Which MBA entrance exam is easier - IBSAT, CAT, XAT, NMAT?
MBA aspirants might worry about which MBA entrance exam is easier among IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT. Check out this page to get an answer to this question and make an informed decision.
Which MBA Entrance Exam is Easier? IBSAT, CAT, XAT or NMAT: Choosing the right MBA entrance exam is the first step in a student's MBA career journey. Many factors, such as the examination's difficulty level, colleges accepting their score, exam pattern, competition level, and selection process, affect a student's decision in selecting an MBA entrance exam. The IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT entrance exams open doors to many reputed Business Schools for MBA courses.
Selecting the easier MBA entrance exam among IBSAT, CAT, XAT or NMAT depends on a candidate's strengths and preparation level. However, if their difficulty level is considered, IBSAT is the easiest among these four entrance exams, followed by NMAT, XAT and CAT in this same order.
- IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT Entrance Exam: Overview
- IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT Entrance Exam: Difficulty Level
- IBSAT, CAT, XAT or NMAT: Which Entrance Exam Has Toughest English Section?
- IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT: Entrance Exam Pattern
- MBA Entrance Exam Preparation Books
IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT Entrance Exam: Overview
Check out table below to get an overview of these entrance exams:
| MBA Entrance Exam | Conducted By | Scores Accepted by | Courses Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBSAT Exam | IBS Hyderabad | IBS Hyderabad, IBS Mumbai, IBS Bengaluru, IBS Pune, IBS Gurgaon, IBS Kolkata, IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Jaipur, and IBS Dehradun | MBA/PGPM |
| CAT Exam | IIM Indore | 22 IIMs and1600+ B-schools in India |
MBA, or equivalent Management program |
| XAT Exam | XLRI Jamshedpur | 150+ participating colleges and 600 other B-schools | MBA/PGDM |
| NMAT Exam | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | SVKM's NMIMS, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, and SPJIMR, and more | MBA/PGDM |
IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT Entrance Exam: Difficulty Level
One of the factors that helps students select an entrance exam is its difficulty level. Check below to know the MBA entrance exam difficulty level and competition level of IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT to decide which entrance exam to take.
| MBA Entrance Exam | Difficulty Level | Competition Level |
|---|---|---|
| IBSAT Exam | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| CAT Exam | Difficult | Very High |
| XAT Exam | Difficult | High |
| NMAT Exam | Moderate | Moderate |
IBSAT, CAT, XAT or NMAT: Which Entrance Exam Has Toughest English Section?
Students usually find the English Section most difficult to answer. Knowing which entrance examination has easy English section can also impact a candidate's decision on which entrance test to take. Check below to know the difficulty level of English section of each of these exams:
- IBSAT Exam: As per past analysis, IBSAT exam tests a candidate's Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension at an accessible level, which makes it easier than the rest three exams.
- CAT Exam: This entrance exam places greater emphasis on Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning, making it tougher for students to answer questions.
- XAT Exam: Along with Reading Comprehension questions, the XAT exam also includes more vocabulary-based questions, which can be tricky for students to answer because the scope of vocabulary is wide.
- NMAT Exam: The difficulty level of NMAT exam's English section is moderate and includes questions on grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.
IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT: Entrance Exam Pattern
Check out the exam pattern of IBSAT, CAT, XAT and NMAT exams to know more about them and pick an entrance exam:
IBSAT Exam Pattern
Below is the exam pattern for IBSAT exam:
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode |
Home-Proctored Test |
| Duration of exam |
120 minutes |
| Number of questions |
140 MCQs |
| Total Marks |
140 marks |
| Language of paper |
English |
| Subjects |
|
| Number of sections |
Four sections |
| Marking scheme |
|
CAT Exam Pattern
Check out the table below for CAT exam pattern:
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| CAT exam mode |
Computer-based (online) |
| Number of sections |
3 |
| CAT syllabus |
|
| Number of questions |
68 |
| CAT exam duration |
120 minutes (divided equally across three sections) |
| Type of questions |
MCQs as well as TITA (Type in The Answer) |
| Marking Scheme |
|
XAT Exam Pattern
Find out exam pattern for XAT in table below:
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sections |
4 (Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge) |
| XAT time limit |
3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Number of questions |
95 |
| Total marks |
95 |
| Number of answer choices |
Five |
| Mode of examination |
Online |
| XAT marking scheme |
+1 mark for correct answer - 0.25 marks for incorrect answer - 0.10 marks for more than 8 consecutive un-attempted questions No negative marking in GK section |
NMAT Exam Pattern
Students planning to take MBA entrance exam can check NMAT exam pattern below:
| Particular | NMAT Exam Details |
|---|---|
| NMAT exam mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total questions | 108 |
| Score range | 36-360 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sections | Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning |
| Questions per section | 36 |
| Negative marking | No negative marking |
MBA Entrance Exam Syllabus
| CAT Syllabus | CMAT Syllabus | NMAT Syllabus |
| MAT Syllabus | SNAP Syllabus | IBSAT Syllabus |
| XAT Syllabus | ATMA Syllabus | IIFT Syllabus |
MBA Entrance Exam Preparation Books
Selecting the right book plays a crucial role in preparing for MBA entrance exams. Here is the list of some recommended books for MBA preparation that an aspirant can refer:
- NCERT Mathematics books (Class 6-10)
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
- Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT
- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
- Quantitative Aptitude
- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning
- How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT
- How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT
- Data Interpretation
- CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension For The CAT
- Word Power Made Easy
- High School Grammar and Composition
- 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
MBA Entrance Exam Preparation Tips
| CAT Preparation Tips | CMAT Preparation Tips | ATMA Preparation Tips |
| MAT Preparation Tips | NMAT Preparation Tips | IBSAT Preparation Tips |
| XAT Preparation Tips | SNAP Preparation Tips | |