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CMAT or CAT? Wondering which exam to give? When it comes to pursuing an MBA in India, two of the most popular entrance exams are the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) or known as NTA CMAT and the Common Admission Test (CAT). These tests serve as a gateway to some of the top management institutes in India. Still, they differ significantly in their pattern, difficulty level, conducting bodies, and the institutions that accept their scores. Here’s a detailed comparison to check CAT vs CMAT: which is better?
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The full form for CAT in MBA is the Common Admission Test. The CAT 2024 is a national-level entrance exam conducted annually by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis in online mode. CAT scores are accepted by IIMs and other top B-Schools than IIMs. Candidates who qualify for the entrance exam with good marks based on the cutoff of CAT are called upon for further rounds as a part of the IIM admission process
CMAT exam full form is a Common Management Admission Test which is a national-level entrance test. CMAT 2025 is conducted in online mode by the National Testing Agency i.e. NTA. Until 2018, CMAT was administered by the All India Council for Technical Education on a yearly basis as per the regulations of MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development), Government of India.
Here is an overview comparison of CMAT vs CAT through different parameters.
CAT vs CMAT | CAT | CMAT |
Conducting Body | IIMs | NTA |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA | MCQs only |
Exam Month | November | Feb - May |
Number of Section | 3 sections | 5 sections |
Difficulty Level | high | moderate |
Marks per questions | +4 | +4 |
Official Website | ||
CAT vs CMAT Exam Fee | INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category) | INR 2,000 for General / EWS/OBC-NCL (Male) and INR 1,000 for rest of the students |
Mode | Online mode | Online mode |
Number of applications | More than 3 lakhs | More than 1 lakhs |
CMAT: This exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). CMAT exam pattern comprises 100 multiple-choice questions divided into four sections: Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, and General Awareness. Each section contains 25 questions, with a total exam duration of three hours. The CMAT is scored on a scale of 400 points.
CAT: Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the CAT exam pattern is slightly more complex. It consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. The total number of questions varies each year but usually hovers around 100, distributed unevenly across the sections. The duration of the CAT is also three hours, and the test uses a scaled score that takes into account the difficulty level of the exam across different sessions.
CMAT is generally considered to be less challenging than CAT, mainly due to the nature of the questions, particularly in the quantitative sections. CMAT includes a section on General Awareness, which is not present in the CAT, adding a unique dimension to the test.
CAT is widely regarded as one of the most challenging entrance exams in India, especially due to its high-level quantitative questions and complex data interpretation sets. The verbal section is also known to be particularly tough due to its emphasis on higher-order reasoning and comprehension skills.
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To ace in both exams, you should be aware of the sections and number of questions that can come in the final exam. Here is a comparison of the CAT and CMAT exams according to their sections and number of questions.
Section | Number of Questions | Maximum marks | Time Limit |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 60 | 40 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
Total | 66 questions | 198 marks | 160 minutes |
Section | Number of Questions | Maximum marks | Time Limit |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 | No time limit |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 | No time limit |
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 | No time limit |
General Awareness | 20 | 80 | No time limit |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 | No time limit |
Total | 100 | 400 | 180 minutes |
People also look for -
CMAT is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), a government-established body responsible for overseeing various entrance examinations. It is usually held once a year, in January or February.
CAT is organised by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), with a different IIM taking up the responsibility each year. The exam is typically conducted in late November.
People also look for -
CMAT: More than 1000 institutes across India accept CMAT scores. Some of the prominent ones include Great Lakes Institute of Management, K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, and Goa Institute of Management.
CAT: All 20 IIMs in India use CAT scores for admission, making it the more prestigious of the two exams. Besides the IIMs, other top-rated institutions like Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon also accept CAT scores.
Also Read
Top MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT score
Top B-schools Accepting CMAT Scores
Choosing between CMAT and CAT largely depends on a candidate’s career goals, preferred colleges, and comfort with the respective exam formats. While CAT opens doors to the elite IIMs and is suitable for those looking for a rigorous challenge, CMAT offers a broader array of options and might be preferable for those who are also interested in exploring opportunities in mid-tier management schools. Aspiring MBA students should consider their academic strengths, preparation levels, and career objectives when deciding which exam to pursue.
Given below are the best mock test series by Careers360 for CMA and CAT 2024 preparation.
No, as per the previous year's exam analysis, the CMAT exam is easier as compared to the CAT exam. The total number of candidates appearing and total number of MBA colleges accepting CAT scores is higher than the CMAT exam.
Yes, MBA aspirants who want to do MBA/PGP/PGDM from the best institutes can appear for the CMAT and CAT exams. To get IIM admission, a valid score in the CAT exam is required. Meanwhile, the CMAT score is not accepted by IIMs.
Yes, CMAT is one of the top MBA entrance exams conducted by NTA every year. About 1000+ MBA colleges accept CMAT scores for MBA admissions.
Hello aspirant,
According to the official eligibility notification, in order to be qualified for CAT, candidates must have graduated from an accredited university. However, individuals who have finished the degree requirements and are awaiting results, as well as those who are in their last year of a bachelor's degree or comparable qualification exam, may also apply.
If you fulfill this eligibility criteria then you can apply for CAT exam.
Thank you
Hello aspirant,
The CAT is regarded as one of the most difficult tests in India since it evaluates a variety of abilities. The test-takers' understanding, reasoning, and quantitative abilities are evaluated. Although achieving a high percentile on the CAT is difficult, it is possible with focused and organized preparation.
To know tips to crack CAT exam, you can visit the following link:
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/how-to-crack-cat
Thank you
Hello aspirant,
Based on past years' statistics, the CAT cutoff, which is determined as a composite score for the FMS Delhi admission shortlist, is anticipated to be in the range of 52 to 55. On the other hand, the approximate CAT profile is said to be 99.
To know the cutoff you can visit the following link:
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/fms-delhi-cat-cut-off
Thank you
Hope it helps you
Hello aspirant,
The only on-screen calculator that CAT permits use is a simple one. It is not permitted for you to bring the actual calculator into the center. This approach is predicated on the idea that the CAT assesses an individual's aptitude for solving challenging mathematical puzzles and making fast mental computations.
Thank you
A CAT percentile of 90 or above can strengthen your application to MICA, it is not the only factor that determines admission.MICA considers scores of CAT and MICAT which are weighted 50–50 percent for the interview call.
Strong performance in the Pshycometric test and descriptive writing increase your chances to get into mica even if you score 80 percentile.the admission is based upon whole performance including every marks.
ALL the best!!!!
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