XAT Cut Off 2026: The exam is getting near, you might be practicing and analyzing your XAT score. Today, we're going to give you a brief idea of cut-offs based on previous year trends. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 registration started on July 10, 2025. If you still haven’t registered, you have time until December 5, 2025. Hurry up and register for XAT 2026. Every year, thousands of aspirants apply, so knowing the cut-offs is a key detail. For now, let’s check the XAT 2026 expected cut-off, analysis, and what score can shortlist you to the B-schools.
XAT Cut Off 2026
XAT cut-off 2026 mainly depends on applicants number, exam difficulty, and seat availability. However, based on previous years, there won’t be much change in the XAT cut-off score. So, you don't need to stress about that.
The following table has the XAT 2026 expected cutoff for top MBA colleges like XLRI, XIMB, etc, in the general category. Let’s check them out, and don’t forget to analyse where you stand and how to improve your XAT 2026 score.
| Percentile Range | Expected Score (Out of 75) | Admission Chances |
| 99+ | 40+ | Safe for XLRI and top B-schools |
| 95–97 | 33-35 | Strong for IMT, XIMB |
| 90–95 | 27–30 | Good for TAPMI, GIM, GLIM |
| 85–90 | 24–27 | Decent for KJ Somaiya, LIBA |
| 80–85 | 22–24 | Eligible for mid-tier institutes |
XAT Sectional Cut Off 2026 (Expected)
XLRI Jamshedpur, the exam conductor, uses XAT for admissions into its Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) programs. The XAT 2026 expected cut-off for XLRI is projected to remain competitive, especially for engineering and male candidates.
For 2026, overall XAT cutoffs are likely to stay near 95–96 percentile for BM and 93–95 percentile for HRM. Sectional cutoffs in VALR, QA, and DM are expected to vary by gender and academic background to ensure diversity.
| Field | VALR | QA | DM | Overall |
| Male Engineer | 84 | 88 | 84 | 96%ile |
| Female Engineer | 80 | 82 | 80 | 91%ile |
| Male Non-Engineer | 84 | 88 | 84 | 96%ile |
| Female Non-Engineer | 80 | 82 | 80 | 91%ile |
XAT Cut Off for XLRI BM and HRM 2025
If you are aiming to pursue your career in Business Management (BM) or Human Resource Management (HRM), you must check out the following cut-off details.
| Program | Category | Expected Overall Percentile | Estimated Score (Out of 75) |
| XLRI BM (Male Engineer) | General | 96 | 37–38 |
| XLRI BM (Female Engineer) | General | 91 | 33–35 |
| XLRI HRM (Male Engineer) | General | 95 | 36–37 |
| XLRI HRM (Female Engineer) | General | 90 | 31–33 |
| XLRI HRM (Non-Engineer) | Male | 93 | 33–35 |
| XLRI HRM (Non-Engineer) | Female | 87 | 30–32 |
XAT 2026 Cut Off for Top MBA Colleges
Beyond XLRI, many reputed B-schools accept XAT scores. Colleges like SPJIMR Mumbai, IMT Ghaziabad, and XIM Bhubaneswar typically require percentiles around 90 or above. Mid-tier institutes such as TAPMI Manipal, KJ Somaiya, and Great Lakes Chennai usually accept 80–90 percentile candidates.
| XAT Colleges | Fees (in lakhs) | Avg Pkg (LPA) | XAT cut-off %ile |
| XLRI, Jamshedpur | 33 | 32.7 | 96+ |
| MICA, Ahmedabad | 21 | 20 | 90+ |
| XIM University, Bhubaneshwar | 21.5 | 20.03 | 91+ |
| IMT, Ghaziabad | 19.53 | 17.6 | 90+ |
| IRMA, Anand | 16.09 | 15.5 | 83+ |
| FORE, Delhi | 20.42 | 14.5 | 88+ |
| GIM, Panji | 21.04 | 14.87 | 80+ |
| TAPMI | 19.45 | 14.6 | 80+ |
| BITS Pilani | 10.87 | 15.9 | 70+ |
| K J Somaiya | 21.78 | 12.28 | 70+ |
| NIBM, Pune | 16 | 15.22 | 70+ |
| LIBA, Chennai | 19.29 | 10 | 86+ |
| Great Lakes | 19.95 | 14.5 | Approx. 90 |
| IFMR, Chennai | 18.41 | 13 | Profile Based |
| IMT Nagpur | 15.12 | 10.81 | 80+ |
A score of 36+ out of 75 is considered quite good, placing students around 95+ percentile, suitable for several top-tier institutes.
Also Read, XAT Percentile-wise Colleges 2026, Check MBA Fees, Cut off
XAT Previous Year’s Score Vs Percentile
Analyzing past scores and percentile helps you understand XAT’s trend and plan preparation effectively. Over the last three years, the XAT 2026 expected cut-off has shown a steady trend, with only minor fluctuations depending on difficulty.
| Percentile | XAT 2025 Score | XAT 2024 Score | XAT 2023 Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 38.2 | 33.5 | 46.5 |
| 95 | ~31 | 26 | 38 |
| 90 | ~28.5 | 23 | 34.5 |
| 85 | 24.7 | ~21 | 32.2 |
| 80 | 20 | 18 | 29.2 |
From these trends, candidates can expect XAT 2026 cutoffs to remain near 2025 levels, with moderate paper difficulty.
Also Read, XAT Score vs Percentile 2025, Previous Year's Cut off Analysis
XAT Cut Off 2026: Conclusion
The XAT 2026 expected cut-off reflects tough competition, especially for XLRI programs. Students aiming for the 95 percentile or higher should target scores above 36. With focused preparation, strong fundamentals, and good mock analysis, achieving these scores is very possible. Knowing the past trends and target scores early will help you build a smart preparation plan for success in January 2026. All the Best.
