Overview: Is SNAP easier than CAT? Although both entrance exams provide a gateway to prestigious MBA institutes, it is important to look for the features that make them different. Read on to know more about SNAP vs CAT here!

While looking for the top MBA entrance exams in India, students always get confused between SNAP vs CAT as they share the same syllabus and standards for candidate selection.

On one side, CAT opens the door for more than 1000 B-schools, while SNAP is the gateway to SNAP SIU constituent institutes in India.

Read the complete details here to clear your doubts about CAT vs SNAP!

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

Also Read: Key Differences Between CAT and CMAT Exam

Is SNAP Tougher Than CAT?

When it comes to pursuing an MBA, many individuals opt to take entrance exams such as CAT and SNAP in India. While CAT, or Common Admission Test, provides access to a wide range of MBA colleges, SNAP or Symbiosis National Aptitude Test is specifically geared towards securing admission to SIU institutes that offer specialised MBA programs. 

Although both exams cover similar topics, SNAP is generally more approachable than CAT. This is because SNAP allows candidates to attempt the exam three times in one session, ultimately selecting the best score for admissions. 

On the other hand, while CAT has made efforts to be more student-friendly in recent years, it is still perceived as a more challenging exam than SNAP.

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

Is SNAP Easier Than CAT: The Major Differences 

Choosing SNAP vs CAT is always a juggling situation among MBA aspirants. While registering for either the CAT exam 2024 or the SNAP exam 2024, you should be aware of the key differences between the two. 

Here are the key differential features that will help you understand the CAT vs SNAP in an easy way:

Important Features	SNAP 2024	CAT 2024
Examination Full Form	Symbiosis National Aptitude Test	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Body	Institute of Symbiosis International (Deemed University)	Indian Institute of Management (IIMs)
Exam frequency	Thrice a year	Once a year
Exam Sections	General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Data Interpretation & Data sufficiency	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA)
Sectional Timings	It has no sectional Time limit	Each section in the CAT exam has a sectional time of 40 minutes.
Number of Questions	Overall Questions: 60	Overall Questions: 66
Exam Duration	1 hour	2 hours
Negative marking	-0.25 marks for each wrong answer	-1 for MCQs questions and 0 for TITA questions
Application fee	INR 2250 per test	SC/ST/PwD - INR-1200 GEN - INR 2400
Number of SNAP applications	Over 1 Lakh as per SNAP 2023	3.28 lakh (in 2023)
Difficulty Level	Easy- Moderate level	Moderate- Difficult Level

Also Read: SNAP Exam Date 2024: Check Registration and Last Day

Is SNAP Easier Than CAT: Syllabus 

While looking for the better option between CAT vs SNAP, it is best to go through their entire syllabus. The SNAP exam syllabus and the CAT exam syllabus are somewhat similar, consisting of three major sections: Quant, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.

Here is what you need to study in these three sections of the CAT vs SNAP exams:

Exam Sections	SNAP Exam Syllabus	CAT Exam Syllabus
Verbal ability or English	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
Quantitative, Data Interpretation, & Data sufficiency	Number system HCF and LCM Number base system Work and time pipes and Cisterns Averages GM Percentages Compound Interest Arithmetic Progression Quadratic and Linear equations Trigonometry Arithmetic Mean Geometric Progression Permutations and Combinations Menstruation Partnership Ratio and proportion Simple interest Time speed and distance Profit and loss Venn diagram	Number system HCF and LCM Number base system Work and time pipes and Cisterns Averages GM Percentages Compound Interest Arithmetic Progression Quadratic and Linear equations Trigonometry Arithmetic Mean Geometric Progression Permutations and Combinations Menstruation Partnership Ratio and proportion Simple interest Time speed and distance Profit and loss Venn diagram
Analytical and Logical Reasoning	Arrangements Analogies Critical Reasoning Coding and Decoding Clock and Calendar Sequence and series Blood relations Directions Syllogisms Puzzles	Arrangements Analogies Critical Reasoning Coding and Decoding Clock and Calendar Sequence and series Blood relations Directions Syllogisms Puzzles

Also Read: CAT Exam 2024 Detailed Syllabus

Is SNAP Easier Than CAT: Exam Pattern 

Knowing the exam pattern makes it a bit easier to understand and compare the SNAP vs CAT difficulty level. By analysing the SNAP exam pattern and comparing it with CAT exam pattern will help you prepare well in advance. 

What makes the SNAP exam easier than the CAT exam is the difference in the difficulty of the questions. The CAT exam has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes, whereas the SNAP exam does not.

Along with this, the CAT exam is conducted in a regular pattern VARC>DILR>QA, and you can not switch between the sections. At the same time, SNAP provides you with the opportunity to choose the section according to your choice.

