 October 2026.

For XAT 2027, XLRI has confirmed that the test lasts three hours, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm; that there are no sectional time limits, so you can take the sections in any order and switch between them; and that a scientific calculator is available on screen. It has not yet published the section-wise split for 2027. XAT 2026, held on 4 January 2026, was set like this:

XAT 2026 pattern (last cycle)

Part 1 had 170 minutes for its three sections together and Part 2 had 10 minutes. Every question was a multiple-choice question with five options, in English only.

Marking scheme (XAT 2026)

In XAT 2026, only XLRI used the General Knowledge score, in its final selection, and candidates with disabilities got 20 extra minutes for every hour.

Sources: XAT 2027 FAQs; XAT 2026 overview; XAT 2026 important instructions. Checked on 12 October 2026.

XLRI does not publish a syllabus for XAT. Its overview of the last test, XAT 2026, describes what each section asks:

• Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning: critical and analytical reasoning, reading comprehension (including poems, cartoons and passages), vocabulary, English grammar, and exercises such as para jumbles and cloze tests.
• Decision Making: situations from personal and professional life, where you apply critical thinking, problem-solving and prioritisation to reach a decision.
• Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and modern maths at a foundational level, and interpreting, summarising and analysing data.
• General Knowledge: 8 questions on static GK and 12 on current affairs.

XLRI also posts past XAT question papers, from 2018 to 2024, on xatonline.in.

Sources: XAT 2026 overview; XAT 2027 official website, Important Timelines. Checked on 12 October 2026.

XAT is the first step for XLRI's two-year programmes. Registering for XAT does not apply you to XLRI: select the XLRI programmes you want in the same form, at Rs 200 each.

XLRI programmes you can apply to through XAT 2027

Selection

• For PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM), XLRI shortlists candidates for interview on XAT scores alone.
• If you apply to more than one programme, you may be called for more than one interview and/or group discussion.
• For the final list, XLRI weighs XAT performance, academic background, relevant work experience, the personal interview and/or group discussion, extracurricular activities and other relevant criteria.
• Only XLRI uses the General Knowledge score, at the final selection.

XLRI puts the fees for PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM) at about Rs 15.3 lakh a year, subject to revision.

Sources: XLRI Admission Prospectus 2027; XAT 2027 FAQs; XAT 2026 overview. Checked on 12 October 2026.

XLRI says more than 250 B-schools accept XAT scores. Its website lists the XAMI member institutes and about 140 XAT associate institutes; a selection is below, linked to their CollegeChalo pages where we have one.

XAMI member institutes

Other institutes that use XAT 2027 scores (selection)

Each institute runs its own application and selection and decides how much weight to give XAT; XLRI has no role in their selection. Apply on each institute's own website as well as taking XAT.

Sources: XAT associate institutes and XAMI members; XAT 2026 e-Bulletin. Checked on 12 October 2026.