If students are wondering how to calculate XAT 2026 percentile and score , the first step is to understand what they both mean. Students' XAT score is the absolute mark obtained based on the marking scheme of the test, while the percentile refers to students' performance relative to other candidates who appeared for the exam. Both will clarify the position students have held among other test-takers, and students can very well predict the admission prospects to XLRI and other top colleges, too. Understanding this will also help students predict studentsr score now that both the XAT 2026 answer key and response sheets are out.
Also Read:
| What is a Good Score in XAT 2026? | XAT Score vs Percentile 2026 |
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How to Calculate XAT 2026 Percentile?
The XAT percentile shows where students rank among all the candidates who have appeared for the XAT exam. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Total Candidates (N): Identify the total number of candidates who are appearing for the XAT 2026 exam.
- Rank (R): Determine students' rank based on students' scores. If multiple candidates have the same score, they share the same rank.
- Formula: Use the percentile formula:
| XAT Percentile = (1-R/N) x 100 |
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Example Calculation
- Suppose 1,00,000 candidates appeared for XAT 2026, and the student's rank is 2,000.
- Using the formula:
| Percentile = (1-2000/100000) x 100 = 98.00% |
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This means 98% of the people scored below the students.
Also Read: XAT 2026 Percentile vs College
How to Calculate XAT 2026 Score?
The score for the XAT examination is measured by an overall assessment, which is made based on marks obtained in each and every section of the test. Below is the marked scheme that will be applied in the case of XAT 2026:
- Correct Answer: +1 mark
- Incorrect Answer: -0.25 marks
- Unattempted Questions (beyond 8): -0.1 marks per question
Step-by-Step Calculation
- Count how many answers are correct and multiply by 1.
- Multiply it by the number of the wrong answer and by -0.25.
- In that case, minus 0.1 for every unanswered question after 8.
- Then, add all the scores to receive studentsr overall score on XAT.
Example Calculation
- Correct Answers: 60
- Incorrect Answers: 15
- Unattempted Questions: 12
Using the formula
- Correct Marks: 60×1=60
- Negative Marks (Incorrect): 15×−0.25=−3.75
- Unattempted Penalty: 4×−0.1=−0.4
| XAT Score = 60 − 3.75 − 0.4 = 55.85 |
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Also Read: XAT 2026 Cutoff for Non-XAMI Colleges
XAT 2026 Scaled Score vs Percentile
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The scaled score for XAT is normalised to account for variations in difficulty across sections. Below is an expected mapping of scaled scores to percentiles:
Scaled Score | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
35 | 99.9 |
32 | 99.7 |
30 | 99.5 |
28 | 99 |
26 | 98 |
23 | 95 |
20 | 90 |
18 | 85 |
16 | 80 |
14 | 75 |
12 | 70 |
10 | 60 |
8 | 50 |
Related Links:
| XAT 96 Percentile Marks 2026 | XAT 97 Percentile Marks 2026 |
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| XAT 95 Percentile Marks 2026 Low-Fee BA |
So, the normalised scores that may result may vary slightly depending on the normalisation process used by XLRI. The figures tabulated above have been obtained based on past trend analysis and expert assessments. If students have a specific percentile that students want to achieve, then strategy building is all the more vital for preparation aimed at achieving scaled scores in higher ranges. Check out our XAT College Predictor 2026 and XAT 2026 Percentile Predictor tools to get an idea of students' results based on students' performance in the XAT 2026 exam. If students have any queries, feel free to ask them in the Q&A Zone . Stay tuned with us for more informative articles related to XAT 2026!
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FAQs
When talking about the scenario of the XAT examination, all questions are given equal weight in every individual section. Besides this, it should be emphasized that there is no other weighting to specific questions to favor them and not to others.
The GK section has no negative marking and is not considered while calculating percentiles, but it is considered while finalizing the list for some programs.
Yes, XLRI, like any of the institutes that take the XAT score for admission, has a couple of sectional cutoffs that the applicant needs to have. For example, XLRI Jamshedpur has minimum scores, which applicants must score in areas like quantitative ability, decision-making, and sections specific to verbal and logical ability.
Present trends of standardized testing approaches indicate that a scaled score of 32 to 35 puts you firmly in the very competitive 99+ percentile range.
Scaling scores are determined in a sophisticated process known as normalization that addresses difficulties arising between different items in assessment. After the above procedure, these finely tuned scores are used to calculate percentiles, allowing a far greater understanding of how someone has performed relative to other members.
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