Is SNAP easier than CAT? Here is the detailed SNAP vs CAT exam pattern:

Exam Sections	SNAP Exam Syllabus	CAT Exam Syllabus
Total Number of Questions	60	66
Types of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)	MCQs and TITA (Type in the answer) Questions
Total Marks	60	198
Sectional Time limit	There is no sectional time limit	40 minutes is provided for each section
Negative marks	-0.25 marks for each wrong answer	-1 for MCQs questions and 0 for TITA questions
Difficulty Level	Easy to moderate	Moderate to difficult

Also Read: Check the Detailed CAT Marking Scheme 2024

Is SNAP Easier Than CAT: Marking Scheme

It's important to note that the marking schemes for the SNAP and CAT exams are different. In the SNAP exam, you get a +1 mark for each correct answer and -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

In the CAT exam, a correct answer earns you +3 marks, while an incorrect answer results in a deduction of -1 mark. Understanding these marking schemes is essential for devising an effective strategy when tackling questions in both exams.

Features	SNAP Marking Scheme	CAT Marking Scheme
Total Number of Questions	60	66
Total Marks	60	198
Marks for Correct Answer	+1 marks for every correct answer	+3 marks for every correct answer
Negative Marking	-0.25 marks for every incorrect answer	-1 for every incorrect MCQ and no negative marking for TITA questions

Also Read: CAT Previous Year Papers | Download All PDFs

Is SNAP Easier Than CAT: Cut-Off

When comparing the cutoffs for the SNAP and CAT exams for the year 2024, there are notable differences reflecting the varying levels of difficulty and competition in these exams.

For SNAP 2024, the expected cutoffs for top Symbiosis institutes like SIBM Pune and SCMHRD range around 94-98 percentile. Other institutes under Symbiosis have cutoffs that range broadly from 58 to 90 percentiles depending on the specific program and campus.

In contrast, the CAT exam, which is generally considered more challenging and competitive due to its wider acceptance among top Indian management institutions, shows higher cutoffs for IIMs and other prestigious institutes. For instance, the top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta typically have cutoffs in the 99 to 100 percentile range for general category students. 

SNAP Vs CAT: Types of Questions

When comparing SNAP and CAT, one notable difference is the exam format. SNAP consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, while CAT 2024 includes both multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice questions (TITA). In terms of question types, CAT has a higher proportion of non-MCQs (TITA) at 20%, while 80% of the questions are MCQs. As for which exam is easier, it ultimately depends on individual strengths and preferences.

Is SNAP Harder Than CAT? Key Strategy to Attempt Questions

To do well on both the SNAP and the CAT exams, it's important to recognize that they are distinct tests requiring different approaches and preparation. Practising with CAT mock tests and previous year's questions is the best way to get ready for both exams.

Admission Process Through CAT 

Top MBA colleges in India, including the IIMs, use the CAT score as a major factor in selecting candidates. The selection process usually involves a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). While IIMs have WAT and PI, other B-schools typically have GD and PI. The final admission list is based on a candidate's performance across various criteria. The weightages for admission to MBA/PGP programs at IIMs are outlined in the table above.

Parameters for Selection in IIMs	Weightage
CAT Score	40%
Class 10 Marks	10%
Class 12 Marks	10%
Bachelor’s Degree Marks	20%
Work Experience	10%
Diversity Factor (Gender/Academic)	10%

Also Read: How to Start Preparation for CAT Exam 2024

Admission Process Through SNAP

The admission process for MBA/PGDM courses at SIU constituent institutes includes a thorough evaluation through Group Exercise (GE), Writing Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI). Each institute conducts the GE-WAT-PI round separately, but the final selection criteria are the same for all. The table above shows the criteria and their respective weights considered for admission to MBA/PGDM programs at SIU.

Parameters for Selection	Weightage
SNAP Score	50%
Group Exercise (GE)	10%
Writing Ability Test (WAT)	10%
Personal Interview (PI)	30%

List of Top Colleges Accepting SNAP vs CAT score

CAT or the Common Admission Test score, is accepted by the 1000+ B schools and the reputed IIMs. Similarly, the SNAP score is accepted by all the institutes affiliated with Symbiosis International (Deemed) University. 

Here is the list of the top institutes accepting the CAT and SNAP scores:

Management colleges Accepting CAT scores	Management Colleges Accepting SNAP Scores
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB) Pune
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta	Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Bengaluru
SPJIMR Mumbai	Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM) Nashik
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi	Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research (SICSR) Pune
Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad	Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management (SITM) Pune

Note* The list above features the top B-schools in India. Many other management colleges also accept CAT and SNAP scores.

Conclusion 

When comparing SNAP vs CAT, it's evident that there are notable differences in the difficulty level, exam frequency, exam structure, and marking scheme. Is SNAP easier than CAT? While both exams cover similar topics, SNAP's approachability and flexibility make it a more accessible option for many MBA aspirants.