CAT vs IIFT: Is IIFT Tougher than CAT?
CAT vs IIFT- What are the differences and similarities? Let's have a look at the detailed comparison of CAT vs IIFT so that MBA aspirants can have a better understanding of both exams.
CAT vs IIFT: CAT and IIFT both are considered to be the toughest management entrance exams in India. IIMs conduct the CAT, the most well-known MBA entrance exam, for admissions to IIMs and other top B-Schools across the nation. NTA administers the IIFT at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade for enrollment to its flagship MBA in International Business course. IIFT scores are not accepted for admission by any other business school. Both the CAT and IIFT entrance exams are difficult in their own unique ways. Applicants can compare the two to get familiar with their test pattern, syllabus, difficulty level, marking scheme, etc.
Although both CAT and IIFT are the management exams that ultimately help students to get admission into Indian Institutes of Management and other top B-schools, both differ in terms of their level of difficulty, exam pattern, syllabus, and much more. Go through this article to get better clarity on the related aspects through which you can compare CAT vs IIFT based on several parameters and decide which is the best suited for you.
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CAT vs IIFT: Key Differences and Similarities
The sectional time limit in the CAT exam requires candidates to complete each segment within the allotted time. There is no sectional time limit on the IIFT exam. IIFT has four sections (an extra section of General Knowledge), while CAT has three sections. The total score for the CAT is 198 whereas the total score for the IIFT is 300. The major MBA colleges in India, all 20 IIMs, and more than 1,200 additional B-Schools recognize the CAT score. Only IIFT admission is based on the IIFT entrance exam score. Students can take a look at the CAT vs IIFT comparison provided in the table below.
Particulars | CAT (Common Admission Test) | IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Test) |
Total Questions | 100 | 110 |
Total Marks | 228 | 300 |
Test Mode | CBT (Computer- Based Test) | CBT (Computer- Based Test) |
Number of Sections | 3 sections | 4 sections |
Total Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
Sectional Time Limit | CAT has a sectional limit of 40 minutes for all three sections. | No sectional time limit for IIFT. |
Entrance Test Fee | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 2,500 |
Marking Scheme |
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Test Acceptance | The CAT exam is accepted for admission to IIMs and top B schools. | The IIFT exam is accepted by IIFT Delhi, IIFT Kolkata, and IIFT Kakinada. |
IIFT vs CAT: Exam Pattern
First, it's important to understand the distinctions between the CAT and IIFT entrance exams in terms of the structure and pattern of the exams.
Particulars | IIFT | CAT |
Duration of exam | 2 hours | 2 hours with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes |
Number of Questions Asked | 110 | 66 |
Mode of the Exam | Computer-based | Computer-based |
Sections |
|
|
Total Marks | 300 | 198 |
Marking Scheme |
| +3 marks for every correct response |
Negative Marking | -1/3 marks | -1 mark |
Also Read: How Much Time is Required to Prepare for CAT 2023?
IIFT vs CAT: Syllabus
The first three sections of the CAT exam and the IIFT exam cover a lot of the same topics, with the main difference being the fourth component of the IIFT exam. IIFT exam has an extra component, namely, General Awareness. The following list of subjects is included in both of these exams:
Component | IIFT | CAT |
VARC |
|
|
LRDI |
|
|
QA |
|
|
GK |
| - |
CAT Vs IIFT: Section-wise Difficulty Level
Here's a tabular distinction among various sections for both CAT and IIFT exams based on the previous year's question papers. Therefore, it will help you analyze which sections are easy to attempt and which of them require more preparation.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Aspirants can check the difficulty level for various topics included in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section for both CAT and IIFT exams here:
Topics | CAT (Common Admission Test) | IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Test) |
Sentence Correction | Moderate | Moderate |
Reading Comprehension | Moderate | Difficult |
Para jumbles | Moderate | Difficult |
Para Completion | Moderate | Moderate |
Grammar | Moderate | Difficult |
Fill In the blanks | Moderate | Difficult |
Critical Reasoning | Moderate | Difficult |
Antonyms/ Synonyms | Moderate | Difficult |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Aspirants can check the difficulty level for various topics included in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section for both CAT and IIFT exams here:
Topics | CAT (Common Admission Test) | IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Test) |
Seating Arrangement | Moderate | Moderate |
Family Tree | Moderate | Moderate |
Puzzles | Difficult | Moderate |
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Aspirants can check the difficulty level for various topics included in the Quantitative Ability (QA) section for both CAT and IIFT exams here:
Topics | CAT (Common Admission Test) | IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Test) |
Trigonometry | Moderate | Moderate |
Probability | Moderate | Moderate |
Geometry | Difficult | Difficult |
Permutation and Combination | Moderate | Moderate |
Numbers | Difficult | Moderate |
Heights and Distance | Difficult | Moderate |
Coordinate Geometry | Difficult | Moderate |
Arithmetic | Moderate | Moderate |
Algebra | Difficult | Moderate |
Note: Applicants must note that the above-mentioned details have been curated based on the last year's question papers. The information is not confirmed for the upcoming session as well.
