What is a Computer-adaptive Test?
A Computer-adaptive Test is a recent innovation that has been made in the organizations conducting entrance exams. This type of testing is tailored to the candidate's knowledge base and adapts to the response given by the candidate to record his/her accurate performance. If you begin a computer adaptive test with a question of moderate level difficulty and answer it correctly, the next question displayed on your computer screen will be of slightly higher difficulty.
If you happened to answer the first question incorrectly, the following question will relatively be simpler. Many studies reveal the fact that a candidate’s ability determines the difficulty level of the question. It also means that a candidate’s caliber can be measured with the help of questions he/she knows how to solve. This is because simple questions are poor measures of high scorers and vice versa. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is an example of a computer-adaptive test. Other examples can be GRE etc.
GMAT's computer adaptiveness can be best understood with the help of the following graph.
Source: gogmat.com (link source)
On the graph:
- Square: right answers
- Circles wrong answers
As evident from the graph, every right answer enhances the complexity of the question while every wrong one results in a simpler question.
GMAT Focus Edition vs CAT: General Information
The CAT, an abbreviation for the Common Admission Test, is conducted by the IIMs. This national-level test is administered for admission to the most prestigious MBA programs in India. The test used to be pen and paper only until 2009. From 2009 forward, it has been administered digitally as a computer-based test. In the past, the CAT test would last three hours. Considering the COVID-19 precautions, it was shortened to two hours in 2020, with forty minutes allocated to each component.
The GMAT stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test. First administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council, or GMAC, in 1954, it got updated in 2023. Earlier, it had four sections. After a number of MBA schools loosened their criteria because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the GMAC opted to make the test smoother and more flexible. This led to the introduction of a more streamlined form of the test, called the GMAT Focus Edition. With the new ‘Question Review & Edit’ feature in this version, aspirants can now mark questions for later review and change their answers up to three times per section.
GMAT Focus Edition vs CAT: Which Exam Should You Take?
There are different groups of MBA/Management aspirants, each with their own preferences and career aspirations. When it comes to deciding between the GMAT Focus Edition and the CAT, any management aspirant must determine the path of their academic and professional future.
Any MBA/Management aspirant can be divided into the following groups:
1. Pre-Final or Final Year College Student
Majority of GMAT or CAT applicants hail from college backgrounds, as the preparation for these exams demands substantial time (at least 9-12 months). Candidates pursuing programs like B.E, B.Sc., and B.Com integrate exam preparation with their ongoing studies. This approach aids efficient preparation by leveraging subjects in their coursework, reducing stress and enabling weekend coaching programs. Opting for the GMAT exam during the final college years allows a 4-5 year work experience window before pursuing an MBA, meeting GMAT eligibility criteria.
Taking either of these entrance exams during college offers numerous advantages, such as compensating for the lack of work experience with high GMAT or CAT scores.
- Aspiring to study abroad only: Candidates seeking global exposure, diverse cultural experiences, and enhanced cross-cultural communication skills stand to benefit from the GMAT, facilitating adaptation to rapidly evolving markets—a significant asset for recruiters.
- Aspiring to study in India only: Candidates preferring the comfort of their familiar environment and aiming to avoid the challenges of studying abroad opt for CAT, focusing on Indian B-schools for a more cost-effective education. This choice allows them to stay close to their roots, but dedication and hard work are essential for success.
- Open to both options – India and abroad: Candidates exploring diverse career opportunities initially take both exams to weigh their options based on received scores.
2. Freshers (0-24 Months of Experience)
GMAT or CAT: Freshers with some industry exposure may consider the CAT exam for entry into top IIMs due to its higher ROI and emphasis on professional maturity. However, international schools, like Harvard Business School or ISB Hyderabad, may consider freshers based on GMAT scores for specific programs. Balancing a lack of experience in their CV demands a good GMAT score, an effective GMAT video essay, and sometimes strong LORs from supervisors.
- Aspiring to study abroad only: Candidates seeking global exposure, diverse cultural experiences, and enhanced cross-cultural communication skills stand to benefit from the GMAT, facilitating adaptation to rapidly evolving markets—a significant asset for recruiters.
- Aspiring to study in India only: Candidates who've just begun their careers and seek to strengthen their job credibility may opt for CAT, staying close to their work environment while pursuing an MBA.
- Open to both options – India and abroad: These candidates are committed to pursuing an MBA despite having a job, willing to invest in valuable education for career advancement.
3. Individuals with 2-3 Years of Work Experience
GMAT vs. CAT: Opting for the GMAT after 2-3 years of professional experience opens opportunities in premier MBA colleges both abroad and in India. Comparatively, CAT's focus remains limited to Indian schools, but its preparation can be more taxing for full-time working professionals.
