Major changes in XAT 2027 exam pattern and seats by XLRI

XLRI Jamshedpur has announced significant changes in the exam pattern, seats, and admission process for the XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) 2027. According to a report by NDTV, these new changes include everything from the exam structure to the number of seats and business school opportunities.

As per the new changes, a significant modification has been made to the exam structure. Previously, there was no penalty for unanswered questions up to a limit of 8 questions; this limit has now been increased to 12 questions. This change will allow candidates to plan more systematically which questions to answer and which to skip.

The number of seats has also been increased. Seats for PGDM-HRM at XLRI Jamshedpur have been increased from 180 to 240. In this manner, 60 additional seats have been added for aspiring professionals in the Human Resources (HR) field. Additionally, the examining institute has added 17 new XAT partner institutions for XAT 2027, providing candidates with the opportunity to explore more institutions and management programmes.

According to important dates for candidates, if they complete their XAT 2027 application process by 11 November, 2026, they will be able to obtain the question papers and answer keys of XAT 2025 and XAT 2026. The last date to apply for the exam has been set as 6 December, 2026. Candidates can register through the official website xatonline.in.

The XAT 2027 exam will be conducted on 3 January, 2027. This exam will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, i.e., for a total duration of three hours. The admit card for the exam will be released on 20 December, 2026.

The exam comprises four main sections: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK). The number of questions in each section will vary.

XAT is a prestigious entrance exam conducted for admission into management programmes. This exam is organised by XLRI and serves as a criterion for admission into various business schools.