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, IIFT, SNAP, ATMA and MAT can be checked here.
Aspirants looking forward to MBA admissions 2023 may have started preparing for the numerous entrance exams being conducted in 2022. The notifications of several entrance exam such as CAT, MAT, IIFT etc have been released on their respective websites. It is advisable for candidates to have complete awareness on the schedule of upcoming MBA entrance exams in India so that they do not miss out any of the important dates. Almost all the top MBA exams have a similar syllabus and exam structure, however, it may vary a bit from exam to exam.
| CAT Mock Test 2022 Link (Official) |
Candidates should also understand that if they appear for multiple entrance exams, then the chances of getting admission in top management schools of the country will be more. Preparing for multiple entrance exams will also enhance the knowledge of the candidates and will enable them to perform well in upcoming entrance exams.
It is often challenging to choose the best entrance exam for getting admission in MBA course. CAT 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 CAT and other MBA entrance exams such as CMAT, NMAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, ATMA and MAT. The comparison will help the candidates to choose the best exam depending on their time and preparation.
Comparison between CAT, CMAT, NMAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, ATMA and MAT:
The detailed comparison between CAT and other popular MBA entrance exams such as CMAT, NMAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, ATMA and MAT can be checked below.
Exam Name | CAT | CMAT | NMAT | XAT | IIFT | SNAP | ATMA | MAT |
Conducting Body | IIMs | National Testing Agency (NTA) | GMAC | XLRI Jamshedpur | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | 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 | Expected to be Conducted in Online Mode from 2019 | 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 | Once a Year | Five Times a Year | Four Times a Year |
Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) | 180 Minutes (3 Hours) | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) | 60 Minutes (1 Hour) | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) | 2 ½ Hours (150 Minutes) |
Number of Sections | 03 | 04 + 01(Optional) | 03 | 04 | 06 | 04 | 06 | 05 |
Sectional Time Limit |
| No Time Limit |
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| No Time Limit | No Time Limit | 30 Minutes for Each Section |
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Types of Question Format | 72-75 questions are MCQs, rest Non-MCQs. | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs | Objective Type MCQs |
Option to Choose Order of Sections | Candidates are not allowed to switch between sections | Candidate can answer questions in any section | Test taker can choose the order of sections in NMAT. Once the order of the sections is selected, the NMAT test taker should follow this order. | - | Candidate can answer questions in any section | Candidate can answer questions in any section | Candidates need to Answer Each Section Accordingly | Candidate can answer questions in any section |
Total Marks | 228 | 400 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 60 | 180 | 200 |
Marking for Correct Answer | 03 | 04 | 01 | 01 | Changes from Section to Section: -
| 01 | 01 | 01 |
Marking for Incorrect Answer | -1 | -1 | No Negative Marking | -0.25 (MCQs in XAT GK section are free from Negative Marking) | Changes from Section to Section: -
| Each wrong answer attract 25% negative marks | No Negative Marking | ¼ of the total marks or 0.25 mark |
Difficulty Level | Most Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Easy to Difficult | Easy to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
Syllabus Difference |
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Top 05 or 10 Colleges Accepting Exam Score |
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Exam Date | November 27, 2022 | Last week of February 2023 | October 10 to December 19, 2022 | January 8, 2023 | December 11, 2022 | December 10, 18 and 23, 2022 | February 23, 2023 May 28, 2023 July 23, 2023 | November 20 to December 17, 2022 |
CAT Vs XAT
Here is the comparison between CAT and XAT exam.
- The CAT is the MBA entrance exam for 20 IIMs, FMS, IITs' MBA, MDI, SPJIMR, as well as more than 3000 MBA colleges.
- The MBA admission exam for institutions like XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, and XIMB, is called XAT and is administered by XLRI Jamshedpur.
- The varying subjects and sections are one of the main distinctions between the syllabus of the CAT and XAT exams. Decision Making and General Knowledge portions are absent from the CAT exam, although they are present in separate sections on the XAT exam.
- The difficulty level of the XAT Vs. CAT is another significant distinction. Compared to the CAT exam, the XAT is regarded as slightly more challenging.