- Aspiring to study abroad only: Candidates starting their careers and aiming to boost job credibility might consider CAT to pursue an MBA within the country, allowing for internship/freelancing opportunities while studying.
- Aspiring to study in India only: Candidates with 2+ years of experience and a strong academic record should aim for CAT, as Indian top-tier B-schools prioritize professionals with some work experience for higher chances of shortlisting.
- Open to both options – India and abroad: These candidates possess deep management knowledge and comprehend how to accelerate their careers, open to diverse MBA opportunities across Indian and international universities.
4. For Candidates with 5+ Years of Work Experience
If you're an experienced professional with 5 or more years in the field, GMAT is the recommended choice over CAT. Having gained substantial expertise, you likely understand which exam aligns better with your goals. In such scenarios, GMAT tends to be more advantageous.
GMAT helps you widen your world vision as it qualifies you to pursue post-graduation from world-renowned universities. As you are already familiar with how to work under pressure and meet your deadlines, you can frame an effective GMAT preparation strategy. The registration fee of $300 won’t pose a challenge, as you are earning handsomely.
Even though both GMAT and CAT have their advantages, it is better to go global at this stage of your life. Your decision to pursue GMAT or CAT should also depend on where you see yourself in the next 5 years; whether as a manager/director in Google or Amazon or investment financier in New York. Such stalwart jobs can only be accessible if a person takes the GMAT exam. A working professional with 5 years of experience, with a 100% preparedness level for GMAT, can get into whichever university they want.
- Aspiring to study abroad only: Candidates having an average or Poor academic record but five years of experience under their belt should definitely choose GMAT over CAT. The reason is twofold; CAT accepting colleges consider the academic background of the candidate during the selection process along with the strenuous CAT percentile normalization procedure.
However, if you scored a 55% In your graduation but have been working with a reputed company for 5 years and also was able to achieve a good GMAT score (within the range of 700-750), you can easily make your way to the top ivy league institutions like Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, etc. through your GMAT scores and work experience factor.
Aspiring to study in India only: Candidates who have acquired experience of 2 or more years and have an excellent academic record should aim for CAT. The reason being the top b-schools in India highly prioritize working professionals with some amount of work experience. They have a higher chance of getting shortlisted (about 10-15%) more than candidates who are freshers and lack experience.
GMAT Focus Edition vs CAT: Main Differences
Both CAT and GMAT are two of the most popular management entrance examinations, serving as gateways to world-renowned B-Schools and the prestigious list of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). While CAT serves as an entry route to top, A-listed B-schools in the country, GMAT has a predominant recognition globally, with its scores accepted by several top-notch management and research institutes worldwide.
Here are the key aspects where GMAT and CAT differ:
Exam Pattern
Both the GMAT Focus Edition and CAT exams have three sections each. The CAT exam pattern consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). On the other hand, the GMAT Focus Edition exam comprises Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights, and Quantitative Reasoning. While both exams have sections that test similar skills, the distribution of questions and the level of difficulty vary.
In the table below, the exam pattern of both exams is compared for a better understanding.
|
Parameters |
GMAT Focus Edition |
CAT |
|
No. of Questions / Time Limit |
Total Questions: 64
|
Total Questions: 66
|
|
Test Duration |
2 hours 15 minutes (10 minutes of optional break included) |
2 hours (no breaks included) |
|
Adaptiveness |
Computer-adaptive |
Not adaptive |
|
Score Reporting |
Absolute score (Out of 805) and percentile score provided |
Only percentile score provided |
Syllabus
When we compare CAT and GMAT, one big difference is in their syllabus. In CAT, geometry is important for the Quant section, but the GMAT Focus Edition does not include it in its Focus Edition. Also, the CAT has logical reasoning, but the GMAT does not.
Let's understand what the GMAT Focus Edition includes in the table below:
|
Sections |
Description |
Question Types |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
|
Problem Solving |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
|
Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning |
|
Data Insights |
|
Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis |
Coming to the CAT exam syllabus, we can expect the CAT exam 2024 to be divided into 3 sections, following the trends of the past few years. Due to the lack of a defined syllabus for the CAT exam, aspirants largely focus on studying school-level mathematics and English. Based on the same conclusion, given below is the tentative syllabus for the three sections of the exam:
|
Sections |
Main Topics |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
Reading comprehension, parajumbles, parasummary, inferences, etc. |
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Charts, caselets, arrangements, blood relations, syllogism, etc. |
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
Algebra, arithmetic, probability, number system, geometry, etc. |
Learn about how to improve performance and enhance accuracy for the VARC section the right way by clicking here.
