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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.
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.
Particulars | CAT | GMAT |
Exam full form | Common Admission Test (CAT) | Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) |
Exam conducting body | Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | Graduate Management Admission Council |
Basic Eligibility | Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks | Bachelor's degree (No minimum percentage) |
Scorecard validity | In India (valid for one year only) | Global/ for 5 years |
Frequency | Once a year | Any time of the year |
Exam sections | Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment, and Integrated Reasoning |
Number of questions | 66 | 81 |
Number of sections | 3 | 4 |
Exam duration | 2 hours | 3 hours |
Mode of exam | Online | Online |
Marking scheme | +3 for a correct answer -1 for incorrect answer | - |
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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.
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.
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.
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 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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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 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.
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.
Additional Read:
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.
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.
GMAT can be considered to be easier than the CAT exam. However, more or less the syllabus of the management entrance exam is similar.
IIMs accept GMAT for only One Year MBA Program, which is popularly known as PGPEx.
Yes, CAT preparation will help significantly in the preparation for the GMAT exam.
CAT can be considered to be the tougher exam when compared with the GMAT.
It can be said that the preparation of the CAT and GMAT go parallel to each other as both of them have similar syllabi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, IIM accepts GMAT scorecards for Executive MBA admission. IIMs usually require a high GMAT score for the admission process.
Hello aspirant,
The question papers for CAT MGU University can be found on their official website, or you can also visit careers360 website for the same.
The link of which, I am attaching here,
https://university.careers360.com/articles/mgu-cat-2025
Regards
Hello Anshuman!!!
You have gotten 86% in 10th, which is a good score. 70% in graduation is not the best but decent. But the main problem is your 12th score which is 62%.
You would be already aware that the Top IIMs (BLACKI) give a big emphasis on your academic score. Let me tell you one example of IIM Ahmedabad,
According to a research i read a few days ago, in IIM Ahmedabad,
70.8%
of students has 90+ percent in 12th,
25.8%
has 80-90 percent and around
3.8%
has less than 80% with the bracket of 60-69 having only
0.26%
students of the total batch. Nearly same is the case of the other top IIMs like IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore.
Statistically, getting into these TOP IIMs is possible with 62% in 12th is possible (0.26% has done it) but practically you cannot get into these TOP IIMs unless you top the CAT exam.
See, I don't wish to dishearten or demotivate you but I wish to tell you the truth. Although the probability of you getting into these TOP IIMs is very less, but trying is better than doing nothing. You have a good score in 10th which will certainly help you. The least you could do is try your best.
My advice would be that you should not focus on these things like "Will I get top IIM" or negative talk like " I got low marks I won't qualify" etc.
The main focus should be on your preparation.
Give 100% in your preparation because that's the only thing in your hand. You can't change your 10th/12th/Graduation scores but you can put some more effort in your preparation which would certainly help to get better percentile.
Keep working hard and give your best. You might surprise yourself!!! And if not BLACKI, there are many other good colleges like FMS, MDI, newer IIMs etc.
Hello,
Yes, with a 622 rank in IPU CET for MBA and being a Delhi candidate, you have a good chance of getting admission in MAIT (Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology).
You don’t need to worry about not giving the CAT exam. IPU CET rank is enough for admission in MAIT under the CET quota.
Just make sure to keep MAIT high in your preference list during counselling.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
A NEET 2025 score of 333 marks, an All India Rank (AIR) near 3,56,000, and belonging to the SC category from Andhra Pradesh suggest a fair possibility of obtaining an MBBS seat within the state quota, especially in private medical colleges under Category A (government quota seats in private institutions).
In Andhra Pradesh, SC category cut-offs for Category A seats in private institutions generally vary from 320 to 370, influenced by the college and the counselling round. Government medical colleges tend to be more competitive, with the SC cut-off for MBBS frequently rising, often exceeding 400 marks.
Although obtaining a government MBBS seat is improbable, you stand a feasible opportunity in private medical colleges within A category (which offer lower tuition than B and C categories). In Round 2 or the Mop-Up round, you can anticipate improved opportunities, since cut-offs generally decrease when other students move to superior colleges or vacate seats.
Colleges such as NRI Medical College (Guntur), Katuri Medical College (Guntur), Great Eastern Medical School (Srikakulam), Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences (Eluru), and Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences (Kadapa) are among those where seats could become available for SC students in subsequent rounds under Category A.
Hope this helps. All the best!
Yes, candidates who qualify in CUSAT CAT can gain admission to various participating institutes based on their rank. These include engineering colleges associated with CUSAT, such as its own School of Engineering in Kochi, Model Engineering College, and over 20 government and private engineering colleges across Kerala like College of Engineering Thrikkaripur, Co-operative Institute of Technology Vadakara, and MG College of Engineering Thiruvallam. The final seat allotment is based on your rank and your choice of program during the counselling process.
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