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CAT vs JEE: Check the Major Differences Between JEE vs CAT Exam 2024

Author : Lalita Vishwakarma

October 15, 2024

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Overview: What is the major difference between CAT and JEE? Both CAT vs JEE are the toughest entrance exams in India. While CAT exam is for management courses, IIT JEE is the gateway to engineering admissions. Read on to know about JEE vs CAT!

  • The Common Admission Test is a national MBA entrance exam conducted annually in November by one of the IIMs in India.
  • The Joint Entrance Exam (IIT JEE) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to gain admission into top engineering institutes.

Continue reading to know the difference between CAT vs IIT JEE.


Read More | CAT Exam Admission Process 2024

CAT vs JEE: Major Highlights 

Common Admission Test allows you to pursue MBA and other management courses at India's top B schools and IIMs. Every year, more than 3.5 lakh MBA aspirants appear for CAT exam.

On the other hand, IIT JEE refers to the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam, conducted twice a year to take admission to the IITs and NITs in India. Here are the major highlights of the CAT vs JEE exam:

Download CAT Exam QA Section Daily Study Plan

Feature CAT Exam  JEE Exam
Full Form Common Admission Test Joint Entrance Examination
Exam Purpose Admission to MBA programs Admission to Engineering programs
Exam Conducting Body IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) NTA (National Testing Agency)
Exam Pattern Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type in the Answer (TITA) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Exam Sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Exam’s Major Focus Management aptitude, logical reasoning, data interpretation, verbal ability Physics, chemistry, and mathematics concepts, problem-solving
Exam’s Difficulty Level High requires analytical and critical thinking High, requires in-depth knowledge of subjects
Number of Attempts Multiple attempts allowed by different institutes Limited attempts
Exam Duration Typically 3 hours Typically 3 hours (divided into multiple papers)

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 CAT Online Coaching

Know More | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year

CAT vs JEE: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is the main factor that differs between CAT and JEE, as they vary in terms of academic qualification, age limit, number of attempts, and much more. Here are the major differences between the CAT and IIT JEE exam eligibility criteria.

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Eligibility Factors CAT JEE (Main)
Nationality Requirement Indian citizens and foreign nationals residing in India Indian nationals only
Academic Qualification Candidate should have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% in any discipline. Candidate should have passed10+2 or equivalent with PCM subjects
Minimum Percentage Candidate should have a minimum of 50% in their graduation The minimum percentage requirement is 75%
Age Limit There is no age limit for CAT exam There is no age limit for appearing in the JEE mains exam
Year of Appearance in Qualifying Examination Candidates who have completed their graduation degree or are in their final year can apply for CAT 2024 Candidates who have passed 12th in years 2021, 2022, 2023 or appearing in 2024 are eligible for JEE mains 2024
Number of Attempts There is no maximum number of attempts  Maximum of three attempts for JEE Main

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 CAT Online Coaching

Also Read | CAT exam subject

CAT vs JEE: Exam Pattern 

Both the CAT exam and the IIT JEE exam pattern differ greatly. The CAT is for pursuing management courses in the top B schools or IIMs, whereas the JEE mains are for admission to the IITs and NITs.

Here is the major difference between CAT vs JEE exam pattern:

Exam Pattern Factors CAT Exam JEE Exam
Major Exam Sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics (12th class-based)
Total Number of Questions 66 questions (MCQs+ TITA) 90 Questions (MCQs + NVQs)
Question Types Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs (TITA) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Duration of Exam 2 hours 3 hours
Mode of Examination Computer-Based Test (CBT) Computer-Based Test (CBT)

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 CAT Online Coaching

Also Read | CAT exam registration

CAT vs JEE Marking Scheme

Understanding the marking scheme is more important while preparing for the CAT exam 2024 or JEE mains or JEE advance exam. 

So, here is the key differences between the marking scheme of CAT vs JEE:

Marking Scheme Factors CAT Exam JEE Exam
Total Number of Questions 66 questions (MCQs+ TITA) 90 Questions (MCQs + NVQs)
Question Types Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs (TITA) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Marks are awarded for the correct answer For MCQs +3 marks for each correct answer
For Type in the Answer (TITA), +3 marks for each correct answer
For MCQs +4 marks for each correct answer
For Numeric Value Questions (NVQs) +4 marks for each correct answer
Negative Marking FOR MCQs -1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer
For Type in the Answer (TITA) No negative marking
For MCQs -1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer
For Numeric Value Questions (NVQs) -1 mark is d
educted for every incorrect answer
Unattempted Questions No marks are awarded or deducted No marks are awarded or deducted

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 CAT Online Coaching

Also Read | CAT Exam Reservation 2024

CAT vs JEE: Exam Fees

Here is the comparison of the CAT fees vs IIT JEE fees:

Exam Fees CAT Exam JEE Exam
For General Category INR 2,500/- INR 3,200/-
For Reserved Category (SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD, EWS) INR 1,250/- INR 1,600/-
For Female Candidate INR 2,500/- (General Category)
INR 1,250/-(Reserved Category)
INR 1,600/-

Know Admission Process of Top B-Schools

CAT vs JEE: Exam Syllabus 

A good understanding of the exam syllabus prepares you well for the main examination. So, here are the major sections and topics covered in the CAT vs JEE exams:

CAT Exam Syllabus 2024

The CAT exam syllabus covers the following topics from the 3 different sections viz VARC, DILR and QA:

CAT 2024 Exam Sections Syllabus
Quantitative Aptitude Number System, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Time and Work
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Para-Jumbles & Para-Summary, Sentence Completion, Inferences, RC Passages-Based Questions

Also Read | JEE Main Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2025

Download Free DILR Sample Questions for CAT Exam

IIT JEE Mains Syllabus 

Here are the major topics you must focus on while preparing for JEE mains 2025:

JEE Mains Subjects Topics to Focus on
Physics Physics and Measurement, Kinematics Laws of Motion Work, Energy and Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation Properties of Solids and Liquids, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Oscillation and Waves, Electrostatics Current Electricity, Magnetic Effect of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current, Optics Atoms and Nuclei Electronic Devices, 
Chemistry

Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, Chemical Thermodynamics, Solutions, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics

Inorganic Chemistry
Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, p-block elements, d- and f-block elements, Coordination Compounds

Organic Chemistry
Purification and Characterization of Organic Compounds, Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons, Organic Compounds containing Halogen, Organic Compounds containing Oxygen, Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen, Biomolecules, Principles Related to Practical Chemistry

Mathematics Sets, Relations and Functions, Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations, Matrices and Determinants, Permutation and Combination, Binomial Theorem and its Simple Applications, Sequence and Series Limit, Continuity and Differentiability Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Co-ordinate Geometry, Three Dimensional Geometry, Vector Algebra Statistics and Probability Trigonometry

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 CAT Online Coaching

Conclusion 

Both CAT and JEE are prestigious exams with distinct career trajectories. The choice between the two should align with your career goals and interests. CAT is your gateway if you aspire to lead and manage in the business world. If your passion lies in engineering and technological innovation, JEE is the path to follow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CAT exam tougher than JEE?

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What are the eligibility criteria for JEE and CAT?

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What is the main difference between CAT and JEE?

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Which exam offers better career prospects?

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Is there an overlap in the syllabus of CAT and JEE?

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Is CAT easier than JEE?

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Can we write CAT exam if we passed JEE Mains?

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