Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
Six Reasons Why You should target CAT before CET are:
1. More competition for CAT compared to CET
Approximately 2 lakh students/applicants appear for the CAT per year, while nearly 1 lakh students appear for CET as this examination has gained more popularity over the past few years, One faces intense competition that appears in these examinations. Attempting the CAT before trying the CET gives you the advantage, since one faces intense competition, and is thus familiar with the extreme competition that has taken place which helps in getting mentally prepared for competition in CET.
Also Read- Learn from CAT Toppers and complete your IIM dream
2. Chances of making to top college through CAT are comparatively easy than through CET
According to the analysis, to seek admission to renowned and renowned institutes that accept CAT scores such as IIMs and SP Jain, one must score 4/10 (assuming a total of 10), while to seek admission to one of the best institutes that accepts CET scores such as JBIMS, one must score 9.5/10 (assuming a total of 10). CAT enables students to focus on IIMs. It is always advisable to do MBA in IIM.
3. Pay package is higher in the colleges through CAT than in CET
CAT college acceptance scores offer a maximum of Rs.30 Lakhs per year and a minimum of Rs.10-15 Lakhs per year, while CET college acceptance scores offer a maximum of Rs.17.5 Lakhs per year and a minimum of Rs.8 Lakhs per year. In addition to the written test, students taking part in these exams should also be prepared for the GDPI/WAT Session. One needs to be up-to-date with all the latest issues that will help them move ahead in these schools. Also, there are a few CET colleges that deliver a high package although there are a large number of colleges via CAT that deliver a high package.
4. CAT has fewer questions & more time whereas CET it’s less time & more questions
In the CAT exam, there are 100 questions weighing 300 marks & the time frame is 180 minutes the exam is divided into 3 sections, whereas In the CET exam, there are 200 questions covering vast sections & a time frame is 150 minutes with no sectional limits. That means you're going to have less than a minute to answer a question in CET. Having sectional limits will help you structure your paper well. While sectional time limits often put pressure on students as well. Since CAT has a sectional cut-off, you must do well in all three parts. But this is not the case with CET, so you can disregard your weak section and concentrate on a strong section to improve your ranking. With the help of the CAT students can solve the paper in the given time.
5. To top CAT you require less number of right answers required
In the CAT exam, asking 40 right questions leads the applicant to hit 97% ile, you have to answer fewer questions in more time, while in the CET test, you have to ask 150 right questions to get 99.99% where you have to solve a large number of questions in a relatively short period. The CET cut-off for JBIMS is 99.87%ile approximately for the Maharashtra based Students and 99.99%ile for All India Students.
Also Read: How to increase accuracy in CAT
6. Always better to target CAT than CET
CAT, is the first exam of all the management exams; if you prepare well for CAT you have better chances of doing well for the other exams as well. There are tons of exams post CAT viz NMAT, SNAP, MICA, and CET being the last if you fail you will have to wait till next year. Also, Colleges accepting CAT scores are more than the colleges accepting CET. So, targeting CAT first will broaden your choices of colleges.
Some More Info on CAT & CET:
Both CAT and CET are management entrance exams; that test the skills of the students on the basis of which they will select in MBA Colleges. Although these 2 exams help students to get into colleges; they have a vast difference in the pattern and colleges that accept their scores.
CAT:
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most popular national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIMs.
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Key Highlights
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Accepted by IIMs and top private B-schools
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Highly competitive (2–3 lakh applicants)
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Exam sections:
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VARC
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DILR
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Quantitative Aptitude
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Top Colleges Through CAT
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IIMs
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FMS Delhi
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SPJIMR Mumbai
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MDI Gurgaon
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IIT MBA programs
MBA-CET:
MAH MBA CET is a state-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell. It is mainly for admission into MBA/MMS colleges in Maharashtra.
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Key Highlights
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Easier than CAT
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High chances of admission with good percentile
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Computer-based test with 200 questions
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Sections include:
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Logical Reasoning
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Abstract Reasoning
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Quantitative Aptitude
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Verbal Ability
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Difference between the CAT & CET exams:
It is important and necessary to understand the difference between the two tests.
