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NMAT vs CAT: Is NMAT Easier than CAT? Know The Differences Here!

Author : Lalita Vishwakarma

September 13, 2024

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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!

  • CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a prestigious exam conducted by IIMs. Its score is accepted by more than 1,000+ B-schools in India.
  • On the other hand, NMAT, the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude test, offers a unique global perspective by opening the door for admission across different countries. 

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

NMAT vs CAT: Highlights 

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
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC),
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)

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/-
GEN: INR 2500/-

Difficulty Level Easy-Moderate Level Moderate-Difficult Level

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 CAT Online Coaching

Also Read | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Conducting Body

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.

  • NMAT: Conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council
  • CAT: Conducted by the Indian Institute of Management on a rotational basis

Also Read | NMAT Selection Process

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Difficulty Level

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

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Eligibility Criteria

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: 

  • A 3-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline (50%) or equivalent CGPA. 
  • Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply, and those who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) or are awaiting results are eligible as well. 
  • There is no age limit to apply for NMAT by GMACTM. However, meeting the minimum eligibility criteria for NMAT 2024 does not guarantee consideration for shortlisting by the B-school applied for.

 CAT Online Coaching

 CAT Online Coaching

Also Read | CAT Exam 2024 Shift Timings

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Exam Syllabus

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

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Sectional Timings

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. 

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 CAT Online Coaching

Here is the detailed version of CAT exam duration and NMAT sectional timings: 

CAT Exam 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

NMAT Exam Sectional Timing 

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

SuperGrads CAT 2023 Toppers

SuperGrads CAT 2023 Toppers

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Exam Pattern

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 Exam Pattern 

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

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern

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

List of Colleges Accepting NMAT vs CAT Score

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

Conclusion 

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?

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Should I take the CAT or NMAT to be admitted to an MBA program?

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Is the NMAT tougher than the CAT?

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Which exam is beneficial NMAT OR CAT?

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Is NMAT and CAT Syllabus the Same?

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Is NMAT Easy?

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