Understanding XAT scores and percentiles is crucial for effective preparation and targeting the right B-schools. XAT 2026 marks versus percentile mapping helps aspirants gauge their performance and set realistic goals. A score of 40+ (~97-99 percentile) is exceptional, opening doors to top-tier institutes like XLRI BM/HRM, SPJIMR, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, and MICA Ahmedabad. Scores around 35-38 (~95-96 percentile) are competitive for elite colleges, while 25-30 (~85-95 percentile) align with mid-tier options. Section-wise performance is equally important; VA-LR, Decision Making, and QA-DI contribute differently to the overall percentile.
Historical trends (2021-2025) indicate slight variations in cutoff scores based on exam difficulty. Candidates can use this data to estimate their chances at specific colleges, set sectional targets, and prioritize preparation areas. Knowledge of both overall and section-wise cutoffs ensures informed decisions, maximizing admission opportunities at top PGDM/MBA programs.
Before you start preparing for XAT 2026, it's important to understand how your raw score translates into percentiles. This helps in setting realistic goals and gauging which B-schools you can target based on your performance. Below is an estimated mapping of XAT marks versus percentile ranges, based on previous years' trends:
| XAT Score (out of ~75) | Estimated Percentile | Insight |
| => 40 | ~97-99 | Safe for XLRI & top B-schools |
| 37-38 | ~96 | Good for XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, etc. |
| 31-36 | ~95-97 | Competitive for elite colleges |
| 25-30 | ~90-95 | Strong for SPJIMR, XIMB, IMT |
| 23-24 | ~85-90 | Good for second-tier schools |
| 21-22 | ~80-85 | May get calls from mid-tier or emerging B-schools |
Before you start your XAT preparation 2026, it's important to understand how sectional scores translate into percentiles. This guide provides a clear picture of the marks required in each section to achieve top percentiles.
| Percentile | Overall | VA & LR | DM | QA & DI |
| 97% | ~39-40 | ~15-16 | ~13-14 | ~13-14 |
| 96% | ~37.5-38 | ~14 | ~11 | ~12-13 |
| 95% | ~35-36 | ~13-14 | ~12-13 | ~11-12 |
| 90% | ~30-32 | ~11-12 | ~11-12 | ~7.5-9 |
Before you start preparing, it's important to know what constitutes a good XAT 2026 score and how it translates into percentiles and admission opportunities. Scoring well helps you target top PGDM/MBA programs effectively.
| XAT Marks (out of 75) | Estimated Percentile | Admission Tier |
| 38-40+ | 96-97+ | Top-tier schools (e.g., XLRI BM/HRM) |
| ~34-37 | ~95 | XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, etc. |
| 30-34 | ~93-95 | Target PGDM programs at prime B-schools |
| 25-27 | ~90 | Admission chance for IMT, TAPMI, XIM, MICA, etc. |
| 23-24 | ~85 | Good for second-tier schools like Welingkar, FORE, GLIM |
Before planning your applications, it's essential to know the marks required for top B-schools in XAT 2026. The scores vary depending on the program and expected percentile cutoffs.
| Business School | Required Percentile | Rough Marks (out of 75) |
| XLRI PGDM-BM (Male Gen) | ~96 | ~37-38+ |
| XLRI PGDM-HRM | ~95 | ~36-37 |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai | ~85-90 | ~30-35+ |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ~90-91 | ~25-28+ |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | ~90-91 | ~27-30 |
| MICA Ahmedabad | ~80-85 | ~22-26+ |
| TAPMI Manipal, GIM Goa, GLIM | ~85-90 | ~25-30 |
Before you start analyzing college options, it's helpful to know where 25 marks in XAT 2026 could place your percentile-wise and which colleges might accept it. Generally, a score of 25 marks falls in the 85-95 percentile range, depending on the difficulty level of the exam that year.
| College / Institute | Approx Cutoff Percentile Range | Notes on Acceptability of ~25 Marks |
| KJ Somaiya, Mumbai | ~80-82 percentile | 25 marks (if it gives ~85-90 percentile) may cross their cutoff, especially for general category. |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi | ~84-88 percentile (2025) | Could be possible with 25 marks if your percentile is high enough. |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management (Chennai / Gurgaon) | ~80-86 percentile | Likely in reach if 25 marks corresponds to ~90th percentile. |
| GIM (Goa Institute of Management) | ~85-90 percentile for many seats | Possibly borderline; strong profile/interview may help. |
| TAPMI, Manipal | ~80-87 percentile | With 25 marks, you might get admission depending on other factors. |
| Welingkar (WeSchool), Mumbai / Bangalore | ~75-80 percentile | More safely accessible with 25 marks. |
| XIME, Bangalore | ~75 percentile | Likely yes, if percentile mapping is favorable. |
| BIMTECH, Greater Noida | ~75 percentile | Could be a reasonable option. |
| LIBA, Chennai | ~80-85 percentile | Borderline; possible if percentile is near cutoff. |
Before planning your B-school applications, it's important to know that a score of 27 out of 75 in XAT is considered good, typically placing you in the ~90-92 percentile. This opens admission opportunities at many mid-tier B-schools.
