Which is the Toughest MBA Entrance Exam?

The MBA dream for all the serious aspirants start by clearing the entrance exams. Be it in India or abroad, almost all the top colleges provide admits based on entrance exam scores followed by interviews. But students get often confused between a lot of entrance exams that exist for MBA. They are also not sure about the syllabus and pattern and how they vary across each other. As far as toughness is concerned, CAT, XAT and GMAT are always on the top. NMAT and SNAP are very coveted MBA entrance exams are considered to be on the easier side as these only institute specific exams. This article will try to decode Which is the Toughest MBA Entrance Exam? and will draw a comparative analysis between CAT, XAT and GMAT.

Comparing CAT, XAT, and GMAT

While all three exams are tough in their own way, each has unique features that contribute to its difficulty level:

CAT vs XAT vs GMAT

1. Common Admission Test (CAT)

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is undoubtedly considered as one of the toughest MBA entrance exams in India. Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT exam is the gateway to not only the prestigious IIMs but also several other top B-schools in India. We will try to breakdown the features of CAT and why is it considered so tough to crack?

Key Features of CAT:

• Exam Pattern: CAT is divided into three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section is equally timed, and students do not have the flexibility to change across sections. The pattern remains the same, making it less flexible.
• Competition: Since last 2 years, nearly 3 lakh candidates are appearing for CAT every year, competing for just a few handful seats in the top IIMs. This makes the exam highly competitive as the conversion rate falls below 1% for best colleges.
• Difficulty Level: Though the syllabus seems like a cakewalk, the questions asked in the exam are invariably difficult. They do not require mugging up more concepts rather applying your logical thinking and managing time efficiently.
• Competitive Scoring: CAT uses a relative scoring technique, i.e., percentiles. This means your performance does not matter much but also on how other test takers have performed. This makes the exam further competitive.

Why is CAT Considered Tough?

• The time pressure in the CAT exam is actually challenging as 40 minutes per section is not sufficient for students to answer all questions. They need to pick and answer questions which they feel are solvable. This picking of sets and questions in just 40 mins make things worse.
• Since the DILR section has not defined syllabus, you really do not know how familiar you will be with the set that comes on the exam day. This makes the section unpredictable and your scores can swing either ways.
• The cutoffs for top B-schools like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta are very high, usually above the 99.5th percentile. Same is the case other non-IIM B-schools like FMS and SPJIMR.

2. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is another highly competitive exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. While it shares some similarities with CAT, XAT has additional parameters that set it apart. Sometimes XAT is even considered to be the toughest exam, even more than CAT when it comes to it pattern.

Key Features of XAT:

• Exam Pattern: XAT has 3 sections in Part 1 which include Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QADI). The part 2 of the paper has general knowledge (GK) section, however it is considered in the percentile scoring. Recently, XAT has removed essay from their part 2, otherwise it was a part as well of XAT previously.
• Unique Section: The Decision-Making section is very exclusive to XAT only, testing candidates’ ability to solve ethical and managerial dilemmas. It is the deal breaker section in the exam. While other section can be still practiced and managed, DM section is often overlooked due to its coveted nature.
• GK Section: Unlike CAT, XAT has a General Knowledge section, which evaluates a candidate’s knowledge on current events and global issues along with static GK. Though it is not included in calculating your percentile, it is used later in the process during GDPI and can impact your chances of admission.

Why is XAT Considered Tough?

• The Decision-Making section is a significant differentiator and challenges candidates to think very morally, that too under the time pressure. This section is not found in any other MBA entrance exam.
• The GK section, while not part of the percentiles particularly, still adds an additional effort to preparation.
• XLRI Jamshedpur and NCR along with other top colleges accepting XAT scores have high cutoffs, often upward of the 98th percentile. If your profile is average, the cutoff can up to 99.5 percentile as well.

3. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the preferred choice for candidates aiming for multiple global MBA programs, especially across US and Europe. Conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT assesses similar skills as CAT and XAT with little difference here and there. Do note that GMAT is now scrapped and GMAT Focused Edition is now in place from 2024, making it more candidate friendly.

Key Features of GMAT:

• Exam Pattern: The GMAT consists of 3 sections i.e., Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights. Unlike traditional GMAT which had 4 sections, the Focused edition has only 3 sections, making it easier for students.
• Computer Adaptive Test: Unlike CAT or XAT, GMAT is a computer-adaptive test. The difficulty level of questions adjusts based on the candidate’s performance after every question you answer. If you answer one question incorrectly, the next question you will get will be easier and it keeps going.
• Global Applicability: GMAT is accepted by thousands of business schools across the globe including top Ivy League Colleges like Harvard, Stanford and INSEAD. In India, ISB is the top college which accepts GMAT scores followed SPJIMR.
• No Essay Writing: Unlike traditional GMAT, there is no more essay writing in GMAT Focused Edition. It helps students to focus on core sections as mentioned above.
• Scoring System: The GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800, with top schools typically requiring scores above 700. The new edition is much shorted as well with less number of questions and lesser duration.

Why is GMAT Considered Tough?

• The adaptive nature of the test makes GMAT can be sometimes challenging. Answering one question correctly usually leads to a harder question, which can be difficult to solve.
• Since GMAT is often used for admissions to global MBA programs, the competition is not just in India but across the globe. This leads to higher cutoffs in general.

Which MBA Exam Should You Choose?

If you are aiming to leave India and pursue your MBA from a global college, GMAT should be your choice. The path will be challenging amidst the global competition but with right preparation, you can easily crack it. If you are aiming for IIMs and other top colleges in India, CAT and XAT should be your focus. CAT and XAT both same similar syllabus except the decision making section in XAT, which is somewhat beneficial for the students in terms of preparation. If you are someone who is interested in HR, XLRI should be your goal and hence focus on XAT solely. It is not the toughness of exam which should decide what you want to pursue and where you want to study. Rather, it should be your own goals and aspirations and tweak your preparation likewise to achieve them.