XAT Score Calculator & Response Sheet Guide (2025–2026)

If you’ve just taken the XAT and are staring at your xat response sheet, wondering what your xat score, xat percentile, and xat cutoff might be – this guide is for you.

This page is designed as the companion to Mockat’s upcoming xat score calculator response sheet tool on mockat.com, and will also connect you to our broader MBA entrance exams pillar content.

We’ll walk you through:

How the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) works
How to use the XAT answer key and response sheet to compute your raw score
How to calculate XAT percentile (manually and via a percentile predictor)
What the XAT score vs percentile trends look like for XAT 2025 and XAT 2026
How to interpret cut-offs for top B schools and MBA colleges that are colleges accepting XAT score

1. What is XAT and why your score matters

The xavier aptitude test is a national‑level management entrance test conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI. It’s accepted by 250+ B schools, including XLRI, XIM University, TAPMI, MICA, Alliance School of Business and many other participating colleges across India.

For MBA aspirants targeting elite programs in business management and human resource management, your xat score and overall percentile largely determine whether you’ll be shortlisted for the selection process (form, group discussion, PI, WAT, etc.).

Because XAT is tougher than most tests, even a moderate xat exam performance can translate into a strong xat percentile – if you understand how score vs percentile works.

2. XAT exam vs other MBA entrance exams

Compared to other MBA entrance examslike CAT, XAT has:

An extra Decision Making section
A dedicated General Knowledge section
A unique negative marking rule for too many unattempted questions

This makes strategy, accuracy and careful question selection absolutely critical for xat takers and other test takers.

While IIM Ahmedabad and other IIMs primarily use CAT, many top B schools outside the IIM ecosystem rely heavily on your xat score for programs like MBA BM and MBA‑HR.

3. XAT exam pattern 2025–2026 at a glance

From XAT 2025, XLRI revised the exam pattern: the essay has moved out of the main test and is evaluated later in the selection process. XAT 2025 and XAT 2026 follow a two‑part structure.

3.1 Sections in the XAT question paper

The xat question paper consists of four assessed sections:

Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning / verbal and logical ability
Decision Making
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
General Knowledge

Below is the typical structure of the xat question paper for 2025–2026:

Part	Section	Focus area	Questions	Time (approx.)	Counts for percentile?
Part 1	Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning	RC, verbal ability, logical reasoning, critical reasoning	26	170 min (shared)	Yes
	Decision Making	Ethical, managerial caselets	21		Yes
	Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation	quantitative ability, quantitative aptitude, DI	28		Yes
Part 2	General Knowledge	Static GK + current affairs	20	10 min	No (for percentile)

Total questions ≈ 95; total duration ≈ 180 minutes.

So, in summary, the xat paper tests your ability in:

Verbal ability and logical
Ability and logical reasoning
Quantitative aptitude and data interpretation
General knowledge & business awareness

4. Marking scheme, raw score and negative marking

Understanding the scoring rules is essential before you touch any xat score calculator or xat percentile predictor.

4.1 Marking scheme (how raw score is computed)

Across recent years, the official XAT marking scheme has been:

Action	Marks impact
Correct answer	+1 to your raw score
Incorrect answer / wrong answers	−0.25 (¼ mark negative marking)
Unattempted questions (beyond 8)	−0.10 each (additional negative marking)
GK question (correct/incorrect)	+1 / 0, no negative marking
GK & Essay in percentile	Not counted for xat percentile calculation

So your raw score (out of 75 for the three Part‑1 sections) is:

Raw score = (Correct × 1) − (Incorrect × 0.25) − (Unattempted beyond 8 × 0.10)

Only this raw score (from VALR, DM, QA & DI) is used to generate your scaled scores and xat percentile.

4.2 Raw score, scaled scores and percentile

First, XLRI computes your raw score.
Then they convert it to scaled scores using a statistical normalization process (not publicly disclosed) to adjust for difficulty.
Based on scaled scores and number of xat takers, your xat percentile is calculated as:

XAT Percentile = 1 − (All India Rank / Total candidates) × 100

That’s why two candidates with the same xat marks in different years may get different percentiles – difficulty and test takers matter.

5. From candidate response to raw score

To use any xat score calculator effectively, you must understand what’s in your candidate response sheet and answer key.

