{"id":155563,"date":"2025-06-23T12:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T06:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/?p=155563"},"modified":"2025-10-23T18:04:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:34:47","slug":"is-rbi-grade-b-exam-tougher-than-cat-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/is-rbi-grade-b-exam-tougher-than-cat-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Is RBI Grade B Exam Tougher Than CAT Exam?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb RBI Grade B<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Is RBI Grade B Exam Tougher Than CAT Exam?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, we witness thousands of aspirants compete to outshine one another to clear competitive exams like the CAT (Common Admission Test) and the RBI Grade B Officer Exam. These are the two in-demand yet very different exams that can catapult a career to new heights. But one question often pops up in aspirants’ minds: ”Is the RBI Grade B exam tougher than the CAT?” In this blog, we\u2019ll take a closer look at the structure, difficulty level, and what each exam really tests aspirants on. We\u2019ll also highlight how strategic preparation can make a big difference, especially for the RBI Grade B exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Take a Free Mock Test & Boost Your Preparation and Success Rate 10X!<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
RBI Grade B Notification 2025 \u2013 Click to Check<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAT vs RBI Grade B: Exam Pattern Comparison Table (2025)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both the CAT and the RBI Grade B are very competitive exams. Also, both serve very different goals. On one hand, CAT is for MBA admissions, on the other, RBI Grade B recruits officers for India\u2019s central bank. Here\u2019s a simple side-by-side comparison of their exam patterns to help you understand how they differ in format and focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature<\/strong><\/td>CAT (Common Admission Test)<\/strong><\/td>RBI Grade B Officer Exam<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Purpose<\/strong><\/td>Admission to top B-schools (IIMs & others)<\/td>Recruitment for Officer posts in RBI<\/td><\/tr>
Exam Stages<\/strong><\/td>Single-stage computer-based test<\/td>Three stages: Phase 1, Phase 2 & Interview<\/td><\/tr>
Total Sections \/ Papers<\/strong><\/td>3 Sections<\/td>Phase 1 \u2013 4 sectionsPhase 2 \u2013 3 papers<\/td><\/tr>
Total Questions<\/strong><\/td>68 (VARC: 24, DILR: 22, QA: 22)<\/td>Phase 1: 200Phase 2: 60 objective + 15 descriptive<\/td><\/tr>
Question Type<\/strong><\/td>MCQs & Non-MCQs<\/td>Phase 1: ObjectivePhase 2: Objective & Descriptive<\/td><\/tr>
Total Duration<\/strong><\/td>120 minutes (3 sections \u00d7 40 min)<\/td>Phase 1: 120 minutesPhase 2: 270 minutes (split by paper)<\/td><\/tr>
Marking Scheme<\/strong><\/td>+3 for correct, -1 for wrong<\/td>+1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong (only in objective parts)<\/td><\/tr>
Subjects Covered<\/strong><\/td>Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Quant, Data Interpretation<\/td>English, Quant, Reasoning, General Awareness, ESI, FM<\/td><\/tr>
Difficulty Level<\/strong><\/td>High \u2013 especially Quant & DILR<\/td>Moderate to High \u2013 focused on Finance & Economics<\/td><\/tr>
Descriptive Paper<\/strong><\/td>None<\/td>English (Writing Skills), ESI & FM Descriptive in Phase 2<\/td><\/tr>
Exam Mode<\/strong><\/td>Computer-based (online)<\/td>Phase 1: OnlinePhase 2: Mixed (Online + Pen & Paper)<\/td><\/tr>
Cut-off Criteria<\/strong><\/td>Varies by institute<\/td>Sectional & overall cut-offs for each phase<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RBI Grade B Exam vs CAT Exam: Two Giants Compared<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both exams are competitive and demand rigorous preparation. They serve different purposes and test different skill sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. CAT (Common Admission Test) is A Door to Top B-Schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CAT is the entrance exam for premier Indian management institutes like the IIMs. It tests a candidate\u2019s aptitude in three core areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n