Exam Pattern: This is the most crucial element when we do analysis. The CAT paper is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Quantitative Aptitude. XAT has three sections as well, although they are distinct: Verbal Ability, Decision Making, and Quantitative Aptitude.
In the XAT exam, there is an additional section/part for General Knowledge and Essay Writing. The CAT consists of 66 questions divided into three sections: 24, 20, and 22.
Approximately 76 questions make up the XAT, with no fixed or apparent allocation. However, the question-wise distribution in 2023 was as follows:-
- 26 MCQs for Verbal and Logical Ability
- 22 MCQs for Decision Making
- 28 MCQs for Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
- 25 MCQs for General Knowledge
- 1 Question for Essay Writing
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Time Duration: The CAT exam has a duration of 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allocated to each section. You cannot utilize the remaining 10 minutes for another sector if you finish a portion in 30 minutes. If you require additional time for a section, you will be unable to do so, and the section will auto-submit once the specified time has expired.
XAT exam duration is 210 minutes- 175 minutes for Part 1 (DM, VALR, and QADI), 5 minutes for Part 2 (Mock Keyboard Testing), and 30 minutes for Part 3 (GK and Essay). There is no sectional time limit.
Any question can be attempted in any order. You can jump between portions as many times as you want. You are free to approach the paper in whatever way you see fit.
DI & LR: The trickiest part of the CAT exam is logical reasoning and data interpretation. However, toughness is a relative concept. It is usually in the midst of the CAT exam and has 4 sets to solve. LR-DI, on the other hand, is not given as much weight by XAT.
Data Interpretation problems are occasionally asked in the Quantitative Aptitude portion. Logical Reasoning questions are sometimes asked in conjunction with the Verbal Ability or Decision-Making sections. However, in any of these circumstances, the total number of questions based on LR-DI rarely exceeds ten. In the XAT exam, the weightage for LR-DI is close to 10%.
Decision Making and General Knowledge: The XAT exam has a portion called Decision Making that is unique to it. No other MBA entrance exam, including the CAT, assesses students' decision-making abilities. This includes questions based on real-life scenarios, with students' replies recorded depending on how they act in those circumstances.
There are no questions on General Knowledge in the CAT. The XAT comprises 25 General Knowledge questions covering themes such as general knowledge, current events, business history, and other related articles. The candidate's final XAT percentile does not include these marks. Only XLRI uses these as a criterion for evaluation.
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Type of Questions and Negative Marking: Another important aspect of the CAT vs. XAT Analysis is the marking scheme. CAT mainly has objective questions with a few types of answer (TITA) type questions. However, only objective questions are asked on the XAT.
If you mark an incorrect option for an objective-type question in the CAT, you will receive a negative mark. You can obtain a negative mark in XAT by doing the following: Firstly, for an objective type of question, you select the incorrect alternative, and secondly, you don't attempt a question.
- In the XAT exam, each correct answer in the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is awarded +1 mark. (Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation)
- However, an incorrect attempt results in a penalty of -0.25 marks. Additionally, a candidate is not allowed to leave more than 8 questions unanswered. If there are more than 8 unattempted questions, each of them incurs a penalty of -0.10 marks.
- It is important to note that the General Knowledge Section does not have any negative marking. Do not account for it while counting your final score as well.
Calculator: Perhaps there is not much of a difference with this one. The fact that applicants will be able to use a calculator throughout the exam may provide some psychological benefit to some candidates. Still, it will hardly make a difference in the end. A rudimentary on-screen calculator is available in CAT but not in XAT.
In conclusion, while both CAT and XAT are crucial for admission to top Indian business schools, their differences are noteworthy when you do a CAT vs. XAT analysis. CAT emphasizes a strict time structure and places significant weight on Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. On the other hand, XAT allows flexible time management, incorporates Decision Making, and includes a General Knowledge section. The distinct exam patterns and varied weightage make each suitable for different preferences. Whether it's CAT's time-bound challenge or XAT's emphasis on decision-making skills, aspirants should choose based on their strengths and test-taking preferences.
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