The XAT 2026 examination will be held in January 2026 by XLRI Jamshedpur, and the scores for the exam will be provided approximately in the middle of January 2026. Looking at last year's data, it is estimated that the percentile for the first-place scorer of XAT 2026 will be above 99.90 and the range for the top 10 candidates will be around 99.90 to 94.00.
- For 2025, the top-scoring candidate was Ishan Tripathi, who scored a percentile of 99.97 on his first attempt.
- The other top scorers were Aman Ehtesham who scored a percentile of 99.16 and Siddhant Kumar who scored a percentile of 99.05.
- The results were announced on 17th January 2025, and the highest raw score was around 54.25 out of 75.
- The top 10 range for percentiles was 99.97 to 94.00.
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Key Summary
- In this article, you will read:
- Ishan Tripathi topped XAT 2025 with a 99.97 percentile on his first attempt, scoring approximately 54.25/75.
- The top 10 candidates scored between 99.97 and 94.00 percentile, showing highly competitive and balanced performance across all sections.
- Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and VARC were the sections that most influenced topper scores and overall percentile.
- XAT 2025 cutoffs for top B-schools like XLRI BM ranged between 96–97 percentile, while HRM required 93–94 percentile.
- Over 98,000 candidates appeared for XAT 2025, making it one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India.
What are XAT Toppers?
XAT toppers are candidates who excel across all sections of the XAT 2025 exam, especially in Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability (QA), and Verbal & LR. These candidates typically represent the top 0.1-0.5% of test-takers. Toppers also influence predicted cutoffs and help gauge the difficulty level of the XAT exam each year.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025 |
| Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Date | 5 January 2025 |
| Result Date | 31 January 2025 |
| Highest Percentile | 99.16 |
| Topper Marks | 54.25 / 75 |
| Registrations 2025 | 98,000+ |
| Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test |
Also check: XAT Cutoff
Ques. What does it mean to be a XAT topper?
Ans. Being a XAT topper means achieving a top percentile in one of India’s most competitive MBA entrance exams. Toppers demonstrate mastery over logical reasoning, quantitative skills, and decision-making abilities, making them highly competitive for elite B-schools.
Ques. How many students qualify as toppers?
Ans. The number of toppers is limited to the top 0.1–0.5% of test-takers. For XAT 2025, roughly 10–12 candidates scored above 99 percentile, showing the exam’s highly competitive nature.
Ques. Are topper scores publicly released?
Ans. Yes, XLRI releases individual percentiles and scorecards. Media and educational platforms compile these into topper lists, allowing aspirants to analyze performance trends and expected cutoffs.
XAT 2026 Toppers
The XAT 2026 toppers list will be announced in mid-January 2026, shortly after the result declaration by XLRI Jamshedpur. Based on trends from the last five years, the top percentile is projected to remain in the 99.90–99.95 range
XAT Cutoff 2026.
The XAT 2026 paper is likely to follow the recent trend of a moderate-to-difficult Quantitative Ability section, while Decision Making will again act as the key differentiator for top ranks. Based on the 2025 score-to-percentile mapping and past normalization patterns, the following are the expected cut-offs for top percentiles out of a total score of 75.
- The top 1 percentile range (99.90+) is expected to stabilize around 53–55 marks, similar to 2025 trends.
- Decision Making remains the make-or-break section; high accuracy here can offset moderate Quant scores.
- Candidates scoring above 48 marks are likely to cross the 94 percentile, securing shortlisting calls from top institutes like XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB.
- Cut-offs have seen a slight dip (1–2 marks) year-over-year due to tougher reasoning sets and reduced time per question.
- With sectional cut-offs in play, maintaining balanced performance across all three parts (DM, QA, VALR) is crucial for 2026.
| Rank | Expected Percentile (2026) | Expected Score /75 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99.95 | 54–55 |
| 2 | 99.90 | 53–54 |
| 3 | 99.80 | 52–53 |
| 4 | 99.70 | 51–52 |
| 5 | 99.60 | 50–51 |
| 6–10 | 99.50–94.00 | 48–50 |
Ques. How are XAT 2026 topper scores calculated?
