Confused between CAT and GMAT?
Both open doors to top B-Schools, but the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and target colleges.

Let’s break it down feature by feature to help you decide wisely.

If you’re planning to pursue an MBA, choosing between CAT (Common Admission Test) and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Here’s how they compare:

Purpose:
CAT is for admission into Indian B-Schools like the IIMs, while GMAT is accepted by global MBA and business master’s programs across the USA, Europe, Singapore, and India.

Test Format and Sections:

• CAT includes MCQs and Type-in-the-Answer questions with negative marking.

• GMAT is adaptive with no negative marking.

• CAT tests VARC, DILR, and QA, while GMAT focuses on Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights.

Duration and Scoring:

• CAT lasts around 2 hours, scored out of 204.

• GMAT takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, scored between 205 and 805.

Frequency and Retakes:

• CAT happens once a year, allowing only one attempt.

• GMAT can be taken multiple times a year, up to 5 times annually (8 lifetime attempts).

Difficulty and Cost:

• CAT is known for its time pressure and verbal ambiguity.

• GMAT focuses more on adaptive, high-level logic.

• CAT costs around ₹2,600 while GMAT costs approximately ₹27,995.

Ideal For:

• Take CAT if you aim for Indian B-Schools like the IIMs.

• Take GMAT if you are targeting international or top Indian institutes accepting GMAT scores.

Final Thought:
Your decision should align with your career goals and preferred B-School ecosystem.
CAT makes sense for India-focused aspirants, while GMAT gives you flexibility and global reach.

Which one are you planning to take and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below.