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CAT vs CMAT
CAT: 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes. CMAT: 100 questions, 400 marks, 180 minutes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, English, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| CAT 2026 | CMAT 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | IIMs (CAT 2026 by IIM Indore) | National Testing Agency |
| Questions | 68 | 100 |
| Marks | 204 | 400 |
| Time | 120 min | 180 min |
| Seconds a question | 106 | 108 |
| Marking | +3 for a correct answer. −1 for a wrong MCQ, no negative marking for a wrong TITA (type-in-the-answer) question. About a third of the questions are TITA. | +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one. |
| Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability | Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Languages | English | English |
| Next exam | 29 Nov 2026, three sessions; admit card around 4 Nov | 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative) |
| Last cut-off (UR) | Not published | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 5 full (2 free) | 4 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, English, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- Dates: CAT 29 Nov 2026, three sessions; admit card around 4 Nov; CMAT 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative). If they are weeks apart, prepare the shared sections first and the exam-specific ones in the last weeks before each.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for CAT and CMAT together?
- Yes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, English. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, CAT or CMAT?
- CAT: +3 for a correct answer. −1 for a wrong MCQ, no negative marking for a wrong TITA (type-in-the-answer) question. About a third of the questions are TITA. CMAT: +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one.
- What are the age limits for CAT and CMAT?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of IIMs (CAT 2026 by IIM Indore) (website ) and National Testing Agency (website ). Age-limit calculator · All comparisons