The decision between the CAT vs GMAT is crucial for management aspirants. The right selection of the exam can have a direct impact on your academic and career paths. Often, the CAT and GMAT comparison can be confusing for aspirants because both of these exams are accepted in top B-schools in India and internationally. The CAT exam opens the doors to IIMs and other reputed B-Schools across India, while the GMAT paves the path for international business schools and Ivy League universities.
Though the basic goal of both exams is to analyse students’ analytical and decision-making skills, their scoring systems, exam frequency, difficulty levels, etc, vary significantly. Understanding these basic factors is very important for candidates because they need to align their career and academic goals while choosing the exams. Whether your goal is to pursue your management programme in India or you want to get a strong international exposure, comparing the CAT and GMAT exams can help to make the right decision.
CAT Exam Overview
The Common Admission Test, also known as CAT, is a national-level management entrance exam in India. Through this exam, candidates can enrol in renowned Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. The core pattern of the CAT exam focuses on quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and reading comprehension. The frequency of the exam is once a year. The CAT exam score is valid for 1 year from the exam date.
GMAT Exam Overview
The Graduate Management Admission Test, also known as GMAT, is an international admission test that is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council. The admission through GMAT is accepted in 2000+ business schools across the globe. This exam is also accepted in multiple Ivy League universities, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, etc.
The exam is conducted throughout the year, with no fixed dates. The candidates can appear up to 5 times in an ongoing 12-month period, and there should be at least a 16-day gap between two subsequent attempts. The score for the GMAT exam is valid for 5 years from the exam date.
CAT vs GMAT: Exam Pattern
The table below summarises the details of exam patterns for both CAT and GMAT.
| Factors | CAT | GMAT |
| Number of questions in the exam | 68 | 64 |
| Duration of the exam | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes) |
| Type of the exam | Computer-based test | Computer-based adaptive test |
CAT vs GMAT: Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Here is the detailed pattern and syllabus for the CAT and GMAT exams. Please refer to the table below for the important sections you must go through well before appearing for the exams.
| Factors | Subjects | Sectional score division with time given |
| CAT | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 Questions / 40 MinutesData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 Questions / 40 MinutesQuantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 Questions / 40 Minutes |
| GMAT | Quantitative ReasoningVerbal ReasoningData Insights | Quantitative Reasoning: 21 Questions / 45 MinutesVerbal Reasoning: 23 Questions / 45 MinutesData Insights: 20 Questions / 45 Minutes |
AT vs GMAT: Eligibility Criteria and Total Attempts
Please check the eligibility criteria and the number of valid attempts for both exams in the table below.
| Exam names | Eligibility criteria | Maximum attempts |
| CAT | Individuals must have completed their undergraduate studies from a recognised institution with a minimum of 50% score. For reserved category candidates, it is 45%. There is no age bar to appear for the exam. | Attempts per year: 1Attempts in lifetime: No limit |
| GMAT | There is no such score barrier for an undergraduate degree. The minimum age should be 18 years for candidates. Candidates under 18 years old have to produce their parents’ consent to appear for the exam. The reservation system will not work during the entrance exam for any category-specific candidates (except for candidates with an impairment). | Attempts per year: 5Attempts in lifetime: 8 |
CAT vs GMAT: Marking System
Understanding the marking system for the CAT and GMAT exams is important. Here is the marking system for both exams.
| Exam names | Scoring Systems | Score Acceptance and Validity |
| CAT | Total marks: 198.Negative marking: -1 for each wrong answerNo negative marking for TITA questions | The score is valid for 1 year from the exam date. 22 IIMs and over 1,000 B-schools in India accept CAT scores. A small number of foreign schools also accept CAT scores. |
| GMAT | Total marks range from 205 to 805. There is no negative marking for wrong answers. There is no penalty (deduction) for an incorrect answer. However, the score is penalised if you do not complete each section by leaving questions unanswered. Test-takers are advised to attempt all questions. | The score is valid for 5 years from the exam date. GMAT scores are accepted by more than 7,700 programmes at 2,400 universities and organisations in 110 countries. |
CAT vs GMAT: Exam Fees
Here is the detailed exam fee candidates have to pay for the CAT and GMAT exams.
| Exam names | Exam fees |
| CAT | INR 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBCINR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD |
| GMAT | Exam fee for a physical test centre: 275 USD (INR 24354)Registration fee for an online test from home: 300 USD (INR 26568) |
CAT vs GMAT: Which is the Toughest Exam?
