CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP & Other MBA Entrance Exams

Sakunth Kumar

Updated On: December 18, 2023 05:35 pm IST | CMAT

MBA exam season has begun and it is time for the candidates to keep a track on the latest events of all the upcoming popular entrance exams. The detailed comparison between CAT, CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, ATMA and MAT can be checked here.

MBA Entrance Exams

CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP & Other MBA Entrance Exams: Candidates looking forward to MBA admissions 2023-2024 may have started preparing for the numerous entrance exams being conducted in 2023-24. The notifications of several entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, etc. have been released on their respective websites. It is advisable for candidates to have complete awareness of the schedule of upcoming MBA entrance exams in India so that they do not miss out on any of the important dates. Almost all the top Master of Business Administration (MBA) entrance exams have a similar syllabus and exam structure, however, it may vary a bit from exam to exam.

Candidates should also understand that if they appear for multiple entrance exams, then the chances of getting admission to top management schools in the country will be higher. Preparing for various entrance exams will also enhance the knowledge of the candidates and will enable them to perform well in upcoming entrance exams.

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It is often challenging to choose the best entrance exam for getting admission to an MBA course. The Common Admission Test, which is the CAT full form, is one of the popular management exams conducted by IIMs. CAT score is also considered by 3,000 non-IIM B-Schools across the country.

In this article, a detailed comparison has been made between the Common Admission Test (CAT) and other MBA entrance exams such as CMAT, NMAT by GMAC, XAT, SNAP, ATMA, and MAT. The comparison will help the candidates to choose the best exam depending on their time and preparation.

Also Read: Important Topics for CAT 2023 Algebra and Modern Maths

Comparison between CAT, CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, ATMA, and MAT

The detailed comparison between CAT and other popular MBA entrance exams such as CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, ATMA, and MAT can be checked below.

Exam Name

CAT

CMAT

NMAT by GMAC

XAT

SNAP

ATMA

MAT

Conducting Body

IIMs

National Testing Agency (NTA)

GMAC

XLRI Jamshedpur

Symbiosis International Deemed University

Association of Indian Management Schools

All India Management Association

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test

Computer-Based Test

Computer-Based Test

Computer-Based Test

Online Test

Online & Offline Test

Computer-Based and Paper-Based test

Frequency of Exam

Once a Year

Twice a Year

Candidates can re-take the exam within the stipulated exam dates

Once a Year

Once a Year

Five Times a Year

Four Times a Year

Duration

2 Hours (120 Minutes)

3 Hours (180 Minutes)

2 Hours (120 Minutes)

210 Minutes (3 Hours 30 Minutes)

60 Minutes (1 Hour)

3 Hours (180 Minutes)

2 ½ Hours (150 Minutes)

Number of Sections

3

5

3

4

3

6

5

Sectional Time Limit

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 40 Minutes

  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning – 40 Minutes

  • Quantitative Ability – 40 Minutes

No Time Limit

  • Language Skills (22 Minutes)

  • Quantitative Skills (60 Minutes)

  • Logical Reasoning (38 Minutes)

  • Verbal and Logical Ability

  • Decision-Making

  • Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

  • General Knowledge

No Time Limit

30 Minutes for Each Section

  • Language Comprehension – 30 Minutes

  • Mathematical Skills – 40 Minutes

  • Data Analysis & Sufficiency – 35 Minutes

  • Intelligence & Critical Reasoning – 30 Minutes

  • Indian & Global Environment – 15 Minutes

Types of Question Format

48 MCQs, 18 Non-MCQs.

Objective Type MCQs

Objective Type MCQs

Objective Type MCQs

Objective Type MCQs

Objective Type MCQs

Objective Type MCQs

Total Marks

198

400

120

100

60

180

200

Marking for Correct Answer

03

04

01

01

01

01

01

Marking for Incorrect Answer

-1

-1

No Negative Marking

-0.25 (MCQs in XAT. GK section are free from Negative Marking)