5.1 What is the XAT response sheet?

The xat response sheet (or simply, response sheet) is a PDF/HTML document released on the official XAT website (xatonline.in). It shows:

Every question in the question paper
The option you marked as your candidate response
Sometimes a view of the correct answer when linked with the xat answer key

For XAT 2025, the XAT 2025 response sheet was released on 7 January 2025, two days after the exam.

5.2 What is the XAT answer key?

The xat answer key is the official table of correct answers published by XLRI after releasing the response sheets.

The first release is usually the provisional answer key.
After candidates raise objection (if they spot any incorrect answer in the key), XLRI may publish a final official XAT answer key.

The key and response sheet together allow you to compute your expected score before results.

6. Official XAT website: timelines for XAT 2025 & XAT 2026

From recent trends on the official XAT website (xatonline.in):

Event	XAT 2025	XAT 2026 (announced / expected)
XAT examination date	5 January 2025	4 January 2026
XAT registration window opens	July 2024	10 July 2025
Registration closes	Early–mid December 2024	5 December 2025
Response sheet release	7 January 2025	Within ~1 week of exam (expected)
Provisional answer key release	10 January 2025	Few days after response sheet
Official XAT answer key (final)	Around 20 January 2025	Similar window expected
Result & scorecard	Late January 2025	Late January 2026 (expected)

Always double‑check the details mentioned on xatonline.in right after the exam for the latest dates.

7. How to download XAT response sheet & answer key

Here’s the standard process (based on XAT 2024 and XAT 2025 releases).

Visit the official XAT website – xatonline.in.
Click the Response Sheet / Answer Key link.
Login with your XAT ID and user ID (registered email) plus password.
Open the xat response sheet to view your candidate response.
Download the answer key PDF.
Save both the key and response sheet as a supporting document for later, especially if you plan to raise objection.

If you find any discrepancies or wrong answers in the provisional answer key, you can usually raise objection through an online form – entering the question ID, section (e.g. Decision Making, verbal ability, data interpretation), and your reasoning.

8. Step–by–step: manual XAT percentile calculation

Even before using an online xat percentile predictor, you should know how to manually calculate XAT percentile using your raw score.

8.1 Step 1 – Compute raw score from key and response sheet

Using the formula:

Raw score = (Correct × 1) − (Incorrect × 0.25) − (Unattempted beyond 8 × 0.10)

Count:

Total correct answer entries
Total incorrect answer entries
Number of unattempted questions beyond 8

Ignore general knowledge questions here, since GK doesn’t affect your overall percentile.

8.2 Step 2 – Use recent score vs percentile data

Based on 2024–2025 data (out of 75 marks for VALR + DM + QA & DI), a simplified xat score vs percentile trend looks like this (rounded and indicative):

XAT raw score (out of 75)	Approx. XAT percentile	Interpretation
40+	99+	XLRI, most top B schools in range
35–39	97–99	Very competitive for elite B schools
32–34	95–97	Strong profile for XLRI calls (depending on profile)
28–31	93–95	Good shot at XIM, IMT, GIM, etc.
25–27	90–93	Many good MBA colleges & participating colleges
22–24	85–90	Solid mid‑tier b schools
18–21	80–85	Decent shortlist range for schools like TAPMI
<18	<80	Some niche colleges; improvement room

8.3 Step 3 – Map to your target colleges

Once you know your expected score and indicative xat percentile, compare with typical xat cutoff ranges (see tables later) to see whether your xat score required for specific schools seems achievable.

9. Mockat’s XAT score calculator + response sheet tool

Manual calculation is useful, but tedious. That’s where a good xat score calculator comes in.

Mockat’s planned tool will work as a xat score calculator free for students:

You’ll upload or paste your xat response sheet data.
The tool will apply the exact negative marking and unattempted penalties.
It will output:
- Section‑wise raw score
- Adjusted scaled scores (estimated)
- Estimated xat percentile and overall percentile
- A detailed score vs percentile breakdown

Effectively, this is a combined xat score calculator & xat percentile predictor built specifically for serious MBA aspirants who want quick, accurate insights.

Because Mockat already runs an advanced CAT percentile predictor and score tool, extending that logic to XAT with a dedicated xat percentile calculator is a natural next step.

