What is the full form of CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT - Entrance Exams

Are you an MBA aspirant preparing for the popular MBA program entrance exams like CAT, MAT, CMAT, and XAT? 

The CMAT, XAT, MAT, and CAT exams are some of the most well-known MBA entrance exams allowing candidates to get into the top MBA colleges in India. 

However, choosing a suitable exam that best suits your interest and career scope and one you can easily pass with a high score is important. 

In this article, we share the key details of each important entrance exam so you can make a better-informed decision and get into the top MBA university of your dreams. 

What Is CAT?

The CAT course’s full form is the Common Admission Test. It is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) annually. 

The IIMs conduct this exam online annually on a rotational basis and accepts CAT scores to provide admission into top B-schools like IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, and IIM Indore. 

The exam is 120 minutes duration. The three sections included in the CAT exam are: 

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA) 
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) 

CAT Full Form and Key Highlights 

Here are the key highlights of the CAT exam: 

CAT Features	CAT Details
CAT exam full form	Common Admission Test
Conducting Institute	Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Application mode	online
Exam Level	National
Exam duration	2 hours
Exam mode	Computer-based Test (CBT)
Eligibility	50% aggregate in an undergraduate degree (45% for SC/ST candidates)
Exam fees	₹2300 for General category and ₹1150 for reserved categories
Exam pattern	66 MCQs and non-MCQs
Courses offered	PGDM/MBA
Exam website	iimcat.ac.in

What Is CMAT?

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). 

Many government and private institutions accept CMAT scores for admission to the top colleges. 

Here’s the CMAT exam syllabus and key sections: 

• Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
• General Awareness
• Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship (optional paper)
• Logical Reasoning

CMAT Full Form and Key Highlights 

Here are the key highlights of the CMAT exam: 

CMAT Features	CMAT Details
CMAT exam full form	Common Management Admission Test
Conducting Institute	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level	National
Exam duration	3 hours + 30 minutes for the optional paper
Exam mode	Computer-based Test (CBT)
Eligibility	Graduates from any stream from a recognisable college are eligible.
Exam fees	₹2000
Exam pattern	100 MCQs
Courses offered	MBA/PGDM
Exam website	cmat.nta.nic.in

What Is MAT?

Management Aptitude Test, or MAT, is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the All India Management Associations (AIMA) across India. It is conducted four times a year. 

It’s comparatively easier, and the syllabus includes the following: 

• Language Comprehension 
• Indian & Global Environment
• Data Analysis & Sufficiency
• Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
• Mathematics (Quantitative Aptitude)

MAT Full Form and Key Highlights 

Here are the key highlights of the MAT exam: 

MAT Features	MAT Details
MAT exam full form	Management Aptitude Test
Conducting Institute	All India Management Associations (AIMA)
Application mode	Online
Exam Level	National
Exam duration	2.5 hours
Exam mode	Computer-based Test (CBT), Internet-based Test (IBT), and Paper-based Test (PBT)
Eligibility	Graduates from any stream from a recognisable college and final-year graduates are eligible.
Exam fees	₹1850 (additional ₹1000 for the second test mode)
Exam pattern	200 MCQs
Courses offered	MBA/PGDM
Exam website	mat.aima.in

What Is XAT?

XAT, or Xavier Aptitude Test, is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur each year on January’s first Sunday. The exam is moderate to high in difficulty, and the XAT score is accepted by many top B-schools in India, including XLRI Jamshedpur. 

The XAT syllabus and exam sections include 

• Decision Making
• Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
• Verbal & Logical Ability
• General Knowledge

XAT Full Form and Key Highlights 

Here are the key highlights of the XAT exam: 

XAT Features	XAT Details
XAT exam full form	Xavier Aptitude Test
Conducting Institute	XLRI Jamshedpur
Application mode	Online
Exam Level	National
Exam duration	3 hours
Exam mode	Computer-based Test (CBT)
Eligibility	Graduates from any stream from a recognisable college and final-year graduates are eligible.
Exam fees	₹2000
Exam pattern	100 MCQs
Courses offered	MBA/PGDM
Exam website	xatonline.in

Conclusion 

All the CAT, CMAT, XAT, and MAT entrance exams are highly important to get admission to some of the best MBA universities in India. 

The entrance exam you decide to go for depends upon your level of interest, career opportunities, the MBA course you wish to pursue, and how easy it is for you to crack that entrance exam. Check out the top CAT preparation strategies to help clear the CAT exam. 

If you need more help finding the best MBA colleges, you can sign up with Sunstone, a leading education service provider. 

Before you appear for any of the MBA entrance exams, make sure you make a list of your preferred MBA colleges. You can check out institutes that offer Sunstone’s benefits. 

Sunstone is an education service provider with a presence in more than 50 institutes across 35 cities in India. We offer 100+ hours of industry-aligned training programmes to help students hone their soft skills. Furthermore, students who register with Sunstone get up to 50 interview opportunities, which further increases their chances of employment.

FAQ -Full Form CAT, CMAT, XAT, MAT

What is the full form of CAT?

The full form of CAT is the Common Aptitude Test. 

What is the full form of XAT and MAT?

XAT’s full form is Xavier Aptitude Test, whereas the MAT exam’s full form is Management Aptitude Test. 

What are the fees for the CAT exam?

The registration fee for the CAT examination is ₹2300 for the general category and ₹1150 for the reserved category.