CAT 2016 Vs CMAT 2017 : Difference in Syllabus; Exam Pattern ; How to Prepare; Last dates; Colleges accepting exam

CMAT 2017 on January 28, 2017 offers you dual opportunity of pursuing your dream of doing MBA from a good B-school and less stressed preparation plan as compared to CAT 2016. In fact the CMAT 2017 syllabus is not as tough as that of CAT 2016 and for those who are preparing for CAT 2016 exam, covering the CMAT 2017 syllabus could prove to be a cake walk, except that they need to prepare the General Awareness part separately.

While number of institutes accepting CAT 2016 scores will also accept CMAT 2017 scores and will wait to announce their shortlist for PI round till the CMAT 2017 result is out after the result of CAT 2016 is declared, they will award due weightage to CMAT 2017 scores nearly comparable to CAT 2016 scores.

CMAT is now a yearly event like CAT. CMAT 2017 to be held on January 28, will be the first and last CMAT of the calendar year 2017. The scores of CMAT 2017 January exam will remain valid for the academic session 2017-18. The CMAT 2017 aspirants from now on will see a changed CMAT on the pattern of CAT 2016 and will not have the opportunity to improve their scores in next exam as was available when 2 half yearly CMAT exams were conducted by AICTE in one academic year.

CMAT offers good admission opportunity: No fear like CAT
While registration and application process for CAT 2016 and thereby to IIMs stands closed, it is open for CMAT 2017 aspirants. CMAT 2017 offers equally good opportunities for MBA aspirants who despite scoring 97 or 99 percentile in CAT don’t get shortlisted by any of the 20 IIMs because of dip and deviation in their sectional percentile scores.

Thirteen states have been accepting CMAT scores as the only gateway to MBA admissions under the government quota, instead of the State-administered Post graduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET). The states which are going to accept CMAT 2017 scores are: Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Top B-schools accepting CMAT 2017 & CAT 2016 scores
There is no doubt that CAT 2016 leads in number of B-schools who accept its scores for 1st stage shortlisting. But CMAT 2017 will also be accepted by majority of the top B-schools, except IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR among others.

In fact number of highly ranked B-schools like JBIMS, SIMSR, GIM, Great Lakes who will accept CAT 2016 scores will also accept CMAT 2017 scores. All the colleges under CMAT 2017 are those who run AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes. No College under CMAT 2017 has been included who does not have AICTE approval or does not run AICTE approved management programme.

Accordingly all the candidates registering and appearing for CMAT 2017 will get admission only in AICTE approved management programmes as per the eligibility criteria and score requirement of the individual B-school.

CMAT 2017 scores are accepted across the country by many highly ranked management institutes. Even the institutes who accept their specific state test scores also accept CMAT scores. A few of the top rated colleges who accept CAT and CMAT are

• JBIMS Mumbai;
• K J Somaiya, Mumbai;
• BIMTECH Greater Noida (specialized programmes);
• GIM Goa;
• Great Lakes institute of Management, Chennai;
• IFIM, Bangalore

 Read more http://www.mbauniverse.com/cmat.php

440 Maharashtra Colleges under CMAT 2017
Admission opportunity can be explored with CMAT 2017 scores in almost all the 440 Maharashtra B-schools participating in Centralized Admission Process round 2017 to be conducted by DTE Maharashtra in the month of May-June 2017.

The list of Maharashtra state colleges accepting CMAT 2017 scores includes JBIMS, SIMSREE, DSIMS, N L Dalmiya, PUMBA, Dr D.Y. Patil, FLAME University, ASM among other 440 management institutes. Read the list of colleges under CMAT 2017   http://www.mbauniverse.com/cmat.php

CMAT 2017 Vs CAT 2016: Exam Pattern
Both the exams are quite similar to each other in their format and pattern. Key points of similarity are -

• CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 are both computer based tests (CBT) and have same time duration with equal number of 100 questions.
• Total exam duration for CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 is same with 3 hours.
• CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 both have negative marking
• All sections in CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 have equal weightage and scores of every section are considered to arrive at your scaled and percentile scores
• The 3 sections of CAT 2016 and CMAT 2017 are more or less same except that GK section in CMAT 2017 is an added section

CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 exam pattern and their sectional division can be understood by going through the tables below –

CMAT 2017: Exam on January 28, 2017 Read more about CMAT 2017 http://www.mbauniverse.com/cmat.php  

CAT 2016: Exam on December 4, 2016   

Last date to apply
Registration and application process for CAT 2016 leading to 20 IIMs is over and was closed on September 27.

CMAT 2017 registration is still open and will close on December 10, 2016. Candidates appearing in CMAT 2017 need to apply separately to individual colleges according to their preferences.

CMAT 2017 Syllabus: easier approach than CAT
CMAT 2017 syllabus will need greater focus and concerted study schedule as the next opportunity to appear in CMAT will click in January 2018. With no scope to improve your score after CMAT 2017 in January for same academic session, you need to cover the entire syllabus, understand the exam pattern and have to score high to get admission in a good MBA/PGDM programme.

Although CMAT 2017 and CAT 2016 syllabus is on the same lines except the GK section that appears in CMAT only, the difference lies in the difficulty level of the questions that appear in the exam. While CAT prefers to place questions in twisted form on the same topics, the questions in CMAT are simpler and direct.

