XAT Latest Updates
05 Jan, 2026 Find your expected percentile and potential top B-schools with XAT 2026 Score vs Percentile – Here
XAT 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution PDF is available here for download. XAT 2026 was conducted in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on January 4, 2026. XLRI will publish the official XAT question paper 2026 PDF on the website- xatonline.in.
Also Check : XAT 2026 Question Paper with Solutions PDF

XAT 2026 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
| XAT 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
XAT 2026 Paper Analysis
Rahul Sir has shared his analysis of XAT 2026. According to the analysis –
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The paper was of moderate to difficult level, in line with the traditional XAT standard and slightly tougher than CAT in terms of decision-making and verbal reasoning. Verbal & Logical Ability was lengthy but manageable, with Reading Comprehension passages being dense and inference-based. Decision Making remained a key differentiator, with caselets requiring strong ethical judgment and clarity of thought.
XAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern
| Part | Sections | Questions to Attempt | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Decision Making | 21 | 170 minutes |
| Verbal & Logical Ability | 26 | ||
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 | ||
| Part 2 | General Knowledge | 25 | 10 minutes |
| Keyboard Check | - | - | 5 minutes |
| Total | - | 95 | 185 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Is there essay writing in XAT 2026?
Ans. Yes, there is essay writing in XAT 2026. The essay writing question in XAT question paper 2026 is clubbed with the GK section in Part 3. XLRI provides a total of 30 minutes to attempt 25 questions of GK and 1 essay writing. It is best to devote 15 minutes to GK and 15 minutes to essay writing.
Ques. Is there GK in XAT 2026?
Ans. Yes, there is GK in XAT 2026. XLRI has not introduced any changes in the question paper pattern of XAT. There are 25 GK questions in the paper. Note that negative marking is not applicable to the GK questions in XAT. There is a negative marking 0.10 for every question left unanswered after the first 8 unattempted questions. Also, GK scores are not considered while calculating the final XAT scores and percentile.
Ques. Is XAT 2026 tougher than CAT 2025?
Ans. In general, XAT is comparatively tougher than CAT especially due to the presence of additional sections of GK, decision making, and essay writing. The difficulty level of the quant & DI section in XAT is either higher or at par with CAT exam. CAT 2025 is already conducted on Nov 24 while XAT 2025 is scheduled on Jan 5, 2025. This year’s CAT exam was more difficult than the last 2 years. So, if you are appearing for XAT 2026, then it is highly recommended you attempt CAT 2025 question paper before the test day.
Ques. Does XAT 2026 have negative marking?
Ans. Yes, XAT 2026 has a unique negative marking scheme. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. What makes the marking pattern in XAT 2026 unique is the presence of negative marking for unanswered questions. Each question after the first 8 unanswered questions in a row carries a negative marking of 0.10 marks.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.







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