CAT, MAT, and XAT: MBA entrance exams you should definitely prepare for

Getting into one of the premier B-Schools in India is a dream come true for many. The gateway to these B-Schools is the different MBA entrance exams. The three most famous entrance exams in India when it comes down to MBA are CAT, MAT, and XAT. There are many other entrance exams but CAT, MAT, and XAT are the most sought exams for a student aiming to get an MBA degree.

At least 35,000 students across India appear for the MBA entrance exam every year. Top-ranked students with qualifying percentile only make it through the IIMs and other renowned B-Schools. Before appearing for these entrance exams the student must know the difference between them. The qualifying percentile, their academic background, work experience (if they have any), and engagement in extracurricular activities are the few factors that decide an aspirant's admission to their dream B-School.

Know the difference between CAT, MAT, and XAT

Every aspirant aiming to get an MBA degree and crack management entrance exam must know the difference between CAT, MAT, XAT exams. CAT is the most popular entrance exam among these. A student must be sure from the beginning of which exam he/she is going to appear for. A student may appear for as many entrance exams as he/she could. It is observed that aspirants appear for more than one exam every year. The more the appearance, the better the chances of getting admitted.

All three entrance exams have a similar syllabus and thus it is not that difficult to prepare for more than one MBA entrance exam at a time. The Common Admission Test (CAT) score is accepted by 20 IIMs and more than 1,000 B-schools across India. The score of the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is accepted by more than 600 management institute across India. On the other hand, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) exam score is accepted by XLRI Jamshedpur and more than 160 management institutes throughout India. Though all three exams have a similar syllabus, they vary in terms of the selection process and other aspects.

CAT

The CAT or Common Admission Test is conducted by a different Indian Institute of Management (IIM) every year. Each year different IIM sets the entrance exam question paper. The CAT score is valid for admissions to several B-Schools and is a gateway for the IIMs. The entrance exam is conducted once a year. This year CAT 2021 will be held by the last week of November. The minimum qualification to sit for the entrance exam is that the candidate should have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum score of 50%. It is a computer-based examination. The exam duration is 120 minutes. There are 100 questions in total with a maximum mark of 300.

The question paper consists of three different sections. A maximum of 40 minutes is given to each one of them. The candidate gets 3 marks for every correct answer and each wrong answer fetches 1 negative mark. However, there is no negative marking for non-MCQ questions. The three different sections of the syllabus consist of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Below is a table showing the exam pattern and CAT exam details of CAT 2021.

Particulars	Details
Total entrance exam duration	2 hours/120 minutes
Section-wise exam duration	40 minutes for every section
Total number of questions	100
Entrance exam mode	Online exam/Computer-based test
Marking scheme of CAT exam	3 marks for every correct answer and 1 mark for every wrong answer

MAT

The Management Aptitude Test or MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association. It is one of the popular exams for an MBA. The MAT score is valid throughout India and offers admissions to more than 600+ educational institutes. The major difference between CAT and MAT is exam frequency. CAT happens once a year and MAT happens 4 times a year. The exam consists of 5 different sections. There are 200 questions in total. Each question carries 1 mark, a candidate is awarded 1 mark for every correct answer, and 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer. The maximum number of questions and the total marks are the same.

The minimum qualification to sit for the MAT exam is a bachelor's degree with a minimum mark of 50%. The exam is conducted in the months of February, August, September, and December. The exam is conducted online in a computer-based mode. The syllabus consists of Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning. The total exam duration is of 150 minutes.

XAT

The major difference between the eligibility criteria for XAT and other MBA entrance exams is that the XAT needs only a pass in your bachelor's degree while other MBA exams need a minimum of 50 percent marks to apply for the exam.

XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. There is no age limit. It is also conducted only once annually and the exam is an online exam. It is a computer-based entrance exam. The total exam duration is of 180 minutes. In India, when the thought of pursuing an MBA comes into our minds, various IIMs or XLRI Jamshedpur come up simultaneously. But it is due to the competitive admission criteria and a limited number of seats that not everyone can be a student of IIMs/XLRI or any other top B-School. However, with the right strategy, you can clear any of the MBA entrance exams in India. Stay updated with regular exam updates, admission process, and major details regarding registration dates, exam dates, and other related information.

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