CUET PG vs CAT: Which one is better?

Planning to get enrolled in an MBA programme? Confused about CUET PG and CAT, which exam to prepare for? Read this Shiksha article to learn about the difference between CUET PG, and CAT exams, for which exam a candidate can prepare, the exam pattern and the complete admission process of the respective exams. 

CUET PG vs MBA: CUET PG and MBA, both exams are national-level tests that provide admissions to professional degree courses like MBA. The decision between CUET PG and CAT is a pivotal one for aspirants seeking admission to postgraduate programs, particularly in management and related fields. Both exams serve as gateways to prestigious institutions, but they differ significantly in their scope, format, and the opportunities they present.

Also Read: CUET PG Vs IIT JAM: Which is Better for Master’s Degree

The realm of postgraduate education in India is undergoing a transformative shift, with the emergence of the Common University Entrance Test PG as a significant player alongside the established Common Admission Test (CAT). Both these exams serve as gateways to prestigious institutions across the country. Candidates pursuing do MBA degree and taking multiple exams will make a tedious and cumbersome process for the aspirants. Candidates can read this Shiksha article to learn about the key difference between CUET PG vs CAT, which exam is better?, comparison between CUET PG and CAT on different parameters like exam difficulty level, placements, exam pattern and syllabus. 

About CUET PG

CUET PG, a relatively new entrant, aims to streamline the admission process for postgraduate programs in various disciplines offered by central universities and other CUET PG participating institutions. By providing a unified platform for diverse subjects, CUET PG offers flexibility and convenience to students seeking admission to diverse fields such as humanities, social sciences, commerce, and more.

CUET PG assesses candidates' subject-specific knowledge and general aptitude, making it a comprehensive evaluation tool. It offers a wider range of CUET PG courses, including humanities, social sciences, commerce, and science programmes ( master's degree programmes like MSc, MA, MCom, MFA and professional degree programmes like MBA, BEd, MEd, LLB and LLM).

Paper Code	Test Paper	Registered candidates	Appeared candidates
COQP12	General (MBA, etc.)	97880	74116

About CAT

Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their flagship MBA programmes and those of other top B-schools in India. CAT focuses primarily on quantitative aptitude, verbal ability and reading comprehension, and data interpretation and logical reasoning. It is designed to test a candidate's analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, which are crucial for success in management roles.

CUET PG vs CAT: Detailed Comparison

The following table presents a detailed comparative analysis between the CAT and CUET PG exams:

Specifications	CUET PG	CAT
Full name	Common University Entrance Test (For Postgraduate Courses)	Common Admission Test
Conducting Authority	National Testing Agency	IIM Calcutta (2024)
Courses for admission	MSc, MTech, MA, M.Com, MBA, MCA	MBA/PGDM
Number of test takers	6-7 lakhs Around 1 Lakh for MBA	2-3 lakhs
Frequency of the exam	Once a year	Once a year
Exam Date	Between March 11 to March 28, 2024.	In the month of November
Number of days	18 days (3 shifts each day)	One Day
Duration of test	105 Minutes or 1 hour 45 minutes	120 minutes/ 2 hours
Mode of exam	Computer-based	Computer-based
Total marks	300 marks	198 marks
Marking scheme	+4 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer	+3 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer
Subjects/sections	Domain Knowledge (Opted Subject Specific)	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)  Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
Total number of questions	75	66
Official website	https://pgcuet.samarth.ac.in/	https://iimcat.ac.in

CUET PG vs MBA: Which One is Better?

In this Section, candidates will be able to find which entrance exam is better for them based on the exam pattern, syllabus, top participating institutes and placement parameters.

CUET PG Syllabus vs CAT Syllabus

Here is the detailed difference between the CUET PG and CAT syllabi here:

CUET PG MBA Syllabus

CUET PG 2025 MBA syllabus is designed in such a way for candidates to test their language comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Reasoning ability. CUET PG MBA Syllabus is comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics relevant to MBA studies. It emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. The difficulty level is designed to be challenging for CUET PG MBA 2025 Preparation. The syllabus is bilingual (English and Hindi) to cater to a wider audience.

Here we bring the CUET MBA 2024 for the various subjects that would be tested through this exam across domains:

CUET PG MBA Syllabus For English Comprehension

• English Grammar
• English Usage Errors
• Jumbled Para
• Sentence Correction
• Sentence Improvement
• Reading Comprehension
• Paragraph Completion
• One-word Substitution
• Synonyms & Antonyms
• Idioms & Phrases

CUET PG MBA Syllabus For Hindi Comprehension

• हिन्दी व्याकरण
• अशुद्ध प्रयोग
• पररच्छेद का उहित क्रम
• वाक्य शुहद्ध
• वाक्य पररष्कार
• पाठ बोधन
• वाक्य की पूणणता
• अनेक शब्द केहियेएक शब्द
• समानाथी एवंहविोम
•  मुिावरेएवंकिावते

