XAT vs CAT - Major Differences, Marking Scheme, Eligibility
Here is all the information that you need to settle the debate of XAT vs CAT. Know all the major differences between XAT and CAT and their difficulty levels.
XAT vs CAT, which one to choose is a debatable topic. These two are most common tests written by MBA aspirants among the pool of other entrance exams. To a certain extent, CAT and XAT show similarities, but it is important to understand the differences that lie in their formats from a student's point of view. This article reflects how both exams are conducted, and major differentiating factors such as eligibility, syllabus, test pattern, marking schemes, difficulty levels, etc. So let's discuss in detail whether XAT is easier than CAT or vice-versa.
Table of Contents
- XAT vs CAT - Differences
- XAT vs CAT - Marking Scheme
- Key Contrasting Factors
- XAT Difficulty Level Compared to CAT
XAT vs CAT - Differences
While both these tests are the flagship management entrance exams of moderate to high difficulty levels, the common notion among students is that XAT is more difficult than CAT. Let’s look into the different factors determining major differences in XAT vs CAT:
XAT vs CAT - Eligibility Criteria
Attempting the XAT exam requires a candidate to hold a Bachelor’s Degree of a minimum of three years duration or equivalent in any discipline. The CAT exam has the same eligibility criteria but with a requirement of at least 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA in the Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
XAT vs CAT - Exam Pattern
While discussing the CAT vs XAT test pattern of both exams is somewhat similar; both CAT and XAT have MCQ-type questions. However, the marking scheme is different for both exams. Therefore, a detailed test pattern of both exams is detailed, consisting of the duration and sectional limits.
| Particulars in Exam Pattern | CAT | XAT |
| Total Number of Questions | 76 | |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 2 |
| MCQ Type Questions | 22 | 100 |
| Non-MCQ Type Questions | 54 | - |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes | 180 minutes |
CAT’s paper is divided into three sections whereas XAT’s format is a tad different as it has 2 parts and a total of 4 sections. The DILR section in CAT and Decision Making in XAT are unique to the respective exams. Additionally, XAT has a General Knowledge section. However, the score of Part 2 is not taken into consideration while calculating the XAT percentile.
Read More: CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
CAT Question Paper Pattern
New changes were made in the exam pattern, particularly reducing the number of questions and the time duration of the exam. Originally there are 100 questions with a duration of 180 minutes, which has been reduced to 76 questions, and the answering time is 2 hours. The question pattern is as follows:
| Sequence | Name | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
| 1 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 26 | 40 minutes |
| 2 | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 24 | 40 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 26 | 40 minutes |
The topics are provided to the candidates for a better understanding of the syllabus. Furthermore, it helps in assessing the CAT exam difficulty level and candidates can start their preparation accordingly.
| Verbal Ability | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Quantitative Aptitude |
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Also Read:
- CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus
- How to Improve Reading Comprehension for CAT Exam?
- How to Prepare for CAT Exam at Home?
XAT Question Paper Pattern
XAT is a 180-minute duration exam divided into two parts of 165 minutes and 15 minutes respectively. There are no sectional time limits in the first part of the paper. Displayed below is the question pattern:
| Sections | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
| Part-1 (75-questions) | ||
| Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 | 165 |
| Decision Making | 24 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 26 | |
| Part-2 (25-questions) | ||
| General Knowledge | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 180 minutes |
XAT syllabus consists of verbal and logical ability, decision-making, and quantitative ability. Usually, there are limited critical reasoning and a few logical reasoning-based questions in the XAT exam. The presence of the decision-making section in XAT certainly turns out to be one of the major contrasting factors between the two tests.
Furthermore, candidates are expected to score 70% and above in quantitative aptitude and data interpretation part to rank good. For the general knowledge section, candidates are needed to keep themselves updated with current affairs and news topics. The elaborate syllabus mentioned below will help in recognising the XAT exam difficulty level.
| Verbal and Logical Ability | Decision Making | Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | General Knowledge |
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XAT vs CAT - Marking Scheme
Marking schemes in an MCQ-type paper typically disclose how many marks are awarded for correct answers and how many marks are penalized for incorrect answers, if there is such a penalty of negative marking. Thus, it is of the great importance of deciding while answering a question what impact it could have in case of marking the wrong answer.
However, CAT is not fully MCQ-based, there are some TITA (type in the answer) questions that do not bear any negative marking. However, the TITA questions are a bit complex and require exact precision while answering. In contrast, XAT is a wholly MCQ-based exam with a unique penalty for unanswered questions over a set limit. Hence, candidates need to keep an eye on the number of questions they are leaving unanswered as well. Let's check out the differences in the XAT vs CAT marking scheme below:
| CAT Marking Scheme | XAT Marking Scheme |
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Key Contrasting Factors
After going through each of the important components describing the two exams, the following are the key contrasts that can be drawn for XAT vs CAT. These factors play an important role in understanding the inherent nature and complexity of these exams faced by the candidates.
- In part 1 of XAT, students can navigate through different sections. On the contrary, each section in CAT has a sectional time limit and candidates cannot navigate between different sections. Thus, a time surplus in one section cannot be carried over to the next section. This is one of the downfalls of CAT’s pattern.
- MCQs in CAT have 4 options, while all the questions in XAT have 5 options and are often said to be so close to each other that it makes it difficult for students to select the correct option.
- XAT score generally depicts lesser acceptability than the CAT score as limited institutions use the XAT score as qualifying criteria for admissions. And it is also evident from the fact that the number of people appearing for CAT is almost double the number for XAT.
- One of the most important aspects of writing these tests is question selection. Selecting the right questions while attempting the paper can be a winning strategy but it is time-consuming. In XAT, while question selection is crucial, one has to be cautious of even leaving questions unattempted. There is a penalty of 0.05 marks for every unattended question after 8 questions.
XAT Difficulty Level Compared to CAT
XAT’s Decision Making and General Knowledge sections are missing from CAT. Even though the difficulty level is comparable for both XAT and CAT (moderate to difficult), the presence of these sections makes XAT complex and challenging. On the contrary, XAT does not have sectional time limits, which helps candidates prioritize their strong areas. This way a student can have a set strategy as to how much time they will consume on a particular section depending on the difficulty level. In CAT, one can only have a sectional strategy.
Management aspirants are curious throughout their journey in pursuit of performing well in competitive exams. They often compare exams regarding their difficulty level and complexity. Since more students appear for CAT, they often ask whether CAT preparation is enough for XAT, leading to debates about whether CAT is tougher than XAT or vice-versa. The answer is two folds:
- First, the basic concepts are pretty much the same and students need a solid foundation to understand the concepts.
- Second, since there are noticeable differences in exam patterns and sections, XAT requires a different approach and preparation strategy.
Different exam formats ask for crafting different preparation strategies for both these tests. Here is some quick information about XAT vs CAT.
| Exam Details | XAT | CAT |
| Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | Xavier School of Management (XLRI) | Indian Institutes of Management for admissions into (IIM) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test | Computer-Based Test |
| Exam Pattern | MCQ | MCQ |
| Exam Level | Comparatively Higher | Moderate to High |
So, can a CAT applicant take admission to XAT or vice-versa? The answer is yes, an applicant can register for both entrance tests given he fulfils all the eligibility criteria in the respective exams and has a solid knowledge of how the exams are conducted. The rest lies in the preparation of the candidate.
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