NMAT vs CAT: Is NMAT Easier than CAT? Know The Differences Here!

Overview: Is NMAT easier than CAT? Although CAT scores are widely accepted in Indian institutes, NMAT scores are accepted in countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and the Philippines. Let's find out which is better: NMAT or CAT!

• CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a prestigious exam conducted by IIMs. Its score is accepted by more than 1,000+ B-schools in India.
• On the other hand, NMAT, the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude test, offers a unique global perspective by opening the door for admission across different countries. 

Every year, over 3 lakh MBA aspirants opt for exams like CAT and NMAT. But which is best for pursuing management courses among them? Know here!

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

Also Read | How to Prepare for CAT in One Year

NMAT vs CAT: Highlights 

The Common Admission Test (CAT) and the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) are both significant MBA entrance exams in India. 

CAT is conducted once a year by one of the IIMs, while NMAT, administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), offers the flexibility to choose exam dates and allows three attempts to improve scores within a testing cycle. 

This difference makes NMAT a convenient option for those seeking flexibility and multiple opportunities to enhance their scores. Let’s look for some more key differences between NMAT and CAT: 

Important Features	NMAT 2024	CAT 2024
Examination Full Form	Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test	Common Admission Test
Conducting Body	Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)	Indian Institute of Management (IIMs)
Exam frequency	3 times during the 70-day-long test-taking window.	Once a year
Exam Sections And Sectional Timings	Language Skill – 28 minutes Quantitative Skill – 52 minutes Logical Reasoning – 40 minutes	40 minutes are provided for each section Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
Number of Questions	Overall Questions: 108	Overall Questions: 66
Exam Duration	2 hours	2 hours
Negative marking	There is no negative marking for an incorrect answer.	-1 for MCQs questions and 0 for TITA questions
Application fee	INR 3000 + applicable taxes	SC/ST/PwD: INR 1250/- GEN: INR 2500/-
Difficulty Level	Easy-Moderate Level	Moderate-Difficult Level

Also Read | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Conducting Body

Comparing NMAT and CAT 2024 helps candidates understand the differences between these two entrance tests. 

Both exams are for postgraduate admissions, with NMAT being an MBA entrance exam accepted by the colleges of Nigeria, South Africa, the Philippines, and Morocco, and CAT is a national-level exam conducted by IIMs for admission into management courses in IIMs and other top B-schools.

• NMAT: Conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council
• CAT: Conducted by the Indian Institute of Management on a rotational basis

Also Read | NMAT Selection Process

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Difficulty Level

The CAT and NMAT exams have varying difficulty levels. If you are well-prepared for the CAT, you should find the NMAT relatively easy compared. 

Remember that CAT and NMAT have different difficulty levels. People who prepare for CAT may find NMAT easier.

Although they cover similar topics, there are some minor differences. NMAT emphasizes speed, while CAT does not necessarily require quick responses.

This means that some people may do well in CAT but not necessarily excel in NMAT due to the emphasis on speed and accuracy.

Also Read |  How Many Students Appear for CAT Exam Every Year

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Eligibility Criteria

While comparing NMAT vs. CAT exams, it is best to review the eligibility criteria. For the CAT exam, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). 

You are also eligible to apply if you are awaiting results or are in the final year of your degree.

As for the NMAT exam eligibility criteria, they depend on the application/admission eligibility of the respective B-school. The general requirements include: 

• A 3-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline (50%) or equivalent CGPA. 
• Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply, and those who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) or are awaiting results are eligible as well. 
• There is no age limit to apply for NMAT by GMACTM. However, meeting the minimum eligibility criteria for NMAT 2024 does not guarantee consideration for shortlisting by the B-school applied for.

Also Read | CAT Exam 2024 Shift Timings

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Exam Syllabus

To understand “how is NMAT different from CAT exam,” you should also understand the syllabus and exam pattern of both exams. Both CAT vs NMAT consist of mainly three sections analysing the knowledge and analytical skills of the candidate.

The CAT, or Common Admission Test, comprises three main sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative ability (QA).

In contrast, the NMAT exam consists of language, quantitative, and logical reasoning skills. Here's a simplified way to understand the topics covered in the different sections:

Exam Sections	NMAT Exam	CAT Exam
Logical Reasoning/Abstract Reasoning	Classification, Syllogisms, Coding and decoding, Symbol-based questions, Blood relation questions, Matrix type questions, Linear and circular arrangements, Alphabet questions Other reasoning questions	Arrangements, Analogies, Critical Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Clock and Calendar, Sequence and series, Blood relations, Directions, Syllogisms, Puzzles
Quantitative Aptitude	Numbers, Percentages, Ratio and proportions,  Averages, Time and work, Partnership,  Simple and Compound Interest, Integers, HCF and LCM, Permutation and combination, Coordinate geometry, Set theory Probability, Venn diagrams, Progression arithmetic, Geometric, Harmonic, Relationship.	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	Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, Fill in the blanks, Cloze test, Idioms, Paragraph summary, Para jumbles, Jumbled sentences, RC Passages, Odd one out, Tenses, Sentence correction, Parts of speech, Phrasal verbs, Choose the correct preposition, Identify the error.	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

Also Read | CAT Exam Details About Preparation 2024

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Sectional Timings

In a series of finding the differences between NMAT vs CAT it is also evident to look for the sectional time limit for both exams. Both of these exams have a total duration of 120 minutes, but the individual section times for CAT and NMAT differ. 

Here is the detailed version of CAT exam duration and NMAT sectional timings: 

CAT Exam Sectional Timings

Exam Sections	Total Questions	Section-wise Time Limit
VARC	24	40 minutes
DILR	20	40 minutes
QA	22	40 minutes
Total	66	120 minutes

NMAT Exam Sectional Timing 

Sections	Questions	Section-wise Time Limit
Language Skills	36	28 Minutes
Quantitative Skills	36	52 Minutes
Logical Reasoning	36	40 Minutes
Total	108	120 Minutes

Also Read | CAT Exam Marks vs Percentile 2024

Is NMAT Easier Than CAT: Exam Pattern

While looking for the differences between NMAT and CAT, it is best to compare their exam pattern. Both exams include multiple-choice questions, but CAT also has non-multiple-choice questions called TITA questions. Unlike NMAT, CAT exam pattern imposes a penalty for wrong answers to multiple-choice questions, deducting a -1 mark for each incorrect response. 

NMAT Exam Pattern 

NMAT Sections	Number of Questions	Time to Attempt	NMAT Score Range
Language Skills Section	36 questions	28 minutes	Score range: 12-120
Quantitative Skills Section	36 questions	52 minutes	Score range: 12-120
Logical Reasoning Section	36 questions	40 minutes	Score range: 12-120
Total	108 questions	120 minutes	Score range: 36-360

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern

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 mark for non-MCQ question

Also Read |  CAT Exam Top Colleges 2024

List of Colleges Accepting NMAT vs CAT Score

Here is the list of top B-schools accepting CAT scores and NMAT scores. 

Management colleges Accepting CAT scores	Management Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad	SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore	K J Somaiya Institute of Management
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow	Indian School of Business (ISB) (Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics (AMPBA)
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta	Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) - South Africa
SPJIMR Mumbai	Lagos Business School - Nigeria
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi	Africa Business School

Conclusion 

Is NMAT easier than CAT? Well, it depends on various factors, including individual preparation and test-taking strategies. Both exams have unique features, and candidates should make an informed choice based on their career goals and aspirations. Understanding the differences between NMAT and CAT will help candidates select the exam that aligns with their skills and ambitions.