XAT 2026 Response Sheet & Answer Key OUT: Your Comprehensive Guide to Download, Score Calculation & Objections
The much-anticipated XAT 2026 Response Sheet and Provisional Answer Key have been officially released by XLRI, bringing an end to the wait for thousands of MBA aspirants. This crucial release, coming just days after the examination, allows candidates to cross-verify their responses and estimate their potential scores well in advance of the final results.
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 was successfully conducted on January 4, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, across various centers in India. With the response sheet and answer key now accessible, candidates can gain valuable insights into their performance and strategize their next steps for MBA/PGDM admissions.
✅ XAT 2026 Response Sheet Released: Available on January 6, 2026.
✅ Provisional Answer Key: Released alongside the response sheet or expected shortly.
✅ Official Website: Access both documents via xatonline.in.
✅ Objection Window: Opportunity to challenge discrepancies in the answer key.
Accessing your XAT 2026 response sheet and provisional answer key is a straightforward process. Follow these steps carefully to download your documents:
The XAT 2026 response sheet is a critical document that provides a detailed breakdown of your performance. It typically includes:
✅ Your Name and XAT ID
✅ Exam Date
✅ Question ID and the Options selected by you
✅ Section-wise Question Numbers
✅ Questions Attempted and Unanswered Questions
Reviewing these details is essential to ensure accuracy and to flag any discrepancies with your memory of the exam.
Once you have both your response sheet and the provisional answer key, you can calculate your estimated raw score using the official XAT marking scheme:
| Type of Answer | Marking |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 Mark |
| Incorrect Answer (Part 1: VARC, DM, QA & DI) | -0.25 Marks |
| Incorrect Answer (Part 2: General Knowledge) | No Negative Marking |
| Unattempted Questions (beyond 8) | -0.10 Marks per question |
XLRI provides an opportunity for candidates to challenge the provisional answer key if they believe there are errors. The objection window is typically open for a limited period, usually 3-4 days. Here's how you can raise an objection:
After the objection window closes and all challenges are reviewed, XLRI will release the final answer key and subsequently, the XAT 2026 results. The XAT 2026 results are eagerly anticipated to be released around January 15, 2026, or in the third week of January 2026. Candidates will be able to download their scorecards from the official website using their login credentials. This scorecard will provide sectional and overall percentiles, crucial for shortlisting by XLRI and other XAT-accepting B-schools.
Keep a close watch on the official XAT website for all further announcements and prepare for the next stages of the admission process, including Group Discussions (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and Written Ability Tests (WAT).
