In short
There is no single XAT cutoff. Each institute sets its own, and XLRI is the one that publishes overall and sectional percentile cutoffs by programme, gender and background. XAT 2027 cutoffs come after the result in late January; until then, use XLRI's latest published table below and each college's own criteria.
There is no single XAT cutoff. XLRI publishes its own by programme, gender and background; most other colleges publish none. XAT 2027 cutoffs come in late January.
Each institute sets its own
XLRI: overall and three sections
Result by 31 Jan 2027
250+ institutes use XAT
Updated 5 Nov 2026
·
S
Reviewed by Sachin Sir (VARC)XLRI overall cutoff · percentile
BM · Men
96
BM · Women
91
HRM · Men
93–95
HRM · Women
87–90
XAT 2025, published by XLRI. Each also needs a minimum in QA, VALR and DM.
XLRI
XLRI sets a minimum overall percentile and a minimum in each of the three sections, separately for each programme, gender and academic background. You need all four to be considered for the interview shortlist.
You need the overall minimum and all three sectional minimums.
PGDM Business Management (BM)
Jamshedpur and Delhi-NCR · percentile, at least
Candidate
Overall
QA & DI
VALR
DM
Engineer · Men
96
88
84
84
Engineer · Women
91
82
80
80
Non-engineer · Men
96
88
84
84
Non-engineer · Women
91
82
80
80
PGDM Human Resource Management (HRM)
Jamshedpur · percentile, at least
Candidate
Overall
QA & DI
VALR
DM
Engineer · Men
95
83
90
87
Engineer · Women
90
73
85
80
Non-engineer · Men
93
76
90
87
Non-engineer · Women
87
68
85
80
Published by XLRI on the official XAT website after the XAT 2025 result. XAT 2027 cutoffs are added when XLRI publishes them.
See XLRI's noticeClearing a cutoff makes you eligible for the shortlist. XLRI's final selection also weighs academics, work experience and the interview.
Where would you stand against these cutoffs?
Take the first XAT mock free and see your section-wise percentile.
Sectional
Decision Making is where many miss XLRI's sectional minimum. Learn the XAT Decision Making method →
Colleges
XLRI says 250+ institutes use XAT scores. Here is what the best-known ones officially say about their cutoff, taken from each institute's own admissions page.
What each college officially says, from its own admissions page.
Institute
Tests accepted
Cutoff
How it shortlists
Source
XIM University
Bhubaneswar
XAT, CAT, GMAT
Announces in February
XAT, CAT, GMAT or XGMT score; final selection also weighs academics and work experience
Official pageMICA
Ahmedabad
CAT / XAT / GMAT + MICAT
Minimum, not published
At least one of CAT, XAT or GMAT is mandatory (the highest of the three is used); MICAT I and MICAT II may both be taken and the better score counts (per the 2026–28 policy; 2027–29 policy not yet readable)
Official pageGoa Institute of Management
Goa
XAT, CAT, GMAT
Minimum, not published
Regular Round on test score; Achiever's Round on profile (academics, sports, co-curriculars, work)
Official pageIMT Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad
CAT, XAT, GMAT
No cutoff published
Academics, entrance score, work experience, professional qualifications and overall profile
Official pageGreat Lakes
Chennai
GMAT, CAT, XAT
No cutoff published
Academics, test score, interview, rank holders, integrity and ethics, diversity
Official pageTAPMI
Manipal
CAT, XAT, GMAT
No cutoff published
Best valid entrance score plus academics, work experience and extracurriculars
Official pageBIMTECH
Greater Noida
CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT
No cutoff published
CAT 2026, XAT 2027, GMAT or CMAT 2027 score plus academic record (MAT also for Insurance and Retail)
Official pageXLRI
Publishes cutoff
Jamshedpur · Delhi-NCR · XAT
Shortlist on XAT score only
XIM University
Announces in February
Bhubaneswar · XAT, CAT, GMAT
XAT, CAT, GMAT or XGMT score; final selection also weighs academics and work experience
MICA
Minimum, not published
Ahmedabad · CAT / XAT / GMAT + MICAT
At least one of CAT, XAT or GMAT is mandatory (the highest of the three is used); MICAT I and MICAT II may both be taken and the better score counts (per the 2026–28 policy; 2027–29 policy not yet readable)
Goa Institute of Management
Minimum, not published
Goa · XAT, CAT, GMAT
Regular Round on test score; Achiever's Round on profile (academics, sports, co-curriculars, work)
IMT Ghaziabad
No cutoff published
Ghaziabad · CAT, XAT, GMAT
Academics, entrance score, work experience, professional qualifications and overall profile
Great Lakes
No cutoff published
Chennai · GMAT, CAT, XAT
Academics, test score, interview, rank holders, integrity and ethics, diversity
TAPMI
No cutoff published
Manipal · CAT, XAT, GMAT
Best valid entrance score plus academics, work experience and extracurriculars
K J Somaiya (KJSIM)
No cutoff published
Mumbai · CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT
Test score 25%
BIMTECH
No cutoff published
Greater Noida · CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT
CAT 2026, XAT 2027, GMAT or CMAT 2027 score plus academic record (MAT also for Insurance and Retail)
Checked on each institute's site, 31 Oct 2026.