Ans. The XAT 2026 topper scores will be computed through a scaled scoring and percentile normalization process across all test slots. Although XAT is held in a single session, normalization adjusts for question difficulty.
- Each correct answer carries +1 mark.
- –0.25 marks are deducted for wrong answers.
- –0.10 marks are deducted for 8+ consecutive unattempted questions.
- Final percentile is derived from overall raw scores and sectional weightages.
Ques. What makes XAT toppers’ preparation strategy unique?
Ans. XAT toppers consistently emphasize concept clarity and decision-making accuracy over mere attempt quantity. Their preparation usually includes:
- Daily practice of DM case sets and QA problem-solving.
- Reading diverse material to improve Verbal & Logical Ability.
- Taking 8–10 full-length mocks under time pressure.
- Analyzing each mock to identify low-efficiency question types.
Ques. What B-schools accept top XAT percentiles?
Ans. Apart from XLRI Jamshedpur, several leading MBA institutes accept XAT topper scores for admissions. Based on the previous cycle, here are the key institutes and their typical cut-offs:
| Institute | Course | Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur | Business Management (BM) | 96–97 |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | Human Resource Management (HRM) | 93–94 |
| XIM University Bhubaneswar | MBA | 90+ |
| IMT Ghaziabad | PGDM | 90+ |
| TAPMI Manipal | MBA | 85–87 |
| Great Lakes Chennai | PGDM | 80–82 |
XAT 2025 Top 10 Toppers: Names, Percentiles & Scores
XAT toppers are recognized not only for their high percentile but also for consistent accuracy across sections. The top scorer of XAT 2025 was Ishan Tripathi, who achieved a 99.97 percentile on his first attempt, setting a benchmark for future aspirants.
| Rank | Name | XAT 2025 Percentile | Approx. Score (Out of 75) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ishan Tripathi | 99.97 | 54.25 |
| 2 | Aman Ehtesham | 99.16 | 54.00 |
| 3 | Siddhant Kumar | 99.05 | 53.75 |
| 4 | Pushkar Kumar | 98.82 | 52.50 |
| 5 | Harsh Dokania | 97.00 | 50.75 |
| 6 | Ansh Jain | 96.60 | 50.25 |
| 7 | Satyam Trivedi | 95.90 | 49.50 |
| 8 | Gauri Srivastava | 94.64 | 48.75 |
| 9 | Aria Mandal | 94.50 | 48.50 |
| 10 | Khushi Tilwani | 94.00 | 48.25 |
Also check: XAT 2025 Result
Ques. Who was the top scorer in XAT 2025?
Ans. The top scorer was Ishan Tripathi, achieving a 99.97 percentile on his first attempt. He performed exceptionally across DM, QA, and VARC sections.
Ques. What is the percentile range for the top 10 candidates?
Ans. The top 10 percentiles ranged from 99.97 (Ishan Tripathi) to 94.00, showing very tight competition among top performers.
Ques. Are toppers’ performances balanced across all sections?
Ans. Yes, most toppers maintained consistent scores across QA, DM, and VARC, which is key to achieving high percentiles in XAT.
XAT 2025 vs XAT 2024: Percentile Comparison
Yearly comparisons highlight how exam difficulty and performance trends shift over time. XAT 2025 toppers achieved slightly higher raw scores compared to 2024, suggesting a moderately easier quantitative section and improved accuracy among aspirants.
| Year | Highest Percentile | Top 10 Percentile Range | Average Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99.16 | 99.16 – 93.80 | ~96.00 |
| 2024 | 99.50 | 99.50 – 94.20 | ~96.50 |
Ques. How did XAT 2025 toppers compare with 2024?
Ans. XAT 2025 toppers had slightly higher raw scores for similar percentiles, indicating better accuracy in key sections, though the highest percentile was lower than 2024.
Ques. Does percentile fluctuate significantly year to year?
Ans. Percentiles are relative rankings, so even a 1–2 mark difference can lead to shifts in percentile, especially in the top 1% of candidates.
Ques. Can we use year-wise comparison to estimate cutoffs?
Ans. Yes. Comparing percentiles and raw scores helps aspirants anticipate B-school cutoffs and plan preparation strategies.
