Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is conducted by XLRI every year by the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). XLRI has been conducting the XAT exam for admission to post-graduate management courses in 11 XAT member institutions for the last 60 years. There are many top colleges through XAT to which you can apply.
XAT 2025 will be conducted on Sunday, January 5, 2025. XLRI conducts XAT on behalf of XAMI. For more than 72+ years XLRI is conducting XAT at all India level to select the most appropriate students for management education. The XAT score is being used by more than 160 institutes for the admission.
XAT Eligibility:
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Educational Qualification:
- A recognized Bachelor's degree of minimum three years duration in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Final year students can also apply, but they must complete their degree by a specified date (usually June of the admission year) to be eligible for admission.
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Minimum Marks: There is no minimum marks requirement for XAT. You only need to have a passing grade in your Bachelor's degree.
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Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing in XAT.
Additional Points:
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NRI/Foreign Candidates: These candidates can apply using a valid GMAT score instead of XAT.
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Reservation Policy: The reservation policy for XAT is determined by the participating institutes based on government guidelines.
Key highlights of the latest XAT exam pattern:
| XAT Exam Pattern | XAT Exam Details |
| Sections | (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge) |
| Duration of XAT Exam | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Number of Questions | 95 |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| XAT Marking Scheme |
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Key Modifications in XAT 2025
Essay Writing: Scrapped from the exam; will now be conducted during the XLRI selection process.
Reduced GK Questions: The number of questions in the GK section has been reduced from 25 to 20.
No Sectional Time Limits: There is no sectional time limit in Part 1, giving candidates flexibility in managing their time.
XAT 2025 Marking Scheme: What You Need to Know
The XAT 2025 exam follows a structured marking scheme that rewards correct answers and penalises incorrect responses and excessive skipping of questions. Understanding the nuances of this marking scheme can help you formulate a strategy to maximise your score.
Marks per Question: Each question carries 1 mark, with 95 questions expected.
Negative Marking for Incorrect Answers: 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Penalty for Skipping Questions:
- You can skip up to 8 questions without any penalty.
- For each question skipped after the 8th one, a penalty of 0.1 marks per question will be applied.
General Knowledge (GK) Section:
- The GK section has no negative markings.
- It will not contribute to your overall percentile or cutoff score but will be considered in the selection process.
The XAT 2025 marking scheme emphasises accuracy and smart decision-making. By carefully managing your attempts and skips, you can minimise penalties and boost your chances of achieving a high score. Understanding the role of the GK section is equally important, as it remains an integral part of the overall evaluation process despite not impacting the percentile directly.
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XAT 2025 Syllabus: Key Highlights
The XAT 2025 exam is a crucial step for management aspirants, and understanding its syllabus is vital for effective preparation.
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Section |
Important Topics |
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Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning |
Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, Fill in the Blanks, etc. |
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Decision Making |
Data Arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Caselets, Assumptions, Premises, Conclusions, etc. |
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation |
Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Percentage, Surds and Indices, Algebra, Mensuration, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Tables, Data Interpretation, etc. |
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General Knowledge |
Current Affairs and Static GK (Science, Economy, Business, Politics, Static GK, Sports, Prize and Award, World, Government, Constitution of India, etc.) |
To succeed in XAT 2025, focusing on the key topics listed above will greatly enhance your performance. Each section has a defined set of important areas that are consistently tested, so ensure that your preparation covers these comprehensively. Prioritise these topics and practice regularly to improve accuracy and time management during the exam.
Colleges and their cutoffs:
Top MBA colleges accepting XAT Score Above 80 Percentile:
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MBA colleges throughout India
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XAT Minimum cut off
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XLRI Jamshedpur
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94%ile
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XLRI Delhi
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94%ile
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XIM Bhubaneswar
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95%ile
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GIM
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85%ile
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LBSIM
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80%ile
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Welingkar (Mumbai)
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80%ile
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K J Somaiya Institute of Management Mumbai
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71-75%ile
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FORE School of Management New Delhi
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Core: 84%ile+
Non Core: 75-80%ile |
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SOIL Institute of Management
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80%ile+
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MBA colleges accepting XAT Scores below the 80 percentile
In addition to the top colleges listed above, numerous well-regarded MBA institutions accept XAT scores. Stay tuned, as the application windows for most of these programs are expected to open soon.