See all institutes on the official XAT list →Common mix-up
✕
SPJIMR, MumbaiPGDM accepts CAT and GMAT, not XAT.
✕
Nirma University, AhmedabadMBA admits through CAT.
✕
IIMsFlagship MBA programmes admit through CAT.
Aiming for these? See IIM cutoffs and Route99's CAT courses.
Gujarat
These Gujarat institutes are on XLRI's official XAT list. MICA also requires MICAT. Nirma University and IIM Ahmedabad admit through CAT.
On XLRI's official list. MICA also needs MICAT; Nirma and IIM Ahmedabad use CAT.
Preparing in Ahmedabad? Classroom CAT and OMET coaching at Navrangpura →
After the cutoff
Clearing a cutoff gets you considered, not selected. Most colleges then rank on a composite of the test score, academics, work experience and interviews, with weights they publish.
A cutoff gets you considered; a composite score decides the call.
XLRI
Interview shortlist on XAT score only; final selection adds academics, work experience and the interview
Goa Institute of Management
Test score 40 · Interview 30 · Academics 15 · Work experience 10 · Profile and diversity 5
MICA
CAT/XAT/GMAT 35 · MICAT 25 · PI 20 · GE 10 · Class 10, 12 and graduation 5 · Extra-curricular, sports, academic and gender diversity 5 (official 2026–28 policy; 2027–29 not yet readable)
XIM University
Shortlist in early February, then GD, WAT and interview
Great Lakes
XAT is used for screening; profile decides the rest
Weights as published by each institute for its current admission cycle.
Know your section-wise percentile before 03 Jan 2027.
The first XAT mock is free. 10 full mocks and 15 sectionals in the pack.
Dates
03 Jan 2027
XAT 2027 exam day
31 Jan 2027
Result and scorecards
From late JanuaryXLRI's cutoffs and shortlist
Early February
XIM University's cut-offs; others on their own sites
Score
It depends on the college: for XLRI, a score that clears every cutoff in the table above. How raw scores turn into percentiles changes each year; our score-vs-percentile guide follows after the XAT 2027 result.
FAQ
Decision Making holding you back?
Live online workshop with faculty in December.
What is the XAT cutoff for XLRI?
XLRI publishes minimum overall and sectional percentiles (QA and DI, VALR, Decision Making) for each programme, by gender and engineering background. In its latest published table (XAT 2025), BM needed 96 overall for men and 91 for women; HRM needed 87 to 95, depending on the group.
Does XAT have a sectional cutoff?
XAT itself has none; it reports your percentile in each section. XLRI sets a minimum in all three sections. Most other XAT colleges publish no sectional cutoff and shortlist on a composite score.
When will the XAT 2027 cutoffs be released?
The XAT 2027 result is expected by 31 Jan 2027. XLRI publishes its cutoffs and shortlist after that, and XIM University announces its cut-offs in early February.
How many colleges accept XAT scores?
XLRI says 250+ institutes use XAT. Its official list on xatonline.in names the member and associate institutes, including XIM University, IMT Ghaziabad, Great Lakes, TAPMI, GIM, MICA and IRMA.
Do SPJIMR, Nirma or the IIMs accept XAT?
No. SPJIMR's PGDM accepts CAT and GMAT, Nirma University's MBA admits through CAT, and the IIMs' flagship MBA programmes admit through CAT.
Which colleges in Gujarat accept XAT?
MICA, Ahmedabad University, Narayana Business School and Shanti Business School in Ahmedabad, IRMA in Anand, and EDII and PDEU's School of Management in Gandhinagar are on XLRI's official list. MICA also requires MICAT.
Is the XAT cutoff the same for every candidate?
No. XLRI's cutoffs differ by programme, gender and engineering background. Some colleges also apply state or domicile rules, such as XIM University for Odisha residents and GIM for Goan candidates.
If I clear a college's XAT cutoff, will I get an interview call?
Not automatically. Clearing a cutoff makes you eligible to be considered. Most colleges then rank on a composite score, for example GIM (Regular Round on test score; Achiever's Round on profile (academics, sports, co-curriculars, work)) and MICA (At least one of CAT, XAT or GMAT is mandatory (the highest of the three is used); MICAT I and MICAT II may both be taken and the better score counts (per the 2026–28 policy; 2027–29 policy not yet readable), plus MICAT); the rest comes from academics, work experience and interviews.
Sources: XLRI's cutoff notice and the institute list on xatonline.in, xlri.ac.in and each college's admissions page, checked 31 Oct 2026. Only numbers an institute has published appear here; refreshed every January.
Updated 5 Nov 2026 · Reviewed by Sachin Sir (VARC)
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