Difference between CAT and GMAT Syllabus: Topic-wise Comparison
CAT and GMAT are two of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India having similar syllabus but different approach. Can one prepare for both CAT and GMAT together? We have listed the difference between CAT and GMAT syllabus in this article. Take a look at GMAT vs CAT.
Difference between CAT and GMAT syllabus - Common Admission Test or CAT and Graduate Management Aptitude Test or GMAT are the two top MBA entrance exams. Since they both are for MBA admission, many students may feel that syllabus of both will be same. It is not so. CAT and GMAT syllabus may largely be same but there’s uniqueness to both. Candidates do have to study reasoning, quantitative aptitude and verbal ability for both CAT and GMAT, but the topics and nature of questions are quite different. You can't prepare for both CAT and GMAT simultaneously due to vast difference between pattern and structure. For both CAT and GMAT, single minded focus and dedicated exam preparation is necessary. So, in the choice between GMAT vs CAT, you must go through their syllabi to assess your strenght and weakness. In this article we have listed the difference between CAT and GMAT to help you in making a decision.
- What is the Difference between CAT and GMAT Syllabus?
- CAT vs GMAT: Difference in Syllabus
- GMAT syllabus
- CAT syllabus
- CAT vs GMAT: Difference in Exam Pattern
What is the Difference between CAT and GMAT Syllabus?
The biggest difference between CAT syllabus and GMAT syllabus is the composition of topics and difficulty levels of chapters. In this article, we will discuss the syllabus of CAT and GMAT and their differences and similarities.
CAT vs GMAT: Difference in Syllabus
CAT syllabus includes important topics from Quantitative, Logical and Verbal Reasoning, under the sections - Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).
GMAT syllabus also includes Quantitative, Logical and Verbal Reasoning but under sections - Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights. Let’s take a look at the topics included in CAT and GMAT.
Also Read: GMAT vs CAT: Differences and Similarities
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GMAT syllabus
GMAT Syllabus: Verbal Reasoning section
Check the table below for Verbal Reasoning topics included in the GMAT exam syllabus.
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GMAT Syllabus: Quantitative Reasoning
Check the table below for Quantitative Reasoning topics included in the GMAT exam syllabus.
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GMAT Syllabus: Data Insights
Check the table below for Data Insights topics included in the GMAT exam syllabus.
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CAT syllabus
CAT Syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude
Check the table below for Quantitative Aptitude topics included in the CAT exam syllabus.
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CAT Syllabus: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Check the table below for VARC topics included in the CAT exam syllabus.
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CAT Syllabus: Logical Reasoning
Check the table below for Logical Reasoning topics included in the CAT exam syllabus.
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CAT Syllabus: Data Interpretation
Check the table below for Data Interpretation topics included in the CAT exam syllabus.
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CAT vs GMAT: Difference in Exam Pattern
Let’s take a look at the main difference between GMAT exam pattern and CAT exam pattern:
CAT is a national level test, while GMAT is a global entrance exam for MBA admissions. While CAT is accepted only in Indian MBA colleges, GMAT is accepted in both Indian as well as foreign MBA colleges. In India, GMAT is mostly accepted for admission to MBA/PGDM and Executive MBA programmes and is accepted for Foreign/NRI/PIO students.
The main difference between CAT syllabus and GMAT syllabus is the section - Analytical Writing Assessment, which is a subjective section. One has to write a short essay on the give topic in AWA. CAT has no subjective question.
| Features |
GMAT exam pattern |
CAT exam pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Sections |
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| Number of sections |
Four |
Three |
| Total number of questions |
64 |
66 |
| Exam duration |
2 hours 15 minutes |
2 hours |
| Question type |
MCQs |
MCQs and key-in answers |
| Sectional flexibility |
Can decide order of sections to answer |
Have to follow chronology of the CAT question paper |
| Total number of attempts |
Can take the exam five times a year |
Can take the exam only once a year |
| Marking scheme |
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The GMAT exam syllabus is fixed and is not dynamic. There are a fixed set of topics per section that applicants have to look at to prepare for the syllabus. The exam sylabus does not change randomly or at a short span, official statements are released and time is given for implementation as well.
CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences
- Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences
- Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency
- Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions
- Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration
The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.
The following topics have been removed from GMAT's syllabus upon transition:
- Sentence Correction
- Geometry
- Analytical Writing Assessment or the AWA section which was the essay section
Conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, CAT is a national level entrance exam accepted by over 1,300 B-Schools in India for admission. GMAT, is a global exam valid for admission to 2,100 management institutes across the world and over 100 Indian B-schools. IIMs accept GMAT for Executive MBA programmes and in case of foreign category students. But many MBA colleges in India accept CAT and GMAT both for admission to their MBA/PGP, EPGP, PhD and other courses. So, an MBA aspirant may get confused while choosing which MBA entrance exam to take.
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Yes, GMAT exam syllabus is quite vast and despite some topic slashes like sentence correction, geometry and AWA (essay), the syllabus still has lots of topics. The Quant section has the maximum topics and is one of the biggest sections. Followed by Verbal Reasoning section where reading and critical analysis is tested. Finally, the latest Data Insights section is the next the biggest section with graph interpretation, data interpretation and tables along with other topics. Thus, GMAT includes a wide range of topics to test its applicants for admissions.