International students who want to study at well-known colleges and business schools abroad must take the GRE and CAT exams. The confusion is GRE vs CAT which is tougher? Well, to make it simple, GRE focuses on testing the appropriateness of students for wide-ranging master’s programs all around the world, including to some level in India; CAT limits itself to MBA programs in Indian institutions.
Both these exams are highly worthwhile entrance examinations that help educational institutes measure the academic ability of Indian & international students and make admission-related decisions. The CAT vs GRE syllabus are moderately similar in many respects, but it is diverse in terms of difficulty level and the format of each section. For students aspiring for higher studies, these two exams have become central to applying for master’s degree programs in India or abroad. In this blog, we will be discussing GRE vs CAT and their distinctive features to make an informed decision.
What are CAT & GRE Exams?
Before we move towards the difference between GRE vs CAT let us have a quick look at what CAT and GRE are.
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GRE (Graduate Record Examination) |
CAT (Common Admission Test) |
|
The Graduate Record Examinations or GRE is a graduate-level general test accepted by thousands of graduate and business schools in the world. The examination is structured in a way that can effectively assess the student's quantitative and verbal skills.
This entrance test was first developed and administered by Educational Testing Agency (ETS), a US private non-profit organisation. The GRE scores are also accepted by the Top B-Schools worldwide. |
Common Admission Test or CAT is an entrance exam that is required for admission to the MBA colleges in India. The CAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Colleges.
The CAT scores are a mandatory requirement for getting into the IIMs and the affiliated business universities in India. The exam is conducted in a computer-based mode. |
Top Universities for GRE vs CAT
There are various universities abroad & in India accepting CAT vs GRE live score for admissions. Before applying for any master's or MBA programs, students need to know the top universities accepting both exam scores for successful admission.
So, to decide CAT or GRE which is better for international students to study abroad, we have listed some of the best universities accepting identical scores for master's programs.
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GRE Accepting Universities in Abroad |
CAT Accepting Universities in Abroad |
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Asian Institute of Management |
|
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Norwegian School of Economics |
Now that you know about the top universities accepting CAT vs GRE live score, let's have a quick glance over the GRE and CAT key differences.
CAT vs GRE: Key Differences
The key difference between GRE vs CAT is that the latter is a graduate admissions exam that helps you to get into master's degree programs across the world. Whereas CAT is an Indian management test which is only accepted by the B-schools in India.
The following GRE and CAT difference chart will give you a quick look at some crucial aspects related to both the exam along with highlighting the key differences between GRE and CAT:
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Particulars |
GRE |
CAT |
|
Total Students Appeared in 2021 |
Around 2 lakhs |
1.92 Lakhs |
|
Frequency |
5 times |
1 times |
|
Scoring Range |
260-340 |
0-40 |
|
Computer-adaptive |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Total Time |
3 hours & 45 minutes |
2 hours |
|
Total no. of questions |
MCQs: 80 Unscored research section: 20 |
Total: 66 questions |
|
Exam Fee |
213 USD |
2,300 INR |
|
Validity |
GRE scores valid up to 5 years |
1 year |
GRE at Home vs GRE at Testing Center
GRE vs CAT: Differences in Sections, Numbers and Types of Questions
The difference between CAT vs GRE lies in their question paper pattern, in terms of their sections i.e., questions types, time limit etc. Let's discuss it now.
GRE
- Each one of the sections of GRE has a time limit and it varies based on its sections.
- The GRE paper is divided into three sections i.e., analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning section.
- The exam is conducted in two modes which are paper-based and computer-based. The paper pattern of two modes differs from each other
Let us see the exam pattern of the GRE test:
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GRE Sections |
Paper-based GRE Pattern |
Computer-based GRE Pattern |
||
|
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No. of Section |
Duration |
No. of Section |
Duration |
|
Analytical Writing |
2 sections- 2 tasks |
60 minutes |
1 section- two tasks |
60 minutes |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
2 sections- 50 questions |
70 minutes |
2 section- 40 questions |
60 minutes |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
2 sections- 50 questions |
80 minutes |
2 section- 40 questions |
70 minutes |
|
Unscored |
NA |
NA |
Varies |
Varies |
|
Research |
NA |
NA |
Varies |
Varies |
GRE Accepting Universities in USA
CAT
- The CAT paper too is divided into three sections i.e. verbal ability and reading comprehension, quantitative, and data interpretation & logical reasoning.
- Each of the sections has a certain time limit to solve and it varies based on the section.
- For every correct answer 3 marks are awarded and for every wrong answer, ⅓ is deducted from them.
The exam pattern is given below:
|
Section |
Total Questions |
Time Allotted |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
24 |
40 minutes |
|
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
20 |
40 minutes |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
22 |
40 minutes |
GRE Accepting Universities In Europe
GRE vs CAT: Eligibility Criteria
A common difference between GRE and CAT is their eligibility criteria. Let's discuss the eligibility criteria of each of these exams given below.
