GMAT Vs CAT Exam: Know Key Difference Between CAT and GMAT, Which is Easier & Tougher

Is GMAT easier than CAT? Which one is tougher or easier, we will discuss it in this blog. Also know the key differences between CAT and GMAT.

CAT vs GMAT: Most of the management aspirants face the dilemma of choosing between CAT and GMAT for pursuing MBA. Since both are popular exams and accepted by a large number of Tier 1 B-Schools, one is bound to get confused in choosing between the two. Let us first state the fact - GMAT is very different from CAT.

The main difference between CAT and CMAT is that of validity. CAT is a domestic entrance exam; GMAT is a global exam valid for admission to all business schools worldwide. CAT is accepted for any course within India only.

Conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, GMAT scores are acceptable by Indian B-schools mostly in case of NRI/Foreign students. However, some top India institutes like SPJIMR, Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI, Gurgaon accept GMAT scores of domestic candidates too. Other top MBA colleges including the IIMs accept GMAT score for admission to Executive MBA and FPM programmes. 

GMAT vs CAT: Which is Tougher?

The next question - Is GMAT easier than CAT? Both CAT and GMAT are considered to be tough. They have unique features that aspirants have to understand and prepare for. Their assessment process is also different from each other.

Despite the differences, many management aspirants appear for both CAT and GMAT in the same academic year. It is to be noted that preparation for both exams simultaneously requires high level of focus, dedication and strategy. Although both CAT and GMAT test the candidate’s English Language and Quantitative Ability and Logical Reasoning skills, two are poles apart in many aspects. In this article, we tell you the difference between CAT and GMAT.

GMAT vs CAT- Key Differences

Exam Conducting Body

GMAT: GMAT is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council.

CAT:  CAT is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management.

GMAT eligibility criteria: To appear in GMAT, the aspirant must have a bachelor’s degree in any stream or equivalent degree from a recognized university. Final year graduation candidates are also eligible to apply. There is no minimum marks required to appear in GMAT.

CAT eligibility criteria: To appear in CAT, the aspirant must have a bachelor’s degree in any stream with minimum of 50 per cent aggregate marks or equivalent from a recognized university (45 per cent for reserved category students). Final year Graduation candidates are also eligible to apply.

Frequency /Mode of Exam

GMAT: GMAT is held throughout the year. The candidate can book an exam slot for self from the given calendar as per their convenience. The aspirant can also re-take the exam five times within 12 months. A maximum of eight attempts are allowed to any candidate in his/her lifetime.

CAT:  CAT is conducted by the IIM only once a year. CAT application process begins in August and the exam is held in the last week of November or the first week of December. CAT 2026 application window will open in the first week of August and the CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026.

GMAT vs CAT: Exam Pattern

GMAT: GMAT question paper consists MCQs from Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. There is sectional time limit for each section but the candidate can choose the order in which they wish to answer each section.

Also Read: GMAT exam pattern

CAT:  CAT exam is held in online mode for two hours in two slots on a scheduled date. Candidates are required to follow the chronology of the question paper, i.e. neither they can choose to answer the section of their choice, nor can they go back to the question skipped earlier. The CAT question paper consists of MCQs and a few key-in answer type questions. 

Also Read: CAT exam pattern

CAT vs GMAT: Exam Syllabus

GMAT exam syllabus: GMAT includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. 

CAT exam syllabus: CAT includes topics from Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). 

Also Read:

• GMAT exam syllabus
• CAT syllabus
• Difference between CAT and GMAT syllabus

CAT vs GMAT: Exam Duration

GMAT: GMAT is held for 135 minutes and has sectional time limit.

CAT:  CAT is held for 120 minutes and has sectional time limit.

GMAT vs CAT: Difficulty Level

GMAT

GMAT is a very tough MBA entrance exam. Not only due to the tough questions asked but also due to a peculiar marking scheme. However, it is easier to get a good college through GMAT as it is an adaptive test. Which means, the difficulty level of second attempt will be determined by the candidate's performance in the first attempt of GMAT. If a candidate has struggled in the first attempt, he/she will get the question paper of lower difficulty level in their next attempt and if the candidate has performed well in the first attempt, the question paper of their second attempt will have similar difficulty level. Also, GMAT is more structured and has defined syllabus.

CAT

CAT is known as a tough MBA exam because it is unpredictable. The difficulty level of the questions remain on the high year on year. Getting a good B-school with CAT score is tough if you've not scored a minimum of 95 percentile. There are no multiple attempts in CAT, so to improve the score candidates have to drop a year. However, there is no guarantee that in the next year, the CAT question paper will be easier than previous year. 

CAT vs GMAT: Marking Scheme

GMAT: GMAT exam has a peculiar marking scheme. Candidates are marked between 200 and 800. Section wise, candidates are scored 60-90 for all three sections.

Also Read: GMAT scoring process

CAT:  Three marks are awarded to every correct attempt and there is negative marking of one mark for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for non-MCQ typw question though. Total marks of CAT is 204.

Also Read: CAT score vs percentile

CAT vs GMAT: Exam Fee

GMAT: GMAT exam fee is USD 250 for all countries.

CAT:  CAT exam fee is INR 2,600 for General and NC-OBC candidates and INR 1,300 for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Physically Disabled candidates.

Validity of Exam Score

GMAT: GMAT score is accepted by more than 2,100 management institutes across the globe. GMAT score is valid for admission for up to five years.

CAT: CAT score is accepted by 21 IIMs and over 1,300 management institutes in India. It is not valid outside India. CAT score is valid for admission for only one year.

Also Read:

• GMAT preparation tips and strategy
• CAT preparation tips and strategy

Is GMAT easier than CAT? An Overview

Before concluding this blog, let us take a quick glance at how GMAT exam and CAT exam are different from each other to assess which one is more difficult:

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