Each wrong answer attracts 25% negative marks

No Negative Marking

¼ of the total marks or 0.25 mark

Difficulty Level

Difficult

Moderate to Difficult

Moderate to Difficult

Moderate to Difficult

Easy to Difficult

Easy to Difficult

Moderate to Difficult

Syllabus Difference

  • Grammar

  • Para Correction

  • Sentence Correction

  • Word Usage

  • Analogies

  • Idioms

  • Para Jumble

  • Pie Chart

  • Graph Tables

  • Data Arrangement

  • Arithmetic

  • Algebra

  • Geometry

  • Calculus

  • Trigonometry

  • Mensuration

  • Geometry

  • Mensuration

  • Number Systems

  • Fraction and Decimals

  • Analytical Reasoning

  • Matrix Arrangements

  • Coding and De-coding

  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

  • General Awareness

  • English Grammar

  • Algebra (Linear/Quadratic Equation)

  • Trigonometry

  • Mensuration

  • Probability

  • Coordinate Geometry

  • Coding & Decoding

  • Series

  • Syllogisms

  • Statement Conclusions

  • Synonyms

  • Anonyms

  • Idioms

  • Vocabulary

  • Vocabulary

  • Analogy

  • Para Jumbles

  • Para completion

  • Critical Reasoning

  • Statements & Assumptions

  • Decision-making problems

  • Geometry

  • Algebra

  • Mensuration

  • General Awareness/ Knowledge

  • Data Arrangement

  • Arithmetic

  • Algebra

  • Geometry

  • Calculus

  • Trigonometry

  • Mensuration

  • Probability

  • Coordinate Geometry

  • Coding & Decoding

  • Series

  • Syllogisms

  • Critical Reasoning

  • Course of Action

  • Statement-Inference

  • Strong/Weak Arguments

  • Statement Conclusions

  • Grammar

  • Jumbled sentences

  • Vocabulary

  • RC Passages

  • Arithmetic

  • Algebra

  • Modern Math

  • Coding-decoding

  • Strengthen/Weaken arguments Statement-Conclusion

  • Arrangements

  • Syllogisms

  • Data sufficiency

  • Data Arrangement

  • Blood Relations

  • Series and Sequences and Critical Reasoning

  • Direction Sense

  • Input/Output analysis

  • Coding

  • Decoding

  • Mathematics

  • Arithmetic

  • Geometry

  • General Knowledge

Top Colleges Accepting Exam Score

Exam Date 

November 26, 2023

February 25, 2024 (Expected)October 10 to December 19, 2023

January 7, 2024

  • December 10, 2023 (Test 1)
  • December 17, 2023 (Test 2)
  • December 22, 2023 (Test 3)
February 18, 2024
  • December 9, 2023 (PBT)
  • December 3, 2023 (CBT)
  • December 16, 2023 (CBT)
  • December 6, 2023 (IBT)
  • December 9, 2023 (IBT)
  • December 17, 2023 (IBT)


Note: The IIFT entrance exam has been replaced by CAT. From 2023, IIFT will be accepting CAT scores for MBA admissions.

CAT Vs XAT 

Here is the comparison between the CAT and XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test).

Component

CAT Exam

XAT Exam

Date of Exam

November 26, 2023

January 7, 2024

When to Apply

August 2 to September 20, 2023

July 15 to November 30, 2023

Exam Conducting Body

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)

Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur

Mode of the Exam

Computer Based Test

Computer Based Test

Total Number of Questions

66 (Since 2021, Earlier 100)

100

Overall Time Limit 

2 hours

3 hours & 30 Minutes

Type of Questions

48-50 questions are MCQs, rest Non-MCQs

100 MCQs + 1 subjective on Essay Writing

Number of Answer Options for MCQs

4

  5

Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer

3

  •   1 for MCQs

  •   3 for Essay Writing

Negative Marking

  • 1/3 negative marking for MCQs

  • No negative marking for Non-MCQs

  • 1/4 negative marking for 75 MCQs

  • 1/10 negative marking for 8 consecutive unattempted MCQs

  • No negative marking for GK and Essay writing test

Difficulty Level

Moderately Difficult

More difficult than CAT

Total Number of Sections

3

  3 (Main sections)

  2 (GK & Essay Test scores are not taken into consideration for percentile calculation)

Option to Select Order of Sections

No, candidates have to adhere to the pre-defined sectional order.