10. XAT percentile predictor vs doing it yourself

10.1 Why use an online percentile predictor?

A good xat percentile predictor / percentile predictor does three things:

Handles the messy arithmetic of raw score and scaled scores
Uses historical xat score vs percentile data from earlier years
Factors in estimated number of test takers / xat takers for XAT 2025 or XAT 2026

Popular tools (including competitor tools) typically let you:

Enter the numbers of correct answer and incorrect answer in each section, or
Directly upload the xat response sheet

They then estimate your xat exam performance in terms of sectionals and overall xat percentile.

10.2 Limitations of predictors

Remember:

All estimates are based on past xat cut trends and predicted difficulty.
A change in exam toughness can shift the xat cut off and xat score required for the same percentile.
Only the official scorecard from XLRI is final.

Use predictors to make informed decisions, not to obsess over 0.1 percentile changes.

11. XAT 2025 & XAT 2026: key dates and pattern recap

For your planning:

XAT 2025 was held on 5 January 2025 in CBT mode.
XAT 2026 is scheduled for 4 January 2026, with registrations open from July 2025 to early December 2025.

The exam pattern for both years:

Four sections (no essay in the main test)
95 questions, xat question paper duration ~180 minutes
Marking: +1, −0.25, −0.10 after 8 unattempted, GK without negative marks

For mba aspirants juggling CAT + XAT + other exams, this makes XAT a crucial second chance to reach top B schools.

12. XAT score vs percentile – detailed comparison

12.1 Overall score vs percentile (recent trends)

Using multiple public analyses from coaching providers, here’s a more granular XAT 2024/2025 score vs percentile reference (approximate):

XAT raw score (out of 75)	Approx. percentile	Comment
38–39	99.5+	XLRI BM / HRM in range
34–36	98–99	Very strong profile
31–33	96–98	Likely calls from many top schools
27–30	94–96	Excellent for non‑XLRI B schools
24–26	90–94	Good shot at XIM, IMT, TAPMI etc.
21–23	85–90	Comfortable mid‑tier options
18–20	80–85	Entry to decent MBA colleges

Again, treat these as indicative, not guaranteed.

12.2 Section‑wise score vs percentile snapshot

From one major analysis of XAT 2025, approximate section‑wise score vs percentile looked like this:

Section (2025)	Score for ~95+ %ile	Score for ~90+ %ile
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR)	14–15	11–12
Decision Making	12–13	10–11
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QADI)	14–15	11–12

Use these benchmarks while analysing your xat exam performance from the response sheet.

13. XAT cut off & XAT score required for top B schools

13.1 XLRI Jamshedpur (BM & HRM)

For XLRI’s flagship business management and human resource management programs, the xat cutoff usually falls roughly in the 95–97 percentile range for BM and slightly lower for HRM, with sectional cut‑offs in VALR, DM and QADI.

This means your xat score required for XLRI BM is typically in the high 30s (out of 75), depending on year’s difficulty.

13.2 Other top B schools & expected XAT cut off

Here’s a consolidated view of popular colleges accepting XAT score and their typical xat cut / cut‑off range (for flagship MBA/PGDM):

College / Xavier institute / B school	Program (example)	Typical XAT cutoff (percentile)
XLRI Jamshedpur	PGDM – Business Management / Human Resource Management	95–97+
XIM University, Bhubaneswar (Xavier Institute of Management)	MBA – Business Management, HRM	~88–92
T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI / pai management institute)	MBA Core, BKFS, HRM, etc.	~80–85
MICA Ahmedabad	PGDM (Communication)	~80–85
GIM Goa	PGDM	~85–90
IMT Ghaziabad	PGDM	~90–91
Alliance School of Business (alliance school)	MBA	~70–80+ (often profile‑based)

There are 250+ participating colleges and b schools using XAT – always cross‑check each institute’s official site before applying.

14. How XAT scores are used in the selection process

Most institutes use your xat percentile and sometimes sectionals to shortlisting candidates for the further selection process that may include:

Essay / SOP
Group discussion
Personal interview
Academic & work‑ex weightage

Some schools, like XLRI, also consider general knowledge and essay during final merit, even though GK is not part of the main xat percentile calculation.

15. Top MBA programs you can target through XAT

With a strong XAT performance, MBA aspirants can look at:

XLRI Jamshedpur – MBA BM and MBA‑HR (flagship programs)
XIM University – MBA in Business Management, Human Resource Management, Sustainability, Rural Management.
T A Pai Management Institute (pai management institute) – MBA Core, BKFS, Marketing, HRM
MICA Ahmedabad – Communication‑focused PGDM
Alliance School of Business – MBA with multiple specialisations.

