Good News for XAT 2026 Aspirants: The response sheet is now live! If you took the Xavier Aptitude Test on January 4, 2026, your response sheet has been released as of January 6, 2026. This document is your gateway to understanding your performance, predicting your percentile, and strategizing your MBA applications with confidence.

How to Download Your XAT 2026 Response Sheet in 5 Simple Steps

The response sheet is hosted on XLRI's official portal and requires your login credentials. Follow this straightforward process:

Step 1: Log In to the Official Portal
Navigate to xatonline.in and click on the "Candidate Response Sheet" section in your dashboard.

Step 2: Enter Your Credentials
You'll need either:

• Your XAT Application ID and Password, or

• Your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format (e.g., 06012001)

Step 3: Access Your Response Sheet
Once authenticated, your personalized response sheet will appear on screen, displaying:

• Your name and XAT registration number

• All questions from the exam with the options you selected

• Your marked answers across all sections (VALR, DM, QADI, and GK)

Step 4: Download and Save
Click the download button to save your response sheet as a PDF file. Store this securely—you'll reference it multiple times during score calculation and objection filing.

Step 5: Cross-Reference Your Answers
Compare your marked answers with your memory notes or with answer keys released by coaching institutes and educational portals. This preliminary check helps you estimate your raw score before the official answer key is published.

Understanding the XAT Marking Scheme

Before calculating your expected score, understand how points are awarded:

Example Calculation:
If you attempted 85 questions with 75 correct, 10 incorrect, and left 9 unattempted (with 1 beyond the 8-question threshold):

Raw Score = (75 × 1) − (10 × 0.25) − (1 × 0.10) = 75 − 2.5 − 0.10 = 72.4 marks

This raw score is then normalized into a scaled score and percentile by XLRI's statistical algorithms, accounting for exam difficulty and overall candidate performance.

Calculate Your Expected Score Using B-School Buzz's AI-Powered Calculator

Rather than manually computing your score, leverage B-School Buzz's Advanced XAT Score Calculator, India's first AI-powered percentile prediction tool. This free calculator provides 95%+ accuracy and goes beyond basic arithmetic.bschoolbuzz​

Why Use the Calculator?

• Instantly computes section-wise and overall scores

• Incorporates historical XAT data from 142,235+ test-takers

• Predicts your percentile based on normalization patterns

• Suggests suitable colleges matching your expected score

• Saves hours of manual calculation and guesswork

How to Access:
Visit https://dashboard.bschoolbuzz.in/xat-score-calculator and input your performance data. The calculator accepts either:

1. Manual entry of attempts, correct answers, and accuracy per section

2. Paste-link method if you connect your response sheet directly

Within seconds, you'll receive:

• Raw score breakdown by section

• Projected percentile range

• College recommendation based on expected performance
  

How XAT Scores Translate to Percentiles

XLRI uses a statistical formula to convert your raw score into a percentile rank, showing what percentage of candidates scored equal to or below you:

Percentile Formula:

Percentile = [(Total Candidates − Your Rank) / Total Candidates] × 100

Practical Example:

If you rank 100th among 10,000 test-takers:
Percentile = [(10,000 − 100) / 10,000] × 100 = 99.0 percentile (You outperformed 99% of candidates)

Historical Score-to-Percentile Mapping (Recent Years):

Important Note: These mappings shift annually based on exam difficulty. An easier exam may require higher scores for the same percentile, while a tougher exam may require lower scores. This is why XLRI normalizes scores across test sessions to maintain fairness.

Top XAT-Accepting MBA Colleges & Expected Cutoff Percentiles

XAT is accepted by 250+ colleges across India, spanning prestigious Tier-1 institutes to emerging business schools. Here's a strategic breakdown:

Tier-1 Institutes (Premier & Highly Competitive):

Tier-2 Institutes (Strong Reputation & Good Placements):

Tier-3 & Emerging Institutes (Accessible & Growing):

Beyond these, XAMI members (Xavier Association of Management Institutes) and 100+ associate institutions across India accept XAT scores, offering diverse programs, fee structures, and specializations.xatonline​

Interactive XAT Percentile Prediction Tool

Once you've calculated your expected score using the B-School Buzz calculator, use the percentile prediction framework below to narrow your college shortlist:

Step 1: Enter Your Expected Raw Score
Input your calculated raw score from the response sheet analysis.

Step 2: Reference the Score-to-Percentile Table
Cross-reference your raw score against historical data to estimate your percentile band.

Step 3: Match Your Percentile to Colleges

• 99+ percentile? XLRI BM, SPJIMR are within reach

• 95–98 percentile? Target XLRI HRM, XIMB, IMT, MICA

• 90–94 percentile? Strong profile for IMI, GIM, KJ Somaiya

• 85–89 percentile? Great Lakes, TAPMI, LIBA, FORE are realistic

• 80–84 percentile? Emerging colleges and strong Tier-3 institutes

• 75–79 percentile? Diverse options across India; focus on specialization fit

Step 4: Verify with Official Cutoffs
Once XLRI announces results, check each college's official website for category-specific cutoffs (General, OBC, SC, ST) and sectional cutoffs, as many institutes have mandatory thresholds in specific sections.

Step 5: Plan Your Application Strategy

• Apply to 2-3 colleges above your expected percentile (reach schools)

• Target 3-4 colleges in your percentile band (likely schools)

• Apply to 2-3 colleges below your percentile (safety schools)

Key Dates to Mark in Your Calendar

• Response Sheet Available: January 6, 2026 (live now)
  

• Official Answer Key Release: Expected early-to-mid January 2026
  

• Objection Window: 2-3 days post-answer key release
  

• Result Announcement: Third week of January 2026
  

• Shortlist Release: Mid-to-late January 2026 onwards

• GD-PI Rounds: January–February 2026 (varies by college)

Final Thoughts: From Response Sheet to Acceptance

Your response sheet is not merely a document—it's a strategic tool. Use it to:

1. Validate Your Preparation: Cross-check answers to identify weak areas for future attempts or interviews

2. Estimate Your Percentile: Calculate your likely ranking relative to 142,000+ peers

3. Shortlist Colleges: Match your expected score to colleges that align with your career goals and values

4. Prepare for Interviews: Understand your performance to articulate strengths and learning areas during GD-PI rounds

5. Plan Backup Options: Identify colleges across multiple tiers to maximize admission chances

XLRI's commitment to releasing the response sheet within days of the exam underscores transparency and fairness. Leverage this window wisely—your next step toward an MBA begins here.