1. GMAT vs CAT: Full Forms, Conducting Bodies
2. GMAT and CAT: Score validity, Eligibility, Frequency, Acceptability, Number of Attempts
3. GMAT vs CAT: Mode of Exam, Exam Duration, Exam Fee
4. GMAT vs CAT Syllabus, Number of Sections, Questions, Adaptiveness, Marking Scheme, Exam Pattern,
6. GMAT and CAT: Competitiveness
7. Indian B-schools accepting GMAT scores
8. International B-schools accepting CAT scores
9. Questions you need answers for before choosing between GMAT and CAT
GMAT vs CAT: Here are all the differences between GMAT and CAT that you should know:
GMAT vs CAT: Parameters | GMAT | Common Admission Test |
---|---|---|
Conducting bodies | Graduate Management Admission Council | Indian Institutes of Management |
Exam type | Global | National |
Frequency | Round the year | Once a year |
Score validity | 5 years | 1 year |
Eligibility | Candidate should be of at least 13 years of age | Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks |
Acceptability | Accepted by B-schools across the world | Accepted by B-schools in India |
Number of attempts | 5 times a year, 8-attempt overall lifetime limit | 1 time a year, unlimited attempts |
Mode of exam | Online | Online |
Exam fee | $250 or Approx. ₹18,750 | ₹2000 |
Number of sections | 4 | 3 |
Sections on the exam | Verbal Reasoning (VR) Quantitative Reasoning (QR Integrated Reasoning (IR) Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA) |
Number of questions to be attempted | 80 Questions | 100 Questions |
Time limit for each section | VR – 36 questions/65 minutes QR – 31 questions/62 minutes IR – 12 questions/30 minutes AWA – 1 essay question/30 minutes | VARC – 34 questions/60 minutes DILR – 32 questions/60 minutes QA – 34 questions/60 minutes |
Exam pattern | Candidates can choose section order | Candidates have to follow the question paper chronologically |
Marking scheme | Adaptive scoring algorithm, no negative marking | Non-adaptive scoring algorithm, negative marking applicable |
Score reporting | Absolute score is reported out of 800. Percentile score is also reported | Only percentile score is reported |
Scheduling Flexibility | GMAT is delivered on-demand | CAT is conducted only once a year |
Number of test-takers (Annual | India) | Approx. 30,000 candidates | Approx. 2,00,000 candidates |
