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GMAT vs GRE vs CAT: Key Difference, Colleges accepting the exams and More

16 March 2022

7 mins

GMAT, GRE and CAT are the three main entrance exams. Students applying for a master’s degree usually prepare for any of these exams to fulfill the eligibility criteria of different universities. The exam pattern, format, marking scheme, universities accepting these tests all vary according to the tests.

So let's discuss the major differences between these tests based on these factors:

Scope After CAT vs GMAT vs GRE

The scope of these entrance exams is limited to the universities you can apply for and the courses you can apply for.

Scope After CAT

CAT is the most famous entrance exam among Indian students. A majority of universities in India accepts CAT score. Also, the top 100 b-schools in India accept the CAT score.

Following is the list of top universities accepting CAT score in India:

University Name	CAT Cut-offs as of 2022
Faculty of Management Studies	99
JBIMS Mumbai	95
IIM (various locations)	95-99
Management Development Institute	96

Scope After GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized admission test started for merely 54 schools. It has now gained recognition of over 3000 institutions worldwide.

Top 100 schools all over the globe accept the GMAT score for admission to their respective universities. GMAT has gained popularity for admissions to master's programs. Also, several recruiters might ask for your GMAT score during the interview process.

Some of the top schools accepting GMAT scores are:

University Name	Cut-offs as of 2022
Stanford University	733
University of Pennsylvania	722
Massachusetts University of Technology	720
Harvard University	730

Scope After GRE

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) by the Education Testing Systems (ETS) was initially accepted for universities in Canada and the US. However, it has gained recognition in most of the english speaking countries.

While GMAT is popular amongst MBA applicants, GRE has gained popularity amongst students applying for graduate and doctoral programs along with MBA programs. There are only few universities in India which accept the GRE score.

Some of the top universities accepting GRE score are:

University Name	Cut-offs as of 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	155-162
Stanford University	155-160
California Institute of Technology	158-164
University of Oxford	160+

Exam Syllabus GMAT vs CAT vs GRE

CAT Exam Syllabus

The CAT exam is divided into three sections namely Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.

The topics covered under these three sections are stated in the table below:

Sectional Division	Main Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension Paragraph Summary Para-jumbles and Misfit Sentences Sentence Completion Grammar and Usage Verbal Reasoning: Fact-Interference-Judgement Vocabulary Based Questions
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	Caselets, Tables, Bar Graphs, Column Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagrams, Pie Charts, Combination of two or more types linked to each other Games & Tournaments, Number and Letter Series, Calendars; Cubes, Clocks, Venn Diagrams, Binary Logic, Seating Arrangement; Syllogism; Logical Sequence; Logical Connectives; Blood Relations
Quantitative Ability	Number Systems; LCM and HCF; Profit, Loss and Discount; Percentages; Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Simple and Compound Interest; Ratio and Proportion; Averages Quadratic Equations; Linear Equations; Complex Numbers; Logarithm; Binomial Theorem; Sequences and Series; Surds and Indices; Inequalities Probability; Permutation and Combination; Set Theory; Functions; Mixtures and Alligations Geometry; Trigonometry; Coordinate Geometry; and Mensuration.

GMAT Exam Syllabus

Gmat is a computerized test used as one of the eligibility criteria for admission to B-schools across the world. The test is divided into the following sub-sections.

Sectional Division	Main Topics
Analytical Writing Assessment	This section tests your ability to organize your thoughts and support your viewpoints with valid examples. You will be provided with an argument topic may be related to business or general interests.
Integrated Reasoning	Multi-source reasoning: questions will ask you to synthesize, compare, interpret or apply the information presented in written passages, tables, graphs, diagrams and other types of visual representation. Table analysis: questions ask you to determine statistics, ratios, proportions or probabilities, etc. from the given spreadsheet-like table with a drop-down menu. Graphics interpretation: fill-in-the-blanks type questions to be answered on the basis of given bar graphs, line graphs, scatterplots and bubble graphs. Two-part analysis: questions will ask you to calculate proportion, determine trade-offs, etc. and choose answer options that will be given in tabular format.
Quantitative Reasoning	Arithmetic: numbers and their powers and roots, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion, sets, counting methods, discrete probability. Algebra: equations, inequalities, absolute value, functions and exponents. Geometry: Lines and angles, polygons, circles, solids, coordinate geometry. Word problems: rate, time and work, mixtures, simple and compound interest, discounts, profit and loss, geometry problems, measurement problems and data interpretations.
Verbal Reasoning	Reading comprehension: questions ask you to refer to a passage of up to 350 words and answer questions based on the main idea, supporting ideas, inferences, context, style and tone, etc. Critical reasoning: questions check you on argument construction, argument evaluation and formulating/evaluating a plan of action. Sentence correction: questions are categorized into an agreement, diction, grammatical construction, idiom, logical predication, parallelism, rhetorical construction and verb form.

GRE Exam Syllabus

GRE is a standardized test that tests students' verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills.

