CAT vs GMAT 2025: Key Differences & Which to Choose?

CAT vs GMAT 2025: Key Differences & Which to Choose?

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Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 21 Apr 2025, 02:27 PM IST
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CAT vs GMAT: A common dilemma for MBA aspirants is choosing between CAT and GMAT. Here’s an attempt to help you understand which exam to choose. Read the complete article below to know more. Each year, thousands of applicants are in a conundrum when it comes to opting for either CAT or GMAT. It is a major decision for them because giving these exam tests opens doors to several opportunities for the aspirants. Read this article by Careers360 in which we have discussed GMAT vs CAT.

This Story also Contains

  1. Difference Between CAT and GMAT: Highlights
  2. GMAT or CAT: Number of Attempts
  3. How to choose CAT or GMAT
  4. CAT vs GMAT: Choice of institutes
  5. What is the difference in the calculation of the CAT Score and GMAT Score?
CAT vs GMAT 2025: Key Differences & Which to Choose?
CAT vs GMAT

Difference Between CAT and GMAT: Highlights

While looking for difference between CAT and GMAT, many students have a question like -is GMAT easier than CAT?, CAT or GMAT which is better?, is CAT and GMAT syllabus same? What is GMAT vs CAT difficulty. However, it has been noticed that there is a predicament that the applicants face as to which test to sit for and which one they have a better chance of clearing.

These exams take place to set apart those who are not ready for the grueling MBA programme. So before they finalize the exam, they need to know what these two exams offered. They need to know certain details of the GMAT vs CAT difficulty level.

ParticularsCATGMAT
Exam full formCommon Admission Test (CAT)Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
Exam conducting bodyIndian Institute of Management, BangaloreGraduate Management Admission Council
Basic EligibilityBachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marksBachelor's degree (No minimum percentage)
Scorecard validityIn India (valid for one year only)Global/ for 5 years
FrequencyOnce a yearAny time of the year
Exam sectionsQuantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical ReasoningQuantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment, and Integrated Reasoning
Number of questions6681
Number of sections34
Exam duration2 hours3 hours
Mode of examOnlineOnline
Marking scheme+3 for a correct answer
-1 for incorrect answer
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GMAT or CAT: Number of Attempts

GMAT can be given several times throughout the year, whereas the CAT exam can only be given once a year. CAT leaves no space for flexibility. In GMAT you can take the exam five times a year. This gives room for flexibility, as applicants can choose the date when they want to give the GMAT.

What do they test?

Another distinguishing factor between the two tests is how they probe an applicant. The CAT exam focuses more on interpreting data and quantitative analysis. On the other hand, the GMAT focuses more on analytical skills and verbal reasoning. Applicants need to understand that companies that recruit MBAs are looking for people who have good communication skills, critical thinking, and leadership.

Validity of CAT score

This is a major differentiating factor between the two examinations. A CAT score is valid for only one year. There are a few institutions that consider an applicant’s CAT exam score from the previous year. On the other hand, an applicant’s GMAT score will be valid for five years. Again as far as flexibility is concerned, the GMAT is more adaptable.

How to choose CAT or GMAT

Compared to the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is a domestic exam and widely accepted in India, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam opens more opportunities if candidates looking to attend B-school abroad or in India. Those candidates who opt for GMAT over CAT also face less competition. More than 200,000 lakh candidates appear for the CAT entrance test every year to pursue an MBA program from top B-schools.

CAT vs GMAT: Choice of institutes

CAT score is accepted by IIMs and other B-Schools. Applicants need to remember that the CAT exam at its very core is Indian education-centric. So if they are looking to get admission to one of the Indian B-Schools, CAT is the right exam to take. Check out more about GMAT vs CAT how to choose.

