Difference Between MAH CET and CAT: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Difficulty Level, Colleges
Want to know the difference between MAH CET 2024 and CAT 2023? Check out MAH CET Vs CAT including the eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, counselling process, participating institutes etc.
MAH CET vs CAT: Held by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell, MAH CET is one of the top MBA entrance exam that offers admission to over 300 Top Management Colleges in Maharashtra. The exam is relatively easier than CAT exam which makes it very popular among MBA aspirants in Maharashtra.
The syllabus and eligibility criteria of MAH CET 2024 and CAT 2023 are mostly the same, but, due to less number of applicants, less competition, and no negative marking, candidates of Maharashtra generally prefer to sit for the former one. Scroll through the page to understand the differences and similarities between MAH CET and CAT.
MAH CET Vs CAT
A detailed comparison between MAH CET 2024 and CAT 2023 is given in the table below:
Specifications | MAH CET | CAT |
| Full-form | Maharashtra Common Entrance Test | Common Admission Test |
Conducting Body | Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell | Indian Institute of Management |
| Level of Examination | State Level | National Level |
Application Mode | Online mode | Online mode |
Total Applications | Approx. 75,000 to 1 Lakh | Approx. over 2 Lakh |
Reserved Category Exam Fee | ₹800 | ₹950 |
Unreserved Category Exam Fee | ₹1,000/- | ₹2,000 |
Total Exam Centres | 48 | 156 |
Exam Frequency | Once a year | Once a year |
Exam Mode | CBT (Computer Based Test) | CBT (Computer Based Test) |
| Exam slots | One slot, two days | Two-three slots, one day |
Exam Duration | 150 minutes | 120 minutes |
Number of Sections | 4 sections | 3 sections |
Type of Questions | MCQs | MCQs & Non-MCQs |
Total Questions | 200 questions | 66 questions |
Total Marks | 200 marks | 198 marks |
| Number of Test Cities | 48 | 156 |
Also Read: GMAT vs CAT Differences: Which is Better?
What are Some other Differences Between MAH CET and CAT?
Provided below are a few more differences between MAH CET and CAT. Go through them to get a better idea of both the exams.
Eligibility Criteria of MAH CET and CAT
The eligibility criteria are the same for both MAH CET and CAT. Enlisted below are a few pointers explaining the same:
To sit for this exam, it is crucial to have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognised institute/ university.
The minimum aggregate marks required in the qualifying exam is 50%.
5% relaxation is offered to reserved category candidates.
Final year students are also free to apply, provided that they produce required documents at the time of admission.
MAH CET Syllabus vs CAT Syllabus
CAT exam has all the sections just like MAH CET including sections such as Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Quantitative Aptitude, However, an Abstract Reasoning section is additional in the MAH CET.
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The detailed study of the MAH CET and CAT Syllabus is given below:
MAH CET vs CAT: Exam Pattern
Here is the section-wise weightage for MAH CET and CAT.
Features | MAH CET MBA | CAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Sections | 4 sections | 3 sections | ||
Sections |
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Types of Questions | MCQ and non-MCQ | MCQ and non-MCQ | ||
Total number of questions | 200 questions | 66 questions | ||
Section-wise number of questions | LR | 75 questions | VARC | 24 questions |
AR | 25 questions | DILR | 20 questions | |
QA | 50 questions | QA | 22 questions | |
VARC | 50 questions | - | - | |
| Sectional Time Limit | No | Yes, 40 minutes per section | ||
Marking Scheme |
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Total marks | 200 marks | 198 marks | ||
Click on the links below to get more information about the exam pattern of MAH CET and CAT.
Marking Scheme of MAH CET vs CAT
Check the table below for the most recent MAH CET and CAT exam patterns:| Particulars | MAH CET | CAT |
Marks Per Correct Attempt | +1 | +3 |
Negative Marking | No | Yes |
Marks per Incorrect Attempt | 0 | -1 |
Marks per Unattempted Question | 0 | 0 |
Exam Duration of MAH CET vs CAT
The duration of the MAH CET exam is 150 minutes, without any break in between. Additionally, there is no time restriction for attempting any particular section.On the other hand, the duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes. There is also a sectional time limit for CAT. Candidates are required to complete their exam within the allotted time, which is 40 minutes for each section.
Difficulty Level of MAH CET vs CAT
It is often asked if the CAT is more difficult than MAH CET. CAT is considered to be more challenging than MAH CET in terms of difficulty. The competitiveness for admission is greater for the CAT exam than the MAH CET because it is administered at the national level. The cutoff for the CAT exam is on the higher side, and obtaining a passing score is difficult. Every year, about 2 lakh individuals register for the CAT exam.
In contrast, the MAH CET test is administered at the state level and between 75,000 and 1 lakh people register for it. Because of this, the cutoff is lower than CAT and it is easier to qualify.
Exam fees for MAH CET vs. CAT
MAH CET: The exam fee is INR 1,000 for students in the General Category and INR 800 for students in the Reserved Category.
CAT: The fee for the CAT exam is INR 2,200 for students in the General Category and INR 1,100 for students in the Reserved Category.
Counselling Process of MAH CET vs CAT
MAH CET and CAT have totally different processes of counselling.
MAH CET: After passing the MBA CET, candidates must take part in a common counselling session in order to be assigned a seat in one of the MBA programmes provided by many B-Schools of Maharashtra.
CAT: There isn't a standard counselling procedure for all universities that accept CAT. To shortlist candidates for MBA admission, the IIMs hold Personal Interviews (PI) and Written Ability Tests (WAT). There are separate counselling processes for different CAT participating institutes.
Participating Institutes of MAH CET vs CAT
CAT is a national level entrance examination while MAH CET is a state-level exam which implies that the scores of CAT are accepted by top universities from all over the nation and MAH CET scores are accepted by premier colleges situated in the state of Maharashtra.
Also Read: CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT & Other MBA Entrance Exam
MAH CET Vs CAT: Detailed Analysis
Given below are a few links related to MAH CET and CAT. Click on them to get a detailed analysis of both the exams. You can compare and contrast the two as per your requirements.
MAH CET | CAT |
MAH CET and CAT are two different kinds of MBA exams that open up the door to top management institutes. It solely depends on the requirement of the candidates to choose either of the two. One offers admission in the state of Maharashtra while the other one can provide you admission in any desired state of India.
To weigh your options and explore top MAH CET and CAT colleges, just dial the toll-free helpline number 1800-572-9877 or fill-up the Common Application Form. Our admission experts will be glad to resolve your queries. You can also drop your questions in the QnA zone.
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