SSC CGL Vs CAT, Which is the Better Career Option?

SSC CGL Vs CAT

For any Graduate Candidate choosing the right career path is a crucial decision that builds their future. SSC CGL and CAT are the two examinations that lead to two different paths but shape a prestigious future. SSC CGL is a government examination while CAT is an entrance examination for admission in prestigious business schools of India. This blog will provide you with all the details of the SSC CGL Vs CAT.

SSC CGL Vs CAT – Eligibility Criteria

Before starting the comparison between both exams, candidates need to understand the eligibility