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CMAT vs XAT
CMAT: 100 questions, 400 marks, 180 minutes. XAT: 95 questions, 75 marks, 180 minutes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| CMAT 2027 | XAT 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Questions | 100 | 95 |
| Marks | 400 | 75 |
| Time | 180 min | 180 min |
| Seconds a question | 108 | 114 |
| Marking | +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one. | +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one. After 8 unanswered questions, each further unanswered question in Part 1 costs 0.10. GK has no negative marking and does not count towards the percentile. |
| Sections | Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making, Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge (not in percentile) |
| Languages | English | English |
| Next exam | 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative) | 3 Jan 2027, 2–5 pm; register by 6 Dec 2026 |
| Last cut-off (UR) | Not published | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 4 full (2 free) | 5 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- Dates: CMAT 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative); XAT 3 Jan 2027, 2–5 pm; register by 6 Dec 2026. If they are weeks apart, prepare the shared sections first and the exam-specific ones in the last weeks before each.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for CMAT and XAT together?
- Yes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, CMAT or XAT?
- CMAT: +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one. XAT: +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one. After 8 unanswered questions, each further unanswered question in Part 1 costs 0.10. GK has no negative marking and does not count towards the percentile.
- What are the age limits for CMAT and XAT?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of National Testing Agency (website ) and XLRI Jamshedpur (website ). Age-limit calculator · All comparisons