These top B schools give you an alternative to the CAT‑IIM route and are among the most respected MBA colleges in India.

16. Using Mockat mock tests to boost XAT exam performance

Before you ever touch a xat score calculator, your priority should be to improve your xat exam performance via targeted practice.

On mockat.com, you already get:

Full‑length XAT mock tests
Sectional tests in verbal ability, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude and data interpretation
Detailed analysis that highlights incorrect answer patterns, speed issues and conceptual gaps Mockat+1

Regular mock tests help you:

Learn optimal attempts to avoid too much negative marking
Improve accuracy so that wrong answers go down
Strengthen tricky areas like Decision Making and ability and logical reasoning

Combined with the upcoming xat score calculator response sheet tool, Mockat aims to give MBA aspirants a complete preparation + analysis ecosystem.

17. Common mistakes while using the key and response sheet

Many students misuse the key and response sheet, leading to wrong estimates:

Counting GK in percentile
- Remember, GK contributes to overall profile but not to xat percentile.
Ignoring unattempted penalty
- Forgetting the −0.10 after 8 unattempted questions underestimates negative impact.
Mismatching question IDs
- While you raise objection, double‑check that the question ID, part name and correct answer you claim align with the details mentioned on the site.
Not keeping a supporting document
- Always save PDFs of your response sheet, answer key and any objection receipts.
Blind trust in any random xat percentile predictor
- Always cross‑check predictions across at least two tools and manual estimation.

18. FAQs – XAT score calculator, answer key & response sheet

Q1. Is the XAT score calculator accurate?

Even the best xat score calculator or xat score calculator 2026 uses assumptions about difficulty and xat score vs percentile trends, but good tools (including Mockat’s planned one) address:

Section‑wise accuracy
Actual xat question paper pattern
Historical data on xat 2025 and xat 2026 trends

Use them as strong estimates, not official truth.

Q2. Can I calculate XAT percentile myself?

Yes. If you:

Extract your candidate response from the response sheet
Match with the xat answer key
Compute your raw score and compare with recent score vs percentile tables

…you can manually calculate XAT percentile and verify it against any percentile predictor.

Q3. How do I raise objection to the official XAT answer key?

Typically:

Login to the official XAT portal with XAT ID and user ID.
Go to the Candidate Response / Raise Objection tab.
Enter question ID, section (e.g. verbal ability and logical, DM, QADI), your chosen option and the correct answer you propose.
Upload any supporting document.

Q4. Does XAT percentile include GK?

No. The general knowledge section has no negative marks and is not used for xat percentile calculation, though many schools use it during shortlisting candidates or interviews.

Q5. How does XAT help if I already wrote CAT (e.g., for IIM Ahmedabad)?

XAT gives you a second big shot at top B schools even if CAT didn’t go perfectly. While IIM Ahmedabad and older IIMs don’t accept XAT, other elite institutes (XLRI, XIM, TAPMI, MICA, Alliance, etc.) use it heavily, spreading your risk across exams.

19. Turning your expected score into informed decisions

Once your expected score and xat percentile are clear (via manual computing or a xat percentile predictor):

List your dream and realistic b schools.
Compare your numbers with historical xat cut off ranges.
Decide whether to:
- Apply to more participating colleges, or
- Focus on interview prep for schools where you’re comfortably above the xat cut.

Your goal is always to make informed decisions, not panic ones.

20. Next steps with Mockat & the MBA entrance exams pillar

To summarise:

Use the xat answer key + xat response sheet from the official XAT website to get your raw score.
Run it through a reliable xat score calculator free (Mockat’s upcoming tool), which doubles as a xat percentile predictor / xat percentile calculator.
Match your xat score vs percentile with the typical xat cutoff data for your target institutes.
Plan your applications and interview prep across multiple MBA entrance exams, not just XAT.

For a broader map of all key tests (CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, etc.), you can move up a level and explore Mockat’s MBA entrance exams pillar page on mockat.com, where we’ll also link back to this XAT‑focused resource.

Good luck for XAT 2026, XAT 2027 and your journey to India’s best B schools – and may your scaled scores and overall percentile be exactly where you want them to be.