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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 2025 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 yearly 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 | January |
Number of Section | 3 sections | 5 sections |
Difficulty Level | high | moderate |
Marks per questions | +4 | +4 |
Official Website | ||
CAT vs CMAT Exam Fee | INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) | INR 2,500 for General (Male) and INR 1,250 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.
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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.
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. The CAT exam pattern was revised last year, The total number of questions asked in the previous CAT exam was 68 questions, added 2 additional questions in the DILR section.
Section | Number of Questions | Maximum marks | Time Limit |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
Total | 68 questions | 204 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 21 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 exam preparation.
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.
Hello Ashish,
Yes, you can get admission to MBA programs at IISWBM without a CAT score, but only for certain courses. Note that IISWBM has MBA programs under the University of Calcutta and flagship courses like MBA (Day) or MBA-HRM typically require a CAT score. Other programs like the PGDM or Executive MBA/Course may have other entrance examinations on which consideration would be made, or considerations may be based on merit, and of course work experience. Always run any eligibility detail checks with the official IISWBM (https://www.iiswbm.edu/) website or The IISWBM prospectus.
Hello,
Yes, a state (Delhi) NC-OBC certificate is valid for CAT 2025 , but it must be in the central government format (for appointment to posts under Government of India).
Also, it should be issued after 31st March 2025, as required by IIMs. If your certificate meets these conditions, it will be accepted.
Hope it helps !
Hello aspirant,
With 375 marks and an AIR of around 2.6 lakh in NEET 2025, getting admission to Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College (AUTC), New Delhi under the state quota is quite difficult. The cutoffs for government BAMS seats in AUTC generally stay below AIR 50,000, especially for the General and EWS categories. Your score may not meet the cutoff in the first or second rounds, but you might still have a slim chance in the mop-up or stray vacancy rounds, depending on how many seats remain and how other candidates opt. If you're a Delhi domicile and have all your documents ready, you should definitely apply and fill AUTC as a top choice. It’s also good to keep backup options in other AYUSH colleges open.
GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.
The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.
If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.
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