CAT vs XAT: The CAT and XAT exams are the toughest management entrance tests in the country. The CAT exam focuses on the candidate’s aptitude, speed, and accuracy. On the other hand, the XAT exam tests your aptitude, GK, and decision-making skills.
The CAT exam has three sections, i.e. VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability (QA), with a sectional time limit. XAT exam covers 4 sections with a longer exam duration compared to CAT.
Many aspirants find the XAT exam tougher than the CAT. Read ahead to know the CAT vs XAT differences in terms of syllabus, pattern, and exam difficulty level.
CAT vs XAT Exam: Overview
CAT and XAT exams are national-level entrance tests conducted for admission into management programs in the country.
The CAT exam is conducted for IIMs and other top B-schools in India. On the other hand, the XAT exam is held for XLRI and other top MBA colleges in India.
Here is a quick snapshot of CAT vs XAT exam differences shared below:
| Particulars | CAT Details | XAT Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) |
| Conducting Body | IIM | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test | Online (CBT) |
| Duration | 120 minutes | Part 1 – 170 minutesPart 2 (GK) – 10 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 68 | Around 95 |
| Total Sections | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA) | 3 in Part 1 and 1 in Part 2 |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct answer-1 for incorrect answer (MCQs) | Part 1+1 mark for correct answers- 0.25 marks for wrong answers- 0.10 marks per unattempted question beyond 8 Part 2+1 mark for correct answersNo negative marking for incorrect answers |
CAT vs XAT Exam: Syllabus
The CAT exam syllabus is divided into three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
The XAT exam syllabus is divided into 4 sections, namely Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge.
The XAT syllabus is lengthy than the CAT syllabus because it has additional sections. Here is the detailed syllabus of CAT vs XAT shared below for reference.
CAT Exam Syllabus for VARC
| Topic | No. of Questions (Approximate) | Approximate Weightage |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 questions | 67-68% |
| Para Jumble | 3-4 questions | 12-13% |
| Summary | 3-4 questions | 12-13% |
| Odd Questions | 2-3 questions | 7-8% |
CAT Exam Syllabus for DILR
| DI & LR Topics | No. of Questions (Approximate) | Approximate Weightage (%) |
| Tables and Charts | 3-6 | 45–50% |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangements | 2-4 | 55-60% |
| Scheduling and Blood Relations | 2-4 | 5-10% |
| Games and Tournaments | 4-5 | 10-20% |
| Scheduling and Blood Relations | 4-5 | 5-10% |
| Venn Diagrams & Hybrid Sets | 2-3 | 5-10% |
CAT Exam Syllabus for Quantitative Ability (QA)
| Topic Name | No. of Questions (Approximate) |
| Number System | 2-3 |
| Averages, Ratios and Proportion | 4-5 |
| Progressions and Series | 1-2 |
| Time, Work and Distance | 2-3 |
| Logarithms, Surds and Indices | 2-3 |
| Profit, Loss and Interest | 2-3 |
| Geometry | 2-3 |
| Inequalities and linear equations | 1-2 |
| Functions and Graphs | 1-2 |
| PnC and Probability | 1-2 |
| Quadratic Equations | 2-3 |
CAT Quant Topic-Wise Weightage
| Topic | Weightage |
| Number System | 5-10% |
| Arithmetic | 35-50% |
| Algebra | 30-35% |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 10-15% |
| Modern Maths | 5-10% |
XAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude & DI
| Quantitative Aptitude | Percentages, Time & Work, Speed, Time & Distance, Profit & Loss, Probability. Ratio & Proportion, Lines. Circles, Equations, Functions, Progressions, 3D Figures, Polygons, Permutations & Combinations |
| Data Interpretation | Graphs, Charts, Tables |
XAT Syllabus for Decision Making
- Analytical Reasoning
- Data Arrangements
- Ethical dilemmas
- Logic based
- Situational Issues
- Managerial issues
- Caselets
- Financial issues
XAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
- Reading comprehension passages (including poems & cartoons)
- Para-completion and jumbled sentences
- Critical & analytical reasoning
- Grammar-based questions and cloze tests
- Vocabulary
- Analogies
- Idioms & phrases
XAT Syllabus for General Knowledge
| Static GK | History, Economy, Geography, Business |
| Current Affairs | Indian economy, International organizations, Awards, Budget updates, Politics, Books & authors, Science |
CAT vs XAT Exam: Pattern & Marking Scheme
Understanding the exam pattern of CAT and XAT can simplify your preparation. It helps you understand the question format and overall marking scheme.
The CAT exam features a total of 68 questions, and the test duration is 120 minutes. In the CAT exam, each question carries 3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer in MCQs.
The XAT exam features around 95 multiple-choice questions. The overall duration is 180 minutes. Each question carries 1 mark and a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in Part 1. No negative marking for the GK section.
The key difference between these two exams is exam duration, number of questions, and marking scheme. The CAT exam includes both MCQs and non-MCQs, whereas the XAT exam only covers MCQs.
You will get more time to solve questions in XAT compared to the CAT exam. However, XAT also has a higher number of questions than CAT.
Here is the detailed exam pattern of CAT vs XAT shared below for reference.
CAT Exam Pattern
| Section | Number of Questions | Exam Duration |
| Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes |
| Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes |
XAT Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject | Number of Questions | Exam Duration |
| Part 1 | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) | 26 | 170 minutes |
| Decision Making (DM) | 21 | ||
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | 28 | ||
| Part 2 | General Knowledge (GK) | 20 | 10 minutes |
CAT vs XAT Exam: Difficulty Level
The difficulty level of the CAT and XAT exams depends on your preparation level as well. Many candidates find CAT tougher, while many report that XAT is more difficult than CAT.
As per the previous year’s exam analysis, Quant & DI are concept-based in CAT, but are more calculation-focused in XAT. The Verbal Ability section in CAT is generally considered tougher compared to XAT.
Let’s discuss the difficulty level of CAT vs XAT across all the sections.
CAT Exam Difficulty Level
| Sections | CAT Difficulty Level |
| VARC | Moderate-Difficult |
| DILR | Difficult |
| QA | Moderate-Difficult |
| Overall | Moderate-Difficult |
XAT Exam Difficulty Level
| Section | XAT Difficulty Level |
| Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VALR) | Moderate to Difficult |
| Decision Making (DM) | Moderate |
| Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) | Moderate to Difficult |
| Overall | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT vs XAT Conclusion
At the end, both CAT and XAT are popular MBA entrance exams in India. But they test students in different ways. CAT focuses more on speed, accuracy, and time management, while XAT also checks decision-making and overall thinking ability.
If you are aiming for MBA admissions, it is a good idea to appear for both exams. This can increase your chances of getting into a top B-school. The right choice depends on your strengths, preparation, and target colleges.
At the end, you can join a structured exam prep platform like MBA Karo for expert guidance and CAT-level mocks. This can help you stay on track throughout your preparation.
