SNAP 2025 Results Out, XAT Answer Key Released: SIBM Pune Cutoffs and Placement Trends for 2026

Pune, January 9, 2026: The landscape of Indian management admissions witnessed a massive shift today as two of the country’s most significant MBA milestones converged: the official declaration of the SNAP 2025 results and the release of the XAT 2026 provisional answer key. For thousands of aspirants eyeing a seat at the prestigious Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune or XLRI, today marks the beginning of a high-stakes selection season.

SNAP 2025 Result Declared: How to Download Your Scorecard

Symbiosis International (Deemed University) officially released the SNAP 2025 scorecards today, January 9, at 10:00 AM. Candidates who appeared for the tests on December 6, 14, or 20 can now access their results on the official portal, snaptest.org.

To download the scorecard, candidates must use their SNAP ID and password. This year, early data suggests a highly competitive scoring trend. Experts note that a raw score of approximately 41+ marks is required to touch the 98.5 percentile, the traditional threshold for a call from SIBM Pune.

Expected SNAP Cutoffs 2026: SIBM Pune and SCMHRD Lead the Race

With the results out, the focus shifts to the individual institute cutoffs. Based on the difficulty level of the three slots, the expected cutoffs for the 2026-28 batch are:

Institute	Expected SNAP Cutoff (Percentile)	Key Program
SIBM Pune	98.5+	MBA (Flagship)
SCMHRD Pune	97.5 – 98	MBA (HR/Business Analytics)
SIIB Pune	93+	International Business
SIBM Bangalore	90 – 92	MBA
SIDTM Pune	83+	Digital & Telecom Management
SIMS Pune	77 – 80	MBA (Defence & Open)

Decoding the SNAP 2025 Marks vs. Percentile

This year’s analysis reveals a “crowded” top tier. While 2024 saw a 99 percentile at slightly lower scores, the 2025-26 cycle demands higher accuracy.

• 99.9+ Percentile: 48 – 50 Marks
• 99 Percentile: ~44 Marks
• 95 Percentile: ~37 – 38 Marks
• 90 Percentile: ~33 – 34 Marks

A single mark difference is resulting in a 2-3 percentile jump in the 90-95 bracket, making the SNAP score calculator results a subject of intense discussion among Pune’s student hubs.

SIBM Pune Average Package Hits New High: Is it Worth the Fees?

For many aspirants, the SIBM Pune average package is the primary driver for the high cutoff. According to the 2025 final placement report, SIBM Pune continues to demonstrate exceptional ROI.

• Average Package (2025): ₹28.83 LPA
• Highest Package: ₹53.58 LPA
• Median Package: ₹26.04 LPA
• Top 10% Average: ₹38.35 LPA

Despite the SIBM Pune fees for the MBA program being approx. ₹24L to ₹27L, the median salary effectively matches the total investment, providing a 117% ROI, one of the highest in the country.

Campus Comparison: Pune vs. Bangalore vs. Nagpur

Parameter	SIBM Pune	SIBM Bangalore	SIBM Nagpur
Avg Package	₹28.83 LPA	₹14.53 LPA	₹11.5 LPA (Est)
Fees (approx)	₹26.7 Lakhs	₹20.6 Lakhs	₹18.5 Lakhs
Target Cutoff	98.5%ile	90-93%ile	80-83%ile

XAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Released: Objection Window Now Open

XLRI Jamshedpur has officially released the XAT 2026 provisional answer key today, January 9, just days after the response sheets were made available. This is a critical document for candidates to verify the official answers against their marked responses.

How to Download XAT 2026 Answer Key:

1. Visit the official portal: xatonline.in.
2. Click on the ‘XAT Answer Key 2026’ login link.
3. Enter your XAT ID and Password.
4. The PDF will appear; download and save it for score calculation.

XAT Marking Scheme & Objection Fees:

Candidates can raise objections against any discrepancy in the provisional key.

• Objection Window: January 9 to January 11, 2026.
• Processing Fee: ₹500 per challenged question.
• Marking Logic: +1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect.
• Penalty for Unattempted: After 8 consecutive unattempted questions, a penalty of -0.10 marks per question applies.

What’s Next? The SIBM Pune GE-PI-WAT Roadmap

Clearing the cutoff is only the first hurdle. The selection criteria for SIBM Pune is divided into:

1. SNAP Score: 50% weightage
2. Group Exercise (GE): 10% weightage
3. Personal Interview (PI): 40% weightage

Strategies for Success

• Group Exercise (GE): Usually involves a case study or a “Prioritization Task.” Focus on consensus-building rather than “winning” the argument.
• Personal Interview (PI): Expect deep-dives into your “Why MBA?” and current business affairs like India’s 2026 economic outlook or recent AI regulations.
• WAT (Writing Ability Test): Though weightage is often merged with PI, a structured 200-word essay with a clear Intro-Body-Conclusion is vital.

Editorial Disclaimer: The expected cutoffs, marks vs. percentile analysis, and placement data mentioned in this report are based on preliminary student feedback, historical trends, and expert estimates. While the SNAP 2025 results and XAT 2026 provisional answer key are official, final admission cutoffs and shortlists are subject to the sole discretion of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), XLRI Jamshedpur, and their respective constituent institutes. Candidates are advised to refer to official websites (snaptest.org and xatonline.in) for the most accurate and updated information.