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

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 2019 may have started preparing for the numerous entrance exams that will begin in the month of October. A lot of the exam conducting authorities have already released the official dates for popular management entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, IIFT etc., 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.

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.

Also Read: GMAT vs CAT Differences: Which is Better?

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	3 Hours (180 Minutes)	3 Hours (180 Minutes)	2 Hours (120 Minutes)	180 Minutes (3 Hours)	120 Minutes (2 Hours)	120 Minutes (2 Hours)	3 Hours (180 Minutes)	2 ½ Hours (150 Minutes)
Number of Sections	03	04	03	04	06	04	06	05
Sectional Time Limit	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 60 Minutes Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning – 60 Minutes Quantitative Ability – 60 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	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	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	300	400	120	100	100	150	180	200
Marking for Correct Answer	03	04	01	01	Changes from Section to Section: - Data Interpretation – 0.75 marks Logical Reasoning – 1 Mark General Awareness – 0.5 Mark Verbal Ability – 1 Mark Reading Comprehension – 1 Mark Quantitative Aptitude – 1 Mark	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: - Data Interpretation – 0.33 Marks Logical Reasoning – 0.25 Mark General Awareness – 0.17 Mark Verbal Ability – 0.33 Mark Reading Comprehension – 0.33Mark Quantitative Aptitude – 0.33 Mark	Each wrong answer attract 25% negative marks	No Negative Marking	¼ of the total marks or 0.25 mark
Difficulty Level	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficulty	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	Bar Graph Line Graph Pie Chart Table Caselets Comparisons Deductions Coding-Decoding Series & Analysis Input & Output Directions Seating Selections Grammar Synonyms Antonyms Reading Comprehension Number Geometry Mensuration Logarithms ERPV PPL Probability Permutation & Combination	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 05 or 10 Colleges Accepting Exam Score	IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University International Management Institute (IMI) SPJIMR Management Development Institute (MDI)	Prestige Institute of Management Acharya Institute of Technology ITM School of Business KIIT School of Management Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research	Hyderabad Business School SRM School of Management, Chennai Amity Business School, Noida Alliance School of Business, Bangalore MISB Bocconi, Mumbai	Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar S.P. Jain (Mumbai) Goa Institute of Management (GIM) IMT Ghaziabad IIFM Bhopal IIFM Bhopal	Indian Institute of Foreign Trade – Delhi Indian Institute of Foreign Trade - Kolkata	Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences, Pune Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Pune Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bangalore Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology, Pune Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management (LLIM), Mumbai Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune	Goa Institute of Management Jaipuria Institute of Technology Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development Department of Management Sciences, University of Pune Fortune Institute of International Business Entrepreneurship and Management Process International	KIIT School of Management VIT Business School Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management and Research Alliance School of Business Balaji Institute of Modern Management Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship
Exam Date 2019/ 2020CA	November 24, 2019	January 19, 2020	October 4-December 17, 2019	January 5, 2020	December 1, 2019	The third week of December 2019	Yet to be announced
Exam Application Deadline for 2019 Session	September 18, 2019	December 2019	October 3, 2019	Second week of December 2019	Last week of September 2019	Third week of November 2019	Yet to be announced	August 25, 2019, for PBT and September 8, 2019, for CBT