The XAT Response sheet 2026 has been released on 6th January 2026. Candidates will be able to download their response sheet by using their XAT ID and password on the official website - xatonline.in.

The download link for the XAT 2026 response sheet is now live. The response sheet includes the question paper, section-wise questions, and the candidate’s answers.

Download the XAT 2026 Response sheet PDF – (Out)
XAT Response sheet 2026 Login page

Source – xatonline.in

  • The XLRI will release, a 2–3 day objection window will be open, where you can challenge errors by paying a non-refundable fee per question.
  • The final answer key will be released in the 3rd week of January 2026, after viewing all the objections.

The Response sheet can help candidates estimate their raw score and expected percentile before the final result, and understand their chances of getting XLRI and other top B-school cut-offs.

Related Links:

XAT RESPONSE SHEET

Key Summary

  • The XAT 2026 Response Sheet is the official record of all answers submitted by candidates and is released by XLRI.
  • Candidates can access the response sheet on the official website xatonline.in
  • using their XAT ID and password.
  • The response sheet helps candidates review their answers, compare them with the provisional answer key, and estimate their expected scores.
  • The XAT 2026 Response Sheet is expected to be released in the second week of January 2026.
  • The provisional XAT 2026 Answer Key will be released in the second to third week of January 2026.
  • A 2-3 day window will be provided after the provisional answer key release for candidates to raise objections.
  • The final XAT 2026 Answer Key and result declaration are scheduled for the last week of January 2026.

What is the XAT Response Sheet?

The XAT 2026 Response Sheet is your personal record of how you answered every question in the exam, along with the official or provisional correct options. It helps you:

  • Verify which answers were recorded by the system.
  • Compare your responses with the provisional answer key.
  • Calculate your expected raw score and percentile.
  • Gather evidence if you want to object to any question.

It is released a few days after the exam and can be downloaded from your candidate dashboard on the official website: xatonline.in by logging in with your XAT ID and password or date of birth.

XAT Response Sheet 2026: Important Dates

Timeline Events
6th January 2026 (Released) XAT 2026 Response Sheet Release Date
Second Week of January 2026 XAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Release
Third Week of January 2026 XAT Answer Key Challenge Window Opens
Last Week of January 2026 XAT 2026 Final Answer Key Release Date
End of January 2026 XAT 2026 Result Declaration Date
January 4, 2026 (Sunday) XAT 2026 Exam Date

Details Mentioned in XAT Response Sheet PDF

The XAT Response Sheet PDF includes all key details such as your personal information, question-wise responses, and correct answer options for verification.

XAT Response Sheet

XAT Response Sheet 2026: Score Calculation

To calculate your XAT 2026 score using the response sheet, it’s important to first understand the XAT 2026 marking scheme, as defined by XLRI Jamshedpur. The marking pattern remains consistent with previous years.

XAT 2026 Marking Scheme

Type of Answer Marks
For Correct Answer +1
For Wrong Answer -0.25
For No Answer/Unattempted Question 0
For 8 Consecutive Unattempted Questions -0.10 per 8 questions

Calculate your raw score using:

(Correct × 1) – (Incorrect × 0.25) – (Unattempted beyond 8 × 0.10)

For Example,

  • Correct Answer: 60 answers out of 75
  • Incorrect Answers: 15 answers
  • Unattempted beyond 8 questions: 1 block

Now, substituting the values:

(60 × 1) − (15 × 0.25) − (1 × 0.10) = 60 − 3.75 − 0.10 = 56.15

Final Raw XAT Score = 56.15

Ques. Does the XAT 2026 marking scheme include negative marking for all sections?

Ans. Yes, the XAT 2026 marking scheme includes negative marking for all sections, except for the General Knowledge section, which is not included in percentile calculation and carries no negative marking.

Ques. How is the final XAT 2026 percentile calculated from the raw score?

Ans. The raw scores are scaled and normalized across different question sets to ensure fairness. Percentiles are then assigned based on the scaled scores to calculate the final XAT 2026 percentile from the raw score.

XAT Score vs Percentile 2026

The XAT 2026 expected score vs percentile shows a strong competition, where small score differences greatly affect percentiles.

  • A score of 40+ ensures 97–99+ percentile for XLRI and top B‑schools, 35–39 gives strong chances by placing you in the range of 95-96 percentile.
  • A score range of 30–34 can secure good institutes, 25–29 fits tier‑2 colleges, and below 25 will provide a lower cutoff around 75 percentile.
Estimated Raw Score Approx. XAT Percentile (2026) Interpretation / Admission Implication
40+ 97–99+ Very high - competitive for XLRI BM/HRM & elite MBA colleges
35–39 95–96 Excellent - strong calls from top B-schools
30–34 92–95 Good - likely shortlist for good institutes
25–29 85–93 Moderate - tier-2 colleges and some sectionals
20–24 75–85 Average competitive range
<20 <75 Below top-level cutoffs

Ques. Is 40 a good score in XAT?

Ans. Yes, 40 is an excellent score in XAT. This score will place you 97–99+ percentile, which is considered highly competitive and can place you in the XLRI Jamshedpur (BM & HRM) and other top B-schools like SPJIMR, XIMB, and MICA, provided they also clear sectional cutoffs.

Ques. Is 24 a good score in XAT?

Ans. A score of 24 in XAT is considered average to moderately competitive; it will place you to roughly 75–85 percentile, which can provide you admission into tier-2 MBA colleges such as TAPMI, GIM, KJ Somaiya, and some private institutes.

