What is a good score in XAT 2026? A mark of 34 out of 75 marks is considered a good score in XAT 2026, and students can get 99 percentile by scoring 34 marks in the XAT exam.
Asking yourself what is a good score in XAT 2026 is to get into your target college? Well, a score above 34 out of 75 can be a good XAT score since it can fetch a candidate 99+ percentile in the XAT 2026 exam . This score will help you clear the first round of the selection process for top MBA/PGDM colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, and others. The exam is expected to be conducted on January 4, 2026. Note that a XAT 2026 good score is the score or percentile that puts you in the college of your choice. A good score not only helps you get shortlisted for the next round of the admission process but also increases your chances of getting a scholarship or financial aid.
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What is a Good Score/Percentile in XAT 2026?
XAT 2026 results will be released on January 31, 2026, on the official website, and the participating institutes will release their XAT cutoff in February 2026 and begin the XAT 2026 selection process. These percentiles are indicative of a student's performance compared to other XAT exam takers and can greatly increase their chances of getting admission to top MBA programs.
Type of Score | Score Range | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
Very Good | 34+ | 99+ |
Good | 23-26+ | 90-99 |
Average | 14-21 | 50-80 |
Section-wise XAT 2026 Good Score
Students can fond XAT 2026 good scores tabulated below.XAT 2026 Percentile vs Marks
What is XAT 2026 Score?
XAT Score is the marks awarded to candidates based on their performance in the exam. Calculation of the XAT 2026 Score of a candidate is done as per the questions answered by the candidate and the XAT 2026 Marking Scheme, which is as follows:
XAT 2026 Marking Scheme
Students can find the XAT 2026 marking scheme given below.Particulars | Exam Pattern |
|---|---|
Marks Allocated Per Question | +1 mark for every correct answer |
Negative Marking | -0.25 marks for every incorrect answer |
Marks for Unanswered Questions |
No negative marking till 8 unanswered questions
|
For General Knowledge Section | No negative marking for the GK Section |
The following formula is being used to calculate the XAT 2026 Score of the candidate:
XAT 2026 Score = (C x 1) - (X x 0.25) - { (U - 8) x (0.10) } |
|---|
where,
- C represents correct answers
- X represents incorrect answers
- U represents unattempted questions
The raw marks scored by a candidate in the XAT are their actual score in the exam. Since XAT is conducted in a single shift, normalisation is not employed in this exam. Let us understand how the XAT score is calculated through an example. The following are the details of a candidate who appeared for XAT 2026. Please note that the GK section and Essay Writing are not being considered here.
Particulars | Number of Questions | Marking |
|---|---|---|
Total Questions Answered (T) | 65 | -- |
Correct Answers (C) | 45 | 45 x +1 = +45 |
Incorrect Answers (X) | 20 | 20 x (-0.25) = -5 |
Unattempted Questions (U) | 10 | (10-8) x (-0.10) = 0.2 |
Total Score | -- | 45 - 5 - 0.2 = 39.2 |
What is XAT 2026 Percentile?
The percentile of a candidate in the XAT 2026 exam is a crucial parameter used to assess their performance in comparison to all the other candidates who appeared for the same exam. The XAT percentile is assigned to each candidate based on their rank, which is determined by their merit in the exam. The rank of each candidate is assigned based on their score, with the top scorer receiving the first rank and so on. Therefore, the XAT 2026 percentile of a candidate will depend on their marks as well as the marks obtained by all other candidates who appeared for the exam. Candidates can use the XAT 2026 Percentile Predictor to calculate their estimated XAT percentile. Aspirants may also use the following formula to calculate their XAT percentile:
XAT Percentile = Candidate’s XAT Rank/ Total Candidates x 100 |
|---|
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College-wise Good XAT 2026 Score
Let us now check out what is the good score is XAT 2026 for top MBA/PGDM colleges across India, along with their corresponding percentiles:
College | Expected XAT Score Range | Expected Percentile Range |
|---|---|---|
34-38+ marks | 93-97+ percentile | |
30-35+ marks | 85-90+ percentile | |
27-30 marks | 85-90 percentile | |
25-28+ marks | 80-85+ percentile | |
22-26+ marks | 80-85+ percentile | |
22-30+ marks | 75-85 percentile | |
22-30+ marks | 75-85 percentile | |
25-28+ marks | 80-85 percentile | |
25-30 marks | 80-85 percentile |
Percentile-wise XAT 2026 Accepting Colleges
Check out the colleges that accept XAT based on percentile requirements below:
Percentile Range | List of Colleges |
|---|---|
50-60 | MBA Colleges Accepting 50-60 Percentile in XAT 2026 |
60-70 Percentile | |
70-80 Percentile | |
80-90 Percentile | |
90-95 Percentile | |
95-100 Percentile | List of MBA Colleges Accepting 95-100 Percentile in XAT 2026 |
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Therefore, students must strategically prepare to get a good score in the XAT 2026 exam. They can get into the top colleges by scoring good in the XAT exam. Once students score well in the exam, they will be invited for the GD & PI rounds. Those who have any doubts regarding what is a good score in XAT 2026 may ask questions on the Collegedekho Q&A zone .
