XAT vs CAT: Which Exam is Tougher? Comparison, Syllabus & Preparation Tips

XAT vs CAT: Which Exam is Tougher? Comparison, Syllabus & Preparation Tips

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Dec 2025, 01:12 PM IST

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 among the top MBA entrance exams taken for MBA admission in India. So let’s discover more about MBA admissions through the CAT Vs XAT comparison. When we think about XAT VS CAT, which is better? The number of MBA colleges accepting CAT scores is higher than that accepting XAT scores. How the XAT differs from the CAT exam will be understandable by reading this XAT vs CAT article.

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This Story also Contains

  1. XAT VS CAT
  2. XAT Vs CAT: Difference
  3. XAT Vs CAT: Similarities
  4. XAT Vs CAT: exam pattern and marking scheme
  5. CAT Vs XAT: Exam Dates
  6. CAT Vs XAT: Syllabus
  7. CAT Vs XAT: Preparation Tips and Important Topics
  8. XAT Vs CAT: Study Material
  9. XAT Vs CAT: Question paper
  10. XAT Vs CAT: Mock test
XAT vs CAT: Which Exam is Tougher? Comparison, Syllabus & Preparation Tips
XAT vs CAT

The difference between XAT and CAT is mainly based on their syllabus, type of questions, marking scheme and time limits. MBA aspirants who have 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.

XAT VS CAT

Top MBA colleges like IIMs, IITs, MDI, XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, etc. offer admission based on the MBA entrance exams like CAT and XAT. So a 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.

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Particulars

CAT 2025

XAT 2026

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 recognised university

Exam mode

Online

Online

Marking Scheme

+3 marks for correct answer
-1 mark for incorrect answer

+1 mark for a correct answer
- 0.25 marks for incorrect answer
- 0.10 marks for more than 8 un-attempted consecutive questions

Type of Questions

MCQ & TITA (Type In The Answer)

MCQ and Essay

Exam fee

INR 2,400 for General category
INR 1,200 for SC/ST/PwD

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:

XAT Vs CAT: Difference

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.

Difference between CAT Vs XAT

Basis of Differentiation

CAT 2025

XAT 2026

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 is often challenging

The decision-making section is unique and challenging

XAT Vs CAT: Similarities

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.

Similarities between CAT Vs XAT

Basis of Similarities

CAT 2025

XAT 2026

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

XAT Vs CAT: exam pattern and marking scheme

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.

CAT 2025 and XAT 2026 marking scheme and exam pattern

Details

CAT Marking Scheme

XAT Marking Scheme

Number of Questions

66

100

Total Marks

198

100

Negative Marking

  • 3 marks for correct answer
  • -1 mark for incorrect answer
  • No negative marking for non-MCQs
  • 1 marks for correct answer
  • -0.25 mark for incorrect answer
  • -0.5 marks for more than 8 unattempted questions
  • No negative marking in GK section

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)

CAT Vs XAT: Exam Dates

Candidates can check the XAT and CAT 2025 exam dates for the MBA admission 2026-28 session.

MBA Exam

MBA Exam Date

CAT 2025

November 30, 2025

XAT 2026

January 04, 2026

CAT Vs XAT: Syllabus

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.

XAT Vs CAT: Study Material

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.

XAT Vs CAT: Mock test

Given below are the best mock test series by Careers360 for XAT and CAT 2025 preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is XAT accepted in IIM?
A:

No, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) does not accept XAT score for MBA admission. IIM's only accept CAT score.

Q: Which is better, XLRI or IIM?
A:

The question of whether IIM or XLRI is better depends on specific career goals and preferences. XLRI is mainly known for its Human Resources (HR) programme, while IIMs are preferred for broader management roles, especially in finance and consulting.

Q: Does IIM accept the XAT score?
A:

No, Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) do not accept XAT scores for admission to MBA programme. They primarily accept scores from the Common Admission Test (CAT). 

Q: Is the syllabus for CAT and XAT the same?
A:

No, the CAT and XAT syllabi are not the same as XAT includes separate sections for Decision Making and General Knowledge, which are not the CAT exam. 

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.

Good Morning,

NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.

Thank You.

If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.


And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.


So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.

Hello,
If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
Hope this helps you.

Hello,

If your CAT admit card has a different date of birth than your Aadhaar card, you should get it corrected immediately . Here’s what you can do:

  1. Check the CAT website : Log in to your candidate portal and look for the option to correct personal details.

  2. Contact the CAT helpdesk : Email or call them explaining the issue. Attach a copy of your Aadhaar card as proof.

  3. Do not ignore it : The date of birth must match your ID, otherwise you may face problems at the exam or during admission.

Usually, the CAT authorities allow corrections before the exam, so act quickly.

Hope it helps !