* Content: The GMAT and CAT both test verbal and quantitative reasoning, but the specific skills tested and the style of questions differ. The GMAT's verbal section emphasizes reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction, while the CAT's verbal section might place more emphasis on specific areas depending on the program. The quantitative sections of both tests cover similar mathematical concepts (algebra, geometry, arithmetic), but the GMAT often features more advanced problem-solving and data sufficiency questions.
* Scoring: The GMAT and CAT are both standardized tests, but their scoring systems are different. This makes direct comparisons of difficulty challenging. A high score on one doesn't automatically translate to a high score on the other.
* Adaptive Nature: The GMAT is adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of subsequent questions adjusts based on your performance on previous questions. The CAT's adaptive nature varies depending on the specific exam used by different programs (e.g., IIMs in India). An adaptive test can be perceived as either easier or harder, depending on how you perform early on.
* Emphasis on Specific Skills: Certain skills may be more heavily weighted in one exam over another. For example, if you're strong in reading comprehension but weak in data sufficiency, you might find the GMAT more challenging. Conversely, if you excel in specific quantitative areas frequently tested by a particular CAT, you might find that CAT easier.
In short: The "easier" exam is subjective and depends entirely on your individual strengths and weaknesses, and which aspects of the test (verbal vs. quantitative, specific question types) you find easier to handle. Preparation tailored to the specific test is crucial for success on either the GMAT or CAT.