Are you keen on applying to management institutes in India? Not sure if management institutes in India accept GMAT scores? Keep reading on to find out if management institutes in India do so.
Most management institutes in India require you to have a valid CAT score to be eligible for an MBA or a management degree. However, over the past few years, popular institutes such as IIM has also been accepting GMAT scores. This has led to a dilemma amongst students who wish to apply to an IIM or any management institute in India. The dilemma being, “Is GMAT easier than CAT?”. We will explore this by looking at the differences between the GMAT and the CAT in detail below.
GMAT vs CAT
To begin with, a key difference between the two exams is that the GMAT exam is taken globally and is accepted by 2100 intensities worldwide. The CAT, on the other hand, is a national exam and is only accepted by 150 universities in India. Let us look at a few other factors in detail.
Exam Sections
The GMAT is divided into four sections Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment. While the CAT is divided into three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
Scores and Validity
Once you complete giving the GMAT, your official score card will have your total GMAT score, which ranges between 200 to 800. It will also have your Verbal Reasoning, Qualitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment scores along with the corresponding percentile ranks. The official GMAT score card is valid for about 5 years from your test date. The CAT scores, on the contrary, are only valid for one year and the total CAT scores range from 82 to 300.
Scoring Scheme
The GMAT sections are scored differently from the CAT sections. The GMAT Verbal and Quant sections are scored between 0 to 60 and the Integrated Reasoning is scored between 1 to 8. The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment is scored between 0 to 6. On the other hand, each of the CAT sections is scored between 82 to 300. However, the CAT awards 3 points to each right answer and a negative marking for each wrong answer. While there is negative marking in the CAT, the GMAT has no negative marking.
Difficulty Level
The GMAT is a standardised, global exam whereas the CAT is not a standardised exam. This means the difficulty level and the structure of the exam is bound to change year after year. Moreover, the GMAT exam is computer-adaptive, this means the GMAT adapts itself to the test taker’s difficulty level. While both exams are considered to be highly competitive, owing to its computer-adaptive nature the GMAT is comparatively easier than the CAT.
Availability
Last but not the least, the GMAT is available to students all through the year whereas the CAT is available only once a year. Additionally, you can reschedule, cancel and retake the GMAT exam at an additional cost, whereas the CAT cannot be rescheduled and cancelled. Moreover, you can take the GMAT up to 5 times in a year within a gap of 21 days from your previous attempt. However, if you want to retake the CAT, you have to wait for an entire year to do so.
Hence, if you want to pursue a management degree in India, taking the GMAT would be a wise choice as it is accepted by popular management institutes and is widely accepted. So, register for the exam today. All the best!
