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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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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.
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.
Application Deadline: 10th March | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
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 a correct answer |
Type of Questions | MCQ & TITA (Type In The Answer) | MCQ and Essay |
Exam fee | Rs. 2,400 for General category | Rs. 2,200 and Rs. 200 per XLRI program chosen |
Mode of registration process | Online | Online |
No. of accepting B-schools | 21 IIMs & 1000+ B-schools in India | 160+ MBA colleges |
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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 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 |
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 the CAT exam.
Exam Elements | 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 |
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.
Exam Particulars | CAT Marking Scheme | XAT Marking Scheme |
Number of Questions | 68 | 100 |
Total Marks | 204 | 100 |
Negative Marking |
|
|
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 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 |
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 2025 Syllabus | |
XAT 2026 Syllabus |
Check out the CAT 2025 preparation tips and exam preparation tips for XAT 2026 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 2025 preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
160+ colleges in India will accept the XAT 2026 score for management courses.
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.
The CAT 2025 score will be accepted not only by 21 IIMs, but also by 1000+ B-schools.
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).
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.
No, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) does not accept XAT score for MBA admission. IIM's only accept CAT score.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
If you are looking to take admission in the MBA programme with a CAT score of 73, check out the list of MBA Colleges accepting 70-80 percentile .
All the best!
Hi Minakshi,
You can find the details related to IIM Kashipur admission criteria by clicking on the link below:
Dear Saloni,
May i know which college you are looking to apply for? Because the MBA fee varies from one college to another. Please check MBA fees colleges wise here:
MBA Fees in India 2025: Top Colleges, Fee Structure, Courses, Cost of MBA
Check your devices and email; you may still have the soft copy of the Admit card. If not, don't panic, the CAT 2025 admit card may not be a huge requirement after the exam; the CAT scorecard is usually asked for the admission formalities.
Hello,
Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :
Top colleges accepting CAT:
IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)
FMS Delhi
SPJIMR Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
IIT Delhi (DMS)
IIFT
IMT Ghaziabad
JBIMS Mumbai
Top colleges accepting XAT:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIMB Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
Great
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