What is the Difference Between the MAT and CAT Exams? CAT Vs MAT

What is the Difference Between the MAT and CAT Exams

What is the Difference Between the MAT and CAT Exams? CAT Vs MAT: This article will provide you the basic information regarding the Difference Between MAT and CAT exam. Management Aptitude Test (MAT) and Common Admission Test (CAT) are the two most popular MBA entrance exams in India. These two exams were similar in terms of providing admission for the eligible candidates into the courses like PGDM/ MBA. The main difference lies in the frequency of conducting the examination every year and its toughness level. Giving a deep look at the below sections of this page will help you know the insights of the CAT Exam and MAT Exams and their differences.

CAT Vs MAT – Overview

Parameters MAT Exam CAT Exam
Exam Full Form Management Aptitude Test Common Admission Test
Conducting body All India Management Association (AIMA) IIM
Eligibility Criteria Bachelor’s degree from any recognized university with 50% marks in aggregate (45% for the reserved category) Passing marks required for a bachelor’s degree
Exam Frequency Four times a year (February, May, September, December) Once a year (November)
Mode of Exam MAT is conducted in three modes – Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT) and Internet-Based Test (IBT) Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Number of Sections 5 sections 3 sections
Exam Sections
  • Language Comprehension
  • Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
  • Indian and Global Environment
  • Data Analysis and Sufficiency
  • Mathematical Skills
  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Number of questions 200 questions 76 questions
Exam Duration 2.5 hours 2 hours
Difficulty level Easy-Moderate Difficult
Marking Scheme
  • +1 for correct response
  • -0.25 for every incorrect response
  • +3 for correct response
  • -1 for incorrect response
Total Marks 200 marks 228 marks
Exam Fee
  • One paper: Rs 1,650
  • CBT+ PBT: Rs 2750
  • CBT+PBT+ IBT = 4,950
  • General and NC-OBC: Rs 2,000
  • SC/ ST/ PwD: Rs 1,000

CAT Vs MAT – Conducting Body

  • CAT: The CAT Exam is conducted once a year by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) on a rotation basis. The purpose of conducting the CAT Exam is to offer admission to eligible candidates into PGDM/ MBA courses. CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) mode exam and is considered the toughest of all MBA entrance exams.
  • MAT: The MAT exam is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). The purpose of conducting the CMAT Exam is to offer admission to eligible candidates into PGDM/ MBA courses. v

CAT Vs MAT – Eligibility Criteria

  • CAT: The candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university with 50% marks in aggregate (45% for the reserved category)
  • MAT: The candidates who have completed their graduate studies with a passing mark can appear for this exam.

CAT Vs MAT – Exam Pattern

  • CAT: The CAT Exam Pattern includes the topics related to Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
  • MAT: Questions related to Language Comprehension, Indian and Global Environment, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence, and Critical Reasoning. The India and Global Environment section have current affairs and GK questions will be asked in the MAT Exam.

CAT Vs MAT – Difficulty Level

  • CAT: CAT Exam is regarded as the most difficult of all the MBA Entrance Exam.
  • MAT: The difficulty level of the MAT Exam lies in Easy-Moderate.

CAT Vs MAT – Marking Scheme

Components CAT MAT
Total Marks 228 200
Marks Per Questions +3 +1
Negative Marking -1 (For MCQs Only) -0.25
Blank Question No Marks No Marks

Top Colleges Accepting MAT Scores in India

  • Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development, Mysore
  • SPJIMR, Mumbai
  • School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
  • Christ University, Bangalore
  • National Institute of Technology Warangal
  • VIT Business School, Vellore
  • Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai
  • AIMS Institutes, Bangalore
  • Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
  • Doon Business School, Dehradun
  • PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore
  • ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai
  • New Delhi Institute of Management, Delhi
  • Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
  • Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Bangalore
  • Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
  • GITAM Hyderabad Business School, Hyderabad
  • Techno India University, Kolkata
  • Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
  • MIT School of Management, Pune

Top Colleges In India Accepting CAT Score apart from the IIMs

  • School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
  • SOIL Institute of Management, Gurgaon
  • Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara
  • SPJIMR, Mumbai
  • Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Christ University, Bangalore
  • Department of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
  • Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
  • National Institute of Technology Warangal
  • VIT Business School, Vellore
  • Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
  • IBS Business School, Hyderabad
  • K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai
  • AIMS Institutes, Bangalore
  • Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai
  • Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata

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