GMAT vs CAT – After the announcement of the new exam pattern of GMAT exam – GMAT Focus Edition (GFE) – the primary difference between the GMAT and CAT exams lies in their scope and recognition. The GMAT is a global exam accepted by over 2400 business schools and 7700 MBA programs worldwide. In contrast, the CAT is a national-level entrance exam accepted only by Indian business schools. But is that the only difference?
CAT vs GMAT is one of the biggest dilemmas for students who are aspiring to pursue Management education in the top business schools. At the heart of this dilemma is the bigger question of whether to pursue an MBA from an Indian university or a global business school. Both CAT and GMAT act as ladders to success in the Management field, however, the one you choose actually determines your career goals. So, we have come up with a comprehensive guide to challenge CAT vs GMAT and critically analyze both the exams.
What is the Difference between CAT and GMAT?
Both the GMAT and the CAT serve as standardized tests for admission to MBA programs. However, both differ in the scope of their acceptability, validity, fees, frequency of the exam, format and more.
GMAT is a global exam accepted by more than 7000 MBA programs in 110 countries, whereas CAT is accepted only by Indian business schools. Also, the GMAT score is valid for 5 years, whereas the CAT score is only valid for 1 year. GMAT has an exam fee of $275 (approx. Rs 22,820) for test centers and $300 (approx. Rs 24,900) for the online test, whereas CAT has a registration fee of Rs 3000. While the GMAT can be given multiple times a year and at any time of the year, depending on the slot availability, CAT can only be given once a year on the date decided by the IIM conducting the exam.
Also Check: Is CAT Tougher than the XAT Exam?
Despite the many differences, both the CAT and GMAT are tests that measure your management skills such as:
- Quantitative ability
- Reasoning skills
- Data Interpretation
GMAT Vs CAT Exam - Differences At A Glance
This sections aims to cover the basic yet the key highlights of the GMAT and CAT exams. This will help the candidates understand the differences between the two exams and candidates can also learn about the key aspects of both the exams.
Exam Components | CAT 2025 | GMAT 2025 | GMAT Exam Focus Edition 2025 |
Exam Full Form | Graduate Management Admission Test – Focus Edition | ||
Exam Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) | Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) | Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam for flagship programs in India | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR & other top B-schools in India | SPJIMR, IMT, IMI, XUB, GIM, FORE, KJ Somaiya among others | SPJIMR, IMT, IMI, XUB, GIM, FORE, KJ Somaiya among others |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Abroad | None | Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Insead & other top B-schools in the world | Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Insead & other top B-schools in the world |
Exam Difficulty Level | High | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
Total Sections | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Total Questions | 68 | 80 | 64 |
Sectional Individual Time Limit |
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| 45 Minutes for each of the three sections |
Name of Sections with number of questions |
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Exam Registration Fee | Rs.3000 | US$ 275 (Rs.22000) for CBT US$ 300 (Rs.24000) for Online | US$ 275 (Rs.22000) for CBT US$ 300 (Rs.24000) for Online |
New Sections/Topics Introduced or Removed | Removed Topics Sentence Correction, Fill in the blanks etc. | No Change | Section Introduced
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Exam Duration | 2 Hours | 3 hrs. 7 minutes | 2 hrs. 15 minutes |
Breaks Allowed During the Exam | No Break | Two Optional Breaks of 8 Minutes Each | One Option Break of 10 Minutes |
Sections Responsible for Score Calculation | 3 | 2 Sections; Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning | All the 3 Sections; Quantitative Reasoning; Verbal Reasoning; Data Insights |
Type of Questions |
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Scoring Pattern | +3 Marks for each correct answer | 200-800 | 205-805 |
Exam Taking Experience | Must move as per pre-defined order of sections, No choice | Less Flexibility | Free to choose the order of different GMAT sections; Facility of Bookmark and Review as many questions as Test Takers want; Facility to Change up to 3 answers per section |
Changes in Exam Syllabus & Pattern |
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Availability of Exam Preparation & Study Material | Available in Plenty | Available in Plenty | Official GMAT Exam Focus Edition Guide released on June 6, 2023 |