Yes, candidates can attempt any question from any section within the overall time limit.

Sectional Time Limit

40 Minute time limit for each section

No Restriction

Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Score

20 IIMs, XIMB, TAPMI, IMI, IMT, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, etc.

XLRI, SPJIMR, TAPMI, IMT, XIMB, etc.

CAT Vs SNAP 

Check the comparison between CAT and Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) provided below

Component

CAT Exam

SNAP Exam

Date of Exam

November 26, 2023

December 10, 17 and 22, 2023

When to Apply

August 2 to September 20, 2023

August 23 to November 23, 2023

Total Number of Questions

66

60

Overall Time Limit

2 hours

1 hour

Type of Questions

48-50 questions are MCQs. Others are Non-MCQs.

All questions are in MCQ format.

Number of Answer Options for MCQs

4

4

Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer

3

1

Negative Marking

  • 1/3 negative marking for MCQs

  • No negative marking for Non-MCQs

-0.25 mark

Difficulty Level

Difficult

Easy to Moderate

Total Number of Sections

3

3

Option to Select Order of Sections

No, candidates have to adhere to the pre-defined sectional order

Yes, candidates can attempt any question from any section within the overall time limit.

Individual Sectional Time Limit

Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes.

No individual sectional time limit

CAT vs CMAT

Check the comparison between CAT and Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) provided in the table below.

Component

CAT Exam

CMAT Exam

Date of Exam 

November 26, 2023

February 25, 2024 (Expected)

When to Apply

August 2 to September 20, 2023

Till 1st week of January 2024

Exam Conducting Body

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Mode of the Exam

Computer Based Test

Computer Based Test

Total Number of Questions

66

100  

Overall Time Limit

 2 hours

3 hours

Type of Questions

48-50 questions are MCQs. All other questions are Non-MCQs

100 MCQs

Number of Answer Options for MCQs

4

  4

Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer

+3

 +4

Negative Marking

  • MCQs have a negative marking of -1/3 marks.

  • No negative marking for Non-MCQs

-1/4 negative marking

Difficulty Level

Moderately Difficult

Easy to Moderate

Total Number of Sections

3

  5

Option to Select Order of Sections

No, candidates have to adhere to the pre-defined sectional order

Yes, candidates can attempt any question from any section within the overall time limit.

Sectional Time Limit

Each section with 40 minute time limit

No Restriction


CAT vs MAT

Here are the differences between CAT and MAT.

Component

CAT Exam

MAT Exam

Date of Exam 

November 26, 2023

  • December 9, 2023 (PBT)
  • December 3, 2023 (CBT)
  • December 16, 2023 (CBT)
  • December 6, 2023 (IBT)
  • December 9, 2023 (IBT)
  • December 17, 2023 (IBT)

When to Apply

August 2 to September 20, 2023

Check MAT 2023 Registration

Exam Conducting Body

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)

All India Management Association (AIMA)

Mode of the Exam

Computer Based Test

CBT, PBT, IBT

Total Number of Questions

66

200 

Overall Time Limit

2 hours

2 hours and 30 minutes

Type of Questions

48-50 questions are MCQs. All other questions are Non-MCQs

200 MCQs (40 in each section)

Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer

+3

+1

Negative Marking

  • MCQs have a negative marking of -1/3 marks.

  • No negative marking for Non-MCQs

-0.25 negative marking for each wrong answer.

