What is the main difference between the GMAT and CAT syllabus?

The GMAT syllabus includes three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, while the CAT syllabus has Quantitative Aptitude, VARC, and DILR.

Is GMAT accepted by Indian business schools?

Yes, some top Indian business schools like ISB accept GMAT scores, whereas CAT is specifically for Indian business schools like IIMs.

How many times can I appear for the GMAT exam in a year?

You can take the GMAT up to five times in a year, with no limit on the total number of attempts.

What is the marking scheme for the CAT exam?

CAT uses a +3 marking scheme for correct answers and a -1 deduction for incorrect answers, whereas GMAT does not have negative marking.

Which exam is more suitable for studying abroad, GMAT or CAT?

The GMAT is ideal for those looking to pursue an MBA abroad, as it is accepted by global business schools.

Can I use the same preparation strategy for GMAT and CAT?

While both exams test similar skills, preparation strategies should be tailored due to differences in question types and exam structure.

How long is the GMAT score valid for?

GMAT scores are valid for five years, whereas CAT scores are valid for only one year.

What topics are tested in the CAT DILR section?

The CAT DILR section includes Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation questions, with topics like Venn diagrams, data sets, and puzzles.

What is the Difference Between the GMAT and CAT Syllabus?

Raju|

Nov 19, 2025

GMAT and CAT are two of the biggest dilemmas for a candidate aspiring to pursue an MBA. While both serve a similar purpose, their syllabus are different, reflecting the unique expectations of global and Indian Business schools. Both are the most popular MBA entrance exams in India, having a similar syllabus but different approaches. Additionally, the difficulty levels of the GMAT and CAT are different.

So, here is a detailed difference between the GMAT and CAT exam syllabus.

GMAT vs CAT Syllabus

In the CAT syllabus and the GMAT syllabus, the subjects covered and the kinds of questions asked in each exam are different. English language, logical reasoning, data interpretation, and mathematics are all covered in both exams. In the CAT exam, each section focuses on a specific subject area. For example, the VARC section mainly tests verbal ability and reading skills, while the Quantitative Aptitude section assesses mathematical ability. On the other hand, the GMAT focus edition contains each section with a mix of question types that evaluate various skills. For instance, the two-part analysis questions in the Data Insights section can measure quantitative, verbal, or even a combination of both skill sets.

Is the GMAT and CAT Syllabus the Same?

Definitely not, the CAT syllabus and GMAT syllabus are different. Both of the exam syllabus are different in the aspects of difficulty, structure and specific topics are covered in each section.CAT focuses more on problem-solving in verbal and logical reasoning, while GMAT blends reasoning with precision and data analysis with a global standard.

GMAT vs CAT: Key Differences

The two common entrance examinations for getting enrolled in an MBA college include CAT and GMAT. The key difference between the CAT and GMAT is that the latter is a global exam, and it will help you pursue your master's degree abroad, while some Indian schools that accept GMAT scores include ISB. On the other hand, CAT is only accepted by Indian business schools, such as IIMs, SP Jain, MDI and ISB Hyderabad.

Let's dive into the detailed differences between CAT and GMAT

Details	GMAT	CAT
Abbreviations	Graduate Management Admission Test	Common Aptitude Test
Conducting body	Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)	India's top IIM’s
Mode of exam	Online mode either at exam centres or at home itself	Online mode only at exam centres
Exam frequency	Multiple times in a year (But candidate can attempt 5 times in a year)	Single time in a year
Sections	3 sections Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Data insights	3 sections Quantitative aptitude (QA) Verbal Ability Reading comprehension (VARC) Data interpretation, Logical reasoning (DILR)
Question type	Multiple choice questions (MCQ)	Multiple choice questions (MCQ) and Type in the answer (TITA)
Marking scheme	No Negative mark	+3 for correct answer -1 for wrong answer
Total marks	805	204
Score validity	Five years	One year

GMAT Syllabus: Detailed Breakdown

The GMAT syllabus consists of 3 sections, namely, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights, with a 45-minute duration for each section.

