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

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

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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 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.

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For CAT 2025 aspirants in the general category, top IIMs maintain high shortlisting standards. Historically, IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta have required at least 85 percentile in each section and an overall 95+ percentile for the first stage of selection. IIM Lucknow and Kozhikode generally shortlist candidates with an overall 90 percentile, while newer IIMs such as Trichy, Udaipur, and Ranchi accept aspirants with 92–94 percentile, highlighting the importance of securing strong sectional scores in VARC, DILR, and QA.

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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 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 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.

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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 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:

CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages
Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Download Now

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 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

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 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

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 and XAT marking scheme and exam pattern 2024

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 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

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 2024 preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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. 

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: 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: 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.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

To get admitted to the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), BHU, for an MBA in 2026, you must clear the CAT entrance exam. For that you need to fill out the application form of the CAT in August 2026, which you can get on the Official CAT website

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello

You can get all the papers on the Careers360 website. To access the paper and download it for practice, just visit here:

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-cat-2024-question-paper-with-solutions

Hope it will help you!!

Hello dear candidate,

Yes, you have a very good chance of getting a BPT seat with 488 out of 600 and TS EAMCET rank of 14,000 under the ST category.

As the cut off of BPT for ST category students are generally between 25,000 to 45,000 ranks, depending upon the college and you have TS EAMCET rank of 14,000.

Thank you.

If you got 802 marks in Telangana Intermediate and belong to the ST category, you have a fair chance to get admission in a BPT course in 2025, but it depends on the college and cut-off. Most BPT colleges in Telangana ask for 12th marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and some also use the TS EAMCET rank for admission. The cut-off for ST students is usually lower than for general students, but it changes every year. It is better to check the previous year’s cut-offs of the colleges you want to apply to.

Hello, Getting shortlisted for IIM Lucknow or IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) with your profile is challenging, primarily due to your 58% in Class 10th, which significantly impacts the composite score calculation for both institutes. While your 98 percentile CAT score is excellent, and your 24 months of work experience, B.Com (Hons) background (providing academic diversity, especially for IIM-L), and KVS National player status are valuable additions, top IIMs and IITs heavily weigh consistent academic performance. Your 74% in 12th is also on the lower side. IIM Lucknow places substantial weight on 10th and 12th marks, making a call quite difficult despite your strengths. You likely have a relatively better, though still uncertain, chance at IIT Bombay, as their weighting might be slightly less penalizing for past academics compared to IIM-L, and your high CAT score is a major factor. However, the low 10th score remains a significant hurdle for both prestigious institutions.

I hope you found this information helpful and for study related queries you can ask in careers360 app, Have a great day and!