Before choosing the right exam, understanding the difficulty level of both exams is mandatory. It will help to make an informed decision before online form submission. Here is the detailed explanation for the difficulty level of both exams.
- Duration: The duration for the CAT exam is 2 hours, while the GMAT exam duration is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Question types: The CAT exam includes a total of 68 questions, while the GMAT exam has 64 questions. In the CAT exam, 40 minutes is allotted per section; in the GMAT exam, 45 minutes per section is allotted to individuals. Besides, the GMAT exam does not have negative marking (except when a section is incomplete due to unanswered questions), while the CAT exam has a negative marking of -1 for each wrong answer.
- Flexibility: The GMAT exam offers a slight flexibility by offering a short break (once for 10 minutes) in between the exam. In the CAT exam, the pattern is consistent and rigorous, without any breaks.
- Scoring pattern: The GMAT exam offers a computer-adaptive exam, where the difficulty of the next question is defined based on the response to the previous question. But the CAT exam does not follow such a rule.
CAT vs GMAT: How to Decide the Right Exam for MBA Admission
The CAT vs GMAT debate is a critical one and should be considered carefully. Here is how you can still choose between the CAT and GMAT.
- College students: College students who want to get admission to multiple MBA or PGDM courses in India right after completing undergraduate studies can go for the CAT exam. On the other hand, if the goal is to pursue the programmes abroad, then GMAT (along with GRE) is the only pathway.
- Freshers (0 to 2 years of experience): For entry-level job holders, GMAT can be a better option, which can offer global exposure in their future career prospects. If the goal is to get admission to the top Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), then CAT can be the right fit. Top IIMs help to get international exposure during placements through industry leaders’ networking or webinars.
- Mid-level working professionals (3 to 4 years): GMAT can be very beneficial for mid-level working professionals who want global exposure upon course completion. The CAT can be suitable for those who are focused only on career advancements within India.
- Experienced (5+ years): For senior experienced individuals, GMAT is highly recommended as it offers acceptance and recognition across multiple global industries.
Conclusion
Choosing the right management exam needs thorough research, and it should be selected based on your career prospects. Both the CAT and GMAT exams offer numerous advantages and rewarding opportunities. If your main goal is to study in Indian universities, CAT can be your right fit. If you want to pursue your management studies from reputed international institutions abroad, you must appear for the GMAT exam. Your decision will have a huge impact on your career, so consider carefully before choosing the exam. Consider your strengths, career goals, and financial stability while choosing the right option. With good preparation and dedication, the academic journey will be rewarding.
FAQs
Q: What is the primary difference in the acceptance of CAT and GMAT scores?
The CAT score is primarily accepted by Indian B-schools like IIMs and is valid for one year. The GMAT score is accepted globally by 2000+ business schools and is valid for five years.
Q: How does the total number of attempts differ between the CAT and GMAT?
The CAT allows only one attempt per year with no lifetime limit. The GMAT allows up to five attempts per year, with a maximum of eight attempts in a lifetime.
Q: Can a fresher (0-2 years of experience) choose the GMAT?
Yes, a fresher can choose the GMAT, especially if they are targeting global exposure in their future career. However, CAT is the common choice for top Indian IIMs.
Q: How does the cost of the GMAT compare to the CAT exam fee?
The GMAT is significantly more expensive, costing approximately 275 USD (physical test). The CAT fee is much lower, costing INR 2,600 for the general category.
Q: What is the minimum graduation score required to be eligible for both exams?
For CAT, a minimum of 50% in graduation (45% for reserved categories) is required. The GMAT has no such score barrier for a graduation degree.