Procuring Additional Score Report | Download Available | Need to spend US$ 30 for extra purchase | Included; No additional cost |
Free Sending of Score Reports to preferred B-schools | 20 IIMs | To 5 Programs/B-schools without any charges in 48 hours of receiving the Official Score Report on mba.com | To 5 Programs/B-schools without any charges in 48 hours of receiving the Official Score Report on mba.com |
Availability of Test Appointment Date | No Facility; Decided by IIMs | For CBT at Test Centre | For CBT at Test Centre |
Number of Attempts Allowed | 1 in a Year | 8 attempts in a lifetime | 8 attempts in a lifetime |
Validity of Scores | One Academic session | 5 Years | 5 Years |
GMAT Vs CAT: Comparative Analysis
CAT is a popular exam in India taken by almost all students who want to apply for MBA program in India. So, before you start your GMAT preparation, you may be wondering how do GMAT and CAT compare? While the two exams have similar sections, and a very similar syllabus, there are many differences in pattern, costing, and difficulty levels across sections. Let’s look at a detailed comparative analysis under the following few headers:
Difficulty Level
The overall difficulty level of the GMAT is lower than that of CAT. The first factor contributing to this difference is the syllabus. While the syllabus for CAT isn’t as properly defined as that of the GMAT, this makes the GMAT preparation much more comfortable for any test taker. The Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI_ section of the CAT has been the toughest nut to crack over the past few years, while its counterpart in the GMAT, i.e. the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section is much simpler on logic. The Quantitative Ability (QA) section of CAT is way trickier than the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) section of the GMAT, as the questions in the latter are pretty straight forward, while the former tests not just the concept, but also the application. It is the area of Verbal Reasoning, which has always been the most difficult for the average Indian test taker in the GMAT, as it requires high vocabulary, and also tests the candidate’s grammar skills, unlike the CAT.
CAT Vs GMAT: Cost of Exam
GMAT exam is more expensive than CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT taken together! GMAT exam fee is US $275, which is approximately Rs. 22,000. This is much above CAT (Rs 2500) or XAT (Rs 2200).
Type of Test: GMAT Computer-Adaptive exam Vs CAT Computer-Based exam
The GMAT is a “question-adaptive” test. This is an indicator that the difficulty level of the candidate’s next question depends on the performance in the previous question. Thus, the GMAT is a test of capability as it continuously adapts and reviews the test to the candidate’s ability level. The test usually begins with a question of medium difficulty level, if one answers this question correctly; the next question is of a slightly higher difficulty level. Hence, there is no option to review or edit the answers or to skip a question. CAT, on the other hand, is a non-adaptive computer-based test and focuses on accuracy more than capability. Here, as percentile scores are reported, a candidate’s relative performance with respect to the other test takers is of value, rather than their own test score. Reviewing the answers before ending a section is possible. Also, an on-screen calculator is provided. There is also a one-fourth negative marking for wrong answers.
Difference in Exam Pattern between GMAT vs CAT
While the exam pattern for GMAT and CAT exams are almost similar, there are certain key differences in both these exams. Refer to the table hereunder to analyse a few key differences between the CAT and GMAT exams.
Parameter | GMAT | CAT |
Sections | 4 Sections
| 3 Sections
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No. Of Questions/Time limit | 80 Questions in total
| 68 Questions in total
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Adaptiveness | Computer Adaptive | Computer Based |
Score validity | 5 years | 1 year |
No. Of Attempts |
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CAT vs GMAT: Which is Better?
Now that you have enough information on CAT vs GMAT, it will be easier to make an informed decision. Both the examinations have their share of flexibility and limitations and it totally depends on which one are you willing to go for. If you are a fresher who wants to immediately pursue an MBA after graduation and do not wish to enrol in an international program, CAT is the preferred option. While the GMAT is for those who are aspiring to pursue MBA from the world’s best universities and Business schools. You should also keep in mind the validity of both the Management examination options.
