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Table of contents:

1. What is CAT?
2. What is XAT?
3. CAT 2024 exam dates and schedule
4. XAT 2024 exams dates
5. CAT Syllabus
6. XAT Syllabus and Pattern
7. CAT eligibility criteria
8. XAT eligibility criteria
9. CAT exam structure
10. Top colleges accepting CAT scores
11. Colleges accepting XAT scores
12. The best approach to scoring well
13. Entrance exam options other than CAT
14. Some FAQ related to CAT and XAT

What is CAT?

Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most significant and prestigious entrance test for studying MBA. The syllabus of CAT is divided into three sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude and data interpretation and logical reasoning. According to the updated guidelines, the exam lasts for two hours. To obtain admission in the IIMs and other esteemed business schools, applicants of the exam should start becoming familiar with the pattern, requirements, and subject matter of the CAT exam in order to enhance their chances of being accepted into a respectable institution and program.

What is XAT?

Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is a national-level management entrance examination conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes. With a spectacular 70-year tradition, XLRI has been tasked with identifying the most eligible applicants for its prestigious management programs via the XAT. XAT scores are accepted by XLRI and 10 other XAMI institutes along with over 1000 other b-schools.

CAT 2024 exam dates and schedule

November 24, 2024, is when the highly expected CAT 2024 exam, which opens doors to India's esteemed IIMs as well as other prominent MBA programs, is expected to take place. This year, IIM Calcutta is anticipated to host this computer-based test, which will be supervised by an examiner from one of the top IIMs in the country.
The ones who are aiming to score well in the test must start preparing because the registration is likely to start sometime during the first week of August and continue till the following month. Detailed information about the exam will be officially announced on July 30, 2024, so applicants will have a good amount of time to invest in gearing up and become familiar with the syllabus, exam pattern and structure.

XAT 2025 exams dates

XLRI Jamshedpur has declared the result for XAT 2025 on January 20 in online mode. Before that, on the official website at xatonline.in. Previously, on January 7, the authorities had conducted XAT 2025 entrance examination. XAT 2025 examination date was announced by the authorities on the official website. The registration window of XAT 2025 will be closed on December 10.

CAT syllabus

The syllabus of CAT is divided into three sections:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - The aim of CAT's Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is to analyze a candidate's command of language. There are three essential components under this section: reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar. The questions in the vocabulary section measure your mastery of words by testing you on how well you comprehend the contexts of language usage, synonyms, antonyms, and so on. The grammar questions consist of topics like tenses, parts of speech, and subject-verb agreement. Reading comprehension measures how quickly you can grasp and analyze written passages.
2. Data interpretation and Logical Reasoning- the DILR section plays a very important role in CAT preparation. It is subdivided further into two sections: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Following are the sections of study included in DILR. Blood Relations, Clocks and Calendars, Syllogism, Series, Statements, Venn Diagram, Critical Reasoning, Data Arrangement, Data Analysis, Direction Sense, Family Tree, Tables, Coding-Decoding, Binary Logic, Pie Charts, Assumptions, Seating Arrangement, Data Sufficiency, Puzzles, Sets, Bars and Line Graphs.
3. Quantitative Aptitude- this section tests the mathematical and statistical execution of the individual. Important topics under the same are- Ratios and Proportion, Inequalities, Trigonometry, In-equations Quadratic and linear equations, Work and Time, Algebra, Surds and Indices, Percentages, Mensuration, Time, Speed and Distance, Logarithms, Partnership (Accounts), Number System, Square Root and Cube Root, Profit & Loss, Geometric Progression, Probability, Mean, mode, median, Binomial theorem, Simple interest and compound interest.

XAT syllabus and pattern

XAT question paper consists of 100 MCQs and is divided into three parts:

1. Part 1- Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (175 minutes)
2. Part 2- Mock Keyboard Testing (5 minutes)
3. Part 3- General Knowledge + Essay writing (30 minutes)

 

There is no predefined syllabus for XAT as such which is why candidates have to prepare as per the exam pattern and practice solving the previous year question papers. The pattern of the exam follows a certain pattern which includes the following sections:

1. Verbal and Logical ability- about 26 questions are asked in this section which assesses critical reasoning, includes inference-based questions, reading comprehensions, sentence corrections, cloze test, synonyms-antonyms, paragraph formation.
2. Quantitative ability- around 28 questions from this section are asked which focuses on arithmetic, geometry, percentage, bar diagrams, mensuration and algebra.
3. Decision making- in the Decision-making XAT portion, candidates will have to answer about 22 questions in the Decision-Making section of XAT 2024. Their presence of mind and ability to analyse a situation is tested along with their problem solving skills. Questions that come in this section cover the following topics include complex arrangement, conditioning and grouping, data arrangement, case lets, decision making.
4. GK section- emphasizes static general knowledge as well as current awareness on national issues, politics, business and sports.
5. Essay writing- the essay topics are mostly general or abstract in nature along with latest issues and current events. The time limit given for this section is 30 minutes.

CAT eligibility criteria

The key eligibility criteria for the CAT exam are as follows:

1. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or equivalent, with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
2. Final year students and those awaiting their final results can apply with some conditions, provided they submit a certificate of completion from their institution by a specified date.
3. Candidates who have completed a recognized professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI) with the required percentage are also eligible to appear for the CAT exam.
4. There is no age limit or limit to the number of attempts.
5. No work experience is required, which means both freshers and professionals can sit for the exam.
6. Eligibility may be rejected or verified at any point of the selection process. It is therefore advisable to maintain a mobile number and email ID.