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MBA college
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XAT Minimum cut off
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Welingkar (Bangalore)
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75%ile
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| NIA Pune |
75-80%ile
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| BIM Trichy | 75-80%ile |
| NIBM Pune | 75-80%ile |
| IIEBM Pune | 75-80%ile |
| Woxsen Hyderabad | 75-80%ile |
| IBA Bangalore | 75-80%ile |
| ISBR Bangalore | 75-80%ile |
| ISME Bangalore | 75-80%ile |
| Alliance Bangalore | 75-80%ile |
| MYRA Mysore | 75-80%ile |
| UPES Dehradun | 75-80%ile |
| Acharya Bangalore | 75-80%ile |
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Top Colleges you can apply to through XAT
XLRI Xavier School Of Management, Jamshedpur
XLRI Xavier School of Management (XLRI-XMS) is situated in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, and is the country’s oldest business school founded by a few Jesuit Fathers in 1949. It offers 15-month and two-year postgraduate Diplomas in Management (PGDM) with various specializations as well as a doctoral-level fellowship program (FPM).
Admissions for XLRI's flagship programs, Business Management (BM) and Human Resource Management (HRM), are closed at the 94th percentile, with a program fee of ₹28.6 lakhs. The BM program offers 240 seats, while HRM has 180 seats. XLRI continues to maintain its legacy of excellence with exceptional placement records. The highest package reached ₹75 LPA, while the average package stood at an impressive ₹29.89 LPA, reflecting the institute's strong reputation and robust industry connections.
XIMB
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) is a prestigious business school in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the eastern Indian state of Odisha, that is consistently ranked among India's top 20. The Government of India, the Government of Odisha, and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) control XIMB, which was founded in 1987. The school was formed under a'social compact' between the Government of Odisha and the Jesuits in Odisha, with Fr. Romuald D'Souza SJ as its founder-director. XIMB is a member of India's exclusive Super League of B-Schools (Top-10) - the highest tier rated by the All India Management Association (AIMA). XIMB was named 10th in India's Top 10 Competitive B-Schools 2022 by the prestigious Dare2Compete.
Admissions for the program are open at the 95th percentile, with a deadline of 10th January. The program fee is ₹20.25 lakhs, and there are 350 seats available. The placement highlights include a highest package of ₹30 LPA and an average package of ₹19.53 LPA, showcasing the program's strong placement performance and industry relevance.
Goa Institute of Management (GIM)
Goa is to create knowledge & nurture leaders for sustainable business and an inclusive society for India and the world while maintaining a strong & ongoing commitment to Goa. The Vision of Goa Institute of Management: To achieve a preeminence among business institutions in India and be acknowledged among the ten best Institutions in the country. To obtain international accreditation and be acknowledged among the fifty best schools in the world. The graduates should be acknowledged as sound business managers with an all-round capacity, environmental sensitivity, and the social consciousness of their lesser privileged associates.
The institute has reopened admissions for its PGDM programs after achieving an 85th percentile in XAT, with a fee structure of ₹20.4 lakhs. The seat availability across various programs is as follows: PGDM – 300 seats, HCM (Healthcare Management) – 60 seats, BIFS (Banking, Insurance, and Financial Services) – 120 seats, and BDA (Business Data Analytics) – 180 seats. Additionally, a new IDA PGDM program combining BDA with an MSc in Analytics offers 30 seats.
The placement records showcase impressive figures: the PGDM program boasts a highest package of ₹26.3 LPA, HCM reaches ₹29 LPA, BIFS offers ₹22.3 LPA, and BDA secures ₹22.5 LPA. The average placement packages are equally promising, with PGDM at ₹14.81 LPA, HCM at ₹14.25 LPA, BIFS at ₹15.4 LPA, and BDA at ₹15.6 LPA. This highlights the institute's strong industry connections and commitment to student success.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi (LBSIM)
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi (LBSIM) is among India’s Best 15 Private Business Schools ranked by nation’s leading media houses such as Business Today, India Today, Times Group, Fortune, Outlook, The Week, among others. LBSIM was established in 1995 to perpetuate the vision and values of Bharat Ratna Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri – India’s 2nd Prime Minister, by his son - Shri Anil Shastri, former Union Minister and Chairman - Board of Governors, LBSIM. It is powered by 45+ PhD Faculty, 6000+ Alumni and associated with 100+ Corporates to ensure robust placements and internships.