Eligibility Criteria & Attempts
Another distinguishing factor between the GMAT Focus Edition and the CAT exams is their eligibility criteria and the number of attempts allowed for each. Let's delve into these details
GMAT Focus Edition Eligibility Criteria & Attempts
- Candidate should be 18 years old or above.
- Candidates aged between 13 and 17 years still take the examination with parental permission.
- You can attempt the entrance test up to 5 times in one year and in case you are unsuccessful in your maiden attempt, you can take the test again after 16 days.
- In your entire lifetime, you can take GMAT up to 8 times.
GMAC, the test administrator of GMAT, does not rely on any government mandated system for admission of candidates.
CAT Eligibility Criteria & Attempts
- A candidate should have a Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution or its equivalent.
- Students in their final year can also appear for the test.
- If a candidate holds a professional degree such as CA/ CS/ ICWS, they can appear for the CAT exam.
- Candidates should have scored at least 50% (General category) and 45% (reservation category).
- CAT can be taken only once every year. Unlike GMAT, where you can choose your preferred date, CAT can only be taken on a date specified by IIM.
- There is no set bar on the number of attempts you take or upper age limit of a candidate.
- CAT registration is not valid after the CAT exam.
Please note that IIMs follow a government mandated reservation system, which is a reason most people do not get good colleges even at high percentiles.
Let's summarize the above information in a table:
|
CAT Eligibility |
GMAT Focus Edition Eligibility |
|
Number of times you can take CAT in a year: 1 |
Number of times you can take GMAT in a year: 5 |
|
Number of times you can take CAT in a lifetime: Unlimited, but you have to appear annually. |
Number of times you can take GMAT in a lifetime: 8 |
|
No upper age limits. |
No upper age limits. |
|
CAT Scores are valid up to 1 year. |
GMAT scores are valid up to 5 years. |
|
Candidate should score at least 50% in graduation (45% for SC/ST). |
No percentage barrier. |
|
A candidate should have pursued graduation from a recognized university. |
A candidate can be 18 years old to take GMAT. GMAT can also be taken by students falling in the age group 13-17, with undersigned parental consent. |
|
Government mandated reservation system. |
No government mandated reservation system. |
Scoring System
The way scores are calculated makes a big difference between GMAT Focus Edition and CAT. Let's look at how the scores work in both the exams:
GMAT Focus Edition Scoring System
The GMAT Focus Edition ranges from 205 to 805. There are 61 scoring levels. Here's the breakdown of the score range for each section:
|
Sections |
Score Range |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
60 to 90 |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
60 to 90 |
|
Data Insights |
60 to 90 |
CAT Scoring System
The overall score of CAT is out of 198. You get three marks for every right answer and lose one mark for every wrong one. But if you do not answer or if it is a non-MCQ question, there is no penalty. Your CAT score is the total of all your marks.
Score Validity & Acceptance by Colleges
Each year, roughly 2 lakh candidates take the exams to fulfil their dream of getting into the top 6 IIMs, which have around 5000 seats.
While the CAT exam score is accepted by most of the top colleges in India, the GMAT score is valid for over 2300 colleges and 7000 MBA programs across the world. Additionally, the CAT score is only valid for 1 year while the GMAT score can be utilized for up to five years. This implies that if you appeared for the CAT exam in 2023, your scores would only remain valid for program applications in 2024. Therefore, the GMAT exam outstrips the CAT exam by a huge margin in terms of both validity and reach, making the latter slightly less feasible in comparison to the former.
Some key points regarding the score validity and acceptance of the CAT and GMAT exams by colleges are as follows:
- CAT scores are accepted by approximately 200 Indian and 20 international B-schools, including SKEMA Business School, Singapore Management University, Audencia Business School, HEC Paris, and others. GMAT Focus Edition, on the other hand, covers the whole Ivy League school spectrum, comprising top 8 B-schools in the US, and 2292 other B-schools worldwide.
- CAT scores remain valid for 1 year, whereas GMAT scores are valid for five years.
- More than 100 B-schools in India accept GMAT scores for admission to postgraduate programs.
- GMAT Focus Edition scores are also valid for top MIM (Master in Management) programs in Europe and other continents. CAT scores are not valid for the same.
- Some international B-schools consider GRE scores valid and convert them into GMAT scores for admission. However, colleges accepting CAT scores may support other entrance examinations like NMAT or XAT but do not convert the CAT score into an NMAT score or XAT score.