XAT 2025 Score vs Percentile Mapping
Understanding the score vs percentile relationship is essential for predicting admission chances. Small differences in raw scores can have a large impact on percentile at the top ranks.
| Raw Score (Out of 75) | Approximate Percentile |
|---|---|
| 54.25 | 99.16 |
| 53.75 | 99.05 |
| 52.50 | 98.82 |
| 50.75 | 97.00 |
| 50.25 | 96.60 |
| 49.50 | 95.90 |
| 48.75 | 94.64 |
| 48.50 | 94.50 |
| 48.25 | 94.00 |
| 48.00 | 93.80 |
Also check: XAT Score vs Percentile
Ques. How is percentile calculated in XAT?
Ans. Percentile is a relative ranking comparing your score with all test-takers. Higher raw marks in high-weight sections lead to a significantly better percentile.
Ques. What raw score is required for 99+ percentile?
Ans. Scores above 52 out of 75 generally fall in the 99+ percentile range.
Ques. How can score vs percentile mapping help candidates?
Ans. It helps in estimating shortlisting chances for XLRI, XIMB, IMT, and other XAT-accepting institutes.
XAT 2025 Cutoffs for Top B-Schools
XAT cutoffs are influenced by topper percentiles, number of candidates, and seat availability. They are indicative of the minimum percentile required for shortlisting.
| Institute | Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM) | 96 – 97 |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM) | 93 – 94 |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 92 – 94 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 – 92 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 93.5 – 95 |
| IMI Delhi | 90 – 92 |
| TAPMI Manipal | 85 – 87 |
Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
Ques. How are XAT cutoffs determined?
Ans. Cutoffs depend on percentile, category, and number of available seats. Higher percentile typically ensures better admission chances.
Ques. What is the expected cutoff for XLRI BM?
Ans. The expected cutoff is 96–97 percentile.
Ques. Do cutoffs vary across programs?
Ans. Yes. BM programs generally have higher cutoffs than HRM or second-tier programs due to higher demand and limited seats.
FAQs
Ques. What is a good attempt in XAT 2025?
Ans. A good attempt in XAT 2025 depends on accuracy and sectional balance. On average:
- Overall attempt: 60–65 questions out of 75
- Decision Making (DM): 18–20 questions
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI): 20–22 questions
- Verbal & Logical Reasoning (VARC): 18–20 questions
- Focus on accuracy rather than attempting all questions, as negative marking applies for wrong answers.
Ques. How many students gave XAT in 2025?
Ans. Over 98,000 candidates registered for XAT 2025 across India.
- XLRI Jamshedpur reported the highest participation from Delhi NCR, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
- Approximately 50–55% candidates were male and 45–50% female.
- This number represents a slight increase compared to XAT 2024, showing growing popularity.
Ques. Who is the topper of XAT scorecard?
Ans. The topper of XAT 2025 is Ishan Tripathi, who scored 54.25 out of 75 and achieved 99.76 percentile.
- He excelled in Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, and VARC.
- His score is used as a benchmark for top B-school cutoffs, including XLRI and XIMB.
Ques. What is the cut off for XAT 2025?
Ans. The XAT 2025 cutoff varies by program and institute. Cutoffs are influenced by number of candidates, exam difficulty, and category-wise reservations. Approximate cutoffs for top colleges are:
| Institute | Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM) | 96 – 97 |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM) | 93 – 94 |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 92 – 94 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 – 92 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 93.5 – 95 |
Ques. Was XAT 2025 tougher than 2024?
Ans. XAT 2025 was considered moderately difficult compared to 2024. Key points:
- Quantitative Ability was slightly easier in 2025.
- Decision Making and VARC sections maintained similar difficulty levels.
- Cutoffs were slightly lower in BM programs due to easier QA questions, but overall percentile distribution remained competitive.
Ques. How much XAT score is required for XLRI?
Ans. Admission to XLRI Jamshedpur requires:
- BM program: 96–97 percentile (~50–52 marks out of 75)
- HRM program: 93–94 percentile (~48–50 marks out of 75)
- Candidates should aim for balanced sectional scores in DM, QA, and VARC to meet the cutoff.
*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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