Factor

#2:
The
ability
to
improve
the
score:
One of the major factors as far as the CAT is concerned, is that it is like a bullet from a gun, once shot it
cannot be recalled. Similarly, you only have one shot at the CAT in a given academic year. You have a
bad headache or a fight with your girlfriend on the day of your CAT or suffer from Delhi Belly, CAT will just
say BhaagBhaag DK Bose..
However, as far as GMAT is concerned, there is no cap on the number of times that you can take the test.
In an academic year, you are allowed to take the GMAT five times, with an interval of one month. These
repeat attempts do come at a price, but then that critical option to improve your score exists and is used
favorably by many candidates
Target CAT/GMAT Score Number of Attempts

What does this mean for you?

This means if you have a bad day or something crops up at work, you can shift your GMAT date to take it
when you are ready. Infact you can reschedule your GMAT dates online up to a week before the test date.
Factor #3:The validity of the Score
Your CAT scores are valid only for that particular year. If you take CAT in 2013, you can use the score to
apply for programmes starting in 2014 and not after that. However, some institutions do give you the
leeway to use your previous CAT scores when applying, but then they are very few and far in between.
On the other hand, GMAT scores are valid for 5 years.
What does this mean for you?
That means, you take your GMAT now and manage to get an awesome score but for some reason do not
apply, you can use the same score to apply to any program even when:
2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games
2014 FIFA World Cup

 2014 Twenty 20 world Cup

2015 Cricket World Cup
2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics
2016 Twenty 20 World Cup
2017 Auckland World Masters Games
2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
are over
Factor #4:The institutions covered by GMAT
CAT scores in its current form, can be used only for admissions in the IIMs and other affiliate Indian bschools. Though it has been conducted for many years, it is still a very Indian test for Indian MBA
programs.
Taking the GMAT opens up the gates to the best institutions,both abroad and in India. Harvard Business
School, Wharton and Stanford amongst other schools in the USA, INSEAD in France and Singapore,
London Business School are ome of the prestigious institutions that consider GMAT scores for
admissions to their management program. Top Indian B-schools such as the Indian School of Business
(ISB) in Hyderabad, Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) in Chennai andSP Jain in Mumbai also
have started considering GMAT scores for entry to their programmes.
What does this means for you?
Well, we are certainly asking you to Think beyond the IIMs
. Not in the ponytail way, but know that
GMAT will open up a lot more prestigious doors, than what CAT will.
Factor #5: The relative ease of admissions
Acing the CAT is just the first step in what is an arduous and a highly competitive admission process.
Group discussions, essays and personal interviews are the next in line before you bag the coveted admit.
And worsening your already difficult task is the fact that Each step has a high and arbitrary cut offs.You
will have meet the daunting sectional cutoffs, 10th marks, 12th marks, Graduation marks ..phew!
before you finally convert it. Also the competition is unbelievably high. For about 1000 seats in the top five
IIMs, you are competing with 200,000 people with similar aspirations. And do not forget the ubiquitous
reservations!
Simply put, only 0.5 percent of the total number of applicants make it to the IIMs.
Most b-schools abroad have a streamlined system for admissions which is also very subjective. Once you
take your GMAT, you would need to send out your essays and recommendation letters, In which there is a
lot of scope to explain certain gaps in education and experience. Heck, the schools abroad dont even
look at your 10th or 12th standard marks! It is all about how you are as a person and not just meeting
some arbitrary cutoffs which in all probability you dont even know.

The conversion ratio is almost 10 percent for b-schools who consider GMAT.

GMAT

CAT

It tests the complete mental ability of the

students and not just their theoretical power.

It focuses only on the book knowledge and

not the practical one. It tests only a limited
mental ability.

The GMAT has an Analytical Writing Ability

(AWA).

Writing skills are not tested in the CAT.

In the GMAT, about 30% of questions in the

Verbal Ability section are of Critical
Reasoning.

Critical Reasoning (CR)has not been a

significant area in the CAT in recent years

In GMAT, the emphasis is not only on the

functional aspects of grammar rules, but also
on contextual meaning and usage. There are

Sentence Correction questions that come in

the GMAT are of slightly different flavor when
compared to those in the CAT.

specific error types that are looked at in the

GMAT and familiarity with those types will be
very handy.

The reasons of a student in India opting to take GMAT over CAT

exam:-

GMAT

This test also comprises of a written section

that test the writing skills and also helps in
depicting the students flow of thoughts and
his ability to effectively express himself.
Accepted not only by IIMs but also top
colleges like ISB, Indian Institute of Foreign
Trade (IIFT), XLRI, Birla Institute of
Management Studies (BIMS), Faculty of
Management studies (FMS), Great Lakes
Institute of Management and many more.

CAT

The CAT exam has no such writing section

and it tests only the objective and
grammatical knowledge of the person.

Accepted by only IIMs and handful of other

colleges.

Have a choice to apply to the top schools in

India (including the top 1%) and the best
colleges from around the world

Valid and limited only to India and is

applicable to only few other colleges except
IIMs.