Also read: Top 10 MIM colleges in Europe
Below is a summary table to better grasp the points mentioned above:
|
CAT |
GMAT Focus Edition |
|
Scores accepted by approx. 200 domestic and 20 international B-schools |
Scores accepted by 2300 b-schools abroad along with eight ivy league universities like Columbia, Wharton, Stanford etc. |
|
Valid for 1 year from test date |
Valid for five years from test date |
|
Scores only accepted for MBA/PGP, not MIM |
Scores accepted for MBA, PGP and MIM programs |
|
Non-Convertible into any other exam score |
Convertible into GRE score |
Fees & Other Charges
In terms of cost, the CAT exam is significantly more affordable than the GMAT Focus Edition for Indian candidates. The GMAT Focus Edition exam registration fee is approximately INR 23,000, compared to around INR 2400 for the CAT exam. This affordability makes the CAT exam more appealing to some students when compared to the GMAT Exam. Only the most confident candidates might consider investing in the GMAT exam.
Here are some key points regarding GMAT Focus Edition and CAT exam fees:
- The registration fee for GMAT Focus Edition is 275 USD when you take the test at a test center and USD 300 for online test. The same for CAT is 2400 INR.
- Rescheduling the GMAT Focus Edition exam 1 to 14 days before the test date incurs an additional cost of 165 USD, while CAT cannot be rescheduled during this timeframe.
- Rescheduling the GMAT Focus Edition exam 15 to 60 days prior to the test date will cost you an additional 110 USD, whereas CAT cannot be rescheduled during this period.
- The GMAT Focus Edition allows rescheduling more than 60 days before the exam date for a fee of only 55 USD, a provision not available for the CAT exam.
- The GMAT Focus Edition attempts can be cancelled with late charges before the test date, but the same provision is not granted in the CAT exam.
- Once you register for CAT, you cannot cancel it. However, you can choose not to appear for it. In any case, no refund will be generated.
|
CAT |
GMAT Focus Edition |
|
Registration fee: 28.89 USD (INR 2400) |
Registration fee for test center: 275 USD (INR 22847.96) |
|
Cannot be rescheduled |
Can be rescheduled. |
|
Cannot be cancelled |
Can be cancelled. |
What After Your Exam?
The CAT exam and the GMAT Focus Edition exam have somewhat different post-exam procedures. While the post-exam procedures for each college is different, there are some common processes followed by almost all colleges that accept CAT scores.
For CAT exam candidates, the most probable rounds include Group Discussion, Written Assessment, and Personal Interview. Read more
For colleges accepting the GMAT Focus Edition score, especially foreign colleges, the typical post-GMAT procedures involve SOPs (Statement of Purposes)/Essays and Personal Interviews, taking into account the application deadlines of the universities.
GMAT Focus Edition Versus CAT: Key Statistics to Consider
There are some key parameters that distinguish GMAT and CAT from one another and also states why candidates appear for these exams separately. Given below are these parameters for you to consider:
|
GMAT Focus Edition |
CAT |
|
Widely accepted as a prerequisite for most of the global programmes in the USA, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Australia. |
Apart from IIMs, CAT scores are accepted in over 160+ non-IIM Management institutes. |
|
Each year, approximately 7,000 to 10,000 candidates apply to Harvard Business School based on their GMAT scores, of which 900 are selected. Consequently, the success rate stands higher, at around 10-12%. |
Each year, approximately 2-3 lakh aspirants take this exam, and out of this pool, only 5000 (the total seats in 20 IIMs) secure a spot in the IIMs. Hence, the success rate stands at a low approximately 2%. |
|
Primarily an English language proficiency paper. The same is viewed by the majority of B-schools worldwide. |
Considered a math wizard’s domain, given its strong focus on testing one’s quantitative ability. |
|
Computer adaptive test administered throughout the year. |
Since 2009, the CAT exam has been conducted in a computer-based format. Earlier, it was a pen-paper test. It occurs annually in November. |
|
Scores are accepted for selection to the one-year executive programs by top IIMs. Also, ISB Hyderabad accepts only GMAT score for admission to all its programmes. |
Accepted for MBA admissions into numbered international institutes. |
Conclusion
While India’s A-listed B-schools have their own individual CAT sectional and overall cut-off scores, GMAT-accepting colleges follow a unique shortlisting approach. For example, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School emphasizes a requirement of more than 80%ile in the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GMAT Focus Edition. INSEAD also adopts a similar pattern by accepting applicants who receive at least 75%ile in these sections. Apart from GMAT scores, it is mandatory to submit your TOEFL/IELTS score to strengthen your application.