Take a look at the table below for syllabus and pattern of MBA CET and CAT. The table reflects highlights of latest exam patterns of MAH CET and CAT.
|
Features |
MAH CET MBA |
CAT |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Syllabus |
|
|
||
|
Question Type |
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 |
- |
- |
|
|
Marking Scheme |
|
|
||
|
Total marks |
200 marks |
198 marks |
||
|
Exam mode |
Computer Based Test |
Computer Based Test |
||
|
Exam slots |
One slot, two days |
Two-three slots, one day |
||
|
Exam duration |
150 minutes |
120 minutes |
||
|
Number of test cities |
48 |
156 |
||
Detailed comparison
1. Scope & Colleges
CAT is a national entrance exam primarily used for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and many top private and public B‑schools across India. Clearing CAT is the common route to the highest ranked MBA programs in the country.
MAH MBA CET (MAH‑CET) is a state‑level test conducted for admissions to management programs in Maharashtra (MBA/MMS). If your goal is colleges located in Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, etc.), MAH‑CET is often the primary pathway.
2. Exam pattern & marking
CAT: Sectional structure (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability). CAT typically uses a mix of MCQs and TITA (type in the answer) questions, and applies negative marking for wrong MCQs. The test rewards conceptual depth, accuracy and sectional strategies.
MAH‑CET: Larger question count (around 200 objective questions) across four sections (Logical, Abstract, Quant, Verbal & RC). It is timed for speed and accuracy but does not penalize wrong answers — which changes strategy substantially compared to CAT.
| College | Exam | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| IIMs | CAT | 95–99+ |
| JBIMS | MH CET | 99.9+ |
| SIMSREE | MH CET | 99.5+ |
| Welingkar | MH CET | 98+ |
3. Difficulty & Competition
CAT is widely regarded as tougher: questions are often conceptually complex, and the competition pool (aspirants aiming for top IIMs) makes relative performance extremely important.
MAH‑CET is comparatively moderate in difficulty but tests how quickly you can attempt a large number of questions accurately. Many students find MAH‑CET manageable with disciplined speed practice.
| Factors | CAT | MH CET |
|---|---|---|
| Level | National | State |
| Difficulty | High | Moderate |
| Competition | Very High | Moderate |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Questions | 66 | 200 |
| Negative Marking | Yes | No |
4. Preparation strategy differences
For CAT: Emphasize conceptual clarity, practice sectional mocks, timed full‑length tests, DI sets, strong reading habit for RCs, and accuracy under pressure.
For MAH‑CET: Focus on speed drills, quantity practice (to handle 200 questions), consistent daily mock practice and error analysis. Since there is no negative marking, calculated guessing (on educated options) is less risky but still should be minimized.
Conclusion:
Both exams offer great career opportunities. CAT is ideal for students targeting top national institutes, while MH CET is a smart choice for those looking for affordable MBA options with strong ROI in Maharashtra.
If possible, preparing for both exams increases your chances of getting into a top MBA college.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
1. Which exam is easier, CAT or MH CET?
MH CET is generally easier than CAT as it has no negative marking and focuses more on logical reasoning. CAT is more competitive and concept-heavy.
2. Can I get JBIMS through CAT?
Yes, JBIMS accepts CAT scores for All India seats. However, most seats are filled through MH CET for Maharashtra candidates.
3. Is MH CET good for MBA?
Yes, MH CET offers admission to top institutes like JBIMS, SIMSREE and PUMBA, which provide strong placements and excellent return on investment.
4. What percentile is required for top MH CET colleges?
To get JBIMS, candidates usually need 99.9+ percentile. For SIMSREE and PUMBA, a score above 99 percentile is considered competitive.
5. Should I prepare for both CAT and MH CET?
Yes, the syllabus overlaps significantly. Preparing for both exams increases your chances of securing admission in a top MBA college.
6. Which exam has better ROI?
MH CET offers better ROI due to low fees in government colleges, while CAT colleges provide higher salary packages but at higher costs.
7. Is there negative marking in MH CET?
No, MH CET does not have negative marking, allowing students to attempt all questions without risk.
8. Can non-Maharashtra students apply for MH CET?
Yes, All India candidates can apply and get admission through CAT or other national exam scores in participating colleges.
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