| Institute | Expected Percentile Cutoff | Estimated Score Range | Remarks |
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | 90-91% | 27-30 | Often accepts around 90 percentiles. |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90-91% | 27-30 | Cutoff hovers near 90 percentiles. |
| SPJIMR Mumbai (Profile-based) | 93-95% | 32-35 | A strong profile may slightly compensate. |
| TAPMI Manipal | 85-90% | 25-28 | Accepts ~85-90 percentile. |
| GIM Goa | 85-90% | 25-28 | Acceptable with 27 marks. |
| Great Lakes (GLIM) | 85-90% | 25-28 | Profile is also considered. |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 80-85% | 22-26 | XAT score plus MICAT required. |
| KJ Somaiya | 85-90% | 25-28 | Accepts scores near 90 percentiles. |
| LIBA Chennai | 85-90% | 24-28 | Considered within this score range. |
| IRMA Anand (non-profile) | 85-90% | 25-28 | Good GK score and profile improve chances. |
Before you start planning your college applications, it's useful to know the impact of scoring 38 marks in XAT 2026. This score is considered very good, typically placing candidates in the 96-99 percentile range, depending on exam difficulty and number of test-takers. With this percentile, you have a strong chance at top-tier MBA/PGDM colleges.
| Type of School / Program | Likely Fit with 38 Marks / Percentile ~96-99 |
| Top Tier MBA / PGDM (XLRI BM/HRM, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, etc.) | Very much in reach. For example, XLRI PGDM-BM expects ~37-38 marks (general male engineering) for ~96 percentile cutoffs. |
| Highly competitive specialization programs (e.g., HRM at XLRI, top marketing/finance at premier B-schools) | Strong contender, especially if sectional scores in VA-LR or Decision-Making are high. 38 marks provide a comfortable margin. |
| Tier-1 & Strong Tier-2 B-schools (Great Lakes, TAPMI, MICA, etc.) | Likely exceeds cutoff; gives leverage to explore multiple options. |
| Safety and mid-tier colleges | More than sufficient; comfortably meets or exceeds cutoffs. |
Scoring 40+ marks in XAT (99%ile) significantly boosts your chances of admission into India's leading management institutes. The table below shows approximate percentile cut-offs and insights for each college.
| College / Institute | Approx. Percentile Cut-off | Comments |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM/HRM) | ~94-96 %ile | Elite programs; 40+ marks (99%ile) strongly boost prospects |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | ~93-95 %ile | Top-tier management institute; solid chance with 40+ marks |
| XIM University (XIMB) | ~91-92 %ile | Highly competitive; 40+ marks comfortably exceed cut-off |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ~90-91 %ile | Strong candidate with 40+; exceeds expected cut-offs |
| MICA Ahmedabad | ~90-91 %ile | Creative management focus; 40+ marks well above threshold |
| IMI New Delhi | ~89-90 %ile | 40+ marks place you securely in the shortlist zone |
Before planning your B-school applications, it's important to know that a 74 percentile in XAT is a moderate score. While it is not enough for top-tier B-schools like XLRI or SPJIMR, it opens opportunities in Tier-2 institutes with decent ROI and placements. This percentile generally corresponds to a raw score of around 22-24 marks out of 75.
| Institute Name | Typical Cutoff (Percentile) | Your Chances (74%ile) | Remarks |
| Welingkar Institute, Mumbai/Bangalore | 70-80 | Good Chance | Profile-based shortlisting possible |
| XIME Bangalore/Chennai/Kochi | 70-75 | Likely | Decent ROI; GD/PI plays major role |
| IMT Hyderabad/Nagpur | 70-75 | Possible | Shortlisting depends on overall profile |
| BIMTECH, Greater Noida (Core/IB) | 70-75 | Possible | Good option for marketing/finance |
| KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar | 70-75 | Strong | Accepts lower scores with good profile |
Before planning your applications, it-s important to understand what a 93 percentile in XAT 2026 means. A 93 percentile is very good, usually corresponding to a score of around 32 marks, and can make you eligible for many top MBA programs, though it may be slightly borderline for some XLRI programs.
