Are you aspiring to enter into the business world? If so, you might be dreaming of earning your MBA from a top business school. Most of these prestigious institutions require a valid CAT or GMAT score. But how do you decide before starting your MBA ? The choice largely depends on the specific business schools you're targeting and your personal preferences.

A quick tip for those who are just beginning their MBA preparation, start your initial preparation by taking a few MBA tests. They’ll help you in knowing where to start your prep. Many Indian business schools accept both CAT and GMAT scores, but somemay only accept one. In fact, most of the business schools abroad accept onlyGMAT. So, before arriving at a conclusion, read on for a clear comparison ofCAT vs GMAT to help you make an informed decision.

The GMAT Focus Exam

GMAT,which stands for Graduate Management Admission Test, is a very popular entranceexam for getting into the top business schools. Moreover, its results areaccepted by over 2400 business schools in more than 110 countries for admissionto MBA programs and other business master's degrees, making it the world's bestbusiness school test.

Infact, if you’re comparing it with CAT then the best part about the GMAT exam isthat it is conducted numerous times in a year and it is valid for 5 years.Whereas, CAT is only conducted once a year and is only valid for a year. Thus,if you're going to attend business school overseas or in India, the GMAT testprovides more chances than the CAT. However, it's important to note that theCAT is the gateway to India's prestigious IIMs. So, you will learn more aboutthe differences from the CAT vs GMAT discussion further, first let’s have acloser look at GMAT.

GMAT Focus Structure and Features

Colleges that Accept the GMAT Focus Exam

Hereare the top colleges that accept the GMAT exam:

In Abroad

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• The University of Melbourne
• Cleveland State University
• University of St. Gallen
• Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
• Central Queensland University,     Australia
• Columbia University
• London Business School

In India

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Lucknow
• IIM Indore
• SP Jain
• XLRI Jamshedpur
• ISB, Hyderabad

The CAT Exam

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted annually and serves as the bestgateway to India's top business schools. In fact, over 1,000 business schoolsacross the country, including the prestigious IIMs, accept the CAT scores foradmission. So, if your goal is to secure a spot in an IIM or another leadingbusiness school in India, preparing for the CAT is essential.

Below,you'll find a list of business schools that accept the CAT scores. Further, you can check out the features and structure of this exam as it differs widely fromthe GMAT exam. To get a more in depth understanding about any other MBAentrance exams you could read the blogs of CAT Coaching institutes.

TopColleges that Accept the CAT Exam

Many top colleges accept the CAT exam; these are as follows:

• All IIMs of India.
• IIT’s of India that offer MBA.
• FMS Delhi.
• JBIMS
• TISS, Mumbai.
• SP Jain, Mumbai
• MDI Gurgaon.

CAT Exam Structure and Features

The Difference: CAT vs GMAT

Now that you have a clear idea about the 2 exams let’s compare CAT vs GMAT in adetailed manner.

Wrapping Up

Deciding between the CAT and GMAT exams depends on your abilities and the specificbusiness schools you aim to attend. For instance, all major IIMs in Indiatypically require a valid CAT score, while other institutions in India andabroad often accept GMAT scores. If your goal is to join an IIM, then CAT isthe exam to focus on. However, if you're targeting international universitiesor institutions like ISB in India, then GMAT should be your priority.

TheCAT vs GMAT discussion might have helped you gain some insight in knowing thatthey differ in terms of pattern, structure, frequency, etc. Moreover, this’llhelp you make an informed decision. Both exams serve as gateways to thebusiness world, so choose the one that aligns best with your goals. Lastly,whichever exam you decide to take, ensure you prepare thoroughly.