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FAQs
It is not only difficult to understand the XAT score vs percentile analysis but also perplexing. Students make a note of the XAT result's percentile format since it is published. That being said, the XAT score vs percentile is an estimate based on various data like previous year trends, which tells students the raw score they need to achieve to obtain a certain percentile score. For example, a raw score of 39 - 40.5 will fetch a candidate a percentile score of 99+ in the XAT 2026 exam.
There are several reputable institutes in India that accept 80 percentile in XAT 2026 for MBA admissions. These institutes are also a great choice for candidates who wish to pursue an MBA/PGDM degree in their Masters. Some of the B-schools that accept the 80 percentile in XAT include:
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
- FORE, Delhi
- Goa Institute of Management (GIM)
- IIFM, Bhopal
Scoring a 90 percentile or above in the XAT 2025 exam can open numerous gateways for a candidate to pursue their MBA/PGDM dreams. Most of these institutions have an AAA+ or above state ranking. Some of the B-schools accepting 90 percentile or above in XAT 2026 are:
- S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
- Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur
- Institute of Rural Management, Anand
- TA Pai Management Institute, Manipal
- Goa Institute of Management, Goa
- Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship
Former academic standing is not a short-listing or exclusion factor for admission at XLRI. In the event that you are shortlisted, be ready to discuss your subpar academic performance in the interview. Many students with previous academic failures do enroll at XLRI. However, it is important to note that those with higher academic records in the past do have an advantage, one that is merited, rather than an unjust one.
The XAT scorecard is one of the most important pieces of documentation for XAT candidates. The scorecard is important in understanding various aspects of the XAT exam 2026. For understanding the XAT score versus percentile analysis, the XAT scorecard is crucial. According to our analysis of XAT Scorecards, a score of 35 in the XAT 2026 will place you in the 95 percentile, while a score of 32 will place you in the 93 percentile. You will comfortably fall into the 90+ percentile range with a score of 30.
A safe score in the XAT is dependent on the candidate's objectives. In the XAT 2026, a score of 34 may give 95 percentile. In the XAT 2026, a score of 30 may place you in the 90+ percentile, while a score of 32 raises your percentile to 93. The score obtained in each section of the XAT 2026 has a bearing on the overall and sectional XAT percentile.
The good XAT 2026 score for MBA admission at XLRI, Jamshedpur, can be determined after the announcement of the XAT result. That said, for the general category applicants, the XLRI Jamshedpur PGDM Admission XAT Cutoff in 2023 stayed between the 92 and 95 percentile. The percentiles for male, female, male engineers, female engineers, male non-engineers, and female non-engineers are divided into two separate categories on the XAT cut off 2026. The final admission offer is based on the results of the institute's GD/PI.
XAT score is calculated in a systematic manner. +1 mark is awarded for each accurate response and -0.25 mark is awarded for incorrect answers. This makes it difficult to achieve a score higher than 35–40 marks. Due to the XAT exam's high level of difficulty and constrained number of questions, poor scores have a high percentile.
In the XAT 2026, a score of 34 may give 95 percentile. The XAT Scorecard only shows XAT Percentage and XAT Percentile; it does not reveal XAT Score. There are three sections and a total of 75 questions in the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), which is used to calculate a merit-based percentile.
No, GK is not considered for the XAT score 2026 calculation. However, the GK score will affect your admission to B-schools even if it is not taken into account when determining the final percentile. The GK section receives a total score of 25 marks, and you will have 25 minutes to submit part 2 (the GK section and the essay).
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