Last updated: October 12, 2026 | Data checked against ETS and the CAT 2026 notification
Picking between CAT and GRE feels like a big decision because it is one. The two exams look similar on the surface: both are computer-based, both test quant and verbal skills, and both help you get a master’s degree. But they open different doors, and preparing for the wrong one can cost you months.
In this CAT vs GRE guide, you’ll see exactly how the two exams differ in pattern, difficulty, fees, scoring and acceptance. By the end, you’ll know which one fits your goal.
A quick timing note: CAT 2026 is on November 29, 2026, and registration has already closed. If you missed it, the GRE is available year-round, so your options are open. Details are below.
CAT vs GRE: The Short Answer
| Your goal | Better exam |
|---|---|
| Flagship MBA at an IIM or top Indian B-school | CAT |
| MS or master’s abroad (engineering, data, sciences) | GRE |
| MBA at a business school abroad | GRE or GMAT |
| ISB or an IIM one-year/executive programme | GRE (programme-specific) |
| Still deciding between India and abroad | Start with your timeline, then see the plan below |
They are not substitutes. The GRE will not get Indian candidates into the flagship two-year IIM programme, and the CAT will rarely help you abroad.
CAT vs GRE at a Glance
| Feature | CAT | GRE General Test |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | IIMs (IIM Indore for 2026) | ETS |
| Main purpose | MBA/PGDM in India | Master’s, MBA and PhD programmes worldwide |
| Mode | Computer-based, fixed test centres | Test centre or at home |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA | Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning |
| Questions | 68 | 54 plus 1 essay task |
| Test style | Same paper for all candidates in a slot | Adaptive by section |
| Negative marking | Yes for MCQs (-1) | No |
| Attempts | Once a year | Every 21 days, up to 5 times in 12 months |
| Score type | Percentile | Scaled score (130-170 per section) |
| Score validity | One admission cycle | 5 years |
| Availability | One day a year | Every day, year-round |
| Approx. fee | ₹2,700 (General) | $249 (about ₹25,500 in India) |
CAT vs GRE Exam Pattern: Section-wise Comparison
GRE General Test pattern
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 essay task | 30 min |
| Verbal Reasoning (2 sections) | 27 | 41 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections) | 27 | 47 min |
| Total | 54 + 1 task | 1 hr 58 min |
The GRE has no negative marking, and it is section-level adaptive: how you do in your first Verbal or Quant section affects the difficulty of the second.
CAT 2026 pattern
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 min |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 min |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 120 min |
You get +3 for a correct MCQ and -1 for a wrong one. TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions carry no negative marking, and you cannot move between sections.
The biggest pattern differences
- CAT has DILR, GRE does not. Data interpretation and logical reasoning sets are a CAT specialty.
- GRE has an essay, CAT does not. Analytical Writing tests how well you build and support an argument in writing.
- GRE rewards vocabulary. Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence push you to know words in context.
- CAT rewards question selection. Because of the negative marking and sectional time limits, choosing which questions to attempt matters as much as solving them.
CAT vs GRE Syllabus: What Overlaps and What Doesn’t
| Area | CAT | GRE | Overlap? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quant | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, modern maths | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis | High |
| Reading comprehension | Long passages, inference-based | Passages of varied length, including selection-based questions | Medium |
| Vocabulary | Tested indirectly | Tested directly in context | Low |
| Para jumbles, summary, odd one out | Yes | No | None |
| Logical reasoning and data sets | Yes (DILR) | Limited data interpretation inside Quant | Low |
| Essay writing | No | Yes (Analytical Writing) | None |
So if you’re preparing for CAT, the overlap with GRE Quant and RC is real, but GRE vocabulary and essay writing still need separate effort.
Also Read: CAT Syllabus 2026: Section‑Wise Topics, Pattern & Marking
CAT vs GRE Difficulty: Which Is Tougher?
There’s no single answer, because the two exams are hard in different ways.
- CAT is tougher on quant and competition. The maths is more demanding, the time per question is tight, and lakhs of candidates compete for limited seats at top institutes.
