- The GMAT has moved to the GMAT Focus Edition, a 2 hour 15 minute test with three sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights) scored from 205 to 805; the fee is USD 275 at a test centre and USD 300 online
- The CAT is a 120 minute computer-based test of 68 questions and 204 marks across VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability, with a registration fee of INR 2,600 (INR 1,300 for reserved categories)
- CAT 2025 was held on 30 November 2025.
What Is the Difference Between GMAT and CAT?
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), run by GMAC, is a global business-school exam accepted worldwide, while the CAT (Common Admission Test), conducted by the IIMs, is India's main MBA entrance test. Both admit candidates to management programmes, but differ in format, scoring, validity and where they are accepted.
The CAT is a computer-based test taken for admission into graduate management programmes at the IIMs and other Indian B-schools. The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test used by business schools around the world and by a growing number of Indian institutions. Choosing between them depends on where you plan to study.
| Basis of Difference 2026 | GMAT (Focus Edition) | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Graduate Management Admission Test | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | GMAC; accepted by business schools worldwide, including Indian B-schools such as ISB | The IIMs (with TCS as testing partner); accepted mainly by Indian B-schools |
| Number of Attempts | Up to 5 times per rolling 12-month period, 16 days apart; no lifetime limit | Once a year |
| Sections | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights | VARC, DILR, Quantitative Ability |
| Test Duration | 2 hours 15 minutes | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Questions | 64 questions | 68 questions (204 marks) |
| Scoring | Total score 205 to 805 (each section 60 to 90) | Percentile-based; +3 per correct answer, -1 per wrong MCQ |
| Test Fee | USD 275 (test centre) / USD 300 (online) | INR 2,600 (INR 1,300 for reserved categories) |
| Validity | 5 years | 1 year |
| Acceptability | India and abroad (USA, UK, Europe, Singapore, etc.) | Mainly India, especially the IIMs |
Which Is Harder, GMAT or CAT?
Both are demanding MBA entrance exams, but they test different skills. CAT is widely considered tougher because of its intense competition, with over 3 lakh applicants chasing limited IIM seats and a strict 40-minute sectional time limit. GMAT is more standardised and predictable, and can be retaken up to five times a year.
The difficulty of each exam comes down to different factors:
- CAT tests Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability, all within a tight 40-minute-per-section limit.
- GMAT tests Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, and lets you attempt the sections in any order.
- CAT draws over 3 lakh applicants each year for a limited number of IIM seats, so the competition is fierce.
- Both exams pack a large number of questions into a short window, making time management the biggest challenge.
- GMAT is more standardised, so preparation is more predictable than for CAT.
What Is the GMAT and Its 2026 Format?
The GMAT Focus Edition, run by GMAC, is a computer-adaptive test first launched in 1953 and now used by over 7,000 programmes worldwide. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes across three 45-minute sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights — and is scored from 205 to 805.
The GMAT is taken to select qualified students for graduate management programmes such as an MBA or a Master's in finance-related courses at business schools around the world. It is most popular for MBA admissions outside India, though a growing number of Indian schools now accept it.
- The GMAT Focus Edition costs USD 275 at a test centre and USD 300 online.
- It can be taken up to five times in a rolling 12-month period, with attempts at least 16 days apart and no lifetime limit.
- The total testing time is 2 hours 15 minutes across three 45-minute sections.
- The total score ranges from 205 to 805, and scores stay valid for five years.
What Does the GMAT Syllabus Cover?
The GMAT Focus Edition is divided into three equally weighted sections. Quantitative Reasoning covers problem-solving and algebra-based maths; Verbal Reasoning covers reading comprehension and critical reasoning; and Data Insights measures the ability to analyse and interpret data from tables, graphs and multiple sources. Core topics include:
- Arithmetic, algebra and word problems
- Ratios, proportions and properties of integers
- Exponents, roots and linear equations
- Reading comprehension and critical reasoning
- Data interpretation from tables, graphs and multiple sources
Who Is Eligible for the GMAT?
According to GMAC, any individual can appear for the GMAT irrespective of gender, age, nationality, religion or academic background. The main eligibility conditions are:
- The minimum age to register on your own is 18 years.
- Candidates aged 13 to 17 may appear with written consent from a parent or guardian.
- There is no upper age limit and no minimum degree requirement to sit the exam.
- A good command of English is expected, as the test is conducted in English.
What Is the CAT and Its 2026 Pattern?
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a computer-based exam conducted annually by the IIMs to admit students to their MBA and management programmes. It runs 120 minutes across three sections — VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability — with 68 questions worth 204 marks. Correct answers earn three marks; wrong MCQs lose one.
The CAT became a computer-based test in 2009 and is a highly competitive exam, with over 3 lakh students appearing each year. It is conducted by the IIMs on a rotating basis, with TCS as the testing partner. CAT 2025 was held on 30 November 2025 and conducted by IIM Kozhikode.
- The CAT is held once a year, usually on a Sunday in late November.
- The exam lasts 120 minutes, with a 40-minute limit for each of the three sections.
- The registration fee is INR 2,600 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and INR 1,300 for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
What Does the CAT Syllabus Cover?
The CAT is one of the toughest management entrance exams in India. Its 68 questions are split across three sections — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Key topics include:
- Reading comprehension, para-jumbles and sentence completion
- Grammar and English usage
- Data interpretation from tables, charts and graphs
- Logical reasoning and puzzles
- Arithmetic, algebra, geometry and modern maths
Who Is Eligible for the CAT?
The eligibility criteria for the CAT are set by the IIMs and are based on your bachelor's degree. The main conditions are:
- A candidate must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD categories).
- Final-year degree students and those awaiting results can also apply.
- The degree must be awarded by a recognised university.
- There is no age limit for appearing in the CAT.
Which Exam Should You Choose for an MBA?
Choose the GMAT if you are targeting international business schools or Indian programmes like ISB that accept it, since scores stay valid for five years and are accepted globally. Choose the CAT if your goal is an IIM or another top Indian B-school, where the CAT score is the primary requirement.
- Pick the GMAT for an MBA abroad or at Indian schools such as ISB that accept it, and for the flexibility of five attempts a year.
- Pick the CAT if the IIMs and other top Indian B-schools are your main target.
- Consider taking the GMAT if you want a longer, five-year score validity and international acceptance.
- Many aspirants prepare for both to keep options open across Indian and global business schools.