XAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level, Section-Wise Breakdown & Good Attempts

The XAT 2026 exam, conducted by XLRI – Xavier School of Management (formerly XLRI Jamshedpur), was held on 4 January 2026 in a single afternoon slot from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The test was administered at designated XAT exam centres across 100+ cities, with around 1.42 lakh aspirants registered this year—keeping XAT firmly among the most important MBA entrance exams in India after CAT.

Based on student feedback and expert review, the overall difficulty level of XAT 2026 can be classified as moderate to difficult, with a few lengthy and tricky questions, especially in Decision Making (DM) and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QADI). The Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) section was relatively manageable, while General Knowledge (GK) remained in the easy-to-moderate range.

This XAT 2026 exam analysis by MyCollegeRoute.com walks you through the section-wise difficulty level, number of questions, reasonable attempts, and how aspirants can interpret their performance for XAT cut-off expectations at top B-schools like XLRI and other XAT-accepting institutes.

XAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Structure

The XAT 2026 paper followed the familiar two-part structure:

• Part 1 (170 minutes)
  • Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) – 26 questions
  • Decision Making (DM) – 21 questions
  • Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QADI) – 28 questions
• Part 2 (10 minutes)
  • General Knowledge (GK) – 20 questions

The total test duration was 180 minutes (3 hours), with Part 1 being the core score-driving component for XAT percentile calculation, and Part 2 (GK) used mainly at the shortlisting/final selection stage by XLRI and other B-schools.

Overall Difficulty Level of XAT 2026

Early reactions from test-takers and faculty suggest that:

• The overall paper was moderate to difficult.
• VALR was relatively more straightforward than last year and felt more approachable to well-prepared students.
• DM retained its traditional XAT-style complexity, with situational sets requiring careful reading and judgment.
• QADI had a mix of standard and time-consuming questions, making it moderate with some tricky parts.
• GK was easy to moderate, with a good balance between static and current affairs questions.

Candidates who managed their time, accuracy, and question selection well are likely to achieve a competitive XAT 2026 percentile, even if the paper felt slightly stricter overall.

XAT 2026 Section-Wise Exam Analysis

1. XAT 2026 VALR Exam Analysis

The Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) section had 26 questions, covering:

• Reading Comprehension (including four passages, with four questions each)
• Critical and analytical reasoning
• Vocabulary-based questions
• English grammar and usage
• Para jumbles, completion-based questions, and cloze-type exercises

Student experience:

• The VALR section was relatively straightforward compared to previous years.
• Passages were readable, with questions focusing more on interpretation and inference rather than extremely dense language.
• Vocabulary and grammar questions were standard level, rewarding candidates with a strong reading habit and conceptual clarity.

Verdict:

• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Students with good reading speed and prior practice found this section scoring and comfortable.

2. XAT 2026 DM Exam Analysis

The Decision Making (DM) section contained 21 questions, all based on caselets and real-life business / ethical situations.

The questions tested:

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Ethical and managerial judgment
• Prioritisation and selection of the most balanced option

Student experience:

• The DM section ranged from moderate to complex.
• Many test-takers reported that while some cases were straightforward, others had close answer choices, making it hard to pick the best option.
• A few sets required careful reading and multiple passes before one could eliminate options.

Verdict:

• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate overall, but with several tricky caselets.
• Students who had practised previous XAT DM sets and understood XLRI’s typical style were at an advantage.

3. XAT 2026 QADI Exam Analysis

The Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QADI) section comprised 28 questions, with coverage across:

• Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, time–speed–distance, time & work)
• Algebra
• Geometry and mensuration
• Number systems and modern maths
• Data Interpretation (tables, charts, data sets requiring interpretation and summarisation)

Student experience:

• The section was moderate with a few questions that were lengthy and calculation-heavy.
• DI sets leaned more towards interpretation and logical summarisation rather than pure calculations.
• Those who prioritised easier and medium-difficulty questions first could maximise attempts.

Verdict:

• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Time management and question selection were crucial; over-investing time in complex questions could hurt overall attempts.

4. XAT 2026 GK Exam Analysis

The GK section had 20 questions to be attempted in 10 minutes, covering a mix of:

• Static GK (approximately eight questions) – history, geography, polity, essential organisations, etc.
• Current Affairs (around 12 questions) – recent events, business & economy, sports, awards, global developments.

Student experience:

• Overall, GK was easy to moderate.
• Well-prepared candidates who regularly followed news, business updates, and competitive exam GK material could attempt a good number of questions accurately.

Verdict:

• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
• Although GK does not directly impact the XAT percentile, it remains essential for final selection, especially at XLRI and top XAT-accepting institutes.

XAT 2026 Section-Wise Difficulty Summary

Based on feedback and expert review, the XAT 2026 difficulty level by section can be summarised as:

• VALR (26 questions): Moderate
• DM (21 questions): Easy to Moderate, with tricky caselets
• QADI (28 questions): Moderate, with a few lengthy and tricky questions
• GK (20 questions): Easy to Moderate

XAT 2026 Good Attempts – How Many Questions Were Enough?

One of the most common questions after any exam is: “How many attempts are good for a decent XAT percentile?”

Based on student feedback and expert analysis, the number of reasonable attempts in XAT 2026 (with sensible accuracy) can be broadly estimated as:

• VALR: 12–14 questions
• DM: 10–12 questions
• QADI: 15–17 questions
• GK: 12–14 questions
• Overall: 52–55 questions

These numbers indicate “reasonable attempts”, assuming that candidates maintained good accuracy and avoided random guessing. Since XAT has a negative-marking scheme and a penalty for unattempted questions beyond a limit, a brilliant selection of questions mattered more than simply maximising the number of attempts.

What XAT 2026 Analysis Means for Aspirants

1. For XAT 2026 Result & Percentile Expectations

• Students who attempted around 52–55 questions overall with strong accuracy are likely to be competitive for high XAT percentiles.
• Those with slightly lower attempts but very high accuracy can still stay in contention for good XAT-accepting institutes.

(Exact cut-offs and percentile requirements will depend on the official result, normalisation, and college-level policies, and should be tracked through official notifications.)

2. For XLRI & Other Top XAT-Accepting B-Schools

Aspirants targeting:

• XLRI Jamshedpur (BM/HRM)
• XIM University, Bhubaneswar
• IMT Ghaziabad, Great Lakes, GIM, and other top XAT colleges

…should now:

• Wait for official XAT 2026 results and cut-off announcements
• Use analysis like this to roughly gauge their performance
• Start preparing for GD-PI-WAT rounds, as top institutes place heavy emphasis on profile, communication skills, and clarity of goals beyond just the XAT score.

3. How MyCollegeRoute Can Help Post-XAT

Once XAT 2026 results are declared, aspirants can use MyCollegeRoute.com to:

• Compare XAT-accepting B-schools by fees, placements, ROI, and specialisations
• Shortlist colleges based on XAT percentile range and location preferences
• Explore alternate options through CAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, and other exams, if needed

Final Word

The XAT 2026 exam maintained its reputation as a thinking-oriented management aptitude test, with a moderate-to-difficult overall level and a strong emphasis on reasoning, judgment, and conceptual clarity.

If your performance aligns with the good attempt range and you’ve played wisely with accuracy and time management, you are well-placed to move to the next stage of B-school admissions.

For personalised guidance, college comparisons, and data-backed decision support, keep following the XAT 2026 updates on MyCollegeRoute.com.