More than 60% GMAT Takers get into the

leading B-schools.

Only 2% CAT takers get into IIMs

The Score is valid for5 yrs.

The score is valid only for a year.

The test happens all year around (i.e.- The

GMAT test takes place every month and a
person can take this exam more than once in
a year if he has not attained his targeted
score. However, The GMAT exam can only be
taken 5 times in a year by an individual).
For every score there is a great B-school. This
is one test which is accepted by multiple
colleges in India (no need to take a separate
test for MAT or XAT and other colleges
specific exams.) and abroad.

It comes only once a year (so if you dont

get a good score then you have to wait for
one whole year to take the test and reapply to colleges.)

Good B-Schools only accept students who

have ranked at 90th percentile or above.

Requires 2-4 months of prep.

Requires almost a years preparation, some

students also take two years to prepare.

Why settle for lakhs when you can earn millions?

Many students in India are unclear whether they should target GMAT or CAT
and what to expect on the tests. We attempt to demystify the two tests
through a handy side by side comparison.
GMAT

CAT

Significance

GMAC a non-profit body

Administer

governed by top global

IIMs Indias top

ing body

business schools

business schools

The GMAT (Graduate

Management Admission
Test) can be taken up
to five times in a
year.The GMAT test
dates can be chosen as

Once a year.

per convenience.GMAT

Rescheduling the

test takers have an option

test is also an

to reschedule the exam

option for CAT

seven days before the

takers, but the

GMAT test date at an

date has to be

For those who want to

additional fee of

within the test

improve their CAT scores,

$50.Note GMAC takes 3

window and

the waiting period would

weeks to report your

subject to

be one year to re-take the

score to schools of your

availability, so

test whereas in case of

choice. keep this in mind

theres lesser

the GMAT, you can re-take

Test

when planning your test

flexibility on this

the test after a gap of

frequency

date.

front.

thirty-one days.

When do

The GMAT score for the

CAT test results are

In case you are taking the

Verbal and Quantitative

GMAT which allows a

section can be known

candidate to take the test

immediately after the test

multiple times, knowing

is taken though it takes

the score immediately

up to three weeks for the

announced much

helps candidates plan if

you get

official scores to reach

later at a fixed

they need to take the test

the score?

you.

date

again
Impacts when you
schedule the test in your
overall MBA plans. You

The GMAT score is valid

can take the GMAT

for a period of five years

immediately after college

across most business

when many concepts

schools in UK and USA.

tested on GMAT would be

Some schools in India do

relatively fresh in your

not consider scores older

mind and you would have

than three years.If you

plenty of time for

have had multiple

preparation. You can then

attempts at the GMAT,

apply to business school

the highest score is

up to five years later

Validity of

considered at most

The CAT score is

when it fits in your overall

score

business schools.

valid for one year

career plans.

Fees

$ 250 (Rs 17,000)

Indian Rupees
1600

Taking the GMAT should

be a well considered
decision. Most candidates
evaluate their chances of
getting their target score
before applying.CAT is
more affordable but
considering the overall
expenses of MBA
education, this factor may
not have a major impact
on deciding which exam is

right for you

No. of
schools
the score
will be
reported
to without

Candidates need to be

extra

selective in applying to

charge

unlimited

business schools

Charges
for
reporting
score to

Impacts the number of

each

schools a GMAT test taker

additional

can apply to without

school

$28

Not applicable

breaking the bank

Low Most
Charges

business schools

Same as above the

for

Significant each

accepting CAT

significant application fee

applying

business school has a

charge in the

mandates a thorough and

to

separate application fee

range of Rs 1000-

honest self-evaluation

business

which can be as high

1500 as

before applying to

schools

as 200 (Rs 17,000)

application fee

business schools

Courses

Full time MBA (One year

Two-year PGP at

A wider choice of courses

accepting

and Two year), Masters in

Indian business

is available to the GMAT

the score

Business Management

schools (MBM as

applicant

(MBM/MIM), Executive

per AMBA, UK

MBA (part time courses)

accreditation and

in USA, UK, India,

MBA equivalent

Australia, Asia-Pacific and

as per Association

ChinaNote: All course

of Indian

definitions as per

Universities, India)

accreditation by AMBA,

UK
The CAT has two
sections (a)
Quantitative Ability
& Data
Interpretation (b)
Verbal Ability &
Logical Reasoning.
In the GMAT, the

There is no essay

Analytical writing

writing involved.

assessment (AWA)

Both the sections

section comprises of a

are timed

30-minute analysis of an

separately. Each

argument which involves

section lasts for 1

The GMAT is often called a

writing essays.The

hour 10 minutes

test of stamina. Stock up

Integrated reasoning

with a fifteen

on enough sleep before

section lasts another 30

minute tutorial

the exam. Tip: avoid Red

minutes. The

before the test

Bull during the break

Quantitative and the

begins. So the total

many students report

Sections

Verbal section have 75

duration adds up

increased stress and a

on the test

minutes each.The total

totwo hours

faster heart rate after

and

time thus adds up

thirty-five

drinking the sports drink

duration

to three and half hours.

