XAT Score vs Percentile 2026: The XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is an annual exam which is considered one of the most prestigious MBA entrance tests in India. It is organized by the XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to its excellent program as well as to over 700 B-schools that accept XAT scores. As the aspirants get ready for XAT 2026, it is crucial that they grasp the vital connection between XAT Score vs Percentile 2026, especially with the distinctive format of the exam which includes Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QADI), Decision Making (DM), and a General Knowledge (GK) section.
The blog post will thoroughly discuss the XAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile ranges, XAT Score Required for 99, 95 & 90 Percentile, and How Is XAT Percentile Calculated in 2026? XAT Previous Year Trends guide us through the way competition and exam difficulty influence the results while the information about XAT Cutoff & Colleges Accepting XAT 2026 supports the smart college shortlisting.
XAT Score vs Percentile 2026
The XAT Score vs Percentile 2026 is an important metric for the MBA aspirants, as it plays a major role in judging the performance and predicting the admission chances in the best MBA colleges in India.
The XAT exam is evaluated out of a total score, where a better percentile is attached to a higher score. Usually, a mark over 33 can result in a percentile of over 97, while a mark of 39 is probably going to get a 99 percentile or more. Nevertheless, the percentile is influenced by the exam's difficulty level and the number of test-takers.
XAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile
XAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile assumes around 1 lakh test-takers and moderate difficulty, similar to recent years. Scores out of 75 (main sections) translate to percentiles via normalization.
| XAT Marks Vs Percentile 2026 (Expected) | |
| Score | Percentile |
| 37-38 | 99 |
| 32-34 | 97 |
| 28-30 | 92 |
| 25-26 | 85 |
| 19-21 | 80 |
| 15-16 | 75 |
| 11-13 | 70 |
| 10-12 | 65 |
| 9-10 | 60 |
Note: The above scores and percentiles are based on the assumption that the difficulty level of XAT 2026 will be similar to previous years, meaning the score vs percentile distribution will likely remain the same.
XAT Score Required for 99, 95 & 90 Percentile
XAT Score Required for 99, 95 & 90 Percentile in 2026 targets top calls from XLRI, XIMB or IMT. A 99 percentile needs 38+, while 95 requires 31-33.
| Percentile | Overall Score | VALR | QADI | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 38-40 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
| 97 | 34-35 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| 95 | 31-33 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| 90 | 28-31 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| 85 | 24-26 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
XAT Section- Wise Score Required to Clear Cutoffs
Usually, the Cut-off for XLRI Jamshedpur and XLRI Delhi is around 95-96 percentile overall. But XLRI Also has sectional cutoffs. If the overall cutoffs is clear but couldn't clear the sectional cutoff then you will not get the interview call.
| XAT Sectional Score Vs Percentile 2025 | ||||
| Percentile | QA & DI Score | VALR Score | DM Score | Overall |
| 96 | 13 | 14 | 12 | ~32 |
| 95 | 11 | 12 | 10.5 | ~31 |
XAT Score Required in Each Section:
According to the XAT 2025, the scores required to Clear the sectional cutoffs are given in the table below:
XLRI BM Score Required to Clear Cutoff
| Stream | Gender | QA | VALR | DM |
| Engineer | Male | 10 | 9.25 | 8.5 |
| Non-Engineer | Male | 10 | 9.25 | 8.5 |
| Engineer | Female | 8 | 8.5 | 8.25 |
| Non-Engineer | Female | 8 | 8.5 | 8.25 |
XLRI HRM Score Required to Clear Cutoff
| Stream | Gender | QA | VALR | DM |
| Engineer | Male | 8.25 | 10.5 | 9.25 |
| Non-Engineer | Male | 7 | 10.5 | 9.25 |
| Engineer | Female | 6.25 | 9.5 | 8.25 |
| Non-Engineer | Female | 5.75 | 9.5 | 8.25 |
How Is XAT Percentile Calculated in 2026?
The XAT 2026 percentile calculation is based on the XLRI standardized process that aims at fairness among the different sessions of the exam through the integration of the raw scores of the three main sections: Verbal & Logical Ability (VALR), Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QADI), and Decision Making (DM). The process starts with the raw score determination through the marking scheme of +1 for right answers, -0.25 for wrong ones, and -0.1 for each question not attempted beyond 8. (GK is not counted for the main percentile.)
Unlike the CAT exam, There is only 1 slot in XAT so, there is no scaled score. Your percentiles will be calculated on the basis of your raw score only.
XAT Raw Score Computation
Raw scores from the foundation before normalization. For example, with 60 correct, 15 incorrect, and 12 unattempted (4 beyond 8), the score is: (60 × 1) + (15 × -0.25) + (4 × -0.1) = 60 - 3.75 - 0.4 = 55.85 out of ~75 for main sections.
XAT Percentile Formula
The core formula is: Percentile = [(Total Candidates (N) - Candidate's Rank (R)) / N] × 100, where rank ties share positions. Example: With N=100,000 and R=2,000, Percentile = [(100,000 - 2,000)/100,000] × 100 = 98 percentile, meaning 98% scored below. Results round to two decimals and apply post-exam via official scorecard.
XAT Score vs Percentile: Previous Year Trends
Previous year trends for XAT Score vs Percentile show evolving score requirements due to fluctuating difficulty and candidate numbers (around 1-1.2 lakh), with 2025 marking moderate papers needing higher scores for top percentiles compared to tougher 2024.
| Year | 99%ile | 95%ile | 90%ile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38.5 | 33 | 29 |
| 2024 | 36.3 | 26 | 23 |
| 2023 | 46.5 | 38 | 34.5 |
| 2022 | 36 | 29.5 | 25.6 |
XAT Cutoff & Colleges Accepting XAT 2026
XAT Cutoff & Colleges Accepting XAT 2026 vary by institute, with XLRI at 96+ percentile. Mid-tier like GIM accept 80+.
| College | Min Percentile | Fees (Lakhs) | Avg CTC (LPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur | 96+ | 33 | 32.7 |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | 91+ | 21.5 | 20 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90+ | 19.5 | 17.6 |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 90+ | 21 | 20 |
| GIM Goa | 80+ | 21 | 14.9 |
| IRMA, Anand | 83+ | 16.09 | 15.5 |
| FORE, Delhi | 88+ | 20.42 | 14.5 |
XAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Conclusion
In short, understanding XAT Score vs Percentile 2026 is your guide to the best MBA programs, where the chances are that 38-40 marks granted in above-normal difficulty and among more than 1 lakh candidates would still get you a 99 percentile, as predicted by the trends similar to that of 2025. For admissions, shortlist colleges that fit your profile: XLRI at 96+ percentile with great ROI (33 lakhs fees, 32.7 LPA average CTC), down to GIM Goa at 80+ for intermediate options.
Make sure to check the official XLRI updates after the January 2026, exam, refine your plan with percentile predictors, and keep in mind that strategic preparation is superior to raw talent. Today could be the day you start your journey, win XAT 2026, and gain access to life-changing careers in management.