LBSIM offers AICTE approved 5 PGDM Programmes – General, Financial, Research & Business Analytics, AI & Data Sciences and E-Business in addition to an FPM (Doctoral Studies) Programme. It has partnerships with leading Technology firms like IBM, SAS, Bloomberg, and IIM Lucknow for entrepreneurial excellence. LBSIM Executive Education caters to the diverse requirements of learning and training needs of corporates, public sector undertakings and defence organizations, conducting several MDP and Certificate Programmes every year.
- Fees: Rs. 16.5 LPA
- No. of Seats: 360
- Highest: Rs. 16.67 LPA
- Average: Rs. 12.24 LPA
- XAT Cut-Off: 80%
Welingkar Bangalore
S.P Mandali's Prin L.N Welingkar Institute of Management Research & Development (WeSchool) was founded in 1977 as an integral part of the S.P. Mandali Trust, a 135-year-old trust that has made significant contributions to the development of education in Maharashtra by establishing 40 institutions across the state and in Bengaluru.
WeSchool's Bengaluru location is located in India's Silicon Valley - Electronic City, which provides chances to work in the city. It provides a wide choice of carefully picked programs that are developed with 'design thinking' at their core. WeSchool Bengaluru has garnered recognition and appreciation from well-known industrial houses for the quality of its education.
Admissions for the Bangalore campus are open at the 75th percentile, with a deadline of 15th January. The program fee is ₹14 lakhs. The Bangalore campus offers promising placement opportunities, with a highest package of ₹17.63 LPA and an average package of ₹11.11 LPA, highlighting its growing reputation and industry connections.
Welingkar Mumbai (WeSchool)
One of the top management colleges in India is the Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, or Welingakar. The college has campuses in Bangalore and Mumbai. WeSchool Mumbai is renowned for offering its students a 2-year full-time flagship PGDM curriculum. The college additionally provides PGDM programs in Business Design, E-Business, Research & Business Analytics, Healthcare Management, Retail Management, Rural Management, and Media & Entertainment. The college offers admission to its PGDM programs based on applicants' CAT, XAT, ATMA, and GMAT results. In addition to written exam scores, WeSchool's unique profile-based selection method gives major weight to academic achievements, work experience, group projects, personal interviews, and group activities.
Admissions for Welingkar Mumbai are open at the 80th percentile, with a deadline of 15th January. The program fee is ₹14 lakhs, and the campus is part of a combined intake of 990 seats across Mumbai and Bangalore.
The Mumbai campus offers excellent placement opportunities, with a highest package of ₹40 LPA and an average package of ₹12.02 LPA, underscoring its strong industry connections and reputation for producing successful professionals.
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management ( Mumbai)
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management is ranked 25 by Business Today 2023, 19 by Business World for MBA and 63 by NIRF 2024 under the 'Management Institute' category. Established in 1981, with 60 acres of campus size, the KJ Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) is a constituent college of Somaiya Vidyavihar University which the UGC approves.
The Association accredits KJ Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is ISO-certified. Formerly known as K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR), the college offers MBA and MCA courses to students. KJ Somaiya offers PG courses to students across Sports Management, Healthcare Management, and various other streams.
Admissions are open for the following MBA programs at the 71-75 percentile range, with a deadline of 20th January:
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Program Fees:
- MBA & Healthcare Management: ₹22.19 lakhs
- Sports Management: ₹14.02 lakhs
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Seat Availability:
- MBA: 600 seats
- MBA – Healthcare Management (HCM): 30 seats
- MBA – Sports Management (SM): 30 seats
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Placement Highlights:
- Highest Package: ₹28.5 LPA
- Top 100 Students: ₹17.34 LPA
- Top 200 Students: ₹15.8 LPA
- Top 300 Students: ₹14.75 LPA
FORE School of Management
The FORE School of Management, best known as FORE, is a private business school located in New Delhi, India. FORE stands for ‘Foundation for Organizational Research and Education. Established in 1981, the school offers postgraduate education.
