Students' Speak: How is CMAT different from MAT and CAT?

By: Soumyadeep Paul

The basic point of difference is CMAT has 25% negative marking while CAT has 33% negative marking for wrong answers says Soumyadeep Paul.

Before starting to know the exact difference, let us all know what exactly MAT and CAT are. Now although all are entrance exams for management admission to any B-school all over India but all 3 are not alike. Let’s see how.

So what is MAT? ‘MAT’ is Management Aptitude Test, where the syllabus pattern is like it has 5 sections each containing 40 questions. Total exam is of 200 questions which are to be completed within 150 mins and this exam is held 4 times per annum in the month of February, May, September & December. It can be attempted offline as well as online mode. The language available is only  English. Eligibility criteria to appear is 50% in bachelor’s degree for general and 45% for specially-abled persons. MAT marking scheme includes +1 for correct answer & -0.25 for incorrect one. Syllabus of MAT includes Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Sufficiency and Indian & Global Environment. The score which is obtained at last as final is COMPOSITE SCORE. Through MAT no IIMs can be cracked.

CAT stands for Common Admission Test. Unlike MAT, CAT is being held only once a year. It is generally held at the month of November. The topics to be covered to prepare for CAT are Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. CAT is a gateway to all the IIMS & other eminent, renowned B-schools too in INDIA. IIM conducts CAT exam. CAT doesn’t have GK portion. Eligibility criteria includes 50% in bachelor’s degree for all except physically disabled ones for whom it is 45%. The duration of exam is 3 hours and 100 questions consisting of 34 questions from Quantitative Ability, 34 questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension & 32 questions from Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation needs to be attempted. This exam is conducted online mode only. Marking is like +3 for each correct option & -1 for each wrong one.

After knowing about MAT & CAT, questions come on how different CMAT is from these exams! CMAT stands for Common Management Admission Test, which is a test of national level for admission to all management programs in AICTE approved institutions. CMAT exam has 4 sections of Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Language Comprehension & General Awareness. It is a 3 hours exam conducted online only. Total 100 questions to be attempted (25 questions from each of 4 sections) & striking point of difference is it gives 4 marks for each answer & takes away 1 mark for each negative one. It is conducted in the month of January only once a year. Graduates of any discipline can appear for CMAT.

The basic point of difference is CMAT has 25% negative marking while CAT has 33% negative marking for wrong answers. Hope at least after going through this, one can grow an idea about actually what these exams are all about.

About the Author:

Soumyadeep Paul is pursuing PGDM from Balaji Institute of Telecom Management (BITM), Sri Balaji University. He is an extrovert who loves to explore and network.