September 13, 2024
Overview: Is NMAT easier than CAT? Although CAT scores are widely accepted in Indian institutes, NMAT scores are accepted in countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and the Philippines. Let's find out which is better: NMAT or CAT!
Every year, over 3 lakh MBA aspirants opt for exams like CAT and NMAT. But which is best for pursuing management courses among them? Know here!
Also Read | How to Prepare for CAT in One Year
The Common Admission Test (CAT) and the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) are both significant MBA entrance exams in India.
CAT is conducted once a year by one of the IIMs, while NMAT, administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), offers the flexibility to choose exam dates and allows three attempts to improve scores within a testing cycle.
This difference makes NMAT a convenient option for those seeking flexibility and multiple opportunities to enhance their scores. Let’s look for some more key differences between NMAT and CAT:
Important Features | NMAT 2024 | CAT 2024 |
Examination Full Form | Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test | Common Admission Test |
Conducting Body | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) |
Exam frequency | 3 times during the 70-day-long test-taking window. | Once a year |
Exam Sections And Sectional Timings | Language Skill – 28 minutes Quantitative Skill – 52 minutes Logical Reasoning – 40 minutes |
40 minutes are provided for each section |
Number of Questions | Overall Questions: 108 | Overall Questions: 66 |
Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
Negative marking | There is no negative marking for an incorrect answer. | -1 for MCQs questions and 0 for TITA questions |
Application fee | INR 3000 + applicable taxes |
SC/ST/PwD: INR 1250/- |
Difficulty Level | Easy-Moderate Level | Moderate-Difficult Level |
Also Read | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year
Comparing NMAT and CAT 2024 helps candidates understand the differences between these two entrance tests.
Both exams are for postgraduate admissions, with NMAT being an MBA entrance exam accepted by the colleges of Nigeria, South Africa, the Philippines, and Morocco, and CAT is a national-level exam conducted by IIMs for admission into management courses in IIMs and other top B-schools.
Also Read | NMAT Selection Process
The CAT and NMAT exams have varying difficulty levels. If you are well-prepared for the CAT, you should find the NMAT relatively easy compared.
Remember that CAT and NMAT have different difficulty levels. People who prepare for CAT may find NMAT easier.
Although they cover similar topics, there are some minor differences. NMAT emphasizes speed, while CAT does not necessarily require quick responses.
This means that some people may do well in CAT but not necessarily excel in NMAT due to the emphasis on speed and accuracy.
Also Read | How Many Students Appear for CAT Exam Every Year
While comparing NMAT vs. CAT exams, it is best to review the eligibility criteria. For the CAT exam, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
You are also eligible to apply if you are awaiting results or are in the final year of your degree.
As for the NMAT exam eligibility criteria, they depend on the application/admission eligibility of the respective B-school. The general requirements include:
Also Read | CAT Exam 2024 Shift Timings
To understand “how is NMAT different from CAT exam,” you should also understand the syllabus and exam pattern of both exams. Both CAT vs NMAT consist of mainly three sections analysing the knowledge and analytical skills of the candidate.
The CAT, or Common Admission Test, comprises three main sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative ability (QA).
In contrast, the NMAT exam consists of language, quantitative, and logical reasoning skills. Here's a simplified way to understand the topics covered in the different sections:
Exam Sections | NMAT Exam | CAT Exam |
Logical Reasoning/Abstract Reasoning | Classification, Syllogisms, Coding and decoding, Symbol-based questions, Blood relation questions, Matrix type questions, Linear and circular arrangements, Alphabet questions Other reasoning questions | Arrangements, Analogies, Critical Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Clock and Calendar, Sequence and series, Blood relations, Directions, Syllogisms, Puzzles |
Quantitative Aptitude | Numbers, Percentages, Ratio and proportions, Averages, Time and work, Partnership, Simple and Compound Interest, Integers, HCF and LCM, Permutation and combination, Coordinate geometry, Set theory Probability, Venn diagrams, Progression arithmetic, Geometric, Harmonic, Relationship. | Number system, Work and time pipes, and Cisterns Averages Percentages Compound Interest Arithmetic Progression, Quadratic and Linear equations, Ratio and proportion, Simple interest Time, speed and distance, Profit and loss |
Verbal Ability / Reading Comprehension | Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, Fill in the blanks, Cloze test, Idioms, Paragraph summary, Para jumbles, Jumbled sentences, RC Passages, Odd one out, Tenses, Sentence correction, Parts of speech, Phrasal verbs, Choose the correct preposition, Identify the error. | Reading Comprehension, General grammar, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Synonyms and Antonyms, One word substitution, Jumbled paragraphs, Contextual usage, Odd one out, Fill In the blanks, Idioms Syllogisms, Vocabulary |
Also Read | CAT Exam Details About Preparation 2024
In a series of finding the differences between NMAT vs CAT it is also evident to look for the sectional time limit for both exams. Both of these exams have a total duration of 120 minutes, but the individual section times for CAT and NMAT differ.
Here is the detailed version of CAT exam duration and NMAT sectional timings:
Exam Sections | Total Questions | Section-wise Time Limit |
VARC | 24 | 40 minutes |
DILR | 20 | 40 minutes |
QA | 22 | 40 minutes |
Total | 66 | 120 minutes |
Sections | Questions | Section-wise Time Limit |
Language Skills | 36 | 28 Minutes |
Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 Minutes |
Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 Minutes |
Total | 108 | 120 Minutes |
Also Read | CAT Exam Marks vs Percentile 2024
While looking for the differences between NMAT and CAT, it is best to compare their exam pattern. Both exams include multiple-choice questions, but CAT also has non-multiple-choice questions called TITA questions. Unlike NMAT, CAT exam pattern imposes a penalty for wrong answers to multiple-choice questions, deducting a -1 mark for each incorrect response.
NMAT Sections | Number of Questions | Time to Attempt | NMAT Score Range |
Language Skills Section | 36 questions | 28 minutes | Score range: 12-120 |
Quantitative Skills Section | 36 questions | 52 minutes | Score range: 12-120 |
Logical Reasoning Section | 36 questions | 40 minutes | Score range: 12-120 |
Total | 108 questions | 120 minutes | Score range: 36-360 |
Section | Number of MCQs | Number of Non-MCQs | Total Questions |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 14 | 6 | 20 |
Quantitative Ability | 14 | 8 | 22 |
Marks are given to correct answer | +3 marks given to every correct answer | ||
Negative marking | -1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer and 0 negative mark for non-MCQ question |
Also Read | CAT Exam Top Colleges 2024
Here is the list of top B-schools accepting CAT scores and NMAT scores.
Management colleges Accepting CAT scores | Management Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores |
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies |
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | K J Somaiya Institute of Management |
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow | Indian School of Business (ISB) (Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics (AMPBA) |
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta | Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) - South Africa |
SPJIMR Mumbai | Lagos Business School - Nigeria |
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi | Africa Business School |
Is NMAT easier than CAT? Well, it depends on various factors, including individual preparation and test-taking strategies. Both exams have unique features, and candidates should make an informed choice based on their career goals and aspirations. Understanding the differences between NMAT and CAT will help candidates select the exam that aligns with their skills and ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the NMAT exam different from the CAT?
Should I take the CAT or NMAT to be admitted to an MBA program?
Is the NMAT tougher than the CAT?
Which exam is beneficial NMAT OR CAT?
Is NMAT and CAT Syllabus the Same?
Is NMAT Easy?