CUET PG MBA Syllabus For Maths/Quantitative Ability

• Partnership
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest
• Profit & Loss
• Percentages
• Pipes and Cisterns
• Time-Speed-Distance
• Problems on Train
• Work and Wages
• Time and Work

CUET PG MBA Syllabus For Logical Reasoning

• Ranking Tests
• Linear
• Arrangements
• Matrix Arrangements
• Sequencing
• Statements Arguments
• Cause and Effects
• Statements Assumptions
• Statements and Conclusion
• Number Series
• Blood Relationship Tests
• Coding and Decoding
• Inferences
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Analogy Test
• Symbol Based Problems
• Direction and Distance Test

CUET PG MBA Syllabus For Data Interpretation

• Pie Charts
• Line Charts
• Bar Graphs
• Tabular Charts
• Mixed Graphs
• Data Sufficiency
• Graph Number Systems
• Tabulation
• Sets and Venn Diagrams

CAT MBA Syllabus

The CAT syllabus PDF prepared by Shiksha has CAT quant syllabus, CAT VARC syllabus and CAT DILR syllabus. It has further description of these topics and sub topics in detail and can be very useful for CAT 2024 preparation. Download the CAT exam syllabus PDF below for faster preparation:

Download CAT syllabus PDF 2024: CAT Syllabus PDF

CUET PG vs CAT difficulty level

CUET PG is generally considered to be easier than CAT. Here's a breakdown of the key differences in difficulty level:

CUET PG:

• Moderate difficulty level: The questions are designed to test basic understanding and problem-solving skills.
• Wider range of topics: Covers subjects like general knowledge, current affairs, quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, and data interpretation.
• Focus on academic preparedness: Aims to evaluate a candidate's overall academic knowledge and understanding of current events.

CAT:

• High difficulty level: The questions are designed to challenge the most talented and motivated candidates.
• Focus on analytical and problem-solving skills: Emphasizes a candidate's ability to handle complex data and think critically.
• In-depth understanding of core subjects: Requires a strong foundation in quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, and data interpretation.

CUET PG vs CAT Participating Institutes

While both CUET PG and CAT are popular entrance exams for postgraduate programs, they cater to different levels of institutions and programs.   

• Broader range of institutions: CUET PG is accepted by a wide range of central universities, state universities, deemed universities, and private institutions across India. 
   
• Focus on academic excellence: Many prestigious central universities, like Delhi University, JNU, BHU, and Hyderabad University, accept CUET PG scores for their postgraduate programmes. 
   

Also Read:

• Best MBA Colleges accepting CUET-PG Score in Uttar Pradesh 
• Best MBA Colleges accepting CUET-PG Score in India: Fees, Admission, Ranking 2024, Courses, Placements 

CAT:

• Elite management institutes: CAT primarily caters to top-tier management institutes, such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other prestigious B-schools.  
   
• Focus on managerial and leadership skills: These institutes offer management programs that require strong analytical, quantitative, and verbal reasoning abilities.

Also Read:

• Top 30 Non-IIMs Colleges Accepting CAT Score 
• Best MBA Colleges accepting CAT Score in Delhi/NCR 

Key Difference:

While CUET PG offers a wider range of options for postgraduate studies, CAT primarily focuses on management programmes at top-tier institutions.

CUET vs CAT which is better (Placement Comparison)

When considering MBA placements, CAT is generally considered to offer better opportunities than CUET PG. This is primarily due to the prestige and reputation of the institutions that accept CAT scores. Here is the breakdown of the average salaries that the candidates get through CAT and CUET PG participating institutes.

Institute Name	Fee (In Lakhs)	Average salary (In lakhs)
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad	INR 25.00 lakhs	INR  34.45 LPA
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore	INR 24.70 lakhs	INR  35.92 LPA
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta	INR  25.00 lakhs	INR  35.07 LPA
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode	INR  20.50 lakhs	INR 28.05 LPA
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow	INR  21.75 lakhs	INR 30.00 LPA
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore	INR  21.17 lakhs	INR 25.68 LPA

College Type	Average Annual Salary Range
Top Tier MBA Colleges (IIMs, XLRI, etc.)	INR 20-30 Lakhs
Tier 2 MBA Colleges (Some IITs, FMS Delhi, etc.)	INR 15-25 Lakhs
Tier 3 MBA Colleges (State-level universities, private colleges)	INR 6-12 Lakhs

Additional Factors Affecting Salary:

• Specialization: Specializations like Finance, Marketing, and Operations Management often command higher salaries.
• Internships and Projects: Relevant internships and projects during the MBA program can enhance your profile and improve your chances of getting a higher salary.
• Negotiation Skills: Effective negotiation skills can help you secure a better salary package.
• Job Market Conditions: The overall economic climate and job market trends can also influence salary expectations.

While CUET PG offers a wider range of options, CAT remains the gold standard for MBA admissions in India, especially for those aiming for top-tier placements. However, it's important to research specific institutions and their placement records to make an informed decision.

Read More:

• How Many Students Appear for CUET PG; Check Subject, Category and Gender Wise Statistics Here