The most common I have ever heard of from the student who has appeared for XAT is – “ Is my score good enough?” This one question dominates the aspirants’ mind every year. To get an answer to this question, it is very important for you to understand what “good enough scores” actually are. XAT 2026 is expected to maintain its reputation as a decision oriented exam. It is also famous for conceptually demanding exam. So, to understand what qualifies as a good score, especially for 90 percentile and 99 percentile benchmarks, it is critical for realistic goal-setting and B-school targeting.
Here in this blog, I am going to explain what actually is considered a good score. What will be the expected marks required if you are aiming to score 90 percentile and 99 percentile. I am also going to tell you about the section-wise impact, and how aspirants should interpret their performance for top institutes like XLRI – Xavier School of Management and other XAT-accepting colleges.
Understanding “Good Score” in XAT Context
Honestly, a good score in XAT is not an absolute number. It is actually a relative benchmark that depends on a lot of other factors like:
- Overall exam difficulty
- Performance of the test-taking population
- Section-wise balance
- Cut-off requirements of individual institutes
In nutshell, in XAT, percentile matters more than raw marks. Having mentioned that, it is important to know that raw marks determine percentile. Hence, preparation and analysis should always be score-oriented, and never the guesswork-based.
XAT 2026 Exam Structure :
Let me bring you to a deeper understanding on how scores behave differently. The structure of XAT makes it score-percentile relationship unique. The General Knowledge section is not counted for percentile. It is used later in the final selection, and not percentile. A good score must reflect balanced competence across three demanding sections. Especially Decision making, which is exclusive to XAT. The sections which form the part of percentile are :
- Decision Making (DM)
- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA-DI)
- Verbal & Logical Ability (VA-LR)
Expected XAT 2026 Score vs Percentile :
Talking about the latest trends from recent XAT exams, and also the assumption of getting a moderate to difficult paper, the realistic score percentile mapping would be like this:
| Raw Score (Expected) | Percentile Range |
| 38–40+ | 99–99.9%ile |
| 33–35 | 97–98%ile |
| 30–32 | 95–96%ile |
| 27–29 | 90–94%ile |
| 24–26 | 85–89%ile |
These are the estimates from the experts, not officially declared cut off by XAT. Actual numbers may vary slightly based on paper difficulty.
A Good Score for 99 Percentile:
What is the good score for 99 percentile for XAT 2026 is a question that needs to be addressed right now. So, A 99 percentile score in XAT 2026 is considered excellent and typically required for top-tier calls. The realistic target for 99 percentile would be 38 plus marks, which actually act as a safe zone. It is considered safe because :
- Historically, XAT’s 99%ile has ranged between 36 and 40 marks
- Tougher QA or DM sections tend to lower the 99%ile score
- Easier papers push the benchmark slightly higher
The important point to note here for all the aspirants of XAT is that the sectional balance matters as much as overall percentile. A 99%ile with a weak DM section may still face rejection.
A good Score for 90 Percentile? :
What is the good score for 99 percentile for XAT 2026 is a question that needs to be addressed next. A 90 percentile score is considered very good for a wide range of reputed XAT-accepting colleges. The Realistic Target for 90%ile would be 27–29 marks because this range typically opens doors to :
- Upper mid-tier private B-schools
- Strong HRM, Business Analytics, and PGDM programs
- Interview calls where profile and academics matter more
Section-Wise Contribution to a “Good Score” :
Let us see the section wise contribution to a good score. A good overall score is meaningless if sectional cut-offs are not cleared. For example, in Decision Making , even high scorers fail XLRI shortlists due to low percentile in Decision Making and strong QA can compensate for slightly lower VA scores. The typical expectations from top institutes revolve around 70–75%ile in QA, 75–80%ile in VA, and 75–80%ile in DM. So, one should always aim for balanced section-wiseperformance, not sectional heroics. Let us see the section wise contribution to ‘Good Score’ :
Decision Making (DM)
- Most critical section for XLRI
- Moderate difficulty but high judgment-based complexity
- Consistency matters more than attempts
Quantitative Ability & DI
- Traditionally the toughest section
- Major differentiator at the 99%ile level
- Accuracy > attempts
Verbal & Logical Ability
- Scoring but unpredictable
- RC-heavy in recent years
- Helps boost percentile quickly with good accuracy
In nutshell, aiming for 99 percentile will require you to score 38+ marks , for Elite performance, top-tier calls. Aiming for 90 percentile will require you to score 27–29 marks , for Strong performance, wide college options
However, XAT rewards balanced aptitude, decision-making maturity, and consistency, not just raw marks. A good score is one that clears both overall and sectional cut-offs while aligning with your target institutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is considered a good score in XAT 2026?
A score above 30 marks is generally considered good; 38+ is excellent.
Q2. How much score is needed for 99 percentile in XAT 2026?
Approximately 38–40 marks, depending on difficulty.
Q3. What score gives 90 percentile in XAT?
Around 27–29 marks.
Q4. Is GK included in XAT percentile calculation?
No, GK is not counted for percentile.
Q5. Can I get XLRI call at 90 percentile?
Unlikely for BM, but possible for other programs depending on profile.
Q6. Which section is most important in XAT?
Decision Making (DM) is crucial, especially for XLRI.
Q7. Is XAT tougher than CAT?
XAT is often considered more complex due to DM and varied difficulty.
Q8. Do sectionals matter more than overall score?
Both matter. Sectionals can block calls even at high overall percentiles.
Q9. Are these score predictions official?
No. These are expert estimates based on historical trends.
Q10. Should I focus on percentile or raw score in mocks?
Always focus on raw score consistency, percentile fluctuates.