GMAT score is accepted by Indian as well as B-Schools across the world. In other words, an applicant has more options to choose from. Just because the number of B-Schools increases, it doesn’t mean that the quality reduces. On the contrary, the quality of the B-School also increases. Top B-Schools such as Harvard Business School, Wharton, and Stanford all accept GMAT scores, adding to their value.

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Ease of admissions

When it comes to the CAT exam, admission to the college of choice is not easy. Only a handful of applicants get the colleges they want. Because the number of applicants is a lot and the seats fewer, the Government of India has even opened several IIMSs across the country in the past few years. Till 1996, there were only six IIMs in the country, the first ones being established in 1961. Now there are 20 IIMs in the country out of which seven have been established in the past three years.

If we talk about GMAT, it is much easier for applicants to get into the college of their choice. The main reason for this is that B-Schools across the world accept GMAT scores. Moreover, even IIMs have started accepting GMAT scores. Because B-Schools are spread out across the globe when it comes to GMAT, applicants have more options to choose from.

Sameer Kamat who is the founder of MBA Crystal Ball, a management admission consultancy and Careerizma, says, “As a thumb rule for applicants who have less than two years of experience, CAT is a better option since GMAT MBA programmes expect more experience (five years is the average experience in top B-Schools).

Having said this, I strongly believe that MBA students can extract better value from the degree only if they have spent enough time (three-four years) understanding how the corporate world works at the operational level. Without that exposure, a highly practical course such as MBA can end up being another theoretical experience.”

Sameer also said that over the past few years, it has been noticed that an increasing number of MBA graduates from India (including the top tier institutes) have been approaching them for help with their second MBA applications. The primary reason they cite – their first MBA degree happened too early and it did not deliver what they were expecting.

According to Sameer, it is a colossal waste of the first opportunity, not to mention time, energy, and money. Imagine putting in double the effort and time, and a significantly bigger investment pursuing the same degree twice. He feels that whether aspirants go for CAT or GMAT, it is best to do it once (whether in India or abroad), and make the most of it.

Cost

Cost is the single most decisive factor which makes CAT a better option than GMAT. Although CAT is held only once a year, the examination fee is a mere Rs. 2300. If you compare it with GMAT then the cost of the examination is $250 or Rs. 16,000 (per attempt). Pursuing MBA in India is cheaper than pursuing MBA from an overseas university.

For applicants who want to pursue their MBA in India, CAT is a good option, but if he or she wants to apply to a foreign university and is willing to spend the money, then they should opt for the GMAT.

Format of the test

This is again one area where these two exams differ greatly. GMAT is more of a computer-adaptive test. This indicates that CAT is adjusted to the level of difficulty based on your performance on the previous question. For example, if you answer your first question with ease, your next question will be relatively difficult.

The level of difficulty will keep on changing according to your caliber. On the other hand, if you are unable to answer the question, your next question will be an easy one. Coming to the CAT’s format, it is linear. CAT questions are picked on a random basis from a question bank and you have the option of not answering the question.

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What is the difference in the calculation of the CAT Score and GMAT Score?

Another major difference between the two is how scores are calculated in both these exams. CAT is scored in the percentile, while GMAT is absolute. Your CAT percentile depends on how others have also scored in the exam. In GMAT irrespective of how other applicants perform, if you do well in the exam, you will get a good score.

Number of applicants

Over the past few years, it has been observed that the number of applicants for both tests has been on a steady rise. The number is almost the same for both tests. This makes it difficult for the person to get the college of choice more complex in CAT because the number of colleges is significantly lower than that of the GMAT. It is simple, more students compete against each other for fewer seats.

Choosing which examination to sit for totally depends on the applicant. It depends on the circumstances surrounding the applicant. GMAT is good for those who are already working, while CAT is good for those who want to do their MBA immediately after their bachelor’s in India.

In the end, it is totally up to the applicants which exam they want to sit for. Applicants should choose the exam which is more appropriate for them.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is GMAT tougher than CAT?
A:

The difficulty level of the GMAT and CAT entrance exams is high. However, the GMAT entrance test is considered easier than CAT, as it has a predefined exam syllabus, unlike CAT.

