Is it Worth Giving the XAT Exam? An Analysis by Collegesearch

The XAT examination is a very popular exam given by thousands of students each year to get into some of the best b-schools in India. However, students may question whether it will be worth it to prepare for such an examination when they can just give other examinations instead. This article highlights some of the key benefits of the XAT examination and helps students decide whether preparing for the XAT 2026 exam will be worth the effort.

Benefits of Giving XAT

There are several benefits for students giving the XAT examination. The XAT exam presents students with a lot of useful opportunities that can be very beneficial in the long-run for students looking to pursue some of the best MBA and postgraduate business courses in India.

Some of the benefits of the XAT examination are as follows:

Very Good Back-Up for CAT Aspirants

The preparation for the XAT examination overlaps with CAT. CAT is the most popular exam for MBA programs in India and a lot of the subjects needed to be prepared for the exam overlap with XAT. This ensures that students who have prepared for the CAT examination, can give the XAT exam as well as a strong backup for them.

XAT is usually held around a month after the CAT exam, allowing students who were not happy with their performance on the CAT exam, a second chance to get into other top business schools in India. The XAT exam, while still being prestigious, has a lesser number of applicants that take it each year as well. This allows more scope for students to deal with lesser competition and have more seats to get into through the exam.

Exam Flexibility

Unlike other examinations, the XAT exam has unique sections that can test various strengths of students. This allows the XAT examination to have more flexibility that other exams do not provide. The inclusion of the Decision-Making section along with the optional essay allow students to be evaluated on different skills as well as the traditional sections of Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability and Logical Reasoning.

Return on Investment

There is a lot of return-on-investment for students who give the XAT examination. If students have prepared for the CAT exam, there is a lesser amount of preparation required. Students have the benefit of dealing with lesser competition. Another important aspect that makes XAT more appealing is that the examination has a lesser amount of fees to be paid at the time of registration in comparison to CAT and other exams. Along with all of these benefits, the exam allows students to get into some of the best business schools in the country.

Best Colleges for XAT

There are several top institutions in India that students can get into through their high scores on the XAT examinations. The colleges that accept scores are very prestigious universities that students should aim to get into for their courses of choice.

Some of the best colleges that accept XAT examination scores are as follows:

Students Can Also Read: How Many Students Are Expected to Register for the XAT Exam in 2026?

XAT 2026 Important Dates

There are several important dates for the XAT 2026 examination that have not been revealed as of yet. However, keeping up with the already revealed dates and tentative dates can be very helpful for students. Knowing these dates can ensure students are updated on key events and deadlines about the XAT examination.

The XAT 2026 important dates for students’ reference are as follows:

Also Read: XAT Time Management Tips for QA and DI Section: Preparation Strategy

Conclusion: Is it Worth Giving XAT?

To conclude, it is absolutely worth it for students to give the XAT exam. The examination is cost-effective, opens top opportunities, flexible and depending on a student’s preparation, can be easier to prepare. The exam is by no means an easy paper, but with hard work, there are a lot of top business schools that students can pursue their MBAs in. While students will not be able to get into IIMs through XAT, they can get into top b-schools such as XLRI Jamshedpur and XMI Bhubaneshwar. Due to its flexibility and scope, students can make the XAT exam their goal to give or as a backup in case the CAT examination does not work out.