Following are the common test sections both in CAT 2016 and CMAT 2017

Language Comprehension in CMAT: VARC in CAT
What CAT 2016 includes in the syllabus of it 1st Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, CMAT defines it as Language Comprehension.

In both the exams it covers comprehensive English test which includes the questions on RC Passages, jumbled paragraphs, para summary among others.

CAT 2016 may not test you on English Grammar and vocabulary, but CMAT 2017 will place questions on these parts of English Language. Key topics from which you may expect questions in CMAT 2017  are - usage of Articles, Non-finites, dangling modifiers, Nouns, Pronouns (Especially relative Pronouns), adjectives, adverbs, prepositions –regular and followed, verbs, Syntax, Subject-verb Agreement, Simple, continuous, Perfect tenses and Conditional-unreal past.

Questions based on Vocabulary could be any of the following types. Inserting the correct pair of words to fill in the blanks -Two Blanks are given in a sentence followed by four options of pairs of words, correct option has to be picked out. Marking the correct choice of similar sounding and confusing words;  picking out the correct words left out in a paragraph;  Synonyms-Antonyms -Explaining the Words;  analogy words; one word substitution.

Jumbled Paragraphs – CMAT like CAT puts the candidate to test for the coherent and systematic understanding of ideas. The candidate is expected to arrange all the sentences in logical & sequential order. In another words it is the test of the student’s versatile reading, understanding of language, writing ability based on deep stock of vocabulary, grammar and correct use of tenses.

While solving them you should search for connectors to sentences e.g. conjunctions, personal ( He/she/it/they/their etc), relative (Who,whose, that,which etc.), Demonstrative (These, those, this, that etc.) pronouns as they indicate that they must have been used in place of some noun-proper/common etc. So find the link between the sentences.

A few paragraphs have time factors in it-indicating that the events mentioned for the earlier time should come first and could help you to put them in chronological order-

English comprehension passages – The RC passages in CMAT 2017 will be shorter and less difficult as compared to CAT 2016. But there is no fix rule on framing the questions based on Reading comprehension passage, which is followed by at least four-five questions each. Questions could be any of following types- ; Questions based on inference drawn; Questions based on the Central idea of the passage; Questions based on phrases, idioms; Questions based on expression in the passage.

Quantitative aptitude & Data interpretation
CAT 2016 conducted by IIMs has de-clubbed the Data Interpretation part from Quantitative Ability section and now Quant is a standalone section as DI has been clubbed to Logical Reasoning section in CAT 2016.

On the other hand, CMAT 2017 has continued keeping the Quant & DI parts together in single section with 25 questions. The biggest advantage of DI remaining with Quant is that you can very well switch between the 2 parts and maximize your score as per your better skills in Quant and DI.

Questions in this section are usually single and a few DI questions in CMAT may be based on sets as they appear in CAT. While topics like table and pie chart in data interpretation section will require basic calculation skills, the topics from which most of the questions appear in quant are arithmetic (ratios, mixtures, work, averages, profit & loss, basic statistics etc), number properties, probability and counting principles with one or two odd questions in geometry and derivatives (i.e. maxima –minima).

Logical  Reasoning: Single section in CMAT
Unlike CAT 2016 which will have Logical Reasoning clubbed to Data Interpretation with 32 questions in the section, CMAT 2017 will have Logical Reasoning as separate section with 25 questions.

The LR section in CMAT is easier than it is in CAT. The section in CMAT is a mix of the topics from arrangements like linear, seating, sequencing & arranging with conditions to coding. The other questions are based on statement-conclusion, logical puzzle, numerical puzzle, Venn Diagram, true/false statements, visual reasoning. The basic preparatory tip for LR is to attempt as many practice exercises as possible. They can be solved with basic human logical instincts.

GK: Unique to CMAT
CAT 2016 will not ask you any question on General Awareness in the written test. On the other hand CMAT 2017 will have full section with 25 questions on General Awareness. Not only this, the GK section in CMAT 2017 will account for equal weightage of 25% in the overall test to determine your merit position.

This is unique to CMAT exam as other exams like XAT, MAT do not take into consideration the General Awareness section in arriving at the percentile scores and merit position of the candidates at the 1st stage shortlisting.

GK section in CMAT 2017 can prove to be a percentile booster as its preparation needs only regular reading without any specific skill set on as required for Quant, DI, LR or VARC.

GK section may have questions from any topic under the Sun. But for the quick revision  purpose it can be divided in three parts and each part has to be given due weightage.  Conventional GK-available in books; Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals;  Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate, Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee.

Please remember current GK-whether Business, national and international has an on-going preparation method and thorough reading of the newspaper only can keep you updated.

CMAT 2017: Opportunity after CAT/XAT  
CMAT offers good opportunity for all those who remain dissatisfied with their CAT 2016 or XAT 2017 results as CMAT 2017 on January 28 will give a chance to improve their scores and get admission call from leading B schools.

CMAT 2017 scores will be accepted by more than 400 management institutes. You could get admission to any of the top rated B school, if you are able to score high in CMAT 2017. 

CMAT awards raw scores out of maximum 400 marks along with the percentile. If you can score anywhere from 175 to 275, you may get admission to one of the good management institutes.

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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on AICTE-CMAT 2017