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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!

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

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 2800 + applicable taxes	SC/ST/PwD: - 1200; GEN: INR 2400
Difficulty Level	Easy-Moderate Level	Moderate-Difficult Level

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 Phillipines, and Morocco, and CAT being 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 in comparison. 

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 go through the eligibility criteria. For the CAT exam, candidates are required to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). 

If you are awaiting results or are in the final year of your degree, you are also eligible to apply.

As for the NMAT exam eligibility criteria 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.

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 section consists of language skills, quantitative skills, and logical reasoning. 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