Q: Can I crack CAT if I prepare for GMAT?
A:

Yes, one can prepare for both (CAT and GKAT) together. If a candidate wishes to appear for both the CAT and GMAT at the same time, then candidates will have to be very dedicated. While the GMAT score is accepted abroad (Internationally) as well the CAT exam is a national-level MBA exam.

Q: CAT or GMAT which is better?
A:

If a candidate wants to pursue an MBA in India, especially from IIM then they should go for CAT and if they want to pursue the same from abroad then GMAT is the best option to opt.

Q: Is syllabus for CAT and GMAT are same?
A:

The exam syllabus for the CAT and GMAT are almost the same. However, the difficulty level of the Quant section of the GMAT is quite lesser than the CAT exam.

Q: Is GMAT accepted in IIM?
A:

Yes, IIM accepts GMAT scorecards for Executive MBA admission. IIMs usually require a high GMAT score for the admission process. 

Q: Is CAT preparation sufficient for GMAT?
A:

It can be said that the preparation of the CAT and GMAT go parallel to each other as both of them have similar syllabi.

Q: Is GMAT easier than CAT?
A:

GMAT can be considered to be easier than the CAT exam. However, more or less the syllabus of the management entrance exam is similar. 

Q: Is GMAT accepted in IIM?
A:

IIMs accept GMAT for only One Year MBA Program, which is popularly known as PGPEx. 

Q: Is CAT and GMAT syllabus same?
A:

Yes, CAT preparation will help significantly in the preparation for the GMAT exam. 

Q: CAT or GMAT which is better?
A:

CAT can be considered to be the tougher exam when compared with the GMAT. 

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello dear candidate,

NO. your application for CAT will not rejected for wrong gender small mistake in the OBC NCL certificate. You will be considered as an OBC candidate.

you just need to get your OBC certificate corrected and need to inform the CAT helpdesk about this error.


Hello,

Here are some top MBA colleges in India with fees under Rs. 2 lakh and their exam/cutoff details:

  • SIMSREE, Mumbai – Fee around Rs. 1.3–1.4 lakh for 2 years. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA. Cutoff is very high, usually 99+ percentile in CAT/CMAT.

  • PUMBA (Dept. of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University) – Fee around Rs. 1.2–1.3 lakh. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA. Cutoff approx. 75+ percentile in CAT, 90–95+ percentile in CMAT, high scores in MAH-CET.

  • TISS, Mumbai (MA HRM & other management-related programmes) – Fee around Rs. 1.7–1.9 lakh. Accepts CAT for some courses. Qualifying cutoff is around 60–70 percentile, but final selection cutoffs are higher.

These are the main government institutes where the full MBA/PG programme fee is within Rs. 2 lakh. Cutoffs vary slightly each year and by category, but SIMSREE and PUMBA generally need high scores, while TISS has its own process along with CAT shortlisting.

Hope it helps !

Hey! With a NEET score of 344 in the ST category, it is highly unlikely to get admission in any government BDS college in Delhi through the All India Quota. The cutoff for government BDS seats in Delhi usually falls around 400–450 for ST category, so your score is below that range.

You can consider private dental colleges, state quota seats in other states, or reattempt NEET next year to improve your chances.

Hello dear candidate,

YES, with NEET score 344in the ST category you have high chances of getting admission in a BDS College in J&K through JKBOPEE counselling.

check the seat availability and next participate in JKBOPEE Counselling with all the necessary documents.

Thank you.


Hey! With an All India Rank (AIR) of 302,821 in NEET and belonging to the BCE category, it is highly unlikely to get a BDS seat in Telangana under the state quota, as the closing ranks for BCE are usually below 50,000. You may consider applying to private colleges under management quota or explore BDS seats in other states, but the chances remain very limited with this rank.