XAT 2026 exam is scheduled for tomorrow, January 4, in 109 cities across India. This national-level MBA entrance exam will be held only in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Candidates should definitely have their XAT 2026 admit card downloaded and carry two printed copies with them to the exam centre.
Please note that thousands of management aspirants who registered for the exam are now advised to complete their final preparations. They must strictly follow the exam day schedule and instructions to avoid any last-minute issues. Entry to the examination hall will only be allowed during the specified time, and no candidate will be allowed after that.
XAT 2026 Exam Schedule
The overall duration of the XAT 2026 exam is 180 minutes, with a sectional time limit. The question paper is divided into two parts as detailed below:
XAT Paper
Duration
Sections Covered
Part 1
170 minutes
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA-LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA-DI)
Part 2
10 minutes
General Knowledge (GK)
XAT 2026 Reporting & Gate Closing Time
Candidates are required to report to their allotted exam centres well in advance to complete the security and verification process smoothly.
Particulars
Timings
Exam Timing
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Reporting Time
12:30 PM
Gate Closing Time
1:50 PM
Candidates reaching the centre after 1:50 PM will not be allowed entry under any circumstances.
XAT 2026 Exam Day Instructions
The exam-conducting body has issued a detailed list of guidelines that candidates must follow on the day of the examination. Check the instructions below carefully to avoid any inconvenience on exam day:
Candidates must carry two copies of the XAT 2026 admit card along with a valid Government-issued photo ID.
In case the photograph on the admit card is unclear, candidates must bring a recent passport-size photograph.
Items such as jewellery, jackets, calculators, watches, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, or metal-containing objects are strictly prohibited inside the exam centre.
Mandatory frisking will be conducted before entry; candidates are advised to cooperate with security staff.
Parents or guardians will not be allowed inside the exam centre premises.
Rough sheets will be made available in the exam lab for calculations.
Candidates are required to submit their admit card and rough sheets to the invigilator before exiting the examination hall.
The day before the exam, candidates are advised to plan their travel well in advance, be punctual at the centre, and strictly follow all the instructions mentioned on the admit card for an easy examination experience.
