XAT vs CAT: Why You MUST Attempt Both Exams
- Anshu Agarwal
- Jul 12
- 2 min read
📘 Why XAT Exam is Important
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of India’s most respected MBA entrance exams. Conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI, it goes beyond traditional aptitude by evaluating real-world decision-making skills.
Accepted by over 250+ top B-schools in India.
Includes Decision Making (DM) and General Knowledge (GK) sections.
Tests managerial potential beyond what CAT covers.
XAT Exam
🌟 "Want to build strong aptitude for CAT and XAT? Start your journey with India’s most trusted video course."🔗 CAT 2025 Video Course | CAT 2026 Video Course
🎓 Top Colleges Accepting XAT 2026 Scorecard
According to XAT's official website, these premier institutes accept XAT scores:
XAMI Member Institutes:
XLRI (Jamshedpur)
XIMB (Bhubaneswar)
LIBA (Chennai)
St. Xavier’s (Kolkata)
Other Renowned Colleges:
IMT Ghaziabad
TAPMI Manipal
IRMA Anand
KJ Somaiya Mumbai
Great Lakes Chennai
🚀 "Apply to 250+ top MBA colleges with one exam. Prepare smart with Anshu Sir’s video courses." 🔗 CAT 2025 Video Course | CAT 2026 Video Course
📊 XLRI Jamshedpur: Selection, Fees & Placement
Selection Process:
Shortlisting based on XAT percentile.
Final selection through PI, profile, academics, diversity.
Cutoffs (2024):
BM: 95–96 percentile
HRM: 91–93 percentile
Fees: ~₹15.3 lakhs (2 years)
Placement (2024):
Average: ₹29.89 LPA
Highest: ₹75 LPA
📈 "Dreaming of XLRI? Start mastering XAT-level content with topic-wise structured videos."
CAT vs XAT – Official Comparison Table
Feature | CAT | XAT |
Conducted By | IIMs | XLRI Jamshedpur |
Sections | VARC, DILR, QA | VA & LR, DM, QA & DI, GK |
Unique Component | — | Decision Making + GK |
Essay Writing | ❌ Not included | ✅ In interview round |
Duration | 120 min (3 slots) | 170 min + 10 min gk (1 slot) |
Normalization | ✅ Yes (across slots) | ❌ No (single slot exam) |
Accepting Colleges | 1000+ including all IIMs | 250+ including XLRI, TAPMI, IMT |
🧠 "One slot. No normalization. Just pure performance. Learn from India’s most result-driven video platform."
😟 Why Aspirants Fear XAT More Than CAT
Decision Making is new and non-formulaic.
GK Section is unpredictable and wide-ranging.
Higher Question Level than CAT, especially in Quant and Verbal.⚠ But don't panic — cutoffs are lower because everyone faces the same difficulty.
Penalty for skipping questions: After 8 unattempted MCQs, 0.10 mark deduction per question.
📅 "Tough paper? Yes. But with the right mentor, you’ll have nothing to fear. Face XAT confidently with our targeted video modules."
✅ Final Verdict: Why You MUST Attempt XAT
XLRI is among India's top 5 B-schools.
Gives access to elite non-IIM institutes.
Tests real-life decision-making and pressure handling.
No normalization headache, no slot bias.
🎓 "Thousands crack CAT & XAT with the right strategy. Be the next success story."
❓ FAQs
Q1. Is XAT more difficult than CAT?Yes, especially due to Decision Making and GK sections. But cutoffs are lower, balancing the challenge.
Q2. Does XLRI accept only XAT scores?Yes. XLRI does not accept CAT. You must take XAT to apply.
Q3. Can I take both CAT and XAT?Absolutely. Most serious aspirants take both for maximum opportunities.
留言