SNAP vs CAT: Which is Tougher?

SNAP vs CAT: The SNAP and CAT MBA admission examinations are two of the top MBA entrance exams in India. The CAT exam is generally considered more challenging and competitive than SNAP, as it is a widely recognized entrance exam for prestigious IIMs and other top B-schools. On the other hand, SNAP is conducted only for admission into colleges of Symbiosis International University and is considered less challenging than CAT. While comparing the SNAP and CAT exams, it is imperative to consider a multifaceted approach that goes beyond mere difficulty levels. The perceived challenge of these assessments is all the more apparent due to factors like test content, formats, difficulty levels, and specific strengths and weaknesses.

It is an often posed question if SNAP or CAT is more difficult to clear and gain admission to good Indian colleges. The 16 SIU-associated colleges in India accept SNAP exam scores, whereas, the IIMs and several other B-Schools in India accept the CAT. In this article, we go over a few details on how the two of them differ in certain areas. Let's take a look at the detailed comparison between SNAP and CAT mentioned below!

SNAP vs CAT: Major Highlights

There are several differences between the SNAP and CAT exams in terms of exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme and other aspects. Let’s take a look at some of the major differences between the two entrance exams mentioned in the table below:

SNAP Exam Pattern vs CAT Exam Pattern

The first two important dimensions that need to be considered while differentiating between two exams are the exam pattern and syllabus. Both of them form the basis of any given exam. Here is the exam pattern for both CAT and SNAP:

SNAP vs CAT: Syllabus

The syllabus of both CAT and SNAP is more or less the same having Quant, Verbal Ability, and Data Interpretation and logical Reasoning. For CAT and SNAP, you need to study the following subjects:

Also Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting SNAP Scores

SNAP vs CAT: Selection Process

SNAP Exam

SNAP is a university entrance exam conducted by the Symbiosis International Deemed University for admission to various courses of study offered by its affiliated universities. The SNAP selection process is based on three stages:

• SNAP score
• Group Exercise (GE)
• Personal Interaction (PI)

CAT Exam

To qualify for an MBA course and other graduate management courses at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools like JBIMS, PUMBA, etc, the CAT score is the most important criterion. However, apart from that, one must also make sure to clear the rest of the rounds of the IIM CAP 2024 or the CAT selection process. The CAT selection process generally involves the following stages:

• CAT Score
• Written Ability Test
• Group Discussion/Personal Interview

Key Differences Between CAT and SNAP

Apart from the differences between the exam pattern, syllabus, and selection process of SNAP and CAT, the two fair different in other aspects as well. Given below is a list of differences we can see between the CAT and the SNAP examination:

SNAP vs CAT: Conducting Body

SNAP vs CAT: Difficulty Level

As previously said, CAT is more difficult than SNAP. This means that even if you have scored fairly well on the SNAP, achieving the same might not be possible on the CAT exam. SNAP assesses your ability to solve issues quickly and accurately rather than your technique for doing so (which is seen in CAT). 

SNAP vs CAT: Types of Questions

There's a lot of similarity between the CAT and SNAP syllabi. The SNAP exam, on the one hand, consists entirely of multiple-choice questions. CAT, on the other hand, includes both MCQs and non-MCQs. TITA-style questions are non-MCQs in which candidates must Type In The Answer (TITA). The questions in the MCQ category account for 80% of CAT types, with only 20% TITA-type questions.

SNAP vs CAT: Marking Scheme

One point is awarded for each right answer in the SNAP question, but three points are awarded for a proper answer in the CAT question. For every wrong response in the CAT, one mark is deducted. However, in SNAP, there is a negative grading of -0.25 for any question answered incorrectly.

SNAP vs CAT: Application Fees

The application fee for SNAP registration for most candidates is INR 2250 whereas the application fee for the CAT exam is  INR 2400 For General and NC-OBC candidates and for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, it is INR 1200.

SNAP vs CAT: Duration of Exam

The duration of the SNAP Exam is 60 minutes and In the SNAP Exam there is no sectional time limit whereas The duration of the CAT 2024 is 120 minutes and there is a sectional limit i.e. 40 minutes is allotted to each section.

SNAP vs CAT: Acceptance by B schools

When it comes to acceptance by B-schools, CAT wins the race. While SNAP is only accepted by 16 Symbiosis Institutes, CAT scores are accepted not only by IIMs but also by every other management school across India.

SNAP vs CAT: Preparation

The methods of preparation used by candidates when preparing for either of these exams are very different even though the syllabus for both these exams have a certain degree of similarity. Since the marking scheme of these exams has a big difference, candidates have to adjust their approach based on which exam they are appearing for, SNAP or CAT. Candidates can take a look at the preparation techniques for each section of SNAP and CAT mentioned below:

SNAP Exam Preparation

Take a look at the preparation and exam tips for each section of the SNAP exam mentioned below:

CAT Exam Preparation

Check out the best preparation and exam tips for every section of the CAT exam below:

SNAP vs CAT: Level of Competition

Both SNAP and CAT are popular MBA entrance exams in India and both these exams have lakhs of applicants every year. However, the CAT exam has a significantly higher level of competition when it comes to the MBA admission process simply due to the number of applicants that apply for the CAT each year. Last year, the CAT exam had 2.88 lakh applicants whereas the SNAP exam had 1.4 lakh applicants.

One of the reasons why the CAT exam has so many applicants each year is the wide acceptance of the CAT result among B-schools in India. The CAT exam is accepted by over 1300 MBA colleges across the country. On the other hand, SNAP is accepted by colleges affiliated with Symbiosis International University and 20 other private MBA institutes. Therefore, candidates prefer the CAT exam over SNAP as it helps them have more options when applying for MBA colleges for admission.

Top Colleges Accepting SNAP and CAT Exams

One of the biggest differences between SNAP and CAT is the acceptance of each exam score among B-schools. Since the aim of aspirants for appearing for either of these exams is to secure MBA admission to some of the top-ranked MBA colleges in India, the acceptance of either SNAP or CAT makes a huge difference in terms of which exam is chosen by a management aspirant. Take a look at the top colleges accepting SNAP and CAT mentioned in the table below:

Determining which exam is tougher depends on your strengths, weaknesses, and personal preferences. If you are good at math, and you are comfortable with complex problem-solving, you will find that CAT is more challenging but more rewarding. If you have a good knowledge of general English and an expanded set of questions, SNAP might be easier to understand.

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