Is XAT Tougher than GMAT? A Comparison of MBA Aspirants

If you are an MBA aspirant, then you may have some confusion between XAT and GMAT. One of the biggest questions for the candidates is 'Is XAT tougher than GMAT?'. Both of these exams open the door for the top B-schools, but they have differences in format, level of difficulty, and preparation strategy.

You should know the key difference between these two exams, comparing their exam structure, level of difficulty, and acceptance worldwide. Whether you are seeking admission to Indian b-schools or global MBA programs, you must identify which exam aligns with your strengths is important.

Which Exam is Difficult the XAT and GMAT?

XAT and GMAT are both challenging exams, but the difficulty completely depends on your preparation level.

• XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is known for its Decision-Making section, which requires strong analytical reasoning to solve the questions. It also includes the General Knowledge section, which is not part of the GMAT.
• GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer-adaptive test, which means the questions will get tougher with every question you answer. GMAT syllabus has of three important sections, that is Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Although the Quantitative section is considered to be tough, this exam has a more predictable exam pattern.

If you want a structured exam with an adaptive difficulty level, then can go for the GMAT exam. But, if you think that you can deal with the Decision Making and Verbal selection, then XAT could be a better fit.

Detailed Comparison Between XAT and GMAT

To understand the difficulty level, you should check the detailed comparison between the XAT and GMAT exams:

XAT vs GMAT: Exam Pattern

There are certain differences between XAT exam pattern and GMAT exam pattern. The table below shows the comparison between XAT and GMAT exams:

Particulars	XAT	GMAT
Full Form	Xavier Aptitude Test	Graduate Management Aptitude Test
Conducting Body	XLRI, Jamshedpur	Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Total Exam Duration	3 Hours	3.5 Hours
No. of Sections	4 Sections: (Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Verbal & Logical Ability, and General Knowledge)	3 Sections: (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights)
No. of Questions	95	64
Negative Marking	Yes -0.25 for every wrong answer -0.10 for excessive Unattempted questions	No
Adaptive Test	No	Yes (difficulty level gets tougher with every question)

XAT vs GMAT: Difficulty Level

• XAT exam can be considered tougher because of its Decision Making and Verbal Ability section. You should have a strong logical reasoning skill to deal with these sections.
• GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, that means the difficulty level of the questions increases with every question you answer. It makes it challenging for those candidates who are not familiar with the adaptive test.

The Quantitative Ability of GMAT is more structured, whereas the Data Interpretation section of XAT can be tricky sometimes.

XAT vs GMAT: Acceptance

• GMAT exam is recognized globally, by more than 2,000 b-schools throughout the world.
• XAT exam scores are accepted by more than 150 Indian b-schools.

If you are thinking of pursuing an international MBA program, then GMAT could be a better option.

XAT vs GMAT: Cost & Attempts

The table below shows the cost and number of attempts for the XAT and GMAT exam:

Particulars	XAT	GMAT
Exam Fees	INR 2,000	USD 275 for Test Center Format USD 300 for Online Format
No. of Attempts	1 time a Year	5 times a year (maximum 8 attempts in total)
Score Validity	1 Year	5 Years

Preparation Strategies for XAT and GMAT

XAT and GMAT, each exam has a different exam pattern and difficulty level. So, you need different strategies to prepare for the XAT and GMAT exams.

XAT Preparation Strategy

These are the steps that you can follow to prepare for the XAT exam:

• Decision Making: This is a very unique section of the XAT examination. You must have logical reasoning and ethical judgment to solve the questions from this section. You can start practicing from various case studies and business scenarios.
• Verbal and Logical Ability: You should focus more on Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Critical Reasoning. To prepare for this section, you should read editorials and practice local puzzles.
• Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation: This section of XAT can be tricky, so you should mainly focus on Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Data Interpretation sets.
• General Knowledge: The XAT exam pattern includes the General Knowledge and a Current Affair section. To prepare for the GK and Current Affairs, read newspapers and follow the business news daily.
• Essay Writing: The Essay Writing section has been removed from the main exam and included in the GD&PI round. However, some institutes evaluate this section, so you must practice Essay Writing on various topics.

In the XAT exam, you can switch between the sections, so manage your time wisely. To understand the XAT paper pattern, you try to solve mock tests and the previous year's questions.

GMAT Preparation Strategy

These are the steps that you can follow to prepare for the XAT exam:

• Quantitative Section: GMAT's Quantitative section is structured. So, to prepare for this section, you must practice problem-solving and data-sufficiency questions.
• Verbal Section: For the Verbal section, you will need strong grammar, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning.
• Data Insights: GMAT's Data Insights assesses your data interpretation and logical analysis skills. So, you should focus on a comprehensive approach that includes the understanding of different types of questions, practicing regularly, and developing strong reasoning skills.

GMAT follows the computer-adaptive test pattern, that means the questions get tougher based on your performance. To understand the exam structure, you can refer to the official mock tests to simulate the real exam conditions. It has no sectional time limit, so you should practice answering questions effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic difference between the XAT and GMAT examination? +

Ans: The XAT exam is conducted for admission to Indian B-Schools, whereas, the GMAT is accepted for MBA programs worldwide. XAT has some unique sections, that is Decision Making and General Knowledge, which GMAT does not have.

How is the scoring system different between XAT and GMAT? +

Ans: These are the differences between the scoring system of XAT and GMAT:

• XAT exam uses the percentile ranking system to select the students, where scores depend on performance relative to other candidates.
• GMAT exam uses the scaled score system, ranging between 205 to 805 based on adaptive difficulty.

Do XAT and GMAT have negative markings? +

Ans: The XAT exam has a negative marking, which is -0.25 per wrong answer. Also, there are penalties for excessive Unattempted questions. GMAT does not have any negative marks for the wrong answers.

Should I take both the XAT and GMAT? +

Ans: Yes, if you are seeking admission to both Indian business school and global MBA programs, then taking both the XAT and GMAT exams could give you more options. 

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