CAT vs MAT

Common Aptitude Test (CAT) and Management Aptitude Test (MAT), two of the most contemplated MBA entrance exams in India are around the corner. CAT is scheduled for 29 November, 2015 while paper-based December MAT is on 6 December, 2015 and computer-based December MAT is on 12 December, 2015. Both of these exams are national level entrance test and their scores are accepted by many prestigious b-schools across India for their MBA and other programmes. Here is a list of pointers that set the two entrance exams apart from each other.

Cat is conducted by IIM’s and its score is considered as a qualifying factor in many other prestigious b-schools across India. While Mat is conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA) and its scores are accepted by a second tier of b-schools.

1. CAT is a computer-based test while MAT Is both paper-based and computer-based test.
2. CAT is conducted once in a year, while MAT is conducted four times a year, i.e. in February, May, September and December. If a student is dissatisfied with their MAT score they can take the next session MAT again without losing a year.
3. There are three sections in the CAT- Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, while MAT consists of five sections- Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian and Global Environment
4. CAT has a total of 100 questions and time allotted is 180 minutes while MAT has 200 questions and time allotted is 150 minutes.
5. There is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect answer in CAT while its -0.25 in MAT.
6. CAT has a sectional time obligation while one can scroll through the sections in MAT.
7. The difficulty level of CAT is considered to be higher than MAT. A candidate scoring quite a high MAT percentile is considered in top b-schools.
8. CAT is mandatory to get into IIM while MAT is not much necessary for any particular college.
9. There are sectional Percentile’s that sums up to overall percentile in CAT. Therefore, each section is very important. In MAT, The Indian and Global environment section is compulsory to attempt, but its score would not be considered while calculating the final percentile.

Knowing these differences between CAT and MAT is very much essential for planning out the strategies for these exams. Also, it becomes easier for a candidate to decide the importance of these exams, making one’s preparatory goals easier. CAT 2015 and December MAT 2015 results are expected to be declared till the second week of January 2016.

Anshika Srivastava, an English(H) graduate from Delhi University, currently covering all the relevant aspects of education through writing.