1. GMAT vs CAT: Full Forms, Conducting Bodies
I. What are the full forms of GMAT and CAT?
II. Who conducts the GMAT and CAT?
2. GMAT and CAT: Score validity, Eligibility, Frequency, Acceptability, Number of Attempts
I. GMAT and CAT score validity and frequency
II. What are the eligibility requirements to take the GMAT and CAT?
III. How many times can you take the GMAT and CAT?
IV. How many MBA colleges accept GMAT and CAT?
3. GMAT vs CAT: Mode of Exam, Exam Duration, Exam Fee
I. What is the mode of exam for GMAT and CAT?
II. How much does the GMAT and CAT cost?
4. GMAT vs CAT Syllabus, Number of Sections, Questions, Adaptiveness, Marking Scheme, Exam Pattern
i. Verbal Reasoning ii. Quantitative Reasoning iii. Integrated Reasoning iv. Analytical Writing Assessment
In the Verbal section, you will have to attempt 36 questions in 65 mins. Whereas, in the Quant section, you will have to answer 31 questions in 62 minutes. You get 30 minutes each for the Integrated Reasoning (IR) and the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) sections. In the IR section, you will have to answer 12 questions whereas, in the AWA section, you just have one essay question that you have to answer.i. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) ii. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) iii. Quantitative Ability (QA)
You have to attempt 34 questions in the VARC section whereas, you have 32 questions in the DILR section. You also need to attempt the 34 questions in the Quantitative Ability section on the CAT. You have 60 minutes to complete each section on the CAT. As you can see, both the GMAT and CAT have the Verbal and Quant sections. When you apply to a B-school with your GMAT score, they will consider your composite score which is out of 800. The Integrated Reasoning section on the GMAT is similar to the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section on the CAT. Both test the reasoning skills of a test taker. So, let us compare the Verbal and Quant syllabus on GMAT and CAT. GMAT vs CAT syllabus – Verbal Here are the Verbal topics asked on the GMAT and CAT:GMAT | CAT |
---|---|
Pronoun | Grammar |
Verb Tense | Para Completion and Inference |
Subject-Verb Agreement | Fill in the Blanks |
Parallelism | Reading Comprehension |
Modifiers | Paragraph Jumbles |
Idioms | Verbal Logic |
Assumption | Syllogisms |
Inference | Verbal Reasoning |
Comparison | Different Usage of Same Word |
Strengthen and Weaken | Contextual Usage |
Evaluate | Analogies |
Paradox | Sentence Completion |
Bold Face | Antonyms |
Foreign Language Words in English | |
Idioms | |
One word substitution | |
Sentence Correction | |
Jumbled Paragraphs |
GMAT | CAT |
---|---|
Number properties | Geometry |
Multiples and factors | Trigonometry |
Fractions | Mensuration |
Decimals | Ratios and Proportion |
Percentages | Number system |
Averages | Work and time |
Powers and roots | HCF & LCM |
Profit and loss | Algebra |
Simple and compound interest | Profit & Loss |
Speed, time, and distance | In-equations Quadratic and linear equations |
Pipes, cisterns, and work time | Geometric Progression |
Ratio and proportion | Percentages |
Mixtures and alligations | Averages |
Descriptive statistics | Partnership (Accounts) |
Set theory | Time-Speed-Distance |
Probability | Surds and Indices |
Permutation and combination | Inequalities |
Monomials, polynomials | Logarithms |
Algebraic expressions and equations | |
Functions | |
Exponents | |
Arithmetic and geometric progression | |
Quadratic equations | |
Inequalities and basic statistics | |
Lines and angles | |
Triangles | |
Quadrilaterals | |
Circles | |
Rectangular solids and cylinders | |
Coordinate geometry |
i. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Break, Quantitative, Break, Verbal ii. Verbal, Break, Quantitative, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment iii. Quantitative, Break, Verbal, Break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
You can choose the section order based on your strengths and weaknesses. If you are taking the CAT exam, you will have to follow the fixed exam pattern. You cannot choose the order based on your preference. GMAT vs CAT – Adaptiveness The GMAT is an adaptive test. This means that the difficulty level of the next question is based on your performance on the current question. With this adaptive feature, your GMAT score can go higher or lower depending on whether you answer a question correctly. Also read: How GMAT Scores are Calculated: The Bizarreness of the Adaptive Scoring Algorithm Due to this feature, you cannot skip a question on the GMAT. The CAT is a non-adaptive test. The exam is a test of your accuracy. And on the CAT, only your percentile score is reported. This is calculated based on the number of questions you answered correctly. But you must remember that on the CAT, you will get negative marks for a wrong answer.5. CAT and GMAT: Difficulty
i. Quant on CAT has about 20 topics under it; whereas GMAT Quant is divided into four main areas of math. ii. CAT Quant tends to be highly technical; GMAT Quant is more practical. iii. CAT Quant requires you to have a strong understanding of mathematical theory. You can’t rely on techniques like elimination to arrive at the answer on the CAT, especially on the ‘Type in the Answer’ (TITA) questions. In these questions, you have no option but to find the answer by solving it the old-fashioned way.
In GMAT Quant, while you do need to have your basics in place, you also need to use some techniques and strategies to beat the GMAT. You need not always solve every question. You could say, in a way, that the CAT is more a test of your theoretical knowledge while the GMAT is more a test of your logical reasoning ability. Both CAT and GMAT have Reading Comprehension passages, but the similarity ends there for the Verbal section. The GMAT asks more usage-based questions while the CAT doesn’t delve into grammar. We hope that this has given you more clarity on the difficulty aspect of GMAT vs CAT.6. GMAT and CAT: Competitiveness
7. Indian B-schools Accepting GMAT Scores
1. Faculty of Management Studies 2. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad 3. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade 4. Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore 5. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras 6. Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta 7. Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Mohali 8. SP Jain Institute of Management and Research 9. XLRI, Xavier School of Management 10. Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
8. International B-schools Accepting CAT Scores
Business School | Program |
---|---|
HEC Paris | Master in Management |
Singapore Management University | MSc in Management |
ESSEC | MSc in Management |
SP Jain School of Global Management | Master of Global Business |
Stuart School of Business | Master of Business Administration |