- GRE is tougher on vocabulary and English nuance. Many Indian candidates find the verbal section harder than GRE maths.
- Different pressure. CAT is one shot a year, and a bad day costs you the cycle. GRE gives you up to five attempts a year and lets you send only your best scores with ScoreSelect.
In short, CAT is harder to win, while GRE is easier to retry.
CAT vs GRE Scoring and Score Validity
| Feature | CAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Score format | Percentile, with sectional percentiles | Verbal 130-170, Quant 130-170, Writing 0-6 |
| What counts | Your rank among that year’s candidates | Your scaled score |
| Validity | One admission cycle | 5 years |
| Best score selection | Not applicable | ScoreSelect lets you send only your best |
| Cut-offs | Set by each IIM and B-school | Set by each programme |
There is no official conversion between a CAT percentile and a GRE score. They measure different things and serve different admission processes, so don’t trust any chart that claims a direct equivalence.
CAT vs GRE Fees
| Item | CAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | ₹2,700 (General/EWS/NC-OBC), ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwD) | $249 worldwide |
| Approx. rupee cost | ₹2,700 | About ₹25,500* |
| Score reports | Added separately per programme | Includes up to 4 programmes |
| Retake cost | Next year’s full fee | Full fee for every attempt |
*ETS lists $249. Rupee amounts on India fee pages differ slightly with exchange rates and taxes, so confirm the exact total at checkout.
The exam fee is only part of the budget. A GRE route usually also means application fees, a passport, and the cost of the programme abroad, so plan the full journey before you commit.
Which Colleges Accept CAT and GRE?
CAT: IIMs and Indian B-schools
CAT is the gateway to all 21 IIMs and more than a thousand affiliated B-schools in India. If your aim is an IIM, FMS or a similar flagship programme, CAT is non-negotiable.
GRE: global programmes
ETS says GRE scores are accepted by 20,000+ graduate, business and law programmes, including 1,300+ MBA programmes worldwide. That makes it the practical choice for an MS or MBA abroad.
Can you get into an IIM with a GRE score?
For the flagship two-year MBA at the top IIMs, Indian candidates are admitted through CAT, not GRE. The GRE works for some one-year and executive programmes and a few other schools. Programme policies change, so confirm on each institute’s admissions page before you plan around them.
| Indian institute | Programme usually mentioned as accepting GRE |
|---|---|
| ISB | PGP (flagship one-year programme) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | PGPX (one-year, work experience required) |
| IIM Bangalore | ePGP |
| IIM Kozhikode | PGP-BL |
| IIM Lucknow | IPMX |
| BITSoM | Two-year full-time MBA |
Reported by multiple admissions sources. Programme-specific and subject to change, so verify for your intake year. Some institutes are reported to accept only test-centre GRE scores, not at-home scores.
And CAT abroad?
CAT is designed for Indian B-schools. Recognition outside India is very limited, so don’t plan an overseas application around a CAT score.
CAT or GRE: How to Choose
If you want an IIM MBA, take the CAT
It’s the only route to the flagship programmes at the IIMs. With CAT 2026 on November 29, look at the MBA exam dates calendar to plan your fallback exams.
If you want an MS abroad, take the GRE
Most US, Canadian, German and other master’s programmes in technical and science fields ask for GRE scores, and the GRE is accepted across many disciplines.
If you want an MBA abroad, take GRE or GMAT
Most business schools accept the GRE, and ETS reports 1,300+ MBA programmes among them. Check each target school’s preference before booking.
If you’re undecided, think in terms of timeline
- CAT is a one-day-a-year exam. Missing the window means waiting twelve months.
- GRE is flexible. You can take it year-round and your score lasts five years, so it’s a good “keep the door open” option.
- If you’re mid-way through CAT preparation, finish that cycle first, and then use the GRE as a second route if the results don’t match your target colleges.
Can You Prepare for CAT and GRE Together?
Yes, with some care:
- Shared ground: quant fundamentals and reading comprehension carry over.
