CAT or GMAT? Which One is Easier to Crack? CAT and GMAT are both MBA entrance exams that are accepted by top B-schools for the admission process. GMAt is an internationally recognised exam, while CAT is crucial for entering esteemed IIMs and other management institutes in India.
Both CAT and GMAT aim to evaluate candidates' aptitude, reasoning, and verbal skills. However, their exam format and marking system vary. Additionally, CAT is administered by IIMs on a rational basis once annually. In contrast, GMAT organises the GMAT exam throughout the year, requiring candidates to schedule the exam according to their preferred college's admission cycle. Candidates aiming to pursue an MBA degree seek to know which one is easier to crack among CAT and GMAT. To provide candidates with an answer, this article compares various aspects of CAT and GMAT.Particulars | GMAT | CAT |
Minimum Educational Qualification | No specific educational qualification. | Candidates must complete their Bachelor’s degree from recognised university. |
Sections | Data Insights Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Quantitative Ability |
Age Limit | Minimum age: 18 years 13-17 years applicants need parental consent | No lower or upper age limit |
Age Limit | Minimum age: 18 years 13-17 years applicants need parental consent | No lower or upper age limit |
No. of Questions | 64 | 66 |
Frequency | Multiple times in a year | Once annually |
Duration of Test | 2 hours 15 minutes | 2 hours |
Adaptiveness | Question-Adaptive | Non-adaptive |
Number of Attempts | Maximum 8 attempts overall 5 attempts in a single academic year with 15 days gap between attempts. | No limit on attempts |
Negative Marking | Not present | Present |
Marking Scheme | 60-90 with one point increment for every section | +3 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each incorrect response |
Application Fee | $250 | INR 2,000 |
Score Format | Absolute score (out of 800) and percentile | Only percentile |
Score Validity | 5 years (global) | 1 year (India only) |
Acceptance | Accepted globally for B-school admissions | Accepted for B-school admissions within India |