What is the difference between MAT, XAT, CAT, IIFT?

MAT (Management Aptitude Test) and CAT (Common Aptitude Test) both are conducted for granting admission in management and related courses. 

MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) and it is a standardized test to facilitate Business school to the students.

Exam Pattern:

1. MAT – It consists of objective questions which can be both online and offline mode based on the student’s convenience. The exam has a total of 200 questions and is of only 2 hours 30 mins.
2. CAT – This exam is divided into three sections:

• Quantitative Ability - 34 questions.
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning - 32 questions.
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension - 34 questions.

Marking Scheme:

• In MAT every question carries 1 mark and for every wrong answer, ¼ mark is deducted.
• In CMAT every correct answer carries +4 marks and every wrong answer has -1 marks. 
• In CAT there is no negative marking for MCQs and no penalty for unanswered questions.

Cut Off Marks:

• A score of 80 - 100 is regarded as a solid effort in MAT.
• A minimum of 90 percentile is needed to qualify in the CAT.
• With a 290-300 CMAT score, you can get into any top business school.

XAT is an entrance examination for admission in programs like MBA/PGDM in top MBA colleges like XLRI, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, and 160 other top MBA colleges in India.

The IIFT exam is a management aptitude examination escorted for acceptance to the MBA International Business course offered by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada. NTA conducts the IIFT exam on account of the institute. IIFT does not accept any other test scores for domestics students. NIRs and foreign students can get admission based on their GMAT score.