What is the Difference Between MAH MBA CET and CAT?
MAH MBA CET vs CAT: Which exam is easier to crack? Is it easier to crack MAH CET 2025 if you had appeared for CAT 2024? Let's find out.
Even though MAH MBA CET is a state level entrance exam, it is quite popular among management aspirants. It is so, mainly for two reasons -
1. A lot of popular MBA colleges in Maharashtra accept MAH MBA CET score for admission.
2. It is a moderately difficult exam and is conducted much after CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT so one gets a lot of time to practice and prepare.
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MAH MBA CET conducted by Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India as it is a gateway to over 300 B-Schools in Maharashtra. Some of the top ranked MBA institutes such as JBIMS, Welingkar’s, SIMSREE, PUMBA, KJ Somaiya, NL Dalmia and Rizvi Institute accept MAH CET score for admission.
There is no difference between MAH CET exam sessions. The question paper structure, difficultly level and time duration are the same. The questions of all exam sessions are unique, though.
MAH MBA CET is a popular exam and over 50,000 candidates appear for it every year. To accommodate so many aspirants in limited test centres, the Maharashtra State CET conducts the exam in multiple sessions. Candidates who get a morning shift slot will have to go through the same process for appearing in the exam as the candidates who will get afternoon session exam. However, that doesn’t mean that a candidate can appear in the exam in any slot. The exam session allotted to a candidate will be mentioned in their MAH CET admit card and candidates will have to appear for the test in that session only.
CMAT syllabus is somewhat same as CAT syllabus. It has two extra subjects, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and General Awareness. However, these two subjects are not tough and can be covered alongside Quantitative Aptitude, English and Logical Reasoning. Despite having less subjects CAT is tougher than CMAT.
The other reason why MAH MBA CET is popular among MBA aspirants is that the exam is relatively easier than CAT, the biggest MBA entrance exam in India. Although, the exam syllabus and pattern are common for both CAT and MAH MBA CET, many Maharashtra based students prefer the latter as it is easier to crack and there is less competition viz. the number of applicants. Also, Maharashtra domicile candidates are preferred for admission through MAH CET. In this article, we will discuss the similarities and differences between MAH MBA CET and CAT. So, if you are planning to pursue MBA, read this article for MBA CET vs CAT comparison.
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- What is the Difference Between MAH MBA CET and CAT?
- MAH MBA CET vs CAT: Syllabus and Pattern
- MAH CET vs CAT: Difficulty Level
What is the Difference Between MAH MBA CET and CAT?
Common Entrance Exam or CAT is a national level entrance exam and has over three lakh applicants on an average. Maharashtra Common Entrance Test or MAH CET, on the other hand, is a state level exam and about 75,000 candidates apply for it. Being a national level exam, CAT sees applications from candidates from all over the country. On the other hand, MAH CET MBA is preferred by students from Maharashtra state as there is provision of seat reservation for Home candidates.
MAH MBA CET vs CAT: Conducting Body
- MAH CET MBA/MMS: Conducted by Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell
- CAT: Conducted by Indian Institute of Management on rotation basis
MAH MBA CET vs CAT: Number of Applicants
- MAH CET: On an average, about 75,000 to one lakh students apply for MAH CET MBA exam.
- CAT: On an average, over 3 lakh candidates apply for CAT exam.
MAH CET MBA vs CAT: Eligibility Criteria
MAH MBA CET: Bachelors’ degree in any discipline from any recognised university with minimum 50 per cent in aggregate ( 45 per cent for reserved category candidates). Final year students are also eligible to apply.
Also Read: MAH CET MBA 2025 eligibility criteria
CAT: Bachelors’ degree in any discipline from any recognised university with minimum 50 per cent in aggregate ( 45 per cent for reserved category candidates). Final year students are also eligible to apply.
Also Read: CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria
MAH MBA CET vs CAT: Syllabus and Pattern
Take a look at the table below for syllabus and pattern of MBA CET and CAT. The table reflects highlights of latest exam patterns of MAH CET and CAT.
| Features |
MAH CET MBA |
CAT |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syllabus |
|
|
||
| Question Type |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
||
| Total number of questions |
200 questions |
68 questions |
||
| Section-wise number of questions |
LR |
75 questions |
VARC |
24 questions |
| AR |
25 questions |
DILR |
22 questions |
|
| QA |
50 questions |
QA |
22 questions |
|
| VARC |
50 questions |
- |
- |
|
| Marking Scheme |
|
|
||
| Total marks |
200 marks |
204 marks |
||
| Exam mode |
Computer Based Test |
Computer Based Test |
||
| Exam slots |
One slot, two days |
Two-three slots, one day |
||
| Exam duration |
150 minutes |
120 minutes |
||
| Number of test cities |
48 |
170 |
||
Also Read:
MAH CET vs CAT: Exam Duration
- The MAH MBA CET exam is of 150 minutes (2.5 hours) without break. There is no sectional time limit in the exam so the candidates can choose to solve the paper according to their convenience. In the past few years, MAH CET has seen jumbled question format, i.e. questions are not sectionalised and candidates have to solve questions from any section, as they appear in the order.
- The CAT Exam is of 120 minutes (2 hours) without break. There is sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each exam section, which means the candidates have to complete each section within 40 minutes.
Also Read:
| Download Free CAT Syllabus PDF | Download Free MAH CET Syllabus PDF |
MAH CET vs CAT: Difficulty Level
‘Is MAH CET Easier than CAT?’ To answer this oft asked question, we would say that yes, MAH MBA CET is much easier than CAT. The overall difficulty level of MAH CET MBA paper is usually moderate, while CAT exam is invariably of high difficulty level. the Reading Comprehension section of CAT is specifically much tougher than that of MAH MBA CET. Also, since the competition is high in CAT ( over 3 lakh applicants) as compared to MAH CET (over 75,000), getting a high percentile in former is tougher.
Also Read:
- MAH MBA CET preparation tips 2025
- MAH MBA CET books and study material 2025
- MAH MBA CET question papers PDFs
- CAT preparation tips 2025
- CAT books and study material 2025
- CAT question papers PDFs
MAH CET vs CAT: Exam Fees
- MAH CET: Exam fees is INR 1,200 for General category students and INR 1,000 for Reserved category students
- CAT: Exam fees is INR 2,500 for General category students and INR 1,250 for Reserved category students
Also Read:
MAH CET vs CAT: Counselling Process
MAH CET: After the MBA CET, candidates have to participate in a common counselling process, or the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) for allotment of seat in an MBA programme offered by one of the Maharashtra universities or colleges.
CAT: There is no common counselling process for all CAT accepting colleges. The IIMs conduct Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) to select candidates for MBA admission. To seek admission to other MBA colleges accepting CAT score, candidates are required to apply to them separately and participate in their selection process.
Also Read:
CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 lakh candidates apply for it. Since the last two years, the competition has increased further with oveer 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam.
The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 3 lakh test takers there is a need for stringent criteria. That's why, the 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. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam except XAT. 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 can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.