GMAT Vs CAT: What Are The Key Differences?
Share
save
Similar to the United States and Europe, MBA admissions to business school in India is typically reliant on you having taken an entrance exam. To land a place at any of the top Indian b-schools, you’ll need an exam score so they can assess your application.
Two popular MBA entrance exams are accepted by the top b-schools in India. These are the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) which is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, and the Common Admission Test (CAT) which is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management. But what are the key differences? Below is everything you need to know about GMAT vs CAT.
What is the GMAT exam?
As the world’s premier business school exam, over 2,400 b-schools across 110+ countries accept GMAT scores for applications to MBA programs and other business master’s degrees.
Compared to the CAT, a domestic exam which is widely accepted in India, the GMAT exam opens more opportunities if you’re looking to attend business school abroad or in India. GMAT candidates also face less competition compared to the CAT exam which is taken by more than 300,000 candidates in India every year.
Apart from top institutions across countries including the U.S., the UK, Europe, Singapore and Canada, a GMAT score is also accepted for flagship programs at over 140 Indian institutions, including (but not limited to):
-
Indian School of Business
-
MDI Gurgaon
-
SP Jain Institute of Management & Research
-
Great Lakes Institute of Management
-
IMT Ghaziabad
-
BITS Pilani
-
XIM Bhubaneshwar
-
IFIM Bangalore
-
Goa Institute of Management
-
FORE School of Management
-
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management
-
IIMs (executive MBA programs)
If you have applied unsuccessfully to Indian business schools after taking the CAT, the GMAT provides you with an alternative route.
What is the difference between the GMAT and CAT exam structure?
The GMAT and CAT exams are key entrance exams for business schools in India, so it’s no surprise that they share some similarities. Both exams are designed to provide a measure of skills across quantitative ability and reasoning skills. But there are variations in elements, such as the test length, number of questions, and the length of score validity.
Take a look at the table below to see a few differences between GMAT and CAT.
|
Features |
GMAT |
CAT |
|
Format |
Computer-based adaptive test |
Computer-based test |
|
Skills Tested |
Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
|
No. of Questions |
64 |
66 |
|
Length of Score Validity |
5 years |
1 year |
|
Test Length |
135 minutes |
120 minutes |
|
Choice of Section Order |
Yes |
No |
|
Results Released |
Unofficial score available at test completion. Official Score Report available within 3-5 business days |
No Unofficial score available. Official Score available after a month of attempting the exam |
|
Can Be Taken How Many Times in a year? |
5 |
1 |
|
Negative Marking |
No |
Yes |
|
Acceptability of Exam |
Globally accepted by 2,300+ business schools, including Indian business schools, in 110+ countries |
Accepted by top business schools in India, including IIMs |
|
Exam Preparation Time |
3-6 months |
1 year |
|
When can the exam be taken? |
Anytime of the year |
Conducted once a year on a specific date |
|
Mode of Exam |
Test center or online at home |
Test center |
Both the CAT and GMAT are computer-based exams, with the GMAT giving additional flexibility as it can be taken either at a test center or online at home, whereas the CAT is taken solely at a test center. However, the GMAT is a longer exam, with a run time of 135 minutes versus the shorter 120 minutes for the CAT.
The CAT consists of 3 sections which are in a fixed order, whereas the GMAT has 3 sections which can be taken in the order that the candidate prefers. This gives the candidate more flexibility and the opportunity to perform better.
While the GMAT is a computer adaptive test that assesses you via a mixture of multiple choice and non-multiple-choice questions, the CAT isn’t. Being computer adaptive, the difficulty level of the next GMAT question is based on your performance in the previous question and is subject to change.
In the GMAT exam, the number of questions in each section are split between Quantitative Reasoning (21), Verbal Reasoning (23), and Data Insights (20). There are 64 questions in total.
For the CAT, you’ll need to answer 66 multiple-choice questions across 3 sections including Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. While there’s no negative marking in the GMAT exam, marks are deducted for every wrong answer in the CAT exam.
Preparation time for the CAT exam is longer and it can take a test taker an average of 1 year to prepare for the exam, or up to 2 years in some cases. Typically, the GMAT takes between three to six months to prepare for. Our interactive tool can help you estimate your required study time, and you’ll also receive a study plan tailored to your available time.
The CAT score is valid for 1 year, while your GMAT score is valid for 5 years after taking the test. You can also take the GMAT five times in one year as per the available slot, as opposed to the CAT which allows only one attempt per year on a fixed date.
GMAT test-takers can preview their unofficial score onscreen immediately after completing the exam; however, this isn’t the case for those taking the CAT. GMAT takers are also provided with their Official Score Report within 3-5 business days of completing the exam. Compare this to the availability of a CAT takers Official Score Report which can take more than one month to become available after completion of the exam.
GMAT Exam: How to Register?
The GMAT exam can be taken at any point throughout the year, so a key point to consider is how much time you need to prepare.
To register, you’ll need a form of ID – usually a passport. You’ll also be required to provide key information, including your name, address, phone number, date of birth, nationality, email address, and any other relevant information.
You can complete the registration process online, via phone, or by email. The easiest way is to sign up for an MBA.com account, which will allow you to register for the GMAT as soon as your account is verified.
GMAT vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the format of the GMAT and CAT exams? Both the GMAT and CAT exams are computer-based tests.
Which skills are tested for in each of the exams? The GMAT exam consists of a Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. The CAT consists of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
How many questions do each of the exams have? The GMAT is made up of 64 questions, and the CAT is made up of 66 questions.
What is the test length of the GMAT and CAT? The test length for GMAT is 135 minutes, and the test length for CAT is 120 minutes.
What is the length of Score Validity? The GMAT score lasts for 5 years, whereas the CAT score lasts for 1 year.
Where are the exam results released? For the GMAT, the Unofficial Score is available at test completion. The Official Score Report is available within 3-5 business days of completing the exam. This is opposed to the CAT, where there is no Unofficial Score available. The CAT Official Score is not available until more than a month after attempting the exam.
How many times can each exam be taken in a year? The GMAT can be taken 5 times within a year and is available to be taken at any point, while the CAT can be taken only once a year on a specific date.
Is there a choice of section order in the GMAT and CAT exams? The GMAT exam allows the taker to choose the section they’d like to do first, as opposed to the CAT exam which is fixed.
Is there negative marking within the GMAT and CAT exams? There’s no negative marking within the GMAT exam, but there is within the CAT exam as marks are deducted for incorrect answers.
Are the GMAT and CAT exams accepted globally? Apart from over 2400 top institutions across 110+ countries including U.S., UK, Europe, Singapore and Canada, a GMAT score is also accepted for flagship programs at over 140 Indian institutions. However, the CAT is accepted only in Indian b-schools, including IIMs.
What is the typical preparation time for each exam? The typical preparation time for the GMAT exam is between 3 and 6 months. The average preparation time for the CAT exam is 1 year, sometimes 2.
What is the mode of each exam? The GMAT can be taken at a test center or online at home, while the CAT can be taken only at a test center.
GMAT exam: Sample questions
Sample questions for the key Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GMAT are available below.
