Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Is XAT tougher than CAT? When comparing XAT VS CAT both depict almost the same difficulty levels. They share similarities and have their own differences. CAT and XAT are some of the top MBA entrance exams taken for MBA admission in India. So let’s discover more about the MBA admission through CAT Vs XAT comparison. When we think about XAT VS CAT which is better? the number of MBA colleges accepting CAT scores compared to XAT scores is high. How the XAT differs from the CAT exam will be understandable by reading this XAT vs CAT article.
The difference between XAT and CAT is mainly based on their syllabus, type of questions, marking scheme and time limits. MBA aspirants who prepared for the CAT exam can easily appear for the XAT exam. the topics covered in the CAT syllabus are similar to the XAT syllabus. Have a look at the XAT Vs CAT tabular differentiation, similarities and difficulty levels in this article.
Top MBA colleges like IIMs, IITs, MDI, XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, etc. offer admission based on the MBA entrance like CAT and XAT. So common question arises, Which one is better CAT or XAT? or Is CAT tougher than XAT? CAT and XAT are both moderately difficult and equally competitive. As per the exam analysis, the toughest section of CAT exam is DILR and of XAT exam is the Quantitative Aptitude section.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Particulars | CAT 2024 | XAT 2025 |
Full form | Common Admission Test | Xavier Aptitude Test |
Conducting Body | IIM | XLRI, Jamshedpur |
Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students) | Graduate in any stream from a recognized university |
Exam mode | Online | Online |
Marking Scheme | +3 marks for correct answer | +1 mark for a correct answer |
Type of Questions | MCQ & TITA (Type In The Answer) | MCQ and Essay |
Exam fee | INR 2,400 for General category | INR 2,100 |
Mode of registration process | Online | Online |
No. of accepting B-schools | 21 IIMs & 1000+ B-schools in India | 160+ MBA colleges |
Also Check:
The major difference between XAT and CAT is their syllabus, types of questions and exam pattern. The difficulty levels are almost the same. Like any other MBA entrance syllabus, both exams consist of the same sections like QA, DILR, VA and RC passages. The only difference between them is that XAT exam consists of additional sections like GK, decision making and essay writing. Check out the differentiation between CAT and XAT.
Basis of Differentiation | CAT 2024 | XAT 2025 |
Sections | VARC, DILR, Quantitative Aptitude | Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, General Knowledge, Essay Writing |
Number of Sections | 3 | 5 (including GK, Decision Making and essay writing) |
Additional Sections in XAT | None | Decision Making, General Knowledge, Essay Writing |
Negative Marking for Un-attempted Questions | No | Yes |
Time Duration | 2 hours | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Specific Difficulty Areas | DILR section often challenging | Decision-making section is unique and challenging |
Apart from differences there are various similarities between these top MBA entrance exams. CAT and XAT share a similar syllabus and both carry negative markings. From CAT vs XAT comparison we can say that both of them are a speed-based test that examines the accuracy of the candidates. Have a look at the similarities between XAT and CAT exam.
Basis of Similarities | CAT 2024 | XAT 2025 |
Sections | Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude | Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude + Decision Making, General Knowledge, Essay |
Number of Sections | 3 | 3 (excluding GK, Decision Making and Essay) |
Types of Questions | Analytical Ability, Logical Reasoning, English Communication Skills | Analytical Ability, Logical Reasoning, English Communication Skills, Decision Making, General Knowledge, Essay |
Syllabus Similarity | Yes | Yes |
Negative Marking Scheme | Yes | Yes |
Speed-based Test | Yes | Yes |
Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT and XAT exam pattern are completely different from each other but their syllabus still have certain similarities. Let's have a look at the comparison between the XAT and CAT exam pattern and their syllabus through a table.
Details | CAT Marking Scheme | XAT Marking Scheme |
Number of Questions | 66 | 100 |
Total Marks | 198 | 100 |
Negative Marking |
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Number of choices in MCQs | 4 | 5 |
Sectional Time limit | 40 minutes for each section | 175 minutes for Part 1 (VA, QA, DM), 5 minutes for Part 2 (Mock Keyboard Testing) and 30 minutes for Part 3 (GK Essay Writing) |
Candidates can check the tentative XAT and CAT 2024 exam dates for the MBA admission for the next batch.
MBA Exam | MBA Exam Date (Tentative) |
CAT 2024 | November 24, 2024 |
XAT 2025 | January 5, 2025 |
After going through all the differences and similarities between XAT and CAT entrance exams, candidates must decide which MBA exam they want to take. They must prepare an effective study plan and start with the preparation of the exam they wish to appear for. Before preparing a study plan it is crucial to know the syllabus of CAT and XAT syllabus mentioned below.
CAT 2024 Syllabus | |
XAT 2025 Syllabus |
Check out the CAT 2024 preparation tips and exam preparation tips for XAT 2025 listed below in the table.