Section	Number of Questions	Time Duration
Quantitative Reasoning	21	45 minutes
Verbal Reasoning	23	45 minutes
Data Insights	20	45 minutes
Total	64	2 hours 15 minutes (plus an optional 10-minute break)

GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Syllabus:

In the GMAT Focus Edition, the Quantitative Aptitude section has 21 multiple-choice questions. These questions are from algebra and arithmetic. Below are important topics from quantitative reasoning

Arithmetic Topics	Algebra Topics
Multiples and Factors	Monomials & Polynomials
Number Properties	Functions
Fractions and Decimals	Exponents & Roots
Percentages	Quadratic Equations
Averages	Inequalities & Basic Statistics
Ratios and Proportions	Algebraic Expressions & Equations
Mixtures and Allegations	Permutations and Combinations
Pipes, Cisterns, and Work-Time	Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions
Speed, Time, and Distance	Set Theory
Simple & Compound Interest	Descriptive Statistics
Probability	-

GMAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus:

In the GMAT Focus Edition, the Verbal Ability section has 23 multiple-choice questions. These questions are from reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Below are important topics from verbal ability

Reading comprehension

In this topic, questions have a 350-word passage followed by multiple-choice questions.

based on the main idea, supporting ideas, inferences, context, style, and tone.

Critical reasoning

Critical Reasoning questions in the GMAT verbal section are based on short passages (usually under 100 words), followed by choices. These questions assess how well you can break down an argument, identify assumptions, and evaluate logic based on the information provided.

GMAT Data Insights Syllabus:

The Data Insights section of the GMAT exam structure consists of 20 questions to be answered in 45 minutes. This section measures your ability to interpret and analyse data. An on-screen calculator is available for all questions in this section. The GMAT syllabus for Data Insights contains the following types of questions:

Data Sufficiency: Based on two statements of data, pick the answer choice that has enough information to solve the problem.

Multi-Source Reasoning: Synthesise, compare, interpret or apply the information presented in written passages, tables, graphs, diagrams, and other types of visual representation.

Table Analysis: Determine statistics, ratios, proportions or probabilities from a given spreadsheet-like table with a drop-down menu.

Graphics Interpretation: Fill-in-the-blank questions to be answered based on given bar graphs, line graphs, scatterplots, and bubble graphs.

Two-Part Analysis: Questions comprise two problems that are connected in some way, and test your quantitative and verbal reasoning skills.

CAT Syllabus: Detailed Breakdown

GMAT syllabus consists of 3 sections, namely, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), with a 40-minute duration for each section.

Section	Number of Questions	Time Duration
Quantitative aptitude	22	40 minutes
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes
Data interpretation & Logical reasoning (DILR)	22	40 minutes
Total	68	2 hours

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude consists of topics like geometry, number systems, arithmetic, modern maths, etc. The section checks your calculation speed, accuracy, numerical ability, etc., and how accurately and efficiently you are able to solve tricky mathematical problems. Some of the key topics are listed below.

Topic	Topic
Geometry	Mensuration
Ratios and Proportions	Time-Speed-Distance
Trigonometry	Logarithms
Inequations	Partnership (Accounts)
Inequalities	Profit & Loss
Quadratic and Linear Equations	Number System
Algebra	Geometric Progression
Work and Time	Square Root and Cube Root
Percentages	Mean, Mode, Median
Surds and Indices	Probability

CAT DILR Syllabus

The DILR section tests how well you can understand and analyse data and how smartly you can solve logical problems. It has two parts:

Logical Reasoning (LR)
This part includes questions based on real-life situations. You need to think logically and figure things out using clues. Topics you should prepare are:

Venn diagrams
Data and seating arrangements
Direction sense (finding directions like north, south)
Logical puzzles
Caselets (small data sets with questions)

Data Interpretation (DI)
This part checks how fast and accurately you can work with data in different forms like:

Tables
Graphs (line, bar, pie charts)
Math-based DI
Puzzles with numbers
Maxima and minima
Routes and network diagrams

You need to read the data, understand it quickly, and answer the questions correctly.

CAT VARC Syllabus:

This section tests your English language skills, how well you can read and understand passages, and tests your verbal ability. It's divided into two parts:

Reading Comprehension (RC)
You will be given long passages to read. Then, you will answer questions based on those passages. The questions test how well you understood what you read, your vocabulary, and your ability to guess the correct meaning.

Verbal Ability (VA)
This part focuses on your reasoning with words. Important topics include:

Parajumbles (rearranging jumbled sentences)
Odd one out
Para summary
Para insertion

GMAT vs CAT Syllabus: Conclusion

When preparing for MBA entrance exams, it's important to know the differences between the GMAT and CAT syllabus to plan your preparation properly. The GMAT is mainly for students aiming for global business schools, testing a mix of verbal and math skills. On the other hand, CAT is for Indian business schools, focusing more on problem-solving and logical reasoning.