If you are planning to pursue an MBA program from a study abroad destination, then clearing the necessary entrance exams is the first step in your academic journey. The Common Admission Test (CAT) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are the two most popular exams among MBA aspirants. So, let’s understand more about the CAT and GMAT differences, and other interesting details.
Key Highlights
- What is the GMAT exam for abroad education?
- Colleges accepting GMAT for abroad education
- Other GMAT colleges abroad
- Some Indian colleges accepting GMAT scores for Management programs
- What is CAT?
- Top Indian MBA colleges accepting CAT score
- CAT exam for abroad education
- Difference between CAT and GMAT
- CAT or GMAT for an MBA abroad?
- CAT and GMAT preparation tips
What is the GMAT exam for abroad education?
GMAT is a widely accepted entrance exam for pursuing business management programs abroad, including an MBA. GMAT Focus Edition is the latest version of GMAT. Students can plan their GMAT exam date for 2024 as per their convenience and take the test either at the centre or online from the comfort of their homes. A few Indian colleges accept GMAT scores, too.
Also Read: Top Ireland MBA college
GMAT exam fees
The GMAT exam fees are ~USD 275, i.e., ~INR 22,900 for the test centre and ~USD 300, i.e., ∼INR 25,000 for the online exam.
Colleges accepting GMAT for abroad education
- Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Global MBA Rankings 2024
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 Subject- Business & Economics: (sub-category: Business & Management)
| Sr. No. | Universities | QS Rankings 2024 | THE Rankings 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford Graduate School of Business | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | Harvard Business School | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | MIT Sloan School of Management | 6 | 1 |
| 5 | Columbia Business School | 7 | 14 |
| 6 | Cambridge Judge Business School | 9 | 5 |
| 7 | Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) | 12 | 13 |
| 8 | Haas School of Business (University of California, Berkeley) | 13 | 4 |
| 9 | The University of Chicago Booth School of Business | 14 | 7 |
| 10 | UCLA Anderson School of Management (University of California, Los Angeles) | 15 | 19 |
Other GMAT colleges abroad>
- Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- McGill University, Canada
- The University of Queensland, Australia
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- EU Business School, Germany
Also Read: Top B-schools and the best MBA courses in the USA
Some Indian colleges accepting GMAT scores for Management programs
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad
- S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)
What is CAT?
CAT is a popular management aptitude test conducted for admission to MBA programs in Indian colleges and a few international universities too. The scores are accepted for enrolling in management programs like Executive MBA (EMBA), Master in Management Studies (MMS), etc., in premier B-colleges in India and abroad.
Top Indian MBA colleges accepting CAT score
| Sr. No. | Colleges | National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2023 (Subject: Management) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad | 1 |
| 2 | IIM Bangalore | 2 |
| 3 | IIM Kozhikode | 3 |
| 4 | IIM Calcutta | 4 |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi | 5 |
| 6 | IIM, Lucknow | 6 |
| 7 | National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai | 7 |
| 8 | IIM, Indore | 8 |
| 9 | XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur | 9 |
| 10 | IIT, Bombay | 10 |
CAT exam fees
The CAT exam registration fees are INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category like SC/ST).
Also Read: MBA in IT in the USA: An interesting guide
CAT exam for abroad education
International colleges like SKEMA Business School in France and S P Jain School of Global Management (campuses in Singapore, Dubai and Sydney) accept CAT scores for management programs. However, international students need to meet other eligibility criteria as well to secure a spot at these prestigious colleges.
Difference between CAT and GMAT
| Basis | CAT | GMAT Focus Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | ||
| Accepted by | ||
| Exam sections |
|
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| Exam duration | ||
| Test attempts in a year | ||
| Score validity |
CAT or GMAT for an MBA abroad?
Global acceptance of the GMAT exam makes it a wise choice for pursuing an MBA degree abroad. On the other hand, CAT is accepted by most Indian universities. It is advised to consider your academic aspirations, university-specific requirements, career goals, and location preferences before making a well-informed decision.
Also Read: MBA in IT abroad: An informative guide
CAT and GMAT preparation tips
- Set a timetable and stick to it. Devote equal time to all sections.
- Start your preparation a minimum of 5-6 months in advance.
- Practise mock tests to identify your areas of improvement.
So, this is all about the CAT and GMAT exams. If you are facing financial challenges in planning your academic journey, education loans for students are available. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer hyper-personalised education loans with multiple benefits. Contact us today to know about these benefits, interest on education loan, etc.
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