SNAP vs CAT: Which is Tougher?
SNAP vs CAT: Which is Tougher? The CAT exam is considered to be tougher than the SNAP exam, as there is a lot of competition and the exam level is very difficult.
If students are appearing for either SNAP or CAT, or both, they must check the SNAP vs. CAT
analysis.
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 recognised 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.
Additionally, only MCQs will be asked in the SNAP exam, while both MCQs and non-MCQs will be asked in the
CAT exam
. CAT is primarily accepted by the IIMs, where Class 10 and 12 marks, Graduation marks, performance in WAT & PI, and weighted work experience will be considered in the selection process. However, only the SNAP exam score, WAT, GE, and PI will be considered during the SNAP selection process. Students eager to know which exam is better, SNAP or CAT, can go through the major exam highlights, exam pattern, syllabus, etc.
Also Read:
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:
Particulars | SNAP Exam | CAT Exam |
Full form | Symbiosis National Aptitude Test | Common Admission Test |
Conducting Body | Symbiosis International (Deemed) University | Indian Institutes of Management (on a rotational basis) |
Eligibility | The candidate must have completed Graduation with a minimum 50% aggregate (45 % for SC/ST/PwD candidates) | The candidate must have completed Graduation with a minimum 50% aggregate (45 % for SC/ST/PwD candidates) |
Sections | 3 | 3 |
Exam mode | Online | Online |
Exam Duration | 60 minutes | 120 minutes |
Difficulty level | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult |
Exam Fee | INR 2,250 for all candidates + INR 1000 (per SIU institute) | INR 2,400 for General and OBC candidates and INR 1,200 for Reserved category candidates |
Official Website | snaptest.org | iimcat.ac.in |
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:
Particulars | SNAP | CAT |
Number of Sections | 3
| 3
|
Sectional Time | None |
|
Number of Questions | 60 | 66 |
Duration of Examination | 60 mins | 120 mins |
Negative Marking | -0.25 for each incorrect response | 1 for MCQ-type questions 0 for Non-MCQ type questions |
Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| Learn More | SNAP Exam Pattern | CAT Exam Pattern |
Also Read: How to Approach SNAP Question Paper?
SNAP vs CAT: Syllabus
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The syllabus of both CAT and SNAP is more or less the same, having Quant, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. For CAT and SNAP, students need to study the following subjects:
Subject | SNAP | CAT |
English |
|
|
Quantitative Ability |
|
|
Data Interpretation |
|
|
Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
|
|
| Learn More | SNAP Syllabus | CAT Syllabus |
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)
Particulars | Weightage for Final Merit List (in %) | |
SNAP Score (out of 60, scaled down to 50 marks) | 50 | |
Personal Interaction(PI) | 40 | |
Group Exercise (GE) | 10 | |
Total | 100 | |
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 2025 or the CAT selection process. The CAT selection process generally involves the following stages:
- CAT Score
- Written Ability Test
- Group Discussion/Personal Interview
CAT Parameters | Weightage |
CAT Score | 25% |
Group Discussion (GD)/ Personal Interview (PI) | 30% |
Written Ability Test (WAT) | 10% |
Class 10 Academic Records | 10% |
Class 12 Marks Academic Records | 5% |
Graduation Academic Records | 10% |
Weighted Work Experience | 10% |
Total | 100% |
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:
Category | SNAP | CAT |
Conducting Body | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) | Conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis |
Difficulty Level | Easier; focuses on speed & accuracy | More difficult; tests conceptual understanding & problem-solving approach |
Types of Questions | Only MCQs | MCQs + Non-MCQs (TITA); approx. 80% MCQs & 20% TITA |
Marking Scheme | (+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect) | (+3 for correct, -1 for incorrect) |
Application Fee | ₹2250 for all candidates | ₹2400 (General/NC-OBC); ₹1200 (SC/ST/PwD) |
Exam Duration | 60 minutes; no sectional time limit | 120 minutes; 40 minutes per section |
Acceptance by B-Schools | Accepted only by 16 Symbiosis institutes | Accepted by all IIMs and most management institutes across India |
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting SNAP Scores
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. Take a look at the top colleges accepting SNAP and CAT mentioned in the table below:
MBA Colleges Accepting SNAP Scores | MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores |
Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research (SICSR), Pune | |
Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune | |
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Bengaluru | |
IIM Mumbai (Previously NITIE) | |
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Hyderabad | IIM Visakhapatnam |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon | |
| S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) Mumbai | |
Symbiosis School of Sports Science (SSSS), Pune | International Management Institute (IMI) New Delhi |
| Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi (FMS), New Delhi | |
| Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar (XIMB) Bhubaneswar | |
| Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad | |
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Nagpur | |
Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research , Mumbai |
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.
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