CAT vs XAT: Is XAT Tougher than CAT?

CAT vs XAT: CAT and XAT are two of the most popular and important MBA entrance exams in India and every year numerous aspirants appear for these exams to secure admission to some of the best MBA colleges across the country. However, candidates must be well aware of all the aspects associated with these exams to correctly decide if they should appear for CAT, XAT, or both. The comparison between CAT and XAT will help students understand how these exams are similar and different from each other. Questions like Is XAT tougher than CAT? Does CAT have a tougher syllabus than XAT? And other important queries can be answered using the CAT vs XAT analysis below.

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XAT vs CAT Overview

• The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) administer the CAT exam as a criterion for admission to their different management programs.
• For admission to their MBA programs, a number of other non-IIM member institutions also accept the CAT score.
• To choose the best candidates for management education, XLRI (Xavier School of Management) administers the XAT exam at the national level.
• More than 160 colleges utilize XAT scores to admit students to their MBA programs.

Students aspiring for careers in the management domain often appear for various entrance exams such as CAT, IIFT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, etc. The candidate's ultimate aim is to get admission into the top B-schools and for that, a good percentile in the entrance exams is required. Is XAT tougher than CAT? To answer this, we will look at the similarities and differences between both.

XAT and CAT are both immensely popular but the key difference is that CAT is accepted by the 20 IIMs and over 1220+ B-schools while XAT is accepted by 850+ B-schools. XAT 2024 will be held on January 7, 2024, while the CAT 2023 will be conducted on November 26, 2023. Unlike CAT, XAT has General knowledge and a Decision-Making section that needs extra effort and preparation. Aspirants must note that both entrance exams require a good strategy and preparation plan. 

Also Read: CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT & Other MBA Entrance Exams

Key Differences and Similarities Between XAT & CAT

Both CAT (Common Admission Test) and XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) share a similar syllabus, excluding the Decision Making and General Knowledge (GK) sections. However, their distinctions become apparent in question types and difficulty levels. In terms of difficulty, CAT and XAT both stand out as more challenging than many other MBA entrance exams. When compared to each other, CAT's Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section is typically considered tougher than its other sections, while XAT's Quantitative Aptitude section tends to be more challenging than its counterparts.

XAT reintroduced the Essay Writing section in 2022, making the exam somewhat longer. In contrast, CAT does not feature subjective or essay-writing questions. CAT's exam pattern has remained consistent over the past five years, with a significant change occurring in the total number of questions, reducing from 76 to 66 two years ago. For some candidates, this modification makes CAT appear easier than XAT.

To assess which exam is more demanding, it's essential to understand the distinctions between the two. Check out the major differences and similarities between the two most popular management entrance exams prescribed in the tabular format below.

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XAT Sectional Weightage vs CAT Sectional Weightage 

XAT Exam Pattern

What After XAT vs What After CAT

Aspirants must also compare both XAT and CAT in terms of the scope. Here is the tabular comparison of the career scope between both the entrance exams. 

Is XAT Tougher than CAT?

The XAT exam has a sectional time limit, just like the CAT exam, however, the marking scheme is different. On the other side, unlike the XAT, the CAT exam lacks the Decision Making and GK components, which call for additional preparation. Although both exams have the same syllabus (apart from Decision Making and GK), the variation is in the types of questions asked and the degree of difficulty. Both the XAT and the CAT are significantly more difficult than other MBA entrance examinations. Both of them are challenging when compared to one another, although in CAT, the DILR section is typically more challenging than other sections, and in XAT, the Quantitative Aptitude component is usually more difficult than other sections. However, the level of difficulty for both exams is considered to be moderate to difficult.

Due to two components on the question paper—the Decision-Making section and the Verbal section—many students feel the XAT to be more challenging than the CAT. The passages in the XAT's Verbal section are longer than those in the CAT. The Decision-Making component of the XAT is essentially the deciding factor of the exam. The following are some preparation strategies for the XAT's Decision Making section:

• Instead of using an emotional approach to respond to the questions in this section, candidates will be required to follow a logical approach.
• Due to the similarity of the majority of the answer choices, the applicant will frequently be perplexed about the right answer. The elimination process can be applied to these questions to determine the best answer.
• Solving last year's question papers and mock tests might help you prepare effectively for the XAT exam because it will give you an idea of the types of questions that will be asked. Candidates will have a solid understanding of the Decision-Making component of the XAT exam if they are able to successfully answer the questions in the mock exams.

As per past trends, it has been observed that aspirants appear for various competitive exams simultaneously. One question which is frequently asked by applicants is whether preparation for CAT will be sufficient to crack XAT as well. So mentioned below is the answer to your question. 

• Aspirant's key concepts and foundation must be strong in both cases.

• As mentioned above, there are certain differences in terms of the sections and exam pattern. Therefore, XAT requires a different approach and strategy in terms of preparation. 

While some parts of the XAT may be seen to be trickier than those in the CAT, the degree of competition in the CAT makes it more difficult. Thus, everything comes down to the preparation plan that must be carefully developed in accordance with the exam's requirements. Ultimately, it depends on the applicant's choices and preferences. The CAT is a far better choice if you wish to seek admission to the IIMs. However, XAT is a fantastic choice if you wish to apply for admission to other top B-schools.

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