XAT Answer Key 2026: Check Release Date, Download Process, & Raise Objection

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XAT Answer Key 2026: Check Release Date, Download Process, & Raise Objection

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XAT Latest Updates

05 Nov, 2025

XAT 2026 Registration is Ongoing till December 5, 2025. Read More
XAT 2026 Admit Card Download Starts on December 20, 2025. Check Here
XAT 2026 Exam Scheduled on January 4, 2026

Abhra Roy
Content Writer | Updated On : Sep 18, 2025

Table of Content

XAT Answer Key 2026 Dates
How Can You Download the XAT Answer Key 2026?
What Details are Mentioned in the XAT Answer Key?
XAT Marking Scheme 2026
How to Challenge the XAT Answer Key 2026?

XAT answer key of 2025 exam was released after the exam took place. The XAT exam 2026 is scheduled for January 4, 2026. As a registered candidate you can download the answer key and response sheet by signing in at the XAT 2026 official website at xatonline.com. The answer key challenge window will open for 3-4 days, during which you can challenge or raise objections against the answer keys.

In this article you can learn the steps to download XAT answer key 2026 as presented in detail in the following section:

XAT Answer Key 2026 Dates

The table below shows the events related to the XAT answer key 2026:

Events	Dates
XAT 2025 Exam Date	January 4, 2026
XAT 2025 Answer Key Release	January 8, 2025 (Tentative)

How Can You Download the XAT Answer Key 2026?

You can download the answer key from the XAT official website. Here are a few steps to guide you through:

To get started, open the XAT website at xatonline.com.
Tap on the button that reads ‘candidate response’.
Provide the registered user ID and password in the respective spaces.
Click the candidate response option to generate the answer key and question paper.
Wait a while, and the XAT answer key will appear on the screen.
Once it appears, you can now download the answer key response sheet.

What Details are Mentioned in the XAT Answer Key?

You will find the following details on the XAT answer key 2026:

Registration ID and name of the candidate.
Correct answers for all questions in each section.
The answer key may show different question paper codes.
Along with the answer key, the response sheet features the answers you selected during the exam.
The answer key often explains the marking system, such as how much each question is worth.

XAT Marking Scheme 2026

Once you have downloaded the answer key, you can get an estimate of your score following the marking scheme below:

Section	Correct Answer	Wrong Answer	Unanswered Questions
Verbal and Logical Ability	+1 mark	-0.25 mark	For up to 8 questions, there is no penalty. From the 9th question, there is a -0.10 mark per additional unattempted question
Decision Making	+1 mark	-0.25 mark	Same as above
Quantitative Ability	+1 mark	-0.25 mark	Same as above
General Knowledge	No marks in XAT score	No negative marking	No negative marking

How to Challenge the XAT Answer Key 2026?

If you find any discrepancies in your XAT 2026 answer key, you can challenge it by following these steps:

Step 1: Visit the XAT official website. xatonline.com.
Step 2: Now locate the ‘Candidate response/object' tab.
Step 3: Click on the tab and you will be asked to log in.
Step 4: Enter the XAT ID and password in the respective spaces.
Step 5: Now you can go to the raise objection form and enter question ID, nature of question, and objection.
Step 6: To claim an objection, you need to submit supporting documents.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ans. The official XAT 2026 answer key is expected to be released by XLRI Jamshedpur within a few days after the exam on January 4, 2026. Usually, it is released in the second week of January. It will be published on the official XAT website in the candidate login section.

Ans. To download the XAT 2026 answer key, you need to log in to the official XAT portal using your XAT ID and password. Once logged in, you can access both the answer key and your recorded responses to verify your answers.

Ans. Yes, XLRI provides an option to challenge the provisional answer key if you find any discrepancies in the given answers. You will need to submit your objections with valid proof within the specified deadline, after which a final answer key will be released.

Ans. The XAT answer key helps you calculate your probable raw score before the official result is declared. It also provides transparency in the evaluation process and allows you to estimate your chances of meeting the expected cutoff for XLRI and other B-schools.