Have a look at the best XAT and CAT study material like previous year CAT question papers, XAT question papers and mock test series to help you prepare for these upcoming MBA entrance exams.
Given below are the XAT and CAT previous year question papers:
Given below are the best mock test series by Careers360 for XAT and CAT 2024 preparation.
No, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) does not accept XAT score for MBA admission. IIM's only accept CAT score.
Hello Greetings
With a CAT 2024 percentile of 68.28%, you may face a challenging time getting into IIT Delhi, as their cutoffs are typically higher. However, being an SC female student, you may be eligible for relaxation in the cutoff criteria .
To give you a better idea, here are some general CAT cutoff percentiles for IITs and other top B-schools:
- *IIT Delhi*: Typically above 90 percentile for general category students.
- *Newer IIMs*: Such as IIM Vishakapatnam, IIM Shillong, and IIM Udaipur, may have lower cutoffs, around 80-90 percentile.
- *Other top B-schools*: Like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, and TAPMI, may also consider students with lower percentiles.
It's essential to note that CAT cutoffs can vary from year to year, and other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview (PI) and written ability test (WAT) also play a significant role in the admission process.
To explore more options and predict your chances of getting into various colleges, you can use online CAT college predictor tools .
Have a great day
Hello Greetings
Considering your 82.58 percentile in CAT and 22 months of industry experience in IT and Financial analysis, you have several options for General Management PGDM or PGPM programs.
*Decent Colleges Accepting Low CAT Percentile:*
- _SPJIMR_: Offers PGDM and PGPM programs, accepting CAT scores, with a minimum eligibility criterion of 50% aggregate in graduation ¹ ².
- _SOIL_: Provides PGPM and PGDM programs, considering CAT scores, with a focus on experiential learning ³.
- Other institutes like _IMT Ghaziabad_, _XIMB_, and _IRMA_ might also accept candidates with lower CAT percentiles, but this may vary depending on the program and intake.
*Key Factors to Consider:*
- _Work Experience_: With 22 months of experience, you might be eligible for PGPM programs, which typically require more work experience than PGDM programs ¹.
- _Career Gap_: Explain your career gap effectively in your application, highlighting any relevant activities or skills gained during that period.
- _Profile-Based Selection_: Some institutes consider profiles, including work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities, in addition to CAT scores ¹.
*Next Steps:*
1. Research the institutes mentioned above and their programs.
2. Review the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fees for each program.
3. Prepare your application, ensuring you effectively communicate your strengths, work experience, and career goals.
4. Be prepared for interviews, focusing on your profile, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PGDM or PGPM program.
Remember, a lower CAT percentile doesn't necessarily limit your options. Focus on showcasing your strengths, experience, and fit with the program to increase your chances of admission.
Have a great day
Hi Gaurav,
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually in India for admission into MBA/PGDM programs at prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools.
For registering for CAT 2025, you can follow the given steps:
For more recent details, you can check out the given link.
Best wishes!
Hello Greetings,
With a CAT 2024 score of 93.94 percentile, you can expect calls from newer IIMs like *IIM Udaipur*, *IIM Raipur*, and *IIM Kashipur*. These institutes have relatively lower cutoffs compared to the older IIMs. Additionally, you may also consider other top MBA colleges like *IIT Madras*, *IIT Roorkee*, or *IIT Kharagpur*, which offer MBA programs with slightly lower cut-offs. To get a better idea of your chances, you can use online CAT College Predictor tools, which estimate the probability of receiving interview calls from different IIMs and other top MBA colleges based on your CAT percentile and academic background .
Have a great day
Hi,
With a CAT 2024 score of 93.94 percentile, you have a good chance of getting calls from several prestigious IIMs. Here are some possibilities
IIMs:
- IIM Indore: 90 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Ahmedabad: 80 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Bangalore: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Calcutta: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Lucknow: 90 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Kozhikode: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Shillong: Sectional Cutoffs
Other Top B-Schools:
- SPJIMR (S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research): 90-95 percentile
- MDI Gurgaon (Management Development Institute): 90-95 percentile
- XIME (Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship): 90-95 percentile
- FMS Delhi (Faculty of Management Studies): 95-99 percentile
- IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay: 90-99 percentile
These are general estimates and cutoffs can vary each year based on the difficulty of the exam and the number of applicants. It's always a good idea to check the official websites of these institutes for the most accurate and updated information.
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Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Jan 2024
Highest CTC 35 LPA | Median CTC 9.27 LPA | 172+ Recruiters
250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Highest CTC: INR 28.25 LPA | Average for Top 100 offers: INR 17.34 LPA | Ranked #63 in India under Management category by NIRF | 148 Recruiters
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement | Last Date to Apply: 21st Jan
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