CAT vs CET 2024: Know the Differences Between CAT and CET Syllabus

Overview: The CAT is a national-level exam for admission to IIMs, while MAH-CET is a state-level exam for postgraduate admissions in management courses. Read on to know the difference between CAT and CET exams!

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• CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIMs for admission into management courses in IIMs and other top-tier B-schools.
• MAH CET, which stands for Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, is a state-level entrance exam primarily conducted for MBA, MMS, PGDBM, and PGDM courses to gain admission into colleges in Maharashtra.

Get complete insights about the differences between the CAT and CET syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme and more!

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CAT vs CET: Highlights 2024

There are so many factors that make CAT and CET entrance exams different from each other. CAT or the Common Admission Test, is a national-level examination which is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management. 

MAH MBA CET is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell for admission to over 300+ B-Schools in Maharashtra. 

Both entrance exams are quite popular among MBA aspirants, so they are often confused between CAT and CET. Learning the key differences between CAT and CET exams can help them choose the best option.

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Particulars	MAH MBA CET	CAT
Full form	Maharashtra Common Entrance Test	Common Admission Test
Exam conducted by	State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra	Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Sections Asked	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Quantitative Aptitude Logical Reasoning Abstract Reasoning	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
Total marks	200	198
Duration of MAH MBA CET 2024	150 minutes	120 minutes
Exam marking scheme	+1 for the correct answer No negative marking	+3 marks for every correct answer -1 for every incorrect MCQ no negative marking for TITA questions
Level of examination	State-level MBA entrance test	National Level MBA entrance exam
Number of applications	Around 1 lakh	Around 3.28 lakh
Exam Fees	INR 1200/- for general category INR 1000/- for reserved categories (SC, ST, VJ/DT- NT(A), NT(B), NT(C), NT(D), OBC, SBC, SEBC) and PwD INR 5,000/- Foreign Nationals/NRI/PIO/OCI	GEN - INR 2500/- SC/ST/PwD - INR-1250/-

Also Read | How to Start MBA Preparation For CAT 2024? 

Difference Between CAT Exam 2024 and CET: Difficulty Level

The difficulty level does matter when comparing the CAT vs CET entrance exam. So you might get stuck with the question, “Is MAH MBA CET easier than CAT’. Well, the MAH MBA CET is generally considered to be easier than the CAT exam. 

The MAH CET MBA paper is usually moderately difficult, while the CAT exam is consistently very challenging. The Reading Comprehension section of the CAT exam is notably tougher than that of the MAH MBA CET. 

Additionally, with over 3 lakh applicants, CAT is significantly more competitive than MAH CET, which has over 1 lakh applicants, making it harder to achieve a high percentile in the CAT exam.

Also Read | Is CAT Compulsory for MBA Admissions? Explained in Detail

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Difference Between CAT and CET: Conducting Body

Comparing MAH CET and CAT helps candidates understand the distinction between CAT and CET. Both exams are for postgraduate admissions, with MAH CET being a state-level exam primarily for MBA, MMS, PGDBM, and PGDM courses in Maharashtra colleges, and CAT is a national-level exam conducted by IIMs for admission into management courses in IIMs and other top B-schools.

• MAH MBA CET: Conducted by Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell
• CAT: Conducted by the Indian Institute of Management on a rotation basis

Also Read | What Are The Benefits of CAT Exam For MBA

Difference Between CAT and CET: Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the MAH MBA CET, you need to have a 3-year Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university with at least 50% marks.

If you belong to certain categories in Maharashtra, the required percentage is 45%. If you are in the final year of your Bachelor's degree, you can also apply.

For the eligibility criteria for CAT exam, candidates need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognised university. If you are awaiting results or are in the final year of your degree, you can also apply.

Also Read | CAT Exam Syllabus 2024 | Download PDF Subject Wise here

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Difference Between CAT and CET: Exam Syllabus

The syllabus is the most important factor when comparing CAT and CET. The major difference between the CAT and CET syllabuses is the number of sections asked. 

CAT, or the Common Admission Test syllabus, consists of three major sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), Data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative ability (QA).

On the other hand, the MAH MBA CET usually consists of four sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning. 

Exam Sections	MAH MBA CET Exam	CAT Exam
Logical Reasoning/Abstract Reasoning	Linear & Circular Arrangement, Series Completion, Coding, Symbol-based Comparison, Venn Diagram, Blood Relations	Arrangements, Analogies, Critical Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Clock and Calendar, Sequence and series, Blood relations, Directions, Syllogisms, Puzzles
Quantitative Aptitude	Number system, Work and time, pipes and Cisterns, Averages, Percentages, Compound Interest, Arithmetic Progression, Quadratic and Linear equations, Ratio and proportion Simple interest, Time, speed and distance, Profit and loss	Number system, Work and time, pipes and Cisterns, Averages, Percentages, Compound Interest, Arithmetic Progression, Quadratic and Linear equations, Ratio and proportion, Simple interest, Time, speed and distance, Profit and loss
Verbal Ability / Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, General grammar, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Synonyms and Antonyms, One word substitution, Jumbled paragraphs, Contextual usage, Odd one out, Fill In the blanks, Idioms, Syllogisms, Vocabulary	Reading Comprehension, General grammar, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Synonyms and Antonyms, One word substitution, Jumbled paragraphs, Contextual usage, Odd one out, Fill In the blanks, Idioms, Syllogisms, Vocabulary

Note*: Although the exam sections are quite similar, the distinction between CAT and CET syllabus lies in the question difficulty level.