XAT Answer Key 2026

After the XAT 2026 response sheet is released, XLRI Jamshedpur will publish the official answer key on xatonline.in.

The provisional answer key will be open for challenge for 2-3 days, allowing candidates to raise objections with valid proof.

Ques. When will the XAT 2026 answer key be released?

Ans. The provisional XAT 2026 answer key is expected to be released in the second week of January 2026, a few days after the response sheet publication.

Ques. How can I challenge the XAT 2026 answer key?

Ans. Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key by logging into your XAT candidate account on xatonline.in, selecting the question(s) you wish to contest, and providing valid justification or evidence within the given timeframe.

How to Raise Objections Against XAT Answer Key 2026

After the release of the XAT 2026 provisional answer key and response sheet, XLRI Jamshedpur will provide candidates with a limited objection window of 2–3 days to challenge any discrepancies by visiting the official XAT website - xatonline.in.

Enter the required details:

  • Question ID
  • Remarks/Explanation describing why you believe the answer is incorrect
  • Upload supporting documents or evidence (if any)
  • Review your entries and click Submit.

XAT Answer-Key Objection Acceptance: Previous Years

XAT Year Objection Window Opened No. of Objections Accepted (Observed) Nature of Accepted Objections Sections Impacted Overall Acceptance Trend
XAT 2025 Yes 0–1 (reported) Mostly none; final key largely unchanged None / Rarely QADI Very Low
XAT 2024 Yes 1–2 (reported) One question reportedly nullified QADI Very Low
XAT 2023 Yes 0–1 No major answer changes None Extremely Low
XAT 2022 Yes 1–2 Question voided, marks adjusted Quant / DI Very Low
XAT 2021 Yes 0 Final key same as provisional None Nil
XAT 2020 Yes 1 (reported) One question removed from evaluation Quantitative Ability Very Low

Ques. How long is the objection window for XAT 2026?

Ans. The objection window for XAT 2026 is usually 2-3 days after the release of the provisional answer key.

  • Candidates must submit their objections within this period, so it’s important to act promptly.
  • The exact dates will be officially announced on xatonline.in.

Ques. Will all objections be accepted for XAT 2026?

Ans. No, not all objections are accepted automatically in XAT.

  • Only objections that are well-explained and supported with valid proof will be considered.
  • XLRI carefully reviews each objection before finalizing the answer key, so ensure your submission is clear and justified.

XAT Result 2026

The XAT 2026 result, expected to be released by the last week of January 2026, will be available on XLRI’s official XAT website. Candidates can access their scorecards by logging in with their XAT Registration Number/User ID and Password or Date of Birth.

The XAT 2026 scorecard will include important details such as:

  • Date of Examination
  • Result Declaration Date
  • Candidate’s Name
  • XAT ID
  • Date of Birth
  • Exam Centre Details
  • Overall and Sectional Percentiles

Following the result declaration, XLRI will release the XAT 2026 cutoff for admission to its BM and HRM PGDM programs. The institute sets minimum cutoff criteria based on applicant categories. The XAT 2026 selection process is then expected to commence shortly after, typically in March 2026.

Ques. How can I check my XAT 2026 result?

Ans. Candidates can check the XAT result by log in to xatonline.in using their XAT ID/Registration No. and Password or Date of Birth to download the scorecard.

Ques. What details are available on the XAT 2026 scorecard?

Ans. The XAT scorecard shows exam date, candidate details, XAT ID, exam centre, and overall & sectional percentiles.

Also Read:

XAT Response Sheet 2026 FAQs

Ques. Is the XAT 2026 Response Sheet the same as the Answer Key?

Ans. No, XAT Response Sheet and Answer Key serve different purposes:

  • The XAT Response Sheet 2026 shows your submitted answers for each question in the exam.
  • The XAT Answer Key 2026 contains the official correct options released by XLRI.
  • Often, the downloadable view combines both to make answer comparison easier for candidates.

Ques. Is the XAT Response Sheet final?

Ans. No, the XAT Response Sheet is part of the provisional release sequence:

  • The final XAT Answer Key 2026 is published after reviewing objections, if any.
  • XAT 2026 results are declared based on the final answer key, not the provisional response sheet.

Ques. Why does the XAT Response Sheet matter?

Ans. The response sheet is important because it allows you to:

  • Verify which answers the exam system recorded for you
  • Compare responses with the provisional answer key
  • Estimate your raw score and provisional percentile
  • Prepare evidence if you wish to raise objections on any question

Ques. How do I calculate my expected XAT 2026 score?

Ans. To calculate the expected XAT 2026 score candidates can follow the marking scheme:

  • +1 mark for each correct answer (Part I).
  • -0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
  • -0.10 marks for each unattempted question beyond the first 8.
  • Use the worked example above to add/subtract marks for all questions.
  • Official marking rules are available on xatonline.in.

Ques. If my objection is accepted, will my XAT 2026 result change?

Ans. If the final answer key is revised and it affects your responses, the authorities will update your scores accordingly before publishing results.

Ques. Why is the General Knowledge (GK) section included in XAT if it doesn’t affect percentile?

Ans. The General Knowledge (GK) section is included in XAT if it doesn’t affect percentile for te following reasons:

  • Differentiation Factor for Some Institutes: While GK does not affect percentile, some colleges may consider GK performance during shortlisting or interviews as an additional parameter.
  • Part of Syllabus & Exam Pattern: XLRI officially includes GK in the XAT syllabus and exam pattern to maintain a comprehensive assessment structure, ensuring candidates are aware of current events and general knowledge relevant to managerial roles.