CAT Vs XAT: Key Differences, Exam Pattern, and Expert Preparation Tips

• XAT Syllabus 2025: Exam Pattern, and Preparation Tips
• SNAP Syllabus 2024 | Exam Pattern, Top Books & Preparation Tips

Your priority should be completing those topics and concepts you did not do for CAT, at least the basics. An important update for XAT 2025 is that you do not need to practice extensive solving for DI as we will have onscreen calculators in XAT 2025. There are around 2-3 sets of Data Interpretation, of which 1-2 will be doable. 

• Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning: The verbal section of XAT is based on critical reasoning questions. The RCs are usually shorter but comprise poems. You should prepare for CR questions and have your basic grammar concepts cleared.

1. GK (20 questions): The GK section has no negative marking and is not included in calculating your percentile. So even if you do not know the answers you will go for blind guesses in the 10 minutes allotted for this section. Essentially, GK is not as important for this exam but will benefit you in the long run for GDPI. 

After you are done with your basic prep, solving PYQs is essential. The ideal target is to solve the last 10-year papers. XAT is a longer exam and you should be comfortable sitting for long hours. In the concluding days, schedule your study sessions for 3-4 hours so you don’t get exhausted on your exam day.

Crack SNAP 2024 with 10 FREE Mock Tests + Rewards for Top 2000! 

Marking Scheme:

Unlike CAT, XAT gives:

• +1 marks for each correct answer.
• -0.25 for wrong answers and,
• -0.1 for every unattended question after 8 questions. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 Should you stress the negative marking for unattempted questions? 

Ans. XAT is a longer paper and you will have enough time to solve it. Ideally, you should solve the entire DM Section and leave out the difficult ones in the other two. The penalty for unattempted is way less than wrong attempts so skipping those questions you have no idea about is the better choice.

Q.2 How much time should I give to each section?

Ans. This is subjective and would depend greatly on the individual candidate’s skills. But as a rule, do not spend more than 50-55 minutes for any section at a stretch. For example, if your QA is weak you can attempt it first by solving all the easy to medium-level questions then move to the other 2 sections and return to QADI if time allows. Keep in mind that you solve around 8-12 questions correctly in each section to reach the sectional cut-offs.

Do check out the following:

1. InsideIIM's CAT 2024 Percentile and Interview Shortlist Predictor
2. OMETs Prep: Take SNAP Mock Tests Here and XAT DM Mock Tests Here!
3. Start Your WAT-PI Preparation Early! Check Out InsideIIM's MBA Admissions Bootcamp - WAT-PI Edge S05!