NMAT vs CAT Syllabus: Know Differences & Similarities
As the MBA entrance season is in its full swing, many candidates want a clear picture of the difference between the syllabus of CAT and NMAT. Read the article for your clear understanding.
Know the Key Differences Between CAT and NMAT
CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: IIM admissions are based on CAT scores. While some of the top MBA colleges in India accept NMAT scores for MBA admissions Most of the MBA entrance exams have an identical syllabus and sections. Among many MBA entrance exams, NMAT and CAT are two of the most popular entrance exams being the gateway to top business schools. Candidates often get confused with the syllabus of CAT and NMAT exam. This article is a comprehensive guide on the differences and similarities between CAT syllabus and the NMAT syllabus.
Read below to know about the CAT vs NMAT syllabus, along with comparison of exam pattern, test structure and marking scheme.
- CAT VS NMAT Syllabus
- CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: Topic Comparison
- CAT vs NMAT: Exam Pattern and Test Structure
- CAT vs NMAT: Marking Scheme
- CAT vs NMAT: Sectional Time Limit
CAT VS NMAT Syllabus
Both exams comprise three sections. While the syllabus for both is similar in terms of topics, the CAT syllabus is slightly more extensive. Additionally, the CAT is known to be more challenging than the NMAT. Despite significant alterations in the NMAT exam pattern and structure, the syllabus or topics remain unchanged. The sections of the CAT and NMAT are listed below.
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| CAT Syllabus | NMAT Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Verbal Ability (VA) |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Logical Reasoning (LR) |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | Quantitative Ability (QA) |
CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: Topic Comparison
As mentioned earlier, both the exams have almost the same topics but CAT covers a bit more in-depth topics which NMAT doesn’t. CAT requires a whole lot of detailing and vast knowledge of each topic. For all three sections, we have tried to cover all sorts of topics that CAT and NMAT have been asking over the years. You will find a visible difference in the diversity of questions when it comes to CAT.
Also Read: How to Prepare for NMAT & CAT Simultaneously?
Have a look at the sectional break-up:
CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: VARC
In this section, there are quite similar topics that need to be covered. CAT shows a little variation as compared to NMAT.
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| CAT |
NMAT |
|---|---|
| Fill in the blanks |
Fill in the blanks |
| Sentence completion |
Sentence error/correction |
| Jumbled paragraphs |
|
| Reading comprehension |
|
| Sentence correction |
Statement correction |
| Idioms |
Idioms, phrases, clauses |
| Antonyms |
Synonyms & antonyms |
| English grammar & vocabulary |
|
| Different usage of the same word |
Word meaning |
| Contextual usage |
English usage |
| Verbal Reasoning |
Analogies |
| Para Completion and inference |
- |
| Foreign language words used in English |
- |
| Analogies |
- |
| Verbal Logic |
- |
| One word substitution |
- |
CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: DILR
Again, most of the topics are the same but CAT has a few additional topics.
| CAT |
NMAT |
|---|---|
| Coding-Decoding |
Coding & Decoding |
| Series |
Series |
| Assumptions Proposition |
Strong Arguments and Weak Arguments |
| Data Arrangement |
Multi-dimensional arrangements |
| Puzzles |
Puzzles |
| Seating Arrangement |
Arrangement |
| Family Tree |
Family tree |
| Bars |
Numeric Grid |
| Pie Charts |
Critical Reasoning |
| Clocks and Calendars |
Calendars |
| Syllogism |
Syllogism |
| Statements |
Statement Conclusions |
| Proposition |
Course of Action |
| Data Structures |
Grouping & Conditionalities |
| Data Sufficiency |
Sequential Output |
| Caselets |
Venn Diagrams |
| Sets |
Ranking in Queue |
| Binary Logic |
Implicit Statements |
| Line Graphs |
Decision Making |
| Logical Consistency |
|
| Direction Sense |
- |
CAT vs NMAT Syllabus: QA
In this section, the syllabus is vast and more or less the same for both exams.
| CAT |
NMAT |
|---|---|
| Geometry |
Coordinate Geometry |
| Trigonometry |
Trigonometry |
| Mensuration |
|
| Ratios and Proportion |
Ratio and Proportion |
| Number System |
|
| Work and time |
Work and Time |
| HCF & LCM |
|
| Algebra |
Algebra (Linear/Quadratic Equation |
| Profit & Loss |
Profit and Loss |
| In-equations Quadratic and linear equations |
|
| Geometric Progression |
|
| Percentage |
|
| Average |
Average |
| Partnership (Accounts) |
Line graph, Bar graph, Pie Charts, Tables |
| Time-Speed-Distance |
Time, Speed and Distance |
| Surds and Indices |
Mixture & Solution |
| Logarithms |
Logarithms |
| Inequalities |
Modern Math |
| - |
2D & 3D Geometry and Statistics |
| - |
Quantitative Skills |
| - |
Arithmetic |
The above table bringing the comparison between CAT and NMAT syllabus for the QA section may indicate that the NMAT syllabus has more topics, but the fact is, the QA section of NMAT also carries questions on Data Interpretation. Hence, the topics may seem to be more diverse.
CAT vs NMAT: Exam Pattern and Test Structure
The biggest difference between CAT and NMAT exam structure is that, while the former is conducted only once a year and the latter is conducted in over 70-day test window wherein the candidate can attempt the exam thrice. Candidates have the option to choose the desired exam date for NMAT. While the CAT exam is conducted on a pre-defined date by conducting IIM.
Also Read:
CAT vs NMAT: Marking Scheme
NMAT is completely free of negative marking while CAT has negative marking for MCQs. There is no negative marking policy only for non-MCQs, in CAT. Take a look at the table below for the marking scheme of both the exams.
CAT Test Structure & Marking Scheme
| CAT Sections with No. of Questions | Sub-Section/Question Category with No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| VARC (26) | Non-MCQs (8) |
| MCQs (18) | |
| DILR (24) | DI (10) with both MCQs & Non-MCQs |
| LR (14) with both MCQs & Non-MCQs | |
| QA (26) | Non-MCQs (8) |
| MCQs (18) |
Objective-type questions in CAT has negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect response. While the Non-MCQ questions will not have any negative marking. Both MCQ and Non-MCQs will fetch +3 marks if the response marked is correct.
NMAT Test Structure & Marking Scheme
| NMAT Section | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| VA | 36 |
| LR | 36 |
| QA | 36 |
There is no negative marking in NMAT. Each correct response in the NMAT exam, will fetch +3 marks.
CAT vs NMAT: Sectional Time Limit
Each section in CAT is to be attempted in a timeframe of 40 minutes while it completely varies in the case of NMAT. Take a look.
| Section | CAT Sectional Time (in minutes) | NMAT Sectional Time (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| QA / Quantitative Skills | 40 | 52 |
| DILR / LR | 40 | 40 |
| VARC / Language Skills | 40 | 28 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Based on the above inputs, aspirants should start preparing for CAT and NMAT without any further delay as an early start would give them an advantage of learning each topic of both exams and prepare a study plan accordingly by identifying their strong and weak areas.
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