IPMAT vs CAT: What to Choose?

Summary: Different opinions exist for different exams, especially IPMAT vs CAT. CAT is for aspirants opting for postgraduation, while IPMAT is for aspirants opting for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Whether you should go for CAT or IPMAT, you will find all the required information here. Check out the differences between CAT and IPMAT here in this article.

IPMAT and CAT are different types of exams that are conducted to provide admission to management courses. 

The IPMAT exam is for those who want to pursue an integrated management program after class 12, while CAT is a post-graduate level exam that is conducted for graduates. With this exam, students get directly into the IPM Admissions phase.

If you ask if IPMAT and CAT syllabi are the same?, then the answer is a big NO!

Or the question is IPMAT tougher than CAT? Then we can say IPMAT is tough at the board level, but CAT is also a tough exam, especially for graduates.

The ultimate goal is to find out the winner of CAT vs IPMAT. 

Read through the post that will give you a complete insight into the differences between IPMAT and CAT, which is the better option, and more.

Download Free Study Material for IPMAT 2024 by SuperGrads

IPMAT Examination

The IPMAT Exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore).

This exam is an entrance exam for the students to get admission to the 5-year Integrated Program in Management at IIM Indore.

This examination is a National level examination, i.e., any student from any corner of India is eligible to give this Aptitude Test for admission to the 5 years Integrated Program of Management.

The Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) comprises 2 stages, i.e., a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI).

• The official notification for the Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) will be out in the month of March 2024 on the official website, i.e., https://www.iimidr.ac.in.
• The IPMAT Application form will be out in the second week of March 2024.
• The last date to fill out the IPMAT application form is the fourth week of March 2024.
• The IPMAT admit card 2021 will be out in the 2nd week of April 2024.
• The IPMAT exam will be conducted in the last week of April 2024.
• This examination will be directed in online mode only.
• This examination is a national-level examination, and the students will get only one chance in one year to give this examination.
• The application fee for the Unreserved category (General) students is Rs. 4130/-, and for the Reserved category (SC/ST/PWD) students is Rs. 2065/-.
• The students who have passed their 10+2 from a recognized board or any equivalent examination in 2019 and 2020 are eligible to apply for this exam
• The student must score a minimum of 60% in their higher senior secondary examination to qualify for this examination.
• The minimum age to apply for this examination is 18 years, and the maximum is 20 years. 

CAT Examination

Every year, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) conducts a Common Admission Test (CAT) for the students to get admission to the most prestigious management institute.

This common admission test (CAT) is conducted to get admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) course in one of the world’s best management institutes.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level examination, i.e., any student from any corner of the world can apply for this admission test to get admission to the MBA course offered by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). 

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Common Admission Test (CAT) comprises one multiple-choice question and non-multiple choice questions.

• The official notification for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Common Admission Test (CAT) will be out in the last week of July 2024 on the official website, i.e., https://iimcat.ac.in.
• The CAT Application form will be out in the first week of August 2024.
• The last date to fill out the CAT application form is the last week of August 2024.
• The CAT admit card 2024 will be out in the 2nd week of November 2024.
• The CAT exam 2024 will be conducted on 27th November 2024.
• The CAT exam 2024 results will be out in the first week of January 2024.
• This examination will be conducted in online mode only.
• This examination is a national-level examination, and the students will get only one chance in one year to give this examination.
• The application fee for the Unreserved category (General) students is Rs. 2,200/-, and for the Reserved category (SC/ST/PWD) students is Rs. 1,100/-.
• The students who have passed their 10 + 2 from a recognized board and completed their graduation or any equivalent examination in 2020 and 2021 are eligible to apply for this exam.
• To qualify for this examination, the student must score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their bachelor’s degree. 
• The minimum age to apply for this examination is 21 years, and the maximum is 24 years. 

Note: Dates are tentative 

In this article, you will get to know every detailed difference between IPMAT and CAT.

Differences between IPMAT and CAT

There is no actual way to decide the winner for IPMAT vs CAT, as both are at their best from different perspectives. Still, if you want a comparison, here is what the CAT vs IPMAT looks like.

Check out the table below to know the major differences between IPMAT and CAT:

Parameters	IPMAT	CAT
Conducting Body	The Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM Indore)	The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)
Exam Level	National Level exam	National Level Exam
Programs Offered	Foundation Courses in Maths & Statistics, Game Theory, Optimization, Mathematical Modelling, Micro and Macro-economics, Indian Economy, Econometrics, International Trade	Post Graduate Programme (PGP), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Executive MBA (ePGP, PGPEx)
Participating Institutes	The Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM Indore)	The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Frequency of Exam	Once a year	Once a year
Eligibility	The students who have passed their 10 + 2 from a recognized board or any equivalent examination in 2020, 2021, or 2024 are eligible to apply for this examination. The General and NC – OBC category students must have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate in class 10 and class 12.	The students who have passed their 10 + 2 from a recognized board and completed their graduation or any equivalent examination in 2020 and 2021 are eligible to apply for this exam. The student must score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their bachelor’s degree to qualify for this examination.
Appearing Candidates (2021)	15,000 +	1,92,000 (35% females and 65% males)
Subjects in Exam	Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Number of Questions	Total of 120 questions (Quantitative Ability has 40 questions, logical reasoning has 40 questions, and Verbal Ability has 40 questions)	Total of 66 questions (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension contains 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning contains 20 questions, Quantitative Aptitude contains 20 questions).
The Language of Paper	English and Hindi	English and Hindi
Duration of Examination	2 hours (120 minutes - 40 minutes for each section)	2 hours (120 minutes - 40 minutes for each section).
Mode of Examination	Online	Online
Question Pattern	Multiple choice questions with one correct answer.	Multiple Choice Questions and non-multiple choice questions
Marks Allocation	4 marks will be given for each correct answer, 1 mark will be cut for every wrong answer, and 0 marks will be given for unanswered questions.	3 marks will be given for each correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Total Marks Allocated	480 Marks	198 marks

IPMAT vs CAT Nature of Exams

IPMAT and CAT are some of the strongest entrance examinations in India. Both exams are highly respected and hold equal importance. However, there are major differences that the two hold and exam pattern is one of them.

To increase your preparation level, you should opt for IPMAT Online Coaching and CAT Online coaching.

The table below shows the IPMAT vs CAT exam pattern: -

IPMAT Exam Pattern

Check out the table below to learn the detailed IPMAT Exam Pattern.

Specifications	IPMAT 2024
Exam Mode	Online
Subjects	Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability
Type of Questions	Quantitative Ability - 40 multiple choice questions, Logical Reasoning - 40 multiple choice questions, and Verbal Ability - 40 multiple choice questions
Medium of Exam	English and Hindi
Duration of Exam	2 hours (120 minutes - 40 minutes for each section)
Total Marks	480 Marks
Marking Scheme	For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.

CAT Exam Pattern

Particulars	Details
Mode of Examination	Online
Medium of Examination	English and Hindi
Duration of the Exam	2 hours (120 minutes - 40 minutes for each section)
Subjects	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Number of Questions	66 Questions
Type of questions	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension - 24 multiple-choice questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning - 20 multiple-choice questions, Quantitative Aptitude - 22 multiple-choice questions.
Total Marks	198 Marks
Marking Scheme	For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.

Check: IPMAT Preparation Strategy from Class 11

Conclusion

IPMAT vs CAT is the optimal topic if you are confused about whether to go for a regular master's degree or an integrated program. Both exams have different outcomes; some favour one's needs while others don't. So do plan your future for these exams wisely.

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