GMAT Vs CAT: A Detailed Comparison PDF Download

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a common and extremely competitive prerequisite for admission into business school. For an instance, more than 7,700 programs at 2,400 universities and organizations in 110 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs.
The GMAT is also accepted for masters in finance, business analytics, PhD in Management, and many other programs.
CAT stands for Common Admission Test. It is a computer-based exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission into various postgraduate management programs. The test evaluates a candidate's aptitude and managerial skills. It is one of the most competitive and sought-after exams in the country. Each section has a different weightage and the total duration of the exam is three hours. The score obtained in CAT is used to shortlist candidates for the selection process of various MBA programs.
Are you trying to decide between the GMAT and CAT when it comes to taking an entrance exam for a business school? This article will discuss the differences between the two tests to help you make an informed decision.

GMAT vs CAT Key Differences

Keeping the few similarities aside, the GMAT and CAT exams have a ton of differences. The following table provides the key differences between the two exams.

GMAT vs CAT: Exam Pattern

CAT Exam sections

• Each of the CAT exam sections has a time limit of 40 minutes for each section.
• Candidates receive 3 points for correctly answered questions and will lose 1/3 of a point for incorrect answers.
• You have the freedom of skipping questions and coming back to any question for rechecking.
• Each section has a mixture of MCQs and “Type in the answer” type of questions.

GMAT Exam sections

• Each section of the GMAT exam has a distinct time limit (AWA and IR have the same time limit of 30 minutes).
• The marking scheme is complicated due to the computer-adaptive nature of the exam. The general consensus is that a difficult question has a higher weightage than an easier one. One thing to remember is that there is no negative marking
• You cannot skip any question or come back to a question to recheck it.

GMAT vs CAT: Exam Syllabus

The GMAT consists of four sections Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning, whereas the CAT exam consists of three sections Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
The GMAT Exam syllabus is slightly less time-consuming, as it isn’t as vast as the CAT exam syllabus, but the GMAT Exam does have a more complicated Scoring system, which might be challenging to some.
Non-Native English speakers typically find the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT to be more difficult than the CAT verbal section.
Here’s a detailed comparison of the syllabus and score format for the GMAT and CAT exams.

CAT Exam Syllabus and Marking Scheme

GMAT Exam Syllabus and Marking Scheme

GMAT vs CAT: Eligibility and Attempt Limit

• Anyone over 18 years of age can take the GMAT. If you’re below the age of 18 i.e. 13-18 years of age, then, with parental permission you can take the GMAT.
• You can take the GMAT up to 5 times a year. The minimum duration between any attempts should be at least 16 days. There is an 8-attempt overall lifetime limit.
• The CAT can be taken only once every year on a date specified by the convening IIM. The date on which the CAT will be conducted is announced by the convening IIM in July or August of every year.
• There is no restriction on the number of attempts you can take the CAT and no upper age limit. However, to attempt the CAT you need to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution or its equivalent. Students in the final year of their respective degree programs can also appear and take the CAT.

GMAT vs CAT: Difficulty Level and Competition

• On average about 222,184 (CAT 2022) students appear for the CAT exam.
• On average, about 1,84,415 (GMAT 2018-2022) students appear for the GMAT exam, out of which around 13% are Indian.
• Due to the more structured syllabus and question types of the GMAT, it is easier to prepare for in comparison to the CAT, requiring around 90-120 hours of study time in order to attain a score of 700 or above.
• However, the verbal section of the GMAT might be more difficult for Indian students who are not native English speakers than the CAT's quantitative part.
• What might throw some students off is the computer-adaptive nature of the GMAT which adjusts the question difficulty according to the response to the previous question.

GMAT vs CAT: Score Validity

This is a major differentiating factor between the two examinations. A CAT score is valid for only one year. There are a few institutions that consider an applicant’s CAT exam score from the previous year. On the other hand, an applicant’s GMAT score will be valid for five years. Again as far as flexibility is concerned, the GMAT is more adaptable.

GMAT vs CAT: Expected Salaries

Simply put, The ROI is way better for GMAT, you do invest a lot, but in the end, the potential earnings are miles ahead of salaries after CAT.
Here are some general trends related to investment and return for GMAT and CAT. Do note that these numbers might not stand true for everyone, as they differ from school to school, but the general idea depicted still stands true.

GMAT Exam Key Benefits

• Better ROI
• Better opportunities abroad
• Scholarship opportunities
• Can be given multiple times a year
• Scores are valid for 5 years
• Accepted by Top B-Schools

CAT Exam Key Benefits

• Accepted by most MBA programs in India
• The investment required is comparatively low.
• Since it is conducted by IIM, the syllabus is better suited to improve skills required for Business and Management in India

In the end, the decision lies upon you, and whether you choose CAT or GMAT, you will still have to work hard to achieve success.

