CAT vs GRE: Decoding the Key Differences

CAT and GRE are the two most widely accepted admission tests that need to be cleared while applying to an array of top MBA programs and leading global universities. Both CAT and GRE are highly competitive entrance examinations that help educational institutes gauge the academic prowess of applicants and make admission-related decisions., however, the GRE is for applicants seeking to study abroad while the CAT is specifically used for admissions to Indian institutions.

While GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) scores are considered for admission into various graduate, postgraduate, and doctorate courses at Indian and foreign universities, the CAT (Common Admission Test) percentile is for aspirants who wish to pursue an MBA from prestigious B-schools in India.

In this article, we shall also comprehensively look at the CAT vs GRE differences to enable our readers to decide on the one that will take them closer to their desired professional journeys.

CAT vs GRE: Key Differences

Here are some of the key CAT vs GRE differences worth noting: 

	CAT	GRE
Eligibility	1 year	5 years
Minimum score	70th percentile in each section	164 in both Verbal and Quantitative Sections
Duration	2 hours	1 hour and 58 minutes
Eligibility criteria	A graduate with at least 50 % marks (general category)	No requirement
Organizing body	Indian Institute of Management (IIMs)	Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Sections	Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Verbal Reasoning
Nature of test	Linear test: The questions are pre-decided and don’t adapt to a candidate’s ability.	Computer-adaptive test: It adapts to the ability of candidates and is dynamic.
When are the exams conducted?	Once every year	Round the year
Cost of exam	INR 2,500for general category, INR 1,250for reserved category	USD 220(INR 22,550for GRE General Test) USD 150 (INR 14,500for GRE Subject Test)
Key purpose of taking the tests	Admission to IIMs & other reputed B-schools in India	MS and PhD courses in the USA & also MBA courses abroad

Requirements to apply for CAT and GRE:

GRE eligibility

1. No specific age or educational qualifications are required to take the GRE.

2. Candidates have to produce their original passport as an ID proof at the test center. Therefore, a valid passport is required at the time of registration.

CAT eligibility

1. A bachelor’s degree with 50% for the general category and 45% for the reserved category from a recognized university.

2. Those appearing for the final year of bachelor’s examinations and have met degree requirements may apply. 

3. Any qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree with recognition from the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

Top Universities for GRE & CAT 

The required scores for the GRE and CAT can vary significantly when considering top universities. Here is a comparison table of the scores needed for some of the top universities:

University	GRE Score Range
Harvard University	Verbal Ability - 150-170 Quantitative Ability -  145-170
Stanford University	Verbal Ability - 164 Quantitative Ability - 164
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	Verbal Ability - 155-167 Quantitative Ability - 157-168

Universities in India	Quantitative Ability(Percentile)	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Percentile)	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile)
Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad)	70	70	70
Indian Institute of Management (Mumbai)	75	80	80
Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta)	75	80	80

GRE vs CAT Section Covered 

The GRE and CAT exams assess different skills through their unique sections. Here's a comparison of the CAT vs GRE sections covered in both exams:

Section	GRE	CAT
Quantitative	Quantitative Reasoning	Quantitative Aptitude
Verbal	Verbal Reasoning	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Analytical	Analytical Writing	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Duration	1 hour and 58 minutes	120 minutes

GRE vs CAT Syllabus

Here is a comparison of the CAT vs GRE syllabus: 

Quant section:

CAT	GRE
Twenty-six questions need to be attempted within 40 minutes. It is a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs.	Section 1 has 12 questions to be answered in 21 minutes, while Section 2 has 15 questions to be answered in 26 minutes.
Topics covered in the section include Geometry, Probability, Algebra, Work and Time, Logarithms, Time-Speed-Distance, Binomial Theorem, Quadratic and Linear Equations, Square Root and Cube Root, Ratio and Proportion, Profit & Loss, and others. CAT’s Quant section is difficult in comparison to GRE’s Quant.	Topics covered include Word Problems, Coordinate Geometry, Statistics, Interpretation of Data, Angle Measurements, Algebraic Expressions, Venn Diagrams, Sets Theory, Equations, and Inequalities among others.
No negative marking  for non-MCQs and negative marking for MCQs.	No negative marking.

GRE Verbal Reasoning:  

Number of questions: 27

Time allotted: 41 minutes

The section contains three types of questions, namely Text Completion, Reading Comprehension and Sentence Equivalence.

It covers topics such as Subject-Verb Agreement, Tense, Idioms, Nouns-Adjectives-Pronouns, Pronoun Agreement, and others.

CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension:

Number of questions: 26

Time allotted: 40 minutes

The section is a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs, with negative marking enabled only for non-MCQs. Topics covered include Para-jumbles, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Logic, Prepositions, Idioms, Tenses, Articles, Types of Clauses, Parts of Speech, Analogies and Antonyms among others.

GRE Analytical Writing:

Number of questions: 2

Time allotted: 60 minutes

The section measures a candidate’s ability to analyze and articulate a complex argument/idea while taking care of all the elements of written English. Thirty minutes are allotted each for the two writing tasks.

CAT Data Interpretation & Verbal Reasoning:

Number of questions: 26

Time allotted: 40 minutes

The section is a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs, with negative marking enabled for non-MCQSs. Topics covered include Binary Logic, Family Tree, Direction Sense, Proposition, Blood Relations, Syllogisms, Data Sufficiency, Bar & Line Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Puzzles, Series, Venn Diagram, Pie Charts, and others.

GRE vs CAT Fees Structure 

The fees for taking the GRE and CAT exams also differ. Below is a comparison:

Exam	Fee (USD)	Fee (INR)
GRE General	$220 (INR 18,471.84)	₹22,550
GRE Subject	$150 (INR 12,594.44)	₹14,500
CAT	Not Applicable (international)	General Category - ₹2,300 Others - ₹1,150

GRE vs CAT Level for Difficulty 

The perceived level of difficulty can vary among test-takers, but here's a general comparison based on common feedback:

Aspect	GRE	CAT
Quantitative	Moderately difficult	Highly difficult
Verbal	Highly difficult	Moderately difficult
Analytical	Analytical Writing (Moderate)	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Difficult)
Overall	Moderate to Difficult	Highly Difficult

Recommended Reads:

GRE Exam fee in India	GRE Exam Registration
Best Books for GRE Preparation	How to Send Official GRE Scores to Universities
How to Score 170 in GRE Quant	How to Prepare for Verbal in GRE

The challenges Faced to Prepare both Exams

There are many challenges that need to be addressed while preparing for both CAT and GRE exams. The subject of Math presumably poses a challenge. Another thing which is challenging is the grammatical mistakes that happen.

CAT Percentile to GRE Score Comparison

The two exams are beyond comparable when it comes to the calculation of the scores. CAT exam reports out percentile, which is used to measure your performance among all the other test takers. For example, 90 percentiles do not mean you get 90/100 marks. It means you did better than 90% of the takers. 

GRE vs CAT: Which One to Choose

Choosing between the GRE and CAT depends on your academic and career goals. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

• Intended Program: If you are aiming for business schools in India, the CAT is essential, especially for IIMs and other top B-schools. For international programs or a broader range of graduate programs (including business), the GRE is the better choice.
• Test Format: Consider which test format plays to your strengths. The GRE includes an Analytical Writing section and may be better suited for those with strong verbal skills. The CAT is known for its rigorous quantitative and logical reasoning sections.
• Preparation Time: The CAT often requires more intensive preparation due to its high difficulty level, especially in quantitative and logical reasoning sections.
• Application Requirements: Check the specific requirements of the programs you are interested in. Some programs accept both GRE and CAT scores, but it's crucial to verify this information.

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