XAT vs MAT – What is the difference between XAT and MAT and which examination is easier to crack? Firstly, XAT, MAT or even CAT are national level management entrance examinations conducted for admission to PGDM / MBA Programs. EurAsian Times explains which examinations between XAT and MAT is easier to crack and which one you should be gunning for?
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Most of the leading MBA / PGDM Colleges in India offer admission based on candidate’s score in CAT. However, if you have not given the CAT exam or not scored too well, it is wise enough to appear other examinations like MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, ATMA and GMAT. Let’s understand the difference between XAT and MAT and which colleges you are likely to get with these two colleges.
Xavier Admission Test (XAT)
The Xavier Labour Relations Institute Jamshedpur School of Management (XLRI) conducts the Xavier Admission Test (XAT) for admission to the MBA program. Only a few B-Schools accept candidates based on their XAT score.
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Candidates who have passed the Bachelor’s degree examination in relevant discipline from a recognized university with an aggregate of at least 50% marks (45% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST Category) are eligible to apply for XAT. This entrance exam is conducted only once a year.
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national level entrance test which is conducted by the Centre for Management Services (CMS) of All India Management Association (AIMA). This examination is conducted in all the major cities across India and also in the leading cities of Abroad. Almost every institute accepts students based on candidate’s score in MAT.
The score obtained in MAT is required for admission to PGDM course or any other equivalent programs offered by the AIMA or other Management Institutes participating in it. MAT is conducted by the All India Management Aptitude Testing Service (AIMATS), New Delhi. This test is conducted four times in a year i.e. in February, May, September and December. To appear in this entrance test, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university.
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XAT vs MAT?
All the management institutes that participate in MAT are either AICTE approved or are associated with some universities. Students who are in the final year of their Graduation are also eligible to appear in the MAT. There is no age limit to appear for this entrance examination. Work experience is also not required to apply for this examination.
XAT is a national level entrance exam conducted by the Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI). This examination is conducted for admission to various management programs offered by XLRI (A Business School consistently ranked as India’s Top 5 Business Schools)
The score obtained in XAT is used by more than 60 Management Institutes for admission including XLRI-Jamshedpur, Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Xavier Institute of Management (XIM) and almost all the MAT Colleges.
Final Conclusion XAT vs MAT
XAT is considered almost equivalent to CAT. Students who have struggled to score well in CAT will find it extremely challenging to score in XAT. However, MAT is considered an easier option, and the majority of students who appear in MAT exams end up scoring well. The only limitation is the quality of business schools under MAT, which cannot be compared to CAT or XAT Colleges, barring few exceptions.
On the plus side, you will get only one chance if you appear in XAT examination whereas you will get four chances to crack the MAT examination. The December MAT is considered the hardest to score while student appearing for May MAT examinations have consistently scored well.
Overall, MAT is the second most popular examination in India (after CAT) and its score will be accepted by innumerable colleges. The only concern, as previously mentioned, is the quality of business schools under MAT is not considered very high.
By Preeti Rana, MDI Gurgaon
