XAT 2026 Exam Analysis After January Four Test; Difficulty, Cut Off has become the focus after the Xavier Aptitude Test was conducted on 04 January 2026. The exam was held in a single shift from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM across designated centres. Candidates appeared for the test to seek admission to MBA programmes offered by XLRI and other participating institutes. The exam followed the standard XAT format and maintained a similar difficulty level to the previous year. The overall paper was assessed as moderate by candidates and subject experts.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Overall Difficulty Level
XAT 2026 consisted of ninety-five questions to be attempted within one hundred eighty minutes. The paper tested candidates across four major sections, with a balanced mix of conceptual and application-based questions. The overall difficulty level remained moderate, with most questions being manageable for candidates who maintained proper time allocation. Accuracy played a key role, especially in sections involving decision-making and quantitative interpretation.
XAT 2026 Section-Wise Question Paper Analysis
The section-wise breakup offers clarity on scoring opportunities and difficulty distribution. The table below summarises the structure and level of difficulty across sections.
Decision Making continued to remain a distinguishing section, requiring careful judgement rather than speed. Verbal and Logical Ability was considered scoring, while Quantitative Ability tested conceptual clarity with time-consuming calculations. The General Knowledge section was straightforward but did not contribute to percentile calculation.
XAT 2026 Question Paper and Answer Key Update
XLRI is expected to release the XAT 2026 question paper along with the candidate response sheet shortly after the exam. Following this, the official answer key objection window is likely to open, allowing candidates to raise challenges within the stipulated time. These documents help candidates estimate their probable scores and assess their performance before the declaration of results.
XAT 2026 Result Date and Expected Cut Off Trends
Based on previous years’ timelines, the XAT 2026 result is expected by the third week of January 2026. The score will remain valid for admission to over eight hundred MBA colleges across India. The expected cut off for top institutes such as XLRI is likely to remain in a similar range as last year, subject to minor variation due to difficulty balance. Final cut offs will depend on overall performance trends, seat availability, and institute-specific criteria. Candidates who appeared for XAT 2026 are advised to track admission schedules closely and prepare required documents for the upcoming selection rounds.