| College / Institute | Likelihood with ~93 Percentile |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai | Good chance for many programs if your profile is strong. Past cutoffs are ~93-95 percentile for some programs. |
| XLRI (Jamshedpur) - PGDM / HRM (General category) | Possible, but somewhat borderline depending on specialization and category. BM often requires ~95+, while HRM cutoffs may be closer to ~93. |
| XIM University (XIMB) | Likely yes, if other profile factors are strong. Many XIM programs had cutoff percentiles in the low 90s. |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Strong chance. Most PGDM programs have cutoffs around 90-92; 93 percentiles usually clear the shortlist comfortably. |
| MICA Ahmedabad | Decent chances if sectionals are cleared. Top specializations may require a slightly higher percentile. |
XAT 2026 cutoffs indicate the minimum percentile required for admission into India's leading management institutes. XLRI is expected to have the highest cutoffs, especially for male engineers, followed by female (non-engineer) candidates. Other top B-Schools like SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, and MICA also have competitive percentile requirements.
| Institute / Program | Program | Cutoff (Percentile) |
| XLRI (BM - Male Engg.) | PGDM BM | 95-96 |
| XLRI (HRM - Male Engg.) | PGDM HRM | 93-95 |
| XLRI (Female Non-Engg.) | PGDM HRM | 90-91 |
| SPJIMR | PGDM | 85-90 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | PGDM | 90+ |
| XIMB | MBA-BM | 90+ |
| MICA (with MICAT) | PGDM-C | 80+ |
Before you start your XAT 2026 preparation, it's useful to analyze past trends of marks vs percentiles. This helps set realistic target scores based on difficulty variations across years.
| Year | Score for 99%ile | Score for 95%ile | Score for 90%ile | Difficulty Level | Key Insight |
| 2025 | 37-38 | 27-28 | 23-24 | Moderate | QA & DM were moderate; VA was easier. Slightly higher cutoff due to QA & DM difficulty. |
| 2024 | 36-37 | 26-27 | 22-23 | Slightly tougher | QA toughest; DM moderate; VA easy. Overall, it was a slightly tough exam. |
| 2023 | 35-36 | 25-26 | 21-22 | Moderate | DM and VA were tricky, leading to slightly lower 99 percentile cutoff. |
| 2022 | 36+ | 27 | 23 | Moderate-Easy | Highest 99 percentile cutoff due to easier VA & QA sections. |
| 2021 | 33-34 | 25 | 22 | Moderate-Difficult | DM toughest; QA tricky; VA moderate, resulting in lowest 99 percentile cutoff. |
Before starting your XAT preparation, it's crucial to understand section-wise cutoff trends for top percentiles. These cutoffs show how marks required in each section (VA & LR, DM, QA-DI) fluctuate depending on yearly difficulty levels.
| Year | VA & LR (out of 26) | DM (out of 21) | QA-DI (out of 28) |
| 2025 | 13-14 | 10-11 | 12-13 |
| 2024 | 13 | 10 | 12 |
| 2023 | 12-13 | 10-11 | 11-12 |
| 2022 | 13-14 | 11 | 13-14 |
| 2021 | 12 | 9 | 11-12 |
Read More:
Ans: A good overall score in XAT 2026 depends on your target colleges. Scores above 38–40 marks are considered excellent, typically translating to 96–99 percentile. Scores in the 35–37 range (~95–96 percentile) are competitive for top-tier colleges like XLRI BM/HRM, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, and XIMB. Scores of 25–30 (~85–95 percentile) generally allow admission into mid-tier B-schools, while 23–24 marks are suitable for second-tier institutes. This understanding helps candidates plan preparation and set realistic college targets.
Ans: A score of 25 marks generally falls in the 85–95 percentile range, making it eligible for mid-tier B-schools such as KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, Welingkar, GLIM, and LIBA Chennai. Admission chances depend on the overall profile, GD/PI performance, and sectional strengths. Candidates with a score of 25 should focus on optimizing their profile, scoring high in interviews, and considering multiple college options to maximize their chances of selection.
Ans: A 40+ score in XAT corresponds to the 99+ percentile, placing aspirants in the top 1% of candidates. This score provides exceptional opportunities for admission to premier institutes like XLRI BM/HRM, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, MICA, and IMI Delhi. Candidates with this score not only meet cutoffs comfortably but can also negotiate specialization preferences and have a stronger chance of selection in highly competitive programs.
Ans: Section-wise cutoffs, observed in past years (2021–2025), indicate minimum marks required in VA & LR, DM, and QA-DI to achieve top percentiles. For example, scoring 13–14 in VA & LR, 12–13 in DM, and 11–12 in QA-DI generally secures the 95th percentile. Understanding these cutoffs helps candidates prioritize preparation, identify weak sections, and allocate study time effectively. Balanced performance across all sections maximizes percentile, enhancing chances of admission at top B-schools
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