XAT Total Marks 2026: Pattern, Marking Scheme, Time Duration And Eligibility

Overview:  What are the XAT total marks? The XAT 2026 notification is out, and the XAT exam will be conducted on January 5, 2024. Read on to get insights into the XAT exam total marks

Download Free Study Material for XAT Exam 2026 by SuperGrads

• Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT 2026) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI in January every year on behalf of XLRI Associate Member Institutes (XAMI).
• The XAT entrance exam has three parts: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It consists of 101 MCQs and 1 essay writing question. 
• Each question carries 1 mark, and each MCQ has 5 options. The total mark of the XAT exam is 101.

Scroll down to know more about the XAT total marks, XAT exam pattern, total marks in XAT and XAT marking distribution!

Also Read | XAT Exam Analysis 2024: Check Difficulty Level

XAT Total Marks 2026 - Overview

The XAT exam 2026 will be conducted on January 5, 2026. The XAT question paper has three parts that must be solved quickly. The total mark in XAT exam is 101.

The first part of XAT exam includes verbal and logical ability, decision-making, Quantitative ability and data interpretation. 

The second part of the XAT exam is a 5-minute mock keyboard test, while the third part asks questions based on general knowledge.

Each section of XAT entrance exam 2026 will have 22-27 questions in MCQ format and 5 options for choosing the right answer.

Also Read | XAT Application Form 2026: Registration Process

XAT Total Marks 2026:Sectional Weightage

The XAT total marks are distributed majorly in 4 sections viz

• Decision-Making Section 
• Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension 
• Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
• General Knowledge

Check: XAT Exam Colleges Accepting XAT Score

Here is the section-wise weightage for the XAT 2026 total marks

XAT Exam Total Marks Sections 2026	Weightage
Decision Making	21%
VARC	26%
QA and DI	27%
GK	25%

KINDLY NOTE

• *The scores from the General Knowledge (GK) and Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) sections will be EXCLUSIVELY utilised by XLRI for its final selection process.
• PwD candidates will be granted an additional 20 minutes for every hour.

Also Read | Best Tips to Prepare XAT Exam 

XAT Total Marks 2026 Key Insights

To ace the XAT exam 2026 in the first attempt, it is very important to have a deep understanding of the XAT exam total marks. 

Here are the key facts about the Total Marks in XAT 2026: 

• There is 1 mark for every correct answer.
• There is a negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect answer.
• If you unanswered more than 8 consecutive questions, then 0.10 marks will be deducted.

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

XAT Marks Distribution 2026
Marks are given to each correct answer	+1 mark
Negative marking in XAT (marks deducted for each wrong answer)	– 0.25 marks
Marks were deducted for more than 8 consecutive and unanswered question	-0.1

Also Read | XAT Exam Question Paper 2024: Q&A's (Available)

XAT Total Marks 2026: Trends Over the Years

The XAT Exam Pattern, XAT Total Marks and Total Marks in XAT has undergone several changes over the past decade. Some of the most significant changes include:

• Shifted from Paper Based Test to a Computer Based Test in 2018
• Essay Based Question scrapped after XAT 2018 and reinstated in XAT 2022
• The number of Questions has fluctuated over the years
• The number of un-attempted questions allowed has been reduced from 13 to 8
• Non-MCQ questions/Fill in the blanks were removed in XAT 2019 but were reintroduced in XAT 2020
• The time of the exam has changed many times.

Check: List of XAT Exam Centres

Also Read | XAT Exam Cut Off Marks

XAT Total Marks 2026: Previous Year Patterns

A summary of the XAT 2026 Total Marks Distribution for 2015- 2024 is given in the table below:

XAT Exam	No. of Questions; Hours Allotted	Questions/Total marks of XAT exam Distribution per Section	Marking Scheme
XAT Exam 2024	100; 3 hours 30 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-22 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2023	102; 3 hours 30 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-22 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2022	101; 3 hours 10 minutes	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Writing-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2021	100; 3 hours	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2020	100; 3 hours	QA-28 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.10 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2019	99; 3 hours	QA-27 VA-26 DM-21 GK-25	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 8
XAT Exam 2018	98; 3.5 hours	QA-27 VA-24 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 12
XAT Exam 2017	98; 3.5 hours	QA-27 VA-24 DM-21 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 12
XAT Exam 2016	104; 3.5 hours	QA-29 VA-26 DM-23 GK-25 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks A penalty of 0.05 for every un-attempted question over 13
XAT Exam 2015	115; 3 hours	QA-33 VA-28 DM-23 GK-30 Essay Type-1	Correct Answer: +1 marks Negative Marking: -0.25 marks

Check: XAT Exam Answer Key Year wise

XAT Exam Pattern 2026: Major Highlights 

Here is the XAT total marks, exam pattern and a number of XAT total questions asked in each section of XAT exam 2026:

Section	No. of XAT Total Questions
PART – A (175 minutes) No Sectional Timing within Part – A
Verbal and Logical Ability	26
Decision Making	21
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	28
Total	75
PART – B (5 minutes) Keyboard check
PART – C (30 minutes) No Negative Marks
General Awareness	25
Essay	The essay will be counted only when the candidate is shortlisted for the interview.

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Conclusion

The XAT exam, a gateway to prestigious management institutes, undergoes dynamic changes annually. Understanding the XAT Total Marks Distribution, total questions in XAT exam asked and the XAT Exam Pattern and Total marks in XAT is crucial for the effective preparation of strategies for these changes for aspirants' success.

Check: Best Books for XAT preparation