Difficulty Level

Moderately Difficult

Easy to Moderate

Total Number of Sections

3

  5

Sectional Time Limit

Each section with 40 minute time limit

No Restriction

CAT vs NMAT

Find the comparison between CAT and NMAT in the table below:

Components

CAT

NMAT

Date of Exam 

November 26, 2023

October 10 to December 19, 2023

When to Apply

August 2 to September 20, 2023

August 1 to October 12, 2023

Exam Conducting Body

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)

GMAC or Graduate Management Aptitude Council (GMAC)

Mode of the Exam

Computer Based Test

Online mode

Total Number of Questions

66 Questions

108 Questions

Number of Sections

3 Sections

  • VARC
  • DILR
  • QA

3 Sections

  • Language Skills
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative skills
Overall Time Limit2 hours2 hours

Sectional Timing

40 Minutes for each section

  • Language Skills: 28 Minutes
  • Logical Reasoning: 40Minutes
  • Quantitative Skills: 52 Minutes

Total Marks

198

360

Type of Questions

  • 48-50 questions are MCQs.
  • Around 18 questions are Non-MCQs

108 MCQs (36 in each of the 3 sections)

Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer

+3

+1

Negative Marking

  • Negative marking of 1/3 marks for MCQs

  • No negative marking for Non-MCQs

No negative marking

Popular MBA Colleges in India

Check the table below for some other popular colleges in India known for their MBA courses. All of these colleges accept the entrance exams mentioned in this article which include CMAT, NMAT by GMAC, XAT, SNAP, ATMA, and MAT.

College

Location

Course Fees (in INR lakhs)

Amity University Manesar

Gurgaon

8.64

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Jalandhar

5.80

Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and Management (VVISM)

Hyderabad

--

International Institute of Business Studies (IIBS)

Bangalore

7.46

NIMS University

Jaipur

2.06

Jagannath Institute of Management Studies (JIMS)

New Delhi

5.34

ICFAI Business School (IBS)

Hyderabad

10.50

GITAM Deemed University

Visakhapatnam

8.50

BML Munjal University

Gurgaon

10.50

D Y Patil University School of Management

Mumbai

8.40


Candidates must also check out the articles mentioned below to learn more about MBA admissions!

Related Articles:

Non-IIM MBA Colleges to Apply to Before & After CAT 2023

CAT Score Vs Percentile Analysis 2023

CAT 2023 Rank Predictor

CAT 2023 College Predictor


If you need help with admission to MBA colleges, fill out our Common Application Form (CAF) or call our toll-free student helpline number 1800-572-9877. For the latest updates on all the above entrance exams, stay tuned to CollegeDekho.

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FAQs

How can I check the exam pattern of CAT, XAT and other management entrance exams?

Aspirants can check the exam pattern for their preferred MBA entrance exam like CAT or XAT through various sources. One of the most common ways to check the exam pattern for the MBA entrance exam is to download the information brochure of the exam. The exam conducting bodies of management entrance exams release an information brochure or notification which consists of various details related to the exam. This includes dates, eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, etc. Alternatively, candidates can also check out the previous year question papers of entrance exams for a more detailed understanding of the exam patterns for the same.

What is the duration of CAT and XAT?

Both the CAT and XAT exams are management entrance tests of significant difficulty. However, there are some differences between these two exams that make either one preferable to some students more so than the other. The duration for the CAT exam is 120 minutes or 2 hours. Candidates are required to complete 66 questions divided into three sections, which include both MCQs and Non-MCQs, within this time limit. The XAT exam on the other hand has a duration of 3.5 hours or 210 minutes. The total number of questions on the XAT question paper is 100 and all the questions are MCQs. As opposed to the CAT question paper, there are 5 sections on the XAT question paper.

