CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP, IBSAT are some of the most sought-after MBA entrance exams in India. Candidates looking to pursue MBA often face a dilemma on which entrance exam to prepare for and apply to. Here, we cover the similarities and differences between CAT and other MBA entrance exams including exam pattern, syllabus, difficulty level, application & test dates, competition level, etc.
The application process has already started for CAT 2023, NMAT 2023, XAT 2024, SNAP 2023, MAT 2023, and IBSAT 2023. The syllabus of these entrance exams for Quant, VARC, DI, and LR is almost the same, the major difference being in the type and difficulty level of questions asked.
Many prospective test-takers are often curious about the comparisons between CAT and other exams, such as CAT Vs XAT, CAT Vs CMAT, and CAT Vs IIFT. The analysis given below aims to clarify the differences between CAT and other prominent MBA entrance exams.
CAT Vs XAT
Here's the table comparing CAT and XAT entrance exams:
| Particulars | CAT | XAT |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | IIM (Indian Institute of Management) | Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in | xatonline.in |
| Exam Year | CAT 2023 | XAT 2024 |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test | Xavier Aptitude Test |
| Exam Dates | November 26, 2023 | January 7, 2024 |
| Application Dates | August 4 to September 13, 2023 | July 15, 2023 to November 30, 2023 |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 | 101 |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours (Since 2020, Earlier 3 hours) | 3 hours & 10 Minutes (Since 2022, earlier 3 hours) |
| Total Marks | 198 | 100 |
| Marking Scheme | 3 marks for every question | 1 mark for every question |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 1 mark for MCQs, No negative marking for Non-MCQs | Yes, 0.25 marks for 75 MCQs; No negative marking for 25 GK questions 0.10 marks deducted for every unattempted question (after 8 unattempted questions) |
| CAT Vs XAT Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Tough | XAT difficulty level is higher than CAT |
| CAT vs XAT Syllabus: Number of Sections | 3 | 4 Sections and Essay Test (score counted only for shortlisted candidates) |
| Section-wise Distribution of Questions |
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|
| CAT Vs XAT: Order of Sections | There is a predefined sectional order:
|
Any question from any section within the overall time limit of the part. |
| Top Score Accepting B-Schools | 21 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and 1000+ other B-schools. | XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB and 150 other MBA colleges |
CAT Vs CMAT
Here's the table comparing CAT and CMAT entrance exams:
| Particulars | CAT | CMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) | NTA (National Testing Agency) |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in | cmat.nta.nic.in |
| Exam Year | CAT 2023 | CMAT 2024 |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test | Common Management Aptitude Test |
| Exam Date | November 26, 2023 | March/ April 2024 |
| Application Dates | August 2 to September 13, 2023 | To be announced |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 | 100 |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Are Non-MCQs present? | Yes | No |
| Total Marks | 198 | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | 3 marks for every question | 4 marks for every question |
| Negative Marking | Yes, only applicable for MCQs. 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer | 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer |
| CAT Vs CMAT Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Tough | Easy to Moderate |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 5 |
| Section-wise Distribution of Questions |
|
20 questions in each of the 5 sections- Quant & DI, VARC, LR, GK, Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section | Not applicable |
| Top Score Accepting B-Schools | 20 IIMs, 8 IITs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of other B-schools. | 1000+ AICTE approved colleges including JBIMS, K J Somaiya, N L Dalmiya, IFMR, PUMBA, BIMTECH, Great Lakes, GIM Goa and hundreds of other MBA colleges |
CAT Vs NMAT
Here's the table comparing CAT and NMAT entrance exams:
| Particulars | CAT | NMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) | GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in | mba.com/exams/nmat |
| Exam Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test | Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test |
| Exam Date | November 26, 2023 | October 10 to December 19, 2023 |
| Application Dates | August 2 to September 13, 2023 | August 1 to October 10, 2023 |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 | 108 |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Total Marks | 198 | 360 |
| Marking Scheme | 3 marks for every question | 3 marks for every question |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 1 mark for every incorrect response | No negative marking |
| CAT Vs CMAT Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Tough | Moderate |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 3 |
| Section-wise Distribution of Questions |
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| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
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| Top Score Accepting B-Schools | 20 IIMs, 8 IITs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of other B-schools. | NMIMS Colleges and 100+ other MBA colleges in India, Philippines, South Africa, Nigeria. |
CAT Vs SNAP
Here's the table comparing CAT and SNAP entrance exams:
| Particulars | CAT | SNAP |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | IIM (Indian Institute of Management) | SIU (Symbiosis International University) |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in | snaptest.org |
| Exam Year | CAT 2023 | SNAP 2023 |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test | Symbiosis National Aptitude Test |
| Exam Dates | November 26, 2023 | December 9, 17 & 22, 2023 |
| Application Dates | August 4 to September 13, 2023 | August 23 to November 23, 2023 |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 | 60 |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 1 hour |
| Total Marks | 198 | 60 |
| Marking Scheme | 3 marks for every question | 1 mark for every question |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 1 mark deducted for MCQs only. | 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer |
| CAT Vs SNAP Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Tough | Moderate |
| CAT vs SNAP Syllabus: Number of Sections | 3 | 3 |
| Section-wise Distribution of Questions |
|
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| CAT Vs SNAP: Order of Sections | Predefined sectional order:
|
Not applicable |
| Top Score Accepting B-Schools | 21 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and 1000+ other B-schools. | SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune, SIBM Bangalore & all other Symbiosis institutes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What are the key differences between CAT and other MBA entrance exams?
Ans. CAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, SNAP have variations in their conducting bodies, exam dates, sections, question types, paper pattern, difficulty level, and syllabi. It's essential to understand these differences to make informed decisions.
Ques. Which colleges accept CAT scores?
Ans. CAT scores are accepted by 21 IIMs, 8 IITs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB, and numerous other B-schools.
Ques. How is XAT exam different from CAT?
Ans. XAT, conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, is a gateway to XLRI, IMT, XIMB, MICA, IRMA, and 150 other MBA colleges. It features sections like Decision Making, GK, and Essay Writing which are not present in CAT exam.
Ques. How does CMAT differ from CAT?
Ans. CMAT, conducted by NTA is comparatively easier than CAT. It comprises sections like Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Ques. Can I choose the order of sections in MBA entrance exams?
Ans. While CAT follows a predefined sectional order (VARC followed by DILR followed by QA), XAT allows you to attempt section in Part A of the paper. Even in CMAT and SNAP, you can choose the order of sections to attempt.
Ques. How are the sectional time limits managed in CAT and other exams?
Ans. CAT has a 40-minute time limit for each section. In XAT and CMAT, there's no restriction on individual sectional time. NMAT follows the sectional time limits of 28 minutes, 40 minutes, and 52 minutes for Language Skills, Logical Reasoning, Quant sections respectively.
Ques. Which MBA entrance exams have negative marking for incorrect answers?
Ans. CAT, XAT, and CMAT have negative marking for incorrect answers in their respective MCQ sections. However, NMAT does not have the concept of negative marking.
Ques. How can I choose the right exam for my MBA aspirations?
Ans. Your choice should align with your preferred colleges and strengths. If you aim for IIMs, CAT is the route; for XLRI and similar colleges, XAT. CMAT and IIFT are alternatives based on your desired difficulty level and colleges.
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