The following table will elaborate on each section of the GRE test:

Sectional Division	Main Topics
Analytical Writing Section	This part of the test aims to measure the writer's ability to analyse and solve a situation while articulating complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Verbal Reasoning Session	Basic Sentence structure: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives Verb Tense Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions Pronoun Agreement Subject-Verb Agreement Modifiers Parallelism
Quantitative Reasoning	Ratio and Proportion Simple and Compound Interest Permutation and Combination Quadratic Equations Statistics Probability Lines and Angles Polygons Circles Profit and Loss Speed, Distance and Time Linear Equations Sets Theory Power and Roots Pipes and Cisterns Triangles Quadrilaterals Coordinate Geometry

Exam Pattern (Questions, Time and Score) GRE vs GMAT vs CAT

GRE Exam Pattern

The total time given for the GRE exam is 3 hours 45 minutes. The pattern of the GRE test is mentioned below:

Sections	Break-Down	Duration
Analytical Writing	2 sections - 2 tasks	60 minutes
Verbal Reasoning	2 sections - 50 questions	70 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning	2 sections - 50 questions	80 minutes

GMAT Exam Pattern

The Gmat exam has four sections - all of them time-based. It also provides you take 2 optional 8 minute break during the exam

Sections	Break-Down	Score
Analytical Writing Assessment	30 minutes - 1 question	0-6 (in 0.5 points increment)
Integrated Reasoning	30 minutes - 12 questions	1-8 (in 1 point increment)
Quantitative Reasoning	62 minutes - 31 questions	6-51 (in 1 point increment)
Verbal Reasoning	65 minutes - 36 questions	6-51 (in 1 point increment)

CAT Exam Pattern

Earlier CAT used to be a 3-hour exam but now it has been changed to a 2-hour exam in 2022. CAT 2022 is a 120 minutes test with 66 questions divided into MCQs and Non-MCQ questions.

Sections	MCQ Questions	Non-MCQ Questions	Break-Down
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	19	5	4 passages
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	15	5	LR - 10 questions DI - 10 questions
Quantitative Ability	14	8

Test Fee CAT vs GMAT vs GRE

The test fee for GMAT and GRE is high as compared to that of a CAT exam. Applicants that are facing financial problems can also apply for a fee waiver for GMAT and GRE exams.

Test	Fee
CAT	Rs.2000/- For General Category Rs.1000/- For SC/ST Category
GMAT	$250
GRE	$205

Validity of Score GRE vs CAT vs GMAT

We would always suggest you to go for the exam which has longer validity. The reason behind is that there is a chance that your application may get rejected for a specific university and you have to wait until the next semester. You will not have to take the test again if it is valid for a longer period of time.

Test	Score Validity (In years)
CAT	1
GMAT	5
GRE	5

Target Courses GMAT vs GRE vs CAT

While Gmat is meant for business schools applications, Gre opens the doors to almost every postgraduate degree available across the globe.

The CAT exam is generally for master’s admission in India and specifically for the post popular IIMs.

Also, a good GMAT or CAT score also helps you show off your quant skills to the admission committee.

Let's Clarify all your questions with the following comparison Table.

Basis	CAT	GMAT	GRE
Full-Form	Common Admission Test	Graduate Management Admission Test	Graduate Record Examinations
Conducted By:	The India Institute of Management	Graduate Management Admission Council	Education Testing Service
Intakes:	Last Sunday of November every year	Round the year (6 days a week except for Sundays and national holidays)	Round the year (6 days a week except for Sundays and national holidays)
Registration:	Register Online at iimcat.ac.in	Register at mba.com	Register at ets.org
Cost of Exam:	Rs.1800/- for General Category Rs. 900/- for SC/ST/DA(PWD) Category	$250.00	$205.00
Number Of Sections	Three Sections:- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning Quantitative Ability	Four Sections:- Analytical Writing Integrated Reasoning Quantitative Ability Verbal Ability	Section 1 - Two tasks Analysis of an Issue, Analysis of an Argument Section 2 - Quantitative Section 3 - Verbal
Test Pattern	Computer Based Test	Computer Adaptive Test (Question Adaptive for Quantitative and Verbal Sections)	Computer Based Test (Section-Adaptive)
Test Duration	2 hours	3 hours 30 minutes	3 hours 45 minutes
Time Separation Between Sections	40 minutes per section	30 minutes each for section 1 and section 2 75 minutes each for section 3 and section 4	30 minutes for each task of section 1 30 minutes for each section of Verbal Reasoning 35 minutes for each section of Quantitative Reasoning
Is Navigation Between Sections Allowed?	Yes	No	Yes
Score Range	Maximum Score - 228	Score Range: 200 to 800 for Quant and Verbal Sections Score Range: 1 to 6 for Analytical Writing Score Range: 1 to 8 for Integrated Reasoning	Score Range: 260 - 340 for Quant and Verbal Sections Score Range: 1 - 6 for Analytical Writing Section
Marking Scheme	For MCQs: 3 points for every correct answer 1 point deducted for every wrong answer For Non-MCQ questions: 3 points awarded for every correct answer No Negative Marking for Non-MCQ questions	Adaptive Logic Implies tougher questions carry more points and easier ones carry fewer points.	All questions carry the same points.

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