Is GMAT is harder than CAT?

Is GMAT harder than CAT? It’s something every MBA aspirant thinks about while choosing their path. GMAT is usually seen as more manageable because it’s predictable and more test-taker friendly.

Verbal is reasoning-based—just Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. No para jumbles or vague summary questions like CAT has. Quant is logic-driven and doesn't include geometry or complex math topics.

CAT’s DILR is a different beast altogether. The sets are dense, sometimes taking 3–4 minutes per question, and there’s no official guide or mock to benchmark your prep. On the other hand, GMAT offers 6 official practice tests with real retired questions, so what you practice is close to what you’ll see on test day.

One more thing is that GMAT scores are valid for 5 years, and the test is available year-round. CAT happens once a year, and the score is valid for just one admission cycle. So if something goes wrong on CAT day, you’re stuck waiting another year.

For more details you can even check out this blog on "GMAT vs CAT"