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Difference Between CAT and CET: Exam Fees

There is also some major difference between the CAT 2024 exam fees and the MAH MBA CET 2024 exam fees. Both exams provide reservations for different categories, such as SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD, and EWS candidates. 

Here is a brief description of the CAT vs CET fee structure

Exam Fees	MAH MBA CET 2024	CAT 2024
For General Category	INR 1200/-	INR 2500/-
For Scheduled Caste (SC)	INR 1000/-	INR-1250/-
For Scheduled Tribe (ST)	INR 1000/-	INR-1250/-
For PwD	INR 1000/-	INR-1250/-

Note*: Read the full CAT 2024 guidelines and MAH MBA CET notification before applying for the exam. 

Download Free DILR Sample Questions for CAT Exam

Difference Between CAT and CET: Exam Pattern 

Knowing the exam pattern makes it a bit easier to understand the difference between CAT exam and CET exams. The MAH MBA CET 2024 consists of 4 sections, while the CAT exam consists of 3 major sections.

Analysing the MAH MBA CET exam pattern and comparing it with the CAT exam pattern will help you prepare well in advance. Here is the table comparing CAT vs CET exam patterns that will help you understand better:

Exam Sections	MAH MBA CET Exam	CAT Exam
Total Number of Questions	200	66
Types of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)	MCQs and TITA (Type in the answer) Questions
No. Of Options	5 options	4 options
Total Marks	200	198
Sections	Logical Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Quantitative Aptitude Verbal Ability / Reading Comprehension	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
Sectional Time limit	There is no sectional time limit	40 minutes is provided for each section
Negative marks	There is no negative marking for an incorrect answer.	-1 mark will be deducted for MCQs questions No marks will be deducted for TITA questions
Difficulty Level	Easy to moderate	Moderate to difficult

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Difference Between CAT and CET: Exam Duration 

The MAH MBA CET exam lasts 150 minutes (2.5 hours) without any breaks and does not have a sectional time limit. This allows candidates to manage their time according to their preferences while solving the paper.

On the other hand, the CAT Exam lasts 120 minutes (2 hours) without a break. In this exam, there is a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section, requiring candidates to complete each section within the designated time frame.

Check: CAT Exam Time Duration

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Difference Between CAT and CET: Marking Scheme

Understanding the marks distribution for exams is important to score well and pass them on the first attempt. Different exams, like MAH CET and CAT, have varying mark distributions. Familiarity with the exam pattern and marking scheme is crucial, as this can help you achieve a good score.

Marking Scheme of MAH MBA CET 2024

Sections	No. of Questions	Marks Per Question	Maximum Marks
Logical Reasoning	75	1	75
Abstract Reasoning	25	1	25
Quantitative Aptitude	50	1	50
Verbal Ability / Reading Comprehension	50	1	50
Total Marks	200 marks
Negative Marking	There is no negative marking for an incorrect answer

Also Read | CAT Preparation Books 2024

Marking Scheme of CAT 2024

Section	Number of MCQs	Number of Non-MCQs	Total Questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	21	3	24
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	14	6	20
Quantitative Ability	14	8	22
Marks are given to correct answer	+3 marks given to every correct answer
Negative marking	-1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer and 0 negative marking for non-MCQ question

Note *: There is no sectional time limit for the MAH MBA CET exam, while the CAT exam has a sectional time of 40 minutes.

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List of Top B-Schools Accepting CAT vs MAH CET Score

Here is the list of top B-schools of India accepting CAT scores and MAH MBA CET scores. 

Management colleges Accepting CAT scores	Management Colleges Accepting MAH MBA CET Scores
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	SIES Graduate School of Technology
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	Indira School of Business Studies
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta	K J Somaiya Institute of Management
SPJIMR Mumbai	MET Institute of Management
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi	Pune Institute of Business Management

Note*: There are only a few top B-schools that accept score cards for both exams. CAT scores are generally accepted by 1000+ B-schools nationwide, while MAH MBA CET scores are accepted by more than 300 MBA colleges in Maharashtra.

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How To Prepare For CAT And CET Exam 2024?

After gaining a clear understanding of the disparities between the CAT and CET syllabi, exam structures, and grading systems, the optimal selection has become more straightforward. 

However, the question of how to adequately prepare for the CAT and CET exams remains a significant one. A highly effective strategy for achieving good marks and securing a higher percentage involves practising with previous years' CAT question papers and engaging in mock test series. 

These resources provide valuable insight into the actual exam format, ultimately facilitating the attainment of a high score.

Conclusion 

Understanding the difference between CAT and CET syllabus is essential for MBA aspirants. CAT is a national-level exam conducted by IIMs, while CET is a state-level exam primarily conducted for MBA admissions in Maharashtra. 

Being aware of these distinctions can help aspirants make informed decisions about their MBA entrance exam preparation.

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