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NMAT VS CAT - NMAT or CAT, which is easier to crack? Which one should you give? NMAT and CAT are the top entrance exams accepted by the top colleges and universities for MBA admissions. By comparing NMAT vs CAT, the exam pattern and syllabus appear to be similar. NMAT and CAT entrance exams are accepted by the majority of the MBA institutions in India. NMAT is a national-level entrance exam accepted by NMIMS and many others conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council. However, CAT is a national-level entrance examination accepted by all IIMs and other B-schools in India.
Latest: NMAT 2024 Preparation Tips
New: NMAT 2024 Sample Paper and Mock Test
Applications Open: Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025 App. Deadline: 3rd January
NMAT vs CAT: Candidates can apply for the NMAT exam and CAT exam based on their eligibility criteria. Candidates who scored 50% minimum aggregate marks in any relevant bachelor programme or final year students from an approved university can register for the CAT exam or NMAT entrance exam. Read this article of careers360 to get the answers to the dilemmas such as which exam is easier NMAT or CAT?, Is CAT harder than NMAT? and Is it easier to crack NMAT?
CAT (Common Admission Test) and NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test) are the entrance exams for admission to MBA courses in top institutions. Candidates can understand the basic details of the NMAT vs CAT exam.
Particulars | CAT | NMAT |
Full Form | Common Admission Test | NMIMS Management Aptitude Test |
Conducting Body | IIMs | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) |
Number of Attempts | Once every year | Three attempts in a year |
Application Fee |
| Rs. 2800 |
Negative Marking | Yes | No |
Also Read:
Top 20 MBA Entrance Exams: Which one to take this year | A Complete Guide
How to Prepare for MBA Entrance Exams? - Section-Wise Tips, Strategy & Guide
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
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NMAT is conducted once a year. Candidates who failed to meet the NMAT cutoff marks on the first attempt can retake 2 times in the same year. The NMAT retake exam can taken only after a 15-day gap from the previous attempt. While the CAT exam is conducted once a year only.
NMAT Additional Window: Candidates who do not use three attempts of the NMAT exam can register for the NMAT additional window. Exam slots available for the additional registration window are limited and slots are offered on a first come first serve basis. Candidates who already have an account in the NMAT exam portal can only able to use the NMAT additional window.
NMAT and CMAT are the entrance exams accepted for admission to the top B-schools in India. There are 3 topics to be covered in the NMAT Vs CAT entrance exams. The CAT exam syllabus consists of sections such as Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). However, the NMAT syllabus consists of Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Skills, and Language Skills. Candidates can check out the below tables to know the sectional-wise topics of NMAT vs CAT exam syllabus.
NMAT Section-wise questions | NMAT exam 2024 Syllabus |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
|
NMAT exam Quantitative Aptitude |
|
Logical Reasoning of NMAT 2024 |
|
CAT 2024 Syllabus | CAT exam 2024 Topics |
Verbal Ability | Para jumbles, Para summary, Odd sentence out, Inferences, Predictions, One-word substitution, Solving Main idea and title questions, Drawing Conclusions. |
Reading Comprehension | RC passages |
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | Binary Logic, Syllogism, Directions, Clocks and calendars, Tables, Graphs, Charts, Connectives, Logical Sequence, Matching/ Puzzles, Number and Letter Series, Seating Arrangement, Venn Diagrams, Coding-Decoding, Caselets and Table |
Quantitative Aptitude | Geometry, Trigonometry, Averages, Percentages, Number Systems, Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Modern Maths, Profit and loss, Simple & Compound Interest |
Candidates can go through the below table to understand the major differences in th NMAT vs CAT exam patterns.
Particulars | NMAT 2024 Exam | CAT 2024 Exam Details |
Exam sections |
|
|
Duration of exam | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
Total number of questions expected | 108 | 66 |
Total marks | 324 | 198 |
Type of questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | MCQs and Non-MCQ |
Marking Scheme |
|
|
Cutoff marks expected for the MBA admissions for top 10 colleges are listed below. MBA cutoff marks for NMAT vs CAT are determined by factors such as the number of candidates attending the exam, difficulty level of the exam, reservation policy, previous year's cutoff trends and many others. The MBA entrance exam's expected 2024 cutoff marks are mentioned in the table below.
NMAT 2024 | NMAT 2024 Expected Cutoff |
200+ marks | |
90+ percentile | |
200+ marks | |
80+ percentile | |
200+ marks | |
150+ | |
100+ | |
140+ | |
160+ | |
GITAM School of International Business (GSIB), Visakhapatnam | 140+ |
CAT 2024 | CAT 2024 Expected Cutoff |
99-100 | |
99-100 | |
99 | |
97+ | |
97+ | |
97 to 98 | |
95+ | |
95+ | |
95+ | |
94 |
The selection process of NMAT or CAT entrance exams usually have written test in the first round followed by GD or personal interview. The candidates who qualified in the first round only will be eligible to participate in the next round of the selection process.
