The CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP & Other MBA Entrance Exams analysis is an analysis that is used by management aspirants across the country. This analysis helps aspirants decide to choose the best MBA entrance tests. Find out more in the article below!
CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP & Other MBA Entrance Exams is an analysis that is done by nearly all management aspirants before the MBA entrance exam season. Candidates looking forward to MBA admissions 2024 may have started preparing for the numerous entrance exams being conducted in 2024. The notifications of several entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, etc. will be released on their respective websites.
In this article, a detailed comparison has been made between the CAT exam 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 2024 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 |
| No Time Limit |
|
| No Time Limit | 30 Minutes for Each Section |
|
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 |
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Top Colleges Accepting Exam Score |
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Exam Date | November 24, 2024 | May 15, 2024 | November 5 to December 20, 2024 | January 5, 2025 |
| July 31, 2024 |
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Note
: The IIFT entrance exam has been replaced by CAT. From 2023, IIFT has been accepting CAT scores for MBA admissions.
CAT Vs XAT
Here is the comparison between the CAT and XAT exam .
Component | CAT Exam | XAT Exam |
|---|---|---|
Date of Exam | November 24, 2024 | January 5, 2025 |
When to Apply | August 1 to September 20, 2024 | July 15 to November 30, 2024 |
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 |
|
Negative Marking |
|
|
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 | 21 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 SNAP test provided below.
Component | CAT Exam | SNAP Exam |
|---|---|---|
Date of Exam | November 24, 2024 | December 8, 15, and 21, 2024 |
When to Apply | August 1 to September 20, 2024 | August 5 to November 22, 2024 |
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 | 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 the CAT and CMAT exam provided in the table below.
Component | CAT Exam | CMAT Exam |
|---|---|---|
Date of Exam | November 24, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
When to Apply | August 1 to September 20, 2024 | March 29 to April 23, 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 |
| -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 24, 2024 |
|
When to Apply | August 1 to September 20, 2024 | Check MAT 2024 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 |
| -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 24, 2024 | November 5 to December 20, 2024 |
When to Apply | August 1 to September 20, 2024 | August 1 to October 13, 2024 |
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
| 3 Sections
|
| Overall Time Limit | 2 hours | 2 hours |
Sectional Timing | 40 Minutes for each section |
|
Total Marks | 198 | 360 |
Type of Questions |
| 108 MCQs (36 in each of the 3 sections) |
Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer | +3 | +1 |
Negative Marking |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
Gurgaon | 8.64 | |
Jalandhar | 5.80 | |
Hyderabad | -- | |
Bangalore | 7.46 | |
Jaipur | 2.06 | |
New Delhi | 5.34 | |
Hyderabad | 10.50 | |
Visakhapatnam | 8.50 | |
Gurgaon | 10.50 | |
Mumbai | 8.40 |
Candidates must also check out the articles mentioned below to learn more about MBA admissions!
Related Articles:
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