XAT eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria of XAT is similar to the same of CAT with the following few differences.

1. Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for the XAT exam provided they can furnish their bachelor's degree certificate and mark sheet by the end of the admission year.
2. While the eligibility of the XAT exam and the one of the XLRI is identical, it should be noted that XLRI does not put a minimum mark restriction when applying to the PGDM course as per the XAT eligibility criterion 2024. The XLRI eligibility criterion may nevertheless vary depending on the course taken, but the base criterion is similar.

CAT exam structure

Mode of exam	Computer Based Test
Duration of exam	120 minutes 40 minutes per section
Total number of questions	66
Number of questions section wise	VARC- 24 DILR- 20 QA- 22
CAT exams slots	Morning- 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Afternoon- 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Evening- 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Language of exam paper	English
Question type	MCQ and non-MCQ

 

 

Top colleges that consider CAT score

List of IIMs:

1. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
2. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
3. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
4. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
5. Indian Institute of Management Indore
6. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode
7. Indian Institute of Management Shillong
8. Indian Institute of Management Rohtak
9. Indian Institute of Management Udaipur
10. Indian Institute of Management Ranchi
11. Indian Institute of Management Raipur
12. Indian Institute of Management Kashipur
13. Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli
14. Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam
15. Indian Institute of Management Amritsar
16. Indian Institute of Management Nagpur
17. Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya
18. Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur
19. Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur
20. Indian Institute of Management Jammu

Some non-IIMs in the top category:

1. IIFT Delhi
2. SPJIMR, Mumbai
3. FMS, Delhi University
4. IMT, Ghaziabad
5. MDI, Gurgaon
6. IMI, Delhi
7. IIT Kanpur-IME
8. IIT Bombay-SJMSOM
9. IIT Delhi- DoMs (Department of Management Studies)
10. IIT Roorkee- DoMs
11. IIT Madras- DoMs
12. IIT Dhanbad-ISM
13. IIT Kharagpur-VGoSM
14. IMI-Kolkata
15. IMT-Nagpur
16. Great Lakes Institute of Management
17. IPE-Hyderabad
18. Institute of Management, Nirma University
19. ITM-University
20. Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa
21. IIITM-Gwalior
22. New Delhi Institute of Management
23. Woxsen University, Hyderabad
24. KIIT KSOM
25. SOIL Institute of Management

Colleges accepting XAT score

XAT Score Accepting College-

1. XLRI Xavier School of Management
2. Loyola Institute of Business Administration
3. St. Joseph's Institute of Management
4. St.Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology
5. Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier University
6. Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship
7. Xavier Institute of Development Action and Sciences (XIDAS)
8. Xavier Institute of Social Service
9. BIMTECH Greater Noida
10. K J Somaiya Institute of Management
11. FLAME University: School of Business
12. FORE School of Management, New Delhi
13. Institute of Rural Management Anand
14. Goa Institute of Management
15. St. Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMAR)
16. MICA Ahmedabad
17. Xavier Business School (XBS), St.Xavier's University, Kolkata
18. Institute of Management Technology (Ghaziabad)
19. Xavier Institute of Management & Research
20. Woxsen University
21. BITS Pilani
22. Great Lakes Institute of Management
23. New Delhi Institute of Management
24. SOIL Institute of Management

 

The best approach to scoring well

A common strategy for CAT and XAT exam preparation is self-study as it's flexible and least expensive. Candidates can grasp more complex subjects and even go beyond the basics with the aid of these tools. A comprehensive CAT prep usually takes about five months, while the precise amount of time needed will depend on the learner's speed and preferred study approach. Completing online mock examinations and sample questions is an essential part of this preparation as it helps candidates recognize areas that need more attention and gauge their progress.

It is advised by experts that candidates take 35–40 CAT or XAT practice examinations while they are getting ready. The recommended approach for answering example problems is to comprehend their reasoning first, then tackle them as quickly as possible, and lastly, practice under time limits. To improve their speed and precision, applicants should begin taking frequent online mock exams after mastering the entire material. They should thoroughly assess how they performed and address their flaws following each simulation. To achieve the desired outcomes on the CAT and XAT exam, diligent mock test taking and consistent practice are crucial.

Entrance exam options other than CAT

Entrance exam options other than CAT- Other than the CAT, there are numerous other excellent MBA exams available for study in prestigious B-Schools. As a matter of fact, unique MBA programmes offered by institutions such as IIFT, MICA, and XIM are valued at least as highly as IIM PGDM programmes.

1. XAT
2. CMAT
3. NMAT
4. SNAP
5. IIFT
6. MICAT
7. MAT
8. TISSNET
9. IBSAT
10. GMAT
11. ATMA

Some FAQ related to CAT:

1. When will CAT 2024 registration start?

Ans. CAT 2024 registration will start during the first week of August.

2. Can one get into top colleges with preparation of 3 months?

Ans. It is difficult to get good scores in a 3 month preparation but it is not impossible. An effective study strategy complied to suit a 3 month preparation will surely get you good scores to get into top colleges.

3. Is it necessary to sit for CAT to get admission into MBA degree?

Ans. While many colleges and business schools consider CAT score, there are other institutions which consider other entrance exams like XAT, GMAT, CMAT, ATMA, etc.

4. Are there different eligibility criteria for XLRI?

Ans. XAT is compulsory for admission in XLRI while the selection process for different programmes may differ based on the nature of the programme.

5. When will XAT 2025 be held?

Ans. XAT is conducted on the first Sunday of January which means in 2025, XAT will be held on 5^th of January.