CAT and NMAT 2026: key differences in difficulty, pattern, and marking scheme

In short

The NMAT exam, conducted by GMAC, allows candidates up to three attempts within the same window, while the IIMs' CAT exam permits one attempt per year.
NMAT features 108 multiple-choice questions over 120 minutes, with no negative marking, while CAT has 68 questions, including non-MCQs, with negative marking for incorrect MCQs.
The CAT exam is rated as having a significantly higher difficulty level across all sections compared to NMAT, which leans towards straightforward, speed-based questions.
NMAT candidates can choose their section order and must perform manual calculations, whereas CAT has a fixed section order and provides an on-screen calculator.
The NMAT exam fee is ₹3,000 plus taxes, while the CAT exam fee is approximately ₹2,400.

Candidates aspiring for MBA or PGDM courses at a national level are comparing the Common Admission Test (CAT) and the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) for the 2026 admission cycle. Both examinations are conducted online as Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and include sectional timing.

The comparison highlights distinct differences in their structure, marking schemes, and overall difficulty, which are crucial for the lakhs of candidates who appear annually. While both exams cover largely similar topics, enabling simultaneous preparation, their specific formats and challenges vary considerably.

Exam Structure and Attempts

The NMAT, administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), offers candidates the flexibility of up to three attempts within the same exam window. In contrast, the CAT, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), permits only one attempt per year. Both exams are designed for MBA or PGDM admissions across India.

NMAT comprises 108 questions distributed equally across three sections, with a total duration of 120 minutes. The sections are Language Skills (36 questions, 28 minutes), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (36 questions, 52 minutes), and Logical Reasoning (36 questions, 40 minutes). CAT, but then, has 68 questions over a total duration of 180 minutes, though one source states 120 minutes. Its sections include Quantitative Aptitude (22 questions, 40 minutes), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (22 questions, 40 minutes), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (24 questions, 40 minutes).

Section	No. of Questions	Time
Language Skills	36	28 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation	36	52 minutes
Logical Reasoning	36	40 minutes
Total	108	120 minutes

Section	No. of Questions	Time
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40 minutes
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	40 minutes
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes
Total	68	120 minutes

Difficulty and Question Format

A notable difference lies in the difficulty levels and question types. All sections in CAT are rated as having a significantly greater difficulty level than NMAT. NMAT questions are generally shorter and often test a single standalone concept, leaning more towards straightforward, speed-based questions. The NMAT 2025 papers were rated as moderate overall, while the CAT 2025 papers were rated as moderately difficult overall.

NMAT question papers contain only Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), with every correct answer attracting one mark and no negative marking. The NMAT scorecard is based on a Scaled Score, ranging from 12 to 120 sectionally and 36 to 360 overall. Conversely, CAT question papers include both MCQs and non-MCQ (TITA – Type-In-The-Answer) questions. Candidates are awarded three marks for every correct answer in CAT, but there is negative marking for incorrect MCQ answers (-1 mark deduction). There is no deduction for unattempted questions, and the final CAT score card is also based on a Scaled Score.

Skill	CAT section	NMAT section	Difficulty in 2025
Verbal	VARC: 24 questions, 40 minutes	Language Skills: 36 questions, 28 minutes	CAT moderate; NMAT easy to moderate
Reasoning	DILR: 22 questions, 40 minutes	Logical Reasoning: 36 questions, 40 minutes	CAT moderate to difficult; NMAT moderate
Quant	QA: 22 questions, 40 minutes	Quantitative Skills: 36 questions, 52 minutes	Both moderate to difficult

Exam Features and Logistics

NMAT offers candidates the choice to select the order of the three sections before starting the exam, providing strategic flexibility. CAT, however, has a fixed section order: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Also, NMAT is an adaptive exam, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on a candidate’s performance. CAT is a non-adaptive exam with a fixed difficulty level for all candidates. For calculations, NMAT candidates must work out every sum manually as no online calculator is provided, whereas CAT provides a basic calculator directly on the computer screen. The NMAT exam fee is ₹3,000 plus taxes, while the CAT exam fee is approximately ₹2,400.

Aspect	CAT	NMAT
Full Form	Common Admission Test	NMIMS Management Aptitude Test
Conducting Authority	IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management)	GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council)
Number of Attempts	Once a year	Up to 3 attempts per testing window
Section Order	Fixed	Flexible — candidate can choose
Negative Marking	Yes (-1 for wrong MCQ answer)	No negative marking
Total Questions	68	108
Total Marks	204	360
Duration	120 minutes	120 minutes
Exam Fee	~₹2,400	₹3,000 + taxes
Exam Type	Non-adaptive	Adaptive (question difficulty adjusts to performance)