What is the Difference Between MAT and CAT Exam?

Common Admission Test (CAT) and the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) are two popular MBA entrance exams in India. While the CAT exam is conducted for admission to PGDM/MBA offered by IIMs and is also accepted by other B-schools in India, the MAT is conducted by AIMA, and more than 600 management institutions use MAT scores for admission. In this article, we will look at the different aspects of both exams, including exam pattern, eligibility criteria, colleges accepting CAT and MAT scores, Which is better CAT or MAT, etc.

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This Story also Contains

1. CAT vs MAT
2. MAT vs CAT: Overview
3. MAT vs CAT: Exam Conducting Body
4. CAT vs MAT: Eligibility Criteria
5. CAT vs MAT: Exam Pattern
6. CAT exam vs MAT exam: Examination Fee
7. Top Colleges Accepting MAT scores in India
8. Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score apart from IIMs

CAT vs MAT

These two exams appear a bit similar in terms of syllabus, but are quite different in other respects. Take the exam pattern, for example. While CAT has three sections, there are five sections in the MAT exam. Also, the duration of both exams differs. The main difference between CAT vs MAT is the exam frequency.

Although MAT is conducted four times a year, CAT is conducted only once a year. In this article, we discussed the difference between the MAT exam and the CAT exam. Knowing what the difference is between the CAT and MAT exams will help you decide which exam to choose this academic year.

MAT vs CAT: Overview

Let's take a quick look at what is the difference between the MAT and CAT Exam:

MAT vs CAT: Exam Conducting Body

Management Aptitude Test: The MAT exam is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admissions to PGDM/ MBA courses offered at 600+ B-schools in India. MAT exam is conducted four times a year in three modes: Paper Based Test (PBT), Internet-Based Test (IBT), and Computer Based Test (CBT).

Common Admission Test: The CAT exam is conducted once a year for admissions to PGDM/ MBA courses. The exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) on a rotation basis. Every year, one of the top IIMs is given the responsibility to conduct the CAT exam. CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) mode exam and is considered the toughest of all MBA entrance exams.

CAT vs MAT: Eligibility Criteria

Management Aptitude Test: The MAT exam is a boon for students who somehow do not excel at graduation. Any graduate with passing marks can appear for the MAT exam. No age limit or minimum percentage is required to appear for the MAT exam.

Common Admission Test: Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university or board with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA in the qualifying exam. Candidates belonging to the SC, ST, and PwD/DA categories must have obtained a minimum of 45 percent aggregate marks or their equivalent.

Also Read:

• MAT Eligibility Criteria
• CAT Eligibility Criteria

CAT vs MAT: Frequency of Exam

Management Aptitude Test: The MAT is conducted four times a year in February, May, September, and December. The dates of CBT, PBT, and IBT mode exams are different, and candidates can choose one or more examination modes.

Common Admission Test: The CAT exam is conducted once a year on the last Sunday of November, in two sessions: forenoon and afternoon. From 2020 onwards, CAT is conducted in three sessions. This year, CAT 2024 will likely be held on November 24 and in 3 sessions.

CAT vs MAT: Exam Pattern

Management Aptitude Test: The MAT exam paper consists of questions about Language Comprehension, the Indian and Global Environment, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence, and Critical Reasoning. The India and Global Environment section has current affairs and GK questions. The MAT exam paper comprises a total of 200 questions (40 in each section).

Common Admission Test: Students appearing for the the CAT need to solve questions from sections like Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Normally, CAT has 100 questions to be solved in 3 hours (180 minutes). In CAT 2020, the exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes (2 hours) and the number of questions to 76. In 2021 and 2022, the number of question was reduced from 76 to 66. Last year, the question was same as 2022. Accordingly, we expect CAT 2024 to have the same number of questions this year as well.

Also Read:

• MAT Exam Pattern
• CAT Exam Pattern

MAT vs CAT: Exam Duration

Management Aptitude Test: Students need to solve the given questions in two and a half hours (150 Minutes). Students are required to solve 200 questions within the given time duration. There is no sectional time limit so the students can solve the MAT paper in a sequence they prefer.

Common Admission Test: The duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes i.e. 2 hours. There is a sectional time limit of 40 mins for each section (VARC, DILR, QA). The students have to follow the given sequence to solve the CAT exam paper and as soon as 40 minutes of one section gets over, the computer screen jumps to the next section automatically. For PwD candidates the time limit will be 53 Minutes and 20 Seconds for each section.

Also Check:

• MAT Question Papers
• CAT Question Papers

CAT vs MAT: Marking Scheme

Management Aptitude Test: The total of MAT exam marks is 200. Every correct response carries a +1 mark, and a -0.25 mark is deducted for every wrong response. The score of the India and Global Environment section is not taken into consideration for calculating the final MAT percentile.

Common Admission Test: The total of CAT exam marks is 198. For every correct response, +3 marks are awarded and there is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect response. In case a student does not attempt a question, no marks will be deducted.

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MAT vs CAT: Difficulty Level

Management Aptitude Test: The MAT exam is an easy exam when compared to CAT. The questions in the MAT exam are of easy to moderate difficulty level.

Common Admission Test: CAT exam is considered one of the toughest MBA exams. The question paper is usually moderate to high difficulty level.

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• CAT Exam Analysis
• Top B-schools in India - Know the Seats and Fee

CAT exam vs MAT exam: Examination Fee

Management Aptitude Test: The registration fee for the MAT exam is Rs 1,650 for one paper (either CBT, PBT, or IBT). Students willing to appear for both PBT and CBT need to pay Rs 2,750.

Common Admission Test: The registration fee for the CAT exam is Rs 2,300 for the General and NC-OBC categories. For SC/ ST/ PwD (DA) categories, the CAT registration fee is Rs 1,150.

Top Colleges Accepting MAT scores in India

MAT scores are accepted by over 600 MBA colleges in India. Below is a list of colleges that accept MAT scores to enroll in MBA programs.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score apart from IIMs

Below is a list of the top 20 MBA colleges in India that accept CAT scores other than IIM. In this list, IITs offer MBA programs through their management research department.