The NMAT selection process comprises two steps that are mentioned below:
The candidates who cleared the CAT 2024 will be invited for the CAT selection process by the participating institutes, including the IIMs and non-IIMs. The MBA admission criteria can vary from one institute to another based on CAT 2024 score, WAT, and GD/PI. Check out the CAT selection process for the MBA / PGDM programmes.
Quick Links: MBA Books For Preparation Entrance Exam
Both CAT and NMAT exams are the most challenging MBA entrance exams. While comparing the exam syllabus of CAT or NMAT, appears to be similar. Candidates preparing for the CAT can also secure good marks in NMAT. Compared to NMAT, CAT is tougher.
Candidates can easily crack the NMAT exam if they have a proper study plan, dedication and hard work. The NMAT exam is conducted to analyse the mathematical, logical, language and analytical abilities of students.
Candidates who obtained NMAT cutoff marks above 200 will be offered admission to top b-schools accepting NMAT scores.
When comparing the entrance exam pattern and syllabus, the CAT is generally considered more challenging than the NMAT. The NMAT accepting colleges is less as compared to the CAT accepting institutes. Candidates who wish to apply for the MBA programmes at IIMs must qualify for the CAT exam. There are no differences in the exam pattern and syllabus of NMAT or CAT.
Hello Greetings
To prepare for the NMAT exam, you can explore various resources. Here are some options:
Official Study Materials
- *NMAT by GMAC Official Guide*: This comprehensive guide provides insights into the exam format, question types, and scoring ¹.
- *NMAT Official Website*: The official website offers resources, including sample questions, exam format, and scoring information ².
Online Study Materials
- *MBA Karlo*: This website provides free study materials, including notes and practice questions for Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning ³.
- *NMAT Preparation Books*: You can find various preparation books on online marketplaces like Amazon or Flipkart.
Coaching Institutes
- *TIME*: TIME offers coaching services, study materials, and mock tests to help you prepare for the NMAT exam.
- *CL*: CL provides coaching services, study materials, and mock tests to aid in your NMAT preparation.
Mock Tests
- *NMAT Mock Tests*: Taking mock tests can help you assess your preparation and identify areas for improvement.
Remember to create a study plan and stick to it to ensure you're well-prepared for the NMAT exam.
Have a great day
Hello Greetings
With an NMAT score of 198, you have a good chance of getting into some top MBA colleges in Mumbai. Here are some options to consider:
- *NMIMS School of Business Management Mumbai*: This is one of the top MBA colleges in Mumbai, and NMIMS is known for its excellent management programs ¹.
- *K J Somaiya Institute of Management*: This college is also well-regarded for its MBA programs and accepts NMAT scores ¹.
- *ITM Business School*: ITM is another good option in Mumbai that accepts NMAT scores ¹.
- *SDA Bocconi Asia Center*: This college offers a range of MBA programs and accepts NMAT scores ².
- *ICFAI Business School*: ICFAI is a well-known business school with a campus in Mumbai that accepts NMAT scores ² ¹.
These colleges are all well-regarded for their MBA programs, and with your NMAT score, you may have a good chance of getting in. However, keep in mind that admission to these colleges also depends on other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in group discussions and personal interviews.
Have a great day
Yes, you can apply for the NMAT additional window for the first time. The registration for the additional window will begin on January 5, 2025, and the last date to register is January 10, 2025. The exam will be held from January 13 to 17, 2025.
To apply, you will need to visit the official NMAT website and register for the exam. You will also need to pay an application fee of Rs 2800. Once you have registered, you will be able to schedule your exam date and time.
Hello,
Based on your NMAT score of 220 (90 Verbal, 75 LR, 55 Quant), here are some colleges you may consider:
NMIMS Mumbai
SPJIMR, Mumbai
UPES, Dehradun
VIT Business School
XIMB (Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar)
These are approximate cutoffs, and each year may vary slightly.
You can also use the NMAT college predictor tool to predict which college you can get based on your score.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
Based on previous years' cutoff , VIT Business School typically requires an NMAT score in the 75-80 percentile range for MBA admissions. An NMAT score of 206 may correspond to a percentile below this range, potentially affecting your chances.
Your current NMAT score is below the typical cutoff, but a strong overall application can still enhance your chances of receiving a call from VIT for the MBA program.
Hope it helps !
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