To calculate your XAT 2026 scores, you must apply the official marking scheme. +1 mark for every correct answer, -0.25 for every wrong answer. -0.10 for every unanswered question after 8 skipped questions. Percentiles will be calculated by relatively ranking every test-taker's scores.

  • Based on the previous year’s results analysis, above 40 marks typically result in a 99+ percentile.
  • 35-39 scores are expected to place you in the 95-98 percentile range for XAT 2026.
  • 96+ percentile is the usual cutoff for XLRI BM programs. Score 38-40 marks to be in the safe zone for XLRI calls.
  • Sectional cutoffs are important for XLRI calls. It is safe to score 10-12 marks in each section to get XLRI calls.

Also Check : XAT 2026 Question Paper with Solutions PDF

Also Read:

XAT 2026 Score Calculator

Key Summary

  • A raw score of 40+ typically fetches a 99+ percentile and strong XLRI BM chances.
  • Scoring 35-39 marks usually results in a 95–98 percentile, suitable for XLRI HRM calls.
  • Male engineering candidates generally need 96+ percentile; females require slightly lower cutoffs.
  • Clearing sectional cutoffs is mandatory; high overall scores alone won’t guarantee XLRI calls.
  • Mock scores of 34-40 marks indicate a safe range for XLRI shortlisting across programs.

XAT 2026 Score Calculator: Understanding the Marking Scheme

Understanding the XAT marking scheme is the first step towards the score calculation. To calculate your XAT scores, apply the marking rules as per your attempts and sum the scores from all sections.

Use the Score calculating formula to calculate XAT scores.

Raw Score = (Correct X 1) - (Wrong X 0.25) - (Skipped> 8 X 0.10)
Correct Answer +1 mark
Incorrect Answer -0.25
Unattempted questions No penalty for the first 8 unattempted questions
Negative marking for skipping -0.10 for every unattempted question after the 8 questions
GK Section No negative marking
XAT Score calculator

Also Read: Check XAT Rank vs College Predictor

XAT 2026 Percentile Predictor

The XAT percentile will be decided by the exam difficulty level, the number of candidates appearing for the exam, and your performance on the exam.

  • Based on the previous year’s trends, it is expected that scoring 40+ marks puts you in the top 99+ percentile. You will most likely get a call from XLRI, and it will open opportunities for all other colleges.
  • To get a 95-98 percentile, you may need to score 35-39. This score range will give you a chance with the HRM program at XLRI.

Here is the expected percentile predictor for XAT 2026

XAT Raw Score Expected Percentile Likely Admission Calls
40+ 99+ XLRI Jamshedpur (BM), SPJIMR
35-39 95-98 XLRI (HRM), MICA, XIMB
31-34 90-94 IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi
27-30 85-89 GIM Goa, TAPMI, IRMA
24-26 80-84 K J Somaiya, LIBA, Great Lakes

Also Check:

Check section-wise marks, number of questions, and good percentile for XAT 2026

Ques. What score do I need to get 99 percentile in XAT 2026?

Ans. It varies by exam difficulty. A rough score of 38-40 marks may get you 99 percentile.

Marks Needed for XLRI Based on Mocks

  • XLRI shortlists based on percentiles. The BM program, which is the flagship program of XLRI, requires a 96+ percentile for males, and 2-3 percentile lower for females.
  • To get a call from XLRI, you need to aim for a score around 34-40 (97-99+ percentile) in your mock tests.

Here are the score and percentile details that get you a call from XLRI.

Percentile Estimated Raw Marks Status for XLRI Calls
99+ 38-40+ Very Safe (All categories)
96-97 34-36 Safe for BM (Males)
94-95 32-33 Safe for HRM(Males)
90-91 30-31 Safe for Females (BM/HRM)
87-88 27-29 Call for Non-Engineer Females (HRM)

Sectional Score Requirements for XLRI

XLRI uses different cutoffs based on gender and academic background. To be considered for XLRI's top program, you must clear the sectional cutoff. You will not get a call from XLRI if you don't score enough marks in any section.

Business Management (BM) Program

The QA section usually has a higher cutoff than the other sections for the BM program. A score around 11-12 is typically enough for all sections.

Category VALR (Marks) DM (Marks) QA-DI (Marks) Overall (Marks)
Male (Eng/Non-Eng) 9.5 -10.0 8.5 -9.0 11.0 -12.0 34 -36
Female (Eng/Non-Eng) 8.5 - 9.0 8.0 - 8.5 9.0 -10.0 30 - 32

Human Resource Management (HRM) Program

The HRM program usually focuses on the scores of the verbal and decision-making sections rather than QA.

Category VALR (Marks) DM (Marks) QA-DI (Marks) Overall (Marks)
Male Engineer 10.5 - 11.5 9.0 - 10.0 9.0 - 9.5 33 - 35
Male Non-Engineer 10.5 -11.5 9.0 - 10.0 7.5 -8.5 31 -33
Female Engineer 9.5 -10.0 8.0 - 8.5 7.0 - 7.5 29 - 31
Female Non-Engineer 9.5 - 10.0 8.0 -8.5 6.0 - 6.5 27 - 29

Also Read: Check out XLRI Admission Process

Ques. Do I need to clear sectional cutoffs even if my overall score is very high?

Ans. Yes. Even if you have a high score, it is compulsory to score high in every section, not just in 1 or 2 sections.

Understanding XAT score calculation and percentile prediction is the key to cracking XAT 2026. If you are scoring 33-35 consistently in mocks, you are in the XILR Call zone. It may change due to the difficulty level of the exam and the number of candidates who appear for the exam.