GRE
To be eligible for the application of GRE, you are required to meet the following criteria.
- You must have completed your 18 years of age for the GRE exam without anyone's consent.
- No specific upper age limit criteria.
- Since it is a graduate entrance, you are required to have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
- You can appear in the GRE test a maximum of five times in a year, but with a 21 days gap between each one of the reattempts.
CAT
The eligibility criteria for the application of the CAT exam is given below:
- You must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a recognised board.
- Marks relaxation is given to students based on their category i.e. for Gen and OBC students must have at least 50% marks and SC, ST may have a minimum of 45% marks in bachelor.
- Final year students are also eligible for the exam.
- There are no age limit criteria for the exam.
Universities Accepting GRE for MS
GRE vs CAT: Syllabus and Marking Scheme
The next aspect we are going to explore is the difference between CAT and GRE syllabus. Let us now understand how CAT vs GRE syllabus differs from each other.
GRE Section Wise Exam Pattern
|
Section |
Topic |
Score Range |
|
Analytical Writing |
Analyses an Issue task and an argument task |
0-6 with 0.5 point increment |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
Text Completion, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Equivalence |
130-170 with 1 point increment |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
Quantitative Comparison Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, and a Numeric Entry Questions |
130-170 with 1 point increment |
How to Improve GRE Verbal Score?
CAT Section Wise Exam Pattern
|
Section |
Topic |
Score Range |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Algebra, Arithmetic, Number System, Trigonometry, Surds and Indices, Time Speed Distance, Geometry, coordinate Geometry, Mensuration, Percentages, Logarithms, Probability, Ratios & Proportions |
+3 for each correct answer
-1 for each incorrect MCQ answer
-0 for incorrect non-MCQ answer |
|
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Case lets and Tables, Bar Graph, Blood Relations, Missing information, Games and Tournaments, Venn Diagrams, Calendars, cubes, clocks, Logical Sequences, Routes and Networks, Seating Arrangement |
+3 for each correct answer
-1 for each incorrect MCQ answer
-0 for incorrect non-MCQ answer |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
Reading Comprehension, Para summary, grammar, Syllogisms, Verbal reasoning, Critical reasoning, Para jumble Jumbles, Fill in the blanks, Vocabulary |
+3 for each correct answer
-1 for each incorrect MCQ answer
-0 for incorrect non-MCQ answer |
Important GRE Preparation Books
After discussing the GRE vs CAT syllabus, let's have a look at the costs of both tests:
GRE vs CAT: Fee Structure
Coming to the fees structure of both the GRE vs CAT tests. The application fees for CAT are 2,300 INR for General students and 1,100 for SC, ST and PWD students. No extra costs are required for the CAT exam as it doesn't give you the facilities to reschedule, cancel, or refund options.
GRE fees, on the other hand, differ from one country to another:
- 230 USD for Australia
- 213 USD for India
- 231 USD for China
- 205 USD for other parts of the world.
Apart from the application fees, an extra cost is required for changing or rescheduling, time change, slot, venue, and cancellation of the exam.
How to Send GRE Scores to Universities?
GRE vs CAT: Competition and Level of Difficulty
When we discuss CAT or GRE which is better in terms of difficulty level, the CAT is more popular as compared to the GRE. This is due to its less expensive and more readily available features for various Indian B-schools. CAT is also somewhat more competitive which makes it the most difficult to achieve.
Whereas, the number of students appearing in the GRE exam is 3 lakhs out of which 20% are Indian applicants. However, the total number of students who take the CAT exam is around 2 lakhs every year from across the world.
Hence, we can say that the CAT is more difficult than the GRE.
When to Start Preparing for GRE?
GRE vs CAT: Which One to Consider?
Since the GRE test has a well-defined type of questions and a structured curriculum than the CAT, it is easier to prepare for it. With a good timetable and two months of diligent preparation, it is feasible for you to get a great GRE score on the exam.
On the other hand, if we discuss the GRE vs CAT syllabus, the CAT has more than the GRE test, and so it requires you to spend more time preparing.
Coming to the GRE vs CAT which is tougher, the verbal reasoning part of the GRE is highly difficult for students who are non-native English students. The quantitative section of the CAT exam is more challenging than the GRE.
Overall choosing the best among the two, will surely be up to you. If you're looking to study graduate programs including MBA at study abroad institutions then submitting the GRE scores is preferred more than your CAT. Whereas if you are preparing for an MBA in India you can get it by doing a strong preparation in the CAT test.
Pursuing a master's degree from a good study institution is a dream of many students, but a dilemma occurs which one is the best: CAT vs GRE. Most universities abroad accept GRE scores compared to CAT to take admission to a master's program. So, to achieve good GRE scores, you need to practise a lot, and for that, you can buy our premium package of Yocket GRE Prep Plus for just 99/- INR for 6 months and get access to a personalised priority prep dashboard & many more features.
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