CAT vs IIFT: Scope After the Management Exam
Candidates before appearing for both the management examinations also compare what is the career scope offered by them after clearing the test successfully. Here is the comparison of the career prospects offered by both CAT and IIFT mentioned in the table below.
Particulars | CAT (Common Admission Test) | IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Test) |
Career Scope | CAT is no doubt the most popular management entrance exam in India. Career prospects after clearing the entrance exam are wide enough. The exam is accepted by the prominent IIMs and top B-Schools in our country. | IIFT exam is apt for candidates who want to make big in IBM(International Business Management). Career prospects after clearing the entrance exam are limited as it is accepted only by institutions driven by IIFT. |
Institutes Accepting the Test |
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IIFT vs CAT: Is IIFT Tougher than CAT?
Both exams are equally challenging when it comes to difficulty. However, due to the added General Knowledge component, only a small percentage of test takers find IIFT somewhat more difficult than CAT. The IIFT exam is often held 7–10 days following the CAT exam, leaving very little time for general knowledge portion preparation. However, it is rather manageable if you start studying GK early. However, according to expert analysis, there are many reasons why the CAT is tougher than the IIFT, including the exam pattern, the distribution of questions and marks per section, the time allotted for each section, the complexity of each section, etc.
Both the management entrance tests require similar effort and approach for the test preparation. If the applicants prepare well and study formulate and develop exam strategies, they will do well in both exams. Candidates must start practicing more and more available sample papers and mock tests available on various websites online to tackle the exams with ease. Applicants' choices and interests, in the end, are the ultimate deciding factors regarding which exam they wish to appear for.
We hope that this article has helped you in deciding which exam is right for you to appear. For admission-related details, aspirants can fill out the Common Application Form (CAF) and avail of free counselling from our experts. For any queries, students can write to us through the Q&A Zone or call on the toll-free student helpline number 1800-5729877.
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FAQs
What is the difference between CAT and IIFT?
The difference between CAT and IIFT are as follows-
- CAT has 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes while IIFT has 110 questions to be solved in 120 minutes.
- The marking scheme of both exams is different.
- IIFT exam has a General Awareness section while CAT doesn’t have it.
- CAT exam has a sectional time limit but IIFT exam doesn’t have any.
- CAT is held in three slots in a day while IIFT is held in a single slot.
Which is more difficult- CAT or IIFT?
Both CAT and IIFT exams have moderate to high difficulty levels. However, some candidates may find IIFT difficult since it has 110 questions needed to be solved in 120 minutes whereas CAT has 66 questions with the same time duration. Also, the Quantitative Aptitude section of IIFT is usually more difficult than CAT.
Which colleges can I get admission into through CAT scores?
Through CAT scores, candidates can get admission into any of the 20 Indian Institutes of Management in India. Apart from IIMs, more than 1000 B-schools accept CAT scores. Some of the prestigious institutes include IMT Ghaziabad, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, GLIM Chennai, DMS IIT Delhi, NITIE Mumbai, XIM Bhubaneswar, etc.
Which colleges accept IIFT scores?
IIFT scores are accepted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada. These three campuses of IIFT offer its flagship MBA in International Business (IB) programme. Apart from these institutes, the IIFT score is not accepted by any other MBA colleges in India.
Are the eligibility criteria for CAT and IIFT the same?
Yes, the eligibility criteria for CAT and IIFT are the same. Candidates applying for both these exams must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate. Final-year candidates are also eligible to apply if the aggregate of their first and second-year scores is 50 percent. For Reserved category candidates, the minimum score required for both CAT and IIFT is a minimum of 45 percent in aggregate.
Can I qualify for IIFT if I prepare for CAT?
It is difficult to qualify for IIFT if a candidate is preparing for CAT since IIFT has a Genera Awareness section which CAT doesn’t have. Also, the number of questions in IIFT is 110 and the exam duration is 120 minutes. On the other hand, CAT has 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. So, a different preparation strategy will be required to prepare for both exams.
Are CAT RC passages more difficult than IIFT?
CAT RC passages can be considered more difficult than IIFT. CAT RS passages are inference based where it is not possible for candidates to note down the data. But IIFT RC passages are fact-based so it is easier to solve them as one can note down the data.