- Extra work for GRE: vocabulary in context, the essay, and the adaptive format.
- Extra work for CAT: DILR sets, para-based verbal questions, and sectional time management.
If the CAT is close, focus on CAT first. Splitting attention in the final weeks usually hurts both scores.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Between CAT and GRE
- Assuming GRE can replace CAT for IIMs. It cannot for the flagship two-year programme.
- Trusting old fee figures. The GRE fee is $249 now, not $220.
- Skipping the college list. Check the exam requirement of your target programmes before you pay.
- Ignoring the timeline. CAT has one date a year, while GRE needs a bit of planning around application deadlines.
- Expecting a score conversion. CAT percentile and GRE scores can’t be compared one-to-one.
How to Start Preparing
For CAT: practise with CATMOCK’s free mock tests, solve previous year papers and build a rhythm with daily practice.
For GRE: the official free POWERPREP practice tests from ETS are the best way to learn the real interface and question style..
Summary: CAT vs GRE
- CAT is for Indian MBA admissions, mainly IIMs and top B-schools. It’s held once a year (Nov 29, 2026) and has a 120-minute, 68-question pattern with negative marking.
- GRE is for master’s, MBA and other graduate programmes worldwide. It’s held year-round, takes 1 hour 58 minutes and has no negative marking.
- Fees: CAT is ₹2,700 (General); GRE is $249 per attempt (about ₹25,500).
- Validity: CAT scores serve one admission cycle, while GRE scores last 5 years.
- Attempts: CAT once a year; GRE every 21 days, up to 5 times in 12 months.
- IIMs and GRE: the flagship two-year IIM MBA needs CAT. GRE helps for ISB and selected one-year or executive programmes.
- Choice rule: pick CAT for an Indian MBA, and GRE for study abroad.
Also Read: CAT vs IBSAT vs MICAT 2026: Pattern, Dates & Difficulty
FAQs: CAT vs GRE
Q1. Which is better, CAT or GRE?
Neither is better overall. CAT is better if you want an MBA at an IIM or top Indian B-school, and GRE is better for master’s or MBA programmes abroad.
Q2. Is GRE easier than CAT?
Most candidates find GRE quant less demanding than CAT quant, but GRE vocabulary and verbal can be tougher. CAT is harder to win because of the competition and negative marking, while GRE is easier to retry.
Q3. Can I get into an IIM with a GRE score?
Not for the flagship two-year MBA, which requires CAT for Indian candidates. Some IIMs accept GRE for one-year or executive programmes, so check each programme’s current admission policy.
Q4. Is GRE accepted for MBA in India?
Yes, by some institutes. ISB, IIM one-year and executive programmes such as PGPX, and BITSoM are among those usually mentioned. Policies are programme-specific.
Q5. Can I take both CAT and GRE?
Yes. Many aspirants take CAT for India and GRE as a second route. Prepare for the exam closest to your deadline first.
Q6. How many times can I attempt CAT and GRE?
CAT is conducted once a year. GRE can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times in any 12-month period.
Q7. How long are CAT and GRE scores valid?
CAT scores apply to the current admission cycle, while ETS keeps GRE scores valid for five years.
Q8. How much does the GRE cost compared to CAT?
CAT costs ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD. The GRE costs $249, roughly ₹25,500, including score reports to up to four programmes.
Q9. Which exam is better for an MBA abroad?
GRE (or GMAT). ETS reports 1,300+ MBA programmes accept the GRE, while CAT has very limited recognition outside India.
Conclusion
Choosing between CAT and GRE depends on your career goals and the colleges you want to target. CAT is the right choice for admission to IIMs and other leading Indian B-schools, while GRE offers opportunities for master’s and MBA programmes abroad. Before registering, check the admission requirements, exam fees and deadlines of your preferred colleges. If you are planning to take both exams, focus on the one that aligns with your immediate admission goals. Choose the right exam, plan your preparation strategically and take the next step towards your dream MBA or master’s programme.
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