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When deciding between TANCET and CAT, it’s essential to understand which exam better fits your educational and career goals. TANCET, the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test, focuses on admission to postgraduate programs within Tamil Nadu, while CAT, the Common Admission Test, is nationally recognised and opens doors to prestigious management programs across India, which includes the IIMs. The choice between TANCET and CAT often boils down to whether you prefer local opportunities or desire to join top-tier institutions on a national scale. Understanding the differences in scope, eligibility criteria, career prospects and answer key can help you determine which exam aligns better with your dreams. Continue reading below to learn more about TANCET vs CAT.
Table of Contents
Also Read: TANCET Marks vs Percentile: Analysis, Score Evaluation, Pattern
Differences Between TANCET vs CAT
Understanding these differences can help students make informed decisions about which exam aligns best with their academic and career goals.
| Particulars | TANCET | CAT |
| Exam name | TANCET | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | Anna University | IIM Calcutta (tentative) |
| Exam Level | State-level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Offline | Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours | |
| Exam Syllabus | Business Analysis, Quantitative Aptitude, Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability, Data Sufficiency and General English | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Exam Pattern | MCQ | MCQ |
| Exam Medium | English | English |
| Exam Fees | INR 1,000 for unreserved categories, INR 500 for reserved categories (belonging to Tamil Nadu) | INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category) |
| Exam Purpose | Admission into SRMIST, HICAS, PSG Institute and, 200+ MBA colleges in Tamil Nadu, 250+ MCA colleges in Tamil Nadu, 340+ MTech colleges in Tamil Nadu | Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Course offered | MBA and MCAMTech, ME, MArch, and MPlan to be conducted based on CEETA PG | MBA/PGDM |
| No. of Test Cities | 14 | 150 |
| Exam Dates | March 9, 2024 (for MBA and MCA) | November 24, 2024 (tentative) |
| Official website | https://tancet.annauniv.edu/tancet/ | https://iimcat.ac.in |
Also Read: TANCET Exam Analysis: Number of Good Attempts, Section Wise Analysis (2023, 2022, 2021)
TANCET vs CAT: Eligibility Criteria
TANCET & CAT exams, though different in scope, both aim to select the best candidates for higher education, each with its unique pathway and criteria.
| TANCET | CAT |
| Candidate with a bachelor’s degree and an average of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) is eligible to take the exam. | To take the CAT 2024 exam, candidates need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories). |
| Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in BCA, B.Sc in IT, CSE, or a similar field that took at least three years to complete. | A bachelor’s degree can be earned through regular classes or distance learning, and it typically takes three years to complete. |
| Candidates with a three-year bachelor’s degree in any field not mentioned here, who have studied Mathematics in high school or during their degree, are also eligible. | Candidates who have finished a professional degree like CA, CS, ICWA, or FCAI with the needed percentage can also take the CAT exam. |
| Candidates need to have at least 50% marks in their qualifying exam. For those in reserved categories, the requirement is 45%. | Students in their final year of bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or those waiting for their results, can also take the CAT 2024 exam. |
| Candidates need to have completed a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, scoring at least 50% (45% for candidates from reserved categories). | To appear in the CAT exam, you need to have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, regardless of your field of study. |
| Candidates who have completed a Master’s degree programme in the relevant branch of Science / Arts are also eligible. | – |
Also Read: Changes in CAT Exam Pattern Since Past 5 Years
TANCET vs CAT: Syllabus
Both exams aim to evaluate candidates’ analytical and problem-solving abilities, but their syllabi remember the specific requirements of their respective academic programs and institutions. Refer to the below table for brief knowledge:
| TANCET | CAT |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
| Data Interpretation | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
| Reading Comprehension | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
| General English | – |
| Business Situations Analysis | – |
Also Read: TANCET Rank List: Download Rank List, Dates, How to Download Rank List
TANCET vs CAT: Exam Pattern and Scoring
The below differences help students to understand to prepare effectively for their chosen career paths in management and related fields.
| Particular | TANCET | CAT |
| Number of Sections | Five (5) sections, namely,- Business Situations- Quantitative Ability- Reading Comprehension- Data Sufficiency- English Usage | – |
| Mode of Exam | Offline | Computer Based Test |
| Duration of Exam | 2 Hours | 120 minutes, 40 minutes per section |
| Number of Exam Shifts | – | 3 |
| Total Number of Questions | – | 66 |
| Marking Scheme for CMAT | 1/3 marks for each incorrect response | – |
| Language of exam | English, and Tamil | English |
Also Read: TANCET Exam: Dates, Important Events & More
TANCET vs CAT: Preparation Books
While both exams require dedicated preparation, selecting the appropriate books tailored to their respective syllabi can enhance understanding and readiness for these challenging tests.
| TANCET | CAT |
| Class IX and X books (NCERT) | How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma |
| Magical Book on Quicker Maths By M Tyra | Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma |
| Multi-Dimensional Reasoning By Mishra & Kumar Dr. Lal | Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
| Word Power Made Easy By Norman Lewis | Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha |
| Popular Master Guide MCA Entrance examination By R Gupta | A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal |
Also Read: Best Books For TANCET Exam Preparation
TANCET vs CAT: Answer Key
In contrast, CAT’s answer key, released by the conducting IIM or its agency, covers a broader range of topics relevant to management education across India. Both answer keys serve as crucial tools for candidates to gauge their performance and anticipate results, each tailored to the respective exam’s scope and syllabus.
| TANCET | CAT |
| Candidates can download the TANCET MBA answer keys from the official exam website. (tancet.annauniv.edu) | Visit the official website of CAT 2024 (iimcat.ac.in) |
| To access the keys, | Click on the ‘login’ tab |
| Candidates need to log in | Enter CAT login ID and password |
| Using their email ID and password. | Click on ‘CAT 2024 answer key’ will appear on the screen |
| Candidates can use these answer keys to evaluate their performance in the TANCET 2024 exam. | Click on the ‘download’ icon to save it as a PDF |
Also Read: CAT Syllabus: Subject-Wise List, Important Topics, Preparation Tips
MBA Colleges Accepting TANCET & CAT Scores
Whether aspiring for regional opportunities through TANCET or broader national options via CAT, understanding which scores are accepted by which colleges helps aspiring MBA candidates chart their academic and career paths effectively.
| TANCET | CAT |
| Anna University | IIFT Delhi |
| PSGCT Coimbatore | SPJIMR, Mumbai |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur | IMT, Ghaziabad |
| PSG Institute of Management | MDI, Gurgaon |
| Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy (BIM, Trichy) | IIT Bombay-SJMSOM |
| University of Madras | IMI-Kolkata |
| College of Engineering, Anna University | Institute of Management, Nirma University |
| Kumaraguru College of Technology | ITM-University |
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FAQs
GMAT stands out as a globally recognized management entrance exam administered by the GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council). It acts as a widely accepted alternative to CAT for MBA admissions. GMAT scores are identified by IIMs for their one-year MBA programs.
Yes, achieving high scores in the TANCET exam to meet the cutoff is quite possible with active effort. Success primarily hinges on hard work. The relief or difficulty of any exam depends largely on one’s overall preparation.
The difficulty level of both the CAT and GMAT exams is high. Nonetheless, GMAT is considered easier than CAT as it has a predefined syllabus, unlike CAT. Also, in GMAT candidates can make multiple attempts.
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