In addition to its main academic programs, FORE is also engaged in research, consultancy, seminars, academic conferences, and research publications. FORE was ranked 43 among management schools in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2020. The courses offered by the institute are PGDM – Full Time, PGDM in International Business (IB), and Executive PGDM
Admissions are open for core and non-core programs with the following details:
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Eligibility Criteria:
- Core Programs: 84 percentile and above
- Non-Core Programs: 75-80 percentile
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Application Deadline:
- 31st January (Last year’s deadline)
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Program Details:
- Total Fee: ₹20.77 lakhs
- Total Seats: 480
- PGDM (General): 180 seats
- PGDM (International Business - IB): 120 seats
- PGDM (Financial Management - FM): 120 seats
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Placement Highlights:
- Highest Package: ₹70 LPA
- Average Package: ₹16.01 LPA
Soil Institute of Management
Founded in 2008 in Gurgaon, India’s Start-up & Innovation hub, SOIL Institute of Management was co-created by 32 leading companies and supported by 25 NGOs. With a strong focus on developing responsible leaders, SOIL blends traditional wisdom, modern management practices, and a commitment to ethics and sustainability.
SOIL has built a thriving network of over 2000 alumni from its full-time programs (PGPM & PGDM) and has impacted more than 20,000 leaders through its part-time programs. Known for its experiential learning model and deep industry connections, SOIL’s innovative curriculum covers emerging specializations like digital transformation, analytics, and leadership development. This holistic approach ensures that SOIL graduates are equipped to navigate the complex challenges of the global business landscape and contribute positively to society.
Admissions are open for the following programs at 80 percentile and above, with a deadline of 18th January:
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Program Fees:
- PGPM: ₹15.3 lakhs
- PGPM HR: ₹14.5 lakhs
- PGDM: ₹15.8 lakhs
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Seat Availability:
- PGPM & PGPM HR: 120 seats
- PGDM: 360 seats
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Placement Highlights:
- Highest Package:
- PGPM: ₹22 LPA
- PGPM HR: ₹15 LPA
- PGDM (2 Years): ₹27 LPA
- Average Package:
- PGPM: ₹11.75 LPA
- PGDM: ₹10.7 LPA
- Highest Package:
Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad (MICA)
Established in 1991, Mudra Institute of Communication (MICA), is a postgraduate institute, located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It offers several postgraduate courses in marketing and communications which is said to be the best program for marketing and communication in the country currently. It is known for its interdisciplinary two-year PG diploma programs.
It also offers a postgraduate diploma in management and communications and a one-year program in crafting creative communication. It also has a wide range of online programs in subjects such as advertising management and public relations, digital marketing, media, and entertainment management.
IMI Kolkata
International Management Institute (IMI) Kolkata laid its foundation in 2010. The Institute started functioning in the year 2011 with its flagship Post Graduate Diploma in Management Programme accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). In 2017, the Institute of six years also obtained approval from the All India Council for Technical Education to launch the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), a Ph.D. level program. IMI Kolkata’s two-year full-time PGDM program is also accorded equivalence with the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree by the Association of Indian Universities(AIU).
TAPMI
T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) is a self-governing private business school in India. It was founded in 1980 and is located in the Karnataka university town of Manipal. It is India’s fifth management institute to be accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
Some Highlights from the Institute
The T. A. Pai Management Institute has a 37-year legacy rooted in a value system that inculcates ethical behavior, respect for diversity, and a desire to excel in all aspects of life. The institution is proud of its unbroken 35-year placement record and 5000+ alumni, one-fifth of whom are currently leading at the CXO level.
TAPMI is accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). It is consistently ranked in the top 1% of B-Schools in India.
TAPMI has become a constituting institution of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education as of August 1, 2021. (MAHE). As a result, TAPMI will no longer offer PGDM programmes and will instead offer MBA degree programmes, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals.
MBA Programs Offered
TAPMI provides four full-time MBA programmes lasting 2 years:
MBA
MBA(HRM)
MBA (BKFS)
MBA (Marketing)
N L Dalmia Institute of Management & Research
N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research (NLDIMSR) is a business school situated on Mira Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Institute provides specialization in areas such as Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, and Business Systems, and special extra credit courses including FMI, Wealth Management, ERP, and Software Engineering.
Other courses are added by the Institute in response to changing corporate requirements. From 2020 onwards, the college has decided to take admissions only for Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management for a two-year full-time course. The Marketing specialization of this institute has been improving over the past few years to attract big recruiters like Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Procter, and Gamble, etc.
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