Who is the conducting body of CMAT and SNAP?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the Common Management Admission Test, or CMAT as it is more commonly known, a three-hour business aptitude test for admission to MBA/PGDM programs. One of the most well-liked MBA entrance exams in India is the CMAT. Every year, about 70,000 candidates apply to take the exam. Around 1,300 B-schools (public and private) in India accept the CMAT score, including PUMBA, Great Lakes Institute of Management, JBIMS, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya Mumbai, and Welingkar Mumbai. 
The Symbiosis International (Deemed) University administers the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, also known as the SNAP Test, to all applicants for admission to the MBA/PGDM programs offered by its 15 constituent institutes. Candidates have three chances to pass the exam in SNAP, which is administered in three sessions over the course of one academic year.

What is the syllabus of IIFT?

The syllabus for IIFT is divided into four broad categories, namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation, and Quantitative Analysis. The Verbal Ability section evaluates a candidate's knowledge of subjects like Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, etc. The general knowledge (GK) exam measures the candidate's knowledge of subjects like business, economics, politics, international affairs, etc. The Quantitative Analysis exam gauges a candidate's understanding of subjects like maths, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. Analytical and logical reasoning skills are tested in the logical reasoning section of the application. The candidate's knowledge of concepts like coding-decoding, blood relationships, analogies, etc. is tested in this section.

What is the difference between CAT and IIFT?

CAT is conducted for admission to the IIMs and other top B-Schools of India while IIFT is conducted for admission to IIFT. The exam pattern and eligibility criteria of both the exams are different. Candidates can check the difference between CAT and IIFT from here.

Does the CAT preparation take more time than other management entrance exams?

The amount of preparation time needed for CAT or any other entrance exam is entirely subject. Yes, CAT is arguably the toughest management entrance exam in India, however, there are candidates who have a strong background in Mathematics and need comparatively less time to prepare for the Quantitative section of CAT which is the most challenging part of the exam. On the other hand, candidates who do not have a strong grasp of the English language need more time to prepare for exams like NMAT because the language skills portion of these exams is tougher than other MBA entrance exams.

Which MBA entrance exam has the highest acceptance?

The CAT exam has the highest acceptance for a management entrance test. Apart from the 20 IIMs that accept CAT for MBA admission, there are thousands of Non-IIM institutes in India that accept CAT scores for MBA, PGDM, and other postgraduate management courses. Other exams like CMAT, MAT, and XAT are also known for their high acceptance among MBA colleges and B-schools.

Which is more difficult CAT or XAT?

It is difficult to say which exam is more difficult than the other because the XAT and CAT have different test formats and scoring procedures. There is no denying that the CAT and XAT are two of India's most difficult MBA entrance exams, though. The various subjects and parts are one of the primary differences between the CAT and XAT syllabuses. The CAT exam does not include the Decision Making or GK sections, which are separate from the XAT test. Overall, many candidates and experts agree that the XAT is a little more difficult than the CAT. 

What is the exam pattern for CMAT?

According to the latest format of the test, the CMAT exam is broken down into five sections:  Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Each of the four sections on the test is worth 100 points, with a maximum possible score of 400. There are 20 questions in each section, for a total of 100 questions. Four points are awarded for each inquiry. For each incorrect response, one point is deducted.

How is MAT different from CAT?

The CAT and MAT exams have very different levels of difficulty. The CAT exam's exam format makes it a significantly more challenging management entrance test than the MAT exam. The difficulty level for CAT is always moderate to high, whereas MAT is typically easy to moderate, despite the fact that there are only 66 questions in the CAT question paper as opposed to 200 on the MAT question paper. The fact that the CAT exam has a negative marking policy of one point for each incorrect response is one of the main reasons it is more difficult. In MAT, incorrect answers receive a negative marking of -1/4 or -0,25.

Is SNAP easier than CAT?

SNAP is not more challenging than CAT, despite the fact that both MBA entrance exams use the same syllabus and selection criteria. The SNAP question paper is moderately difficult, in contrast to the CAT question paper, which is more challenging. SNAP is easier to use than CAT because it is designed with students in mind. But SNAP will only be accepted by SIU institutions. The CAT is accepted by more than 1200 MBA programs in India, in contrast.

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