- If one wants to be considered for admission to XLRI, one should take the XAT exam, but if one wishes to pursue an MBA at an IIM, one should take the CAT exam.
Component | IIMs’ CAT | XLRI - XAT |
Date of Exam | November 27, 2022 | January 8, 2023 |
When to Apply | 1st week of August to last week of September | 3rd week of August to 2nd week of December |
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) | 101 (Since 2022, earlier 100) |
Overall Time Limit | 2 hours (Since 2020, Earlier 3 hours) | 3 hours & 10 Minutes (Since 2022, earlier 3 hours) |
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 |
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Negative Marking |
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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 IIFT
Provided below is the difference between the IIM CAT and IIFT.
- CAT is the required entrance exam for admission to IIMs, and the IIFT entrance exam is the required entrance exam for admission to MBA (IB) at all three Indian Institute of Foreign Trade campuses.
- CAT and IIFT are now both computer-based tests.
- While the IIFT exam pattern changes annually, the CAT exam pattern is permanent.
- While the IIFT's marking scheme ranges between 0.5 and 1 marks for each correct answer, the CAT has a consistent marking scheme for each correct answer with +3 marks.
- While the IIFT entrance test is institute-based and provides admission to the IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada campuses, the CAT offers admission opportunities in 20 IIMs, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs, FMS, IMI, NITIE, and JBIMS among other institutions.
Component | IIMs’ CAT | IIFT |
Exam Date | November 27, 2022 | December 4, 2022 |
When to Apply | 1st week of August to last week of September | 1st week of September to 3rd week of October |
Exam Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) | National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) |
Mode of the Exam | Computer Based Test | Paper-Pen Based Test |
Total Number Questions | 66 (Since 2021, Earlier 100) | 110 (Expected) Usually it varies between 110 to 114. |
Overall Time Limit | 2 hours (Since 2020, Earlier 3 hours) | 2 hours |
Type of Questions | 48-50 questions are MCQs, rest Non-MCQs | All 110 to 114 questions are MCQs |
Number of Answer Options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
Total Maximum marks | 198 | 300 |
Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer | +3 | + 0.5 to +1 mark |
Negative Marking |
| 1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer |
Difficulty Level | Moderately Difficult | Higher difficulty level |
Total Sections | 3 Sections | 4 sections |
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 40-minute time limit | No sectional time limit |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Score | 20 IIMs, XIMB, TAPMI, IMI, IMT, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, etc. | IIFT Kolkata, IIFT Delhi, IIFT Kakinada |
CAT Vs SNAP
Check the comparison between CAT and SNAP provided below
Component | IIMs CAT | SNAP |
Date of Exam | November 27, 2022 | December 18, 2022 |
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 |
| -0.25 mark |
Difficulty Level | Difficult | Moderate |
Total Number of Sections | 3 | 4 |
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
- While IIMs administer CAT, National Testing Agency (NTA) administers CMAT on behalf of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
- The CMAT score is not accepted by IIMs, FMS, MDI, IITs, SPJIMR, or any other top MBA colleges in India. They only accept CAT scores.
- Compared to the CAT exam, the CMAT is a less difficult exam.
- For incorrect answers, the CMAT has a negative marking of 25%, while the CAT has a negative marking of 33%.
- No CMAT applicant is disqualified and all are eligible for shortlisting; however, IIMs only select applicants with the minimum qualifying sectional score.
| Component | IIMs CAT | AICTE-CMAT |
| Date of Exam | November 27, 2022 | February 25-26, 2023 (Tentative) |
| When to Apply | 1st week of August to last week of September | 2nd week of October to 3rd week of December |
| 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 |
| -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 |
MAT vs CAT
Here is the difference between CAT and MAT.
Component | IIMs CAT | MAT |
Date of Exam | November 27, 2022 | November 20 to December 17, 2022 |
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 |
| -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 |
Other Popular MBA Colleges in India
Check the table below for some other popular colleges in India known for their MBA courses.
| College | Location | Course Fee (in Rs. 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 |
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