minutes.

in the exam setting

Adaptive The candidate

Linear

can view only one

In case of the CAT,

question at a time.If the

each section

answer provided is

comprises

correct, the next question

of thirty questions.

displayed would be

Candidates have to

slightly tougher than the

take the

previous one. The

Quantitative Ability

difficulty level would

& Data

increase with each

interpretation

correct answer provided.

section first

Test
Format

In case of an incorrect

followed by the

answer, the next question

Verbal Ability

asked would be slightly

& Logical

easier.There is no

Reasoning

negative marking but

section.Candidates

once you answer a

can review the

question and move on to

various answers

the next one, you cannot

within a section

go back and change your

during the time

answer. The test taker

provided. Once a

can not skip a

section is

question.The scores are

completed,

provided for the

candidates do not

Quantitative and GMAT

have access to

Verbal sections out of 800

it.There is a +3

and the AWA section has

marking for a

a score on a scale of 0-6

correct answer
provided and a -1
marking for an
incorrect answer.
No marks are
given
for unanswered
questions.Some
candidates may
opt to skip a few
answers instead
of providing
incorrect answers.
Similar to GMAT,
results provided
mention the
percentile rankings
for each individual
section and the

overall test score.

Business schools
accepting CAT tend
Most business schools

to have sectional

Sectional

accepting GMAT do not

cut offs decided by

cut-offs

have sectional cut-offs

the colleges

All prominent business

schools in USA, Europe,
Asia-pacific, Australia &
India. In India ISB, IIMs,
XLRI, Great Lakes, SP Jain
are some of the

All Indian business

Which

prominent business

schools accept CAT

schools

schools accepting GMAT

for their two-year

accept the

for One year full time

PGP (MBM)

score?

MBA programmes.

programme

Weight-

Most business schools

A bulk of

age

using GMAT assign no

candidates

assigned

more than 20-30% weigh-

appearing for CAT

in

age when evaluating

have zero work

admission

candidature and

experience and so

process

shortlisting for interviews.

schools tend to

Other aspects schools

assign significant

look at include Quality of

weight-age to CAT

work experience,

scores in order to

extracurricular

evaluate their

achievements, essays.

candidature.School
s shortlist
candidates for
interview based
solely on CAT
scores other
aspects of a
candidate may be

looked at later in
the admission
process.
For the CAT,
Visit the GMAT official

candidates have to

website, www.mba.com a

purchase CAT

nd choose the nearest

vouchers at select

GMAT test center after

Axis bank

which you can select the

locations. Online

GMAT test date and time

registration can be

Booking

as per your convenience

done using the

your test

and register.

voucher number.

So which

GMAT is known to have a

CAT syllabus

The GMAT test format

test is

significantly harder Verbal

includes higher

reflects its intended

more

section with the questions

mathematical

audience. The test is

difficult?

on Logical Reasoning

concepts such as

aimed at people who have

being significantly harder

Integration &

been away from

than those on CAT.A

differentiation.

academics for a

casual glance at the

significant time and so

syllabus for the

aims to test mental agility

Quantitative section may

and IQ rather than pure

hint at an easier test

mathematical concepts

questions asked require

the former is more

knowledge of basic

relevant in selecting

concepts such as Speed,

future managers.The jury

Time, Distance and

is out on which test is

Probability. However, a

more difficult. One tests

closer look reveals that

higher concepts, the other

GMAT skips higher

confuses and confounds

mathematical concepts in

by complicating highs

favour of more tricky

school math problems to

questions and speed.More

the level of complex

than one-third of the

puzzles. Many students

questions in GMAT Quant

report acing the CAT and

then performing poorly on

GMAT and viceversa.Bottom line We
feel that more than the
difficulty of the tests,
belong to Data

the life-stage of the

Sufficiency type, whereas

applicant will decide

this question may or may

the choice of test

not appear at all in CAT.

for candidates. Discuss

The complexity of GMAT

ions regarding which

Quant is not in formulae

test is more difficult

or calculations, but in the

may not have any real

application

world implications.

The GMAT is accepted for

CAT scores are

both post experience

valid for only one

management courses

year and the PGP

(MBAs) and pre-

courses admit

experience management

largely

courses (MBMs) at

freshers.CAT is

business schools across

the test to

the world.Take the

target if you

GMAT if you aspire to

intend to target

an MBA course in USA,

pre-experience

Who

Europe or India or an

management

should

MBM course in USA,

education in

take the

Europe, Australia or

India within the

test?

Asia-pacific

near future

2. Improvement on the GMAT is statistically shown to improve with effort. I am not sure if there is
similar data on CAT. But I can *prove* that you can improve your scores with effort. Whether you
get a 750 out of 800 is as good as asking whether you will get 99.9%ile in CAT - its upto the
individuals.