ATMA Exam vs CAT Exam: Which Exam is Easier for MBA Aspirants?
AIMS Test for Management Admissions 2026 ( ATMA )
ATMA registration 2026 (July)
7 May '26 - 30 Jun '26
ATMA and CAT are both MBA entrance exams. But, they differ in terms of pattern, difficulty level, etc. The syllabus of these exams is similar but with considerable differences. Check the article below to know the difference between CAT and ATMA and which exam is easier for MBA aspirants.
ATMA exam vs CAT exam
ATMA exam vs CAT exam: AIMS Test for Management Admissions or ATMA is a national-level exam conducted by the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) for admission to MBA, PGDM, MMS, MCA and PGDBA courses. More than 750 management institutes across India accept ATMA scores for admission to their management programmes. And, Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test for admission to MBA courses in India. Each year, one of the IIMs conducts the CAT exam. MBA admissions across 22 IIMs is based on the CAT scores, followed by unique selection processes. Besides IIMs, CAT exam is accepted by over 1600 institutes in India, including FMS Delhi, MDI, SPJIMR, IIT-DoMs and more.
ATMA and CAT are both MBA entrance exam and have similar syllabus, but they have considerable differences such as difficulty level, pattern, etc. Check the article below to know the difference between CAT and ATMA and which exam is easier for MBA aspirants.
ATMA vs CAT Exam Pattern 2026
Check the table below to know the comparison between CAT and ATMA exam pattern 2026:
| Features | ATMA | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Number of section | 6 | 3 |
| Duration | 180 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Number of question | 180 MCQs | 68 MCQs |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| Sectional Time Limit | Yes (40 minutes per section) | Yes (40 minutes per section) |
| Sections | Quantitative Aptitude Verbal Skills Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
Quantitative Aptitude Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning |
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
1 Apr '26 - 25 May '26
1 Dec '25 - 30 Jun '26
TANCET
16 May '26 - 23 May '26
11 Apr '26 - 24 May '26
29 May '26
23 Apr '26 - 30 May '26
9 Oct '25 - 31 May '26
2 Jan '26 - 31 May '26
31 May '26 - 24 Jun '26
Why is CAT Considered Difficult Than Other MBA Exams?
CAT exam is conducted by the IIMs in India. It is a national level MBA exam and every year over 2.3 lakh candidates appear for the exam. The competition has increased over the past few years with over 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam. CAT scores are accepted by the top B-Schools in India. To select the best candidates, these test takers have to go through tough criterias and so, CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions.
Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they cannot use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike ATMA exam. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.
Also Read: CAT 2026 preparation tips
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Oct '26 | CMAT 2027 registration and app... |
Jan '27 | CMAT 2027 exam |
1 Apr '26 - 25 May '26 | MAT May 2026 Registration PBT |
1 Apr '26 - 8 Jun '26 | MAT May 2026 Registration CBT |
Mar '25 | IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno... |
Feb '25 | IRMASAT Personal Interviews |
19 May '26 - 21 May '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 Answer Key Do... |
13 May '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 Final Answer ... |
15 Apr '26 | BET 2026 Round 4 Submission De... |
3 Mar '26 | BET 2026 Round 3 Submission De... |
Jul '26 | XAT 2027 registration dates |
Sep '26 | XAT 2027 mock test |
Jun '26 | OJEE result 2026 |
Jun '26 | Special OJEE registrations 202... |
31 May '26 | KMAT Kerala 2026 (Session 2) |
18 May '26 - 20 May '26 | KMAT Kerala 2026 Form Correcti... |
Aug '26 | SNAP 2026 Registration Process |
Nov '26 | SNAP 2026 admit card session 1... |
31 May '26 | Alliance AMAT 2026 Last Date o... |
31 Jan '26 | Alliance AMAT 2026 Last Date o... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
ATMA result 2026 was released on May 9, 2026, for session 2. Session 1 result was released on February 28, 2026.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 weeks ago
Steps to Download ATMA Scorecard
Visit the official ATMA portal: atmaaims.com
Click on the “Candidate Login” / “ATMA Result” link.
Enter your PID (Personal Identification Number) and Password (generated during registration).
Select the exam date (e.g., ATMA February / May / July session).
Download and sa
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, you cannot join Jindal Global Business School without an entrance exam if you want admission to the MBA course. For admission to the management courses, the institute accepts various national-level exams, like
- CAT
- MAT
- ATMA
- GMAT
- NMAT
- XAT
- CMAT
Students who attain qualifying percentiles for these exams are
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Following list of documents will be required on exam day.
- Original and photocopy of Photo ID proof such as Original Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Voter's Card/Permanent Driving License
- Ration Card and Learner's Driving License are not accepted as valid ID proof
- Two clear black and white copies of ATMA admit c
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
ATMA admit card 2026 for May session released on April 29, 2026. The February admit card 2026 was released on February 18, 2026.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
No, foreign nationals cannot apply for ATMA exam. Only Indian citizens can the ATMA exam 2026.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes, candidates can appear more than once for ATMA exam. ATMA is held three to five times a year and scores of best attempt would be considered for admissions to colleges accepting ATMA scores.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Marking pattern for ATMA exam is
- 1 mark for correct answer
- 0.25 is deducted for incorrect answer
- No deduction is made for questions not answered.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The registrations for ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admission) 2026 are currently open. The ATMA exam for the May 2026 session is scheduled to be held on 3rd May 2026.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
Read Full Bio