XAT Answer Key 2026: Download Response Sheet + Provisional Key (Official Link)

Overview: XAT 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, 4 January 2026 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM). After the exam, XLRI typically activates the candidate login on the official portal to download the combined Response Sheet + Provisional XAT Answer Key. As soon as it is released, you can match answers, estimate your score, and (if the objection window opens) submit challenges online.

Live Status (as of 16 Dec 2025)	Not released yet
XAT 2026 Exam Date	4 January 2026 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Expected Response Sheet + Provisional Key	January 2026 (Week 2) – tentative
Official Portal	xatonline.in / applications.xatonline.in

• The response sheet + provisional XAT answer key is expected in January 2026 (Week 2) (tentative).
• You can download it by logging in using your XAT User ID & password on the official portal.
• If the objection window is activated, candidates can raise challenges online within the prescribed duration.

Check Official Link:Login & Download XAT 2026 Response Sheet + Answer Key (Official)

Download Free Study Material for XAT Exam 2026 by SuperGrads

Scroll down to get complete information about how to download the XAT exam answer key and response sheet!

Also Read | XAT Exam Eligibility 2026: Registration & Many more

When Will the XAT 2026 Answer Key be Released?

XAT 2026 is scheduled on 4 January 2026 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM). After the exam, XLRI typically activates the candidate login on the official portal to release the combined Response Sheet + Provisional Answer Key (as one downloadable file). The exact release date is announced on the portal, so keep checking your dashboard for the live link.

Official result timeline: XAT results are announced approximately three weeks after the exam.

What Happens After the XAT 2026 Exam? (Timeline)

Time After Exam	Update You Can Expect	What You Should Do
Week 1 (first few days)	Response Sheet + Provisional Answer Key (combined PDF) may be activated (date TBA).	Download, match answers, estimate score.
Week 2	Objection/Challenge window may open (if provided).	Raise objections only with solid proof.
Around Week 3	Result/Scorecard release.	Download scorecard and shortlist colleges.

Note: The response sheet/XAT 2026 answer key activation is not a fixed-day promise. Use the timeline above as a practical tracker and always verify the live update on the official portal.

Download XAT 2026 Answer Key-Direct Link

How to Download XAT Answer Key 2026 & Response Sheet (Step-by-Step)

XLRI releases the provisional answer key + response sheet together inside the candidate login. Follow these steps to download the combined PDF once it’s live:

1. Visit the official XAT website: xatonline.in
2. Click Login and open the candidate dashboard.
3. Look for the tab/button labelled Response Sheet / Answer Key / Downloads (wording may vary).
4. Click the option to generate/view the combined Response Sheet + Provisional Answer Key.
5. Use Download to save the PDF for score calculation and objections (if enabled).

Quick Troubleshooting

• Link not visible? "The key isn’t released yet check again after the official update".
• Login failing? Try applications.xatonline.in, switch browser, or clear cache.
• PDF not downloading? Allow pop-ups/downloads and retry from the dashboard.

Explore| Take a Free XAT Mock Test Now!

How to Calculate Your XAT Score Using the Answer Key 2026

Once you download the XAT 2026 response sheet + provisional answer key, use the official marking rules to estimate your raw score.

Part	Correct	Incorrect	Unattempted Rule
Part 1 (Main Test)	+1	-0.25	-0.10 per unattempted question after 8 unattempted
Part 2 (GK)	+1	No negative marking	Shown separately

Score Formula (Part 1)

Estimated Part 1 Score = (Correct × 1) − (Incorrect × 0.25) − (Unattempted beyond 8 × 0.10)

Quick Example

• Correct = 55, Incorrect = 20, Unattempted = 12
• Penalty for unattempted beyond 8 = (12 − 8) × 0.10 = 0.40
• Estimated Part 1 score = 55 − (20 × 0.25) − 0.40 = 55 − 5 − 0.40 = 49.60

Note: Use this as a rough estimate final score depends on the final XAT 2026 answer key used for evaluation.

Also Read | State Wise XAT Exam Centers in India

How to Raise Objections on XAT Answer Key 2026 (If the Challenge Window Opens)

After you download the combined XAT 2026 response sheet + provisional answer key, you may notice a mismatch in a question/official answer. If XLRI activates the objection window, you can submit challenges through your candidate dashboard on the official portal.

Steps to Challenge the XAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key

1. Visit the official website: xatonline.in
2. Login using your XAT User ID and password.
3. Open the candidate dashboard and click the tab/button such as Raise Objection / Answer Key Challenge (wording may vary).
4. Select the question you want to challenge and enter required details (paper/question ID, section, your suggested correct option, etc.).
5. Upload a clear justification/proof and submit the objection before the deadline shown on the portal.

Important Notes

• Challenge window is short: usually a few days once opened.
• Fee (if any): the portal will show the exact amount/terms. Don’t rely on unofficial figures.
• Submit only strong objections: attach valid proof to improve acceptance chances.

What Happens After You Submit an Objection?

• XLRI reviews objections received within the window.
• If a challenge is accepted, the answer may be updated in the final XAT 2026 answer key (used for evaluation).
• Once evaluation is finalised, the scorecard is released on the same portal.

Note*: Candidates should remember that they can raise objections only until the predefined time before the XAT exam result date given by the exam conducting authorities. Such requests won't be entertained after the XAT exam results are released.

XAT Result 2026: Expected Date & How to Download Scorecard

XAT 2026 results are announced approximately three weeks after the exam. You can download your scorecard from the official portal once the link is activated.

1. Go to xatonline.in
2. Login to your candidate dashboard
3. Open the Scorecard/Result section
4. Download and save the PDF for admissions and shortlisting

Also Read | List of Top Colleges Accepting XAT Score

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What Details Are Mentioned on the XAT Answer Key 2026?

The XAT answer key 2026 has the following details mentioned on it:

• Candidate’s Name and Registration ID and 
• Section-wise XAT exam questions 
• Candidate’s response to questions of each section
• The correct answer for all the questions
• Un-attempted questions

Also Read | XAT Admission: Dates, Registration, & Syllabus 2026

Can I Challenge The XAT 2026 Answer Key?

Yes, you can raise objections if you find any issues with the XAT answer key and response sheet. The answer key challenge window is open for a particular duration, and you can only raise objections during that time.

No, the XAT officials will not consider new changes once the duration is over. So, you must be vigilant and regularly visit the official website for updates.

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Conclusion

XAT Answer Key 2026 (provisional) and the response sheet are released through the official candidate login on xatonline.in. Once the combined PDF is available, download it, calculate your estimated score using the official marking rules, and raise objections only if the challenge window is activated on the portal. Keep checking your dashboard for the live update, and remember that the final evaluation is based on the final key used by XLRI.