GMAT vs CAT: Which should you choose

So, now that you know of the similarities and differences between the two exams, which exam should you choose? Well, this depends on a number of factors.

Do you want to study abroad?

• Taking the CAT exam opens up gates to some of the most reputed colleges in India including but not limited to all of the IIMs, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and IMI New Delhi. A limited number of International universities also accept CAT scores, some of which are EMLyon Business School, HEC Paris, and Audencia Business School.
• On the other hand, the GMAT exam is accepted by more than 2400 Universities Globally, with some of the big names being Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management,
• Stanford Graduate School of Business, and INSEAD business school.
• If your aim is to study in top Business and management universities abroad, GMAT would be the go-to choice.

Are you willing to invest a lot in your studies?

• The GMAT exam is an extremely expensive exam when compared to other entrance exams, which despite its merits, can be a deciding factor. Also, all of the colleges accepting GMAT scores have a higher fee than colleges accepting CAT scores, which might be a factor you should consider.

• If you aren’t willing to invest a big amount in your MBA program, CAT might be the better choice, whereas if you’re willing to invest a good amount for a better ROI (Return on investment), GMAT would be the better choice.

Are you looking for Scholarships/ Sponsorships?

• In 2017, business school students were awarded over $230 Million in scholarships, fellowships and other forms of financial aid offered by top programs. For example, Harvard Business School provided some form of financial aid to 50% of its incoming class. A good GMAT score can help increase the chances of receiving one of these scholarships, which somewhat cancels out the high fees for MBA programs at top colleges.
• There aren’t any direct scholarships based on CAT scores, but need-based financial assistance is offered by many IIMs in the form of loans.

Are you a working professional with more than 2 years of experience?

• The general consensus is that if you’re a working professional with over 2 years of experience, you should prefer GMAT over CAT, as it will provide a better salary increment, while also being the one that requires lesser time to prepare. 
• On the other hand, CAT’s syllabus doesn’t offer much breathing room for working professionals, while also having a considerably less ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on GMAT Vs CAT

GMAT vs CAT: Which is easy? 

It is subjective to say which is easier between the GMAT and CAT exams as it depends on an individual's strengths and weaknesses. But generally speaking, the CAT exam is more difficult to prepare for, as the syllabus is not as well defined as GMAT.

Is the CAT vs GMAT syllabus the same? 

The syllabus for GMAT and CAT are not the same. GMAT focuses on testing verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills, while CAT tests quantitative ability, verbal ability and reading Comprehension, and Data interpretation and logical reasoning.

Can I prepare for CAT and GMAT together? 

It is possible to prepare for both CAT and GMAT together, but it may require a significant amount of time and effort. It is best that you focus on one exam at a time to ensure a good score in it.

How many business schools accept GMAT scores? 

More than 7,700 programs at 2,400 universities and organizations in 110 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs

How many business schools accept CAT for MBA admissions? 

Many top business schools in India accept CAT scores for MBA admissions, some of them being MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs, IMI, and all of the IIMs. The IIMs are one of the most desired MBA colleges in India due to their high average salaries.

How many times can I take the CAT and GMAT in a year?

You can take the GMAT up to five times a year with a maximum of eight times total in either online or offline modes. The number of times you can take the CAT exam is held once a year at the test centres only.

What is the validity of GMAT and CAT exam scores? 

The validity of GMAT scores is five years and for CAT, it is one year. This makes the GMAT exam more versatile, as you have a period of five years to evaluate your options.

GMAT vs CAT, which is better? 

Both GMAT and CAT are widely accepted by business schools, so which one is better depends on the individual's strengths and the specific business school's requirements, but generally speaking, GMAT does offer a higher ROI and offers more opportunities at Top universities.

How many times can I take the GMAT exam? 

You can sit for the GMAT no more than 5 times in a consecutive 12-month period, and you must wait at least 16 days between each of your GMAT attempts. The maximum number of times you can sit for the GMAT in a lifetime is 8. On the other hand, you can only take the GMAT online exam twice in a lifetime, and that counts towards your total 8 and yearly 5 attempts.

How many times can I take the CAT exam

There is no restriction on the number of attempts you can take the CAT and no upper age limit. However, to attempt the CAT you need to have a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution or its equivalent. Do note that the CAT is conducted only once per year.

Can I take GMAT from home? 

Yes, the GMAT exam is offered in online mode too. But this doesn’t mean that any malpractices during the online exam will go unnoticed, because the exam is conducted in a well-proctored setting with strict restrictions, which if you don’t follow end up with your exam being cancelled.

What is the CAT vs GMAT difficulty? 

It is subjective to say which is easier between the GMAT and CAT exams as it depends on an individual's strengths and weaknesses. But generally speaking, the CAT exam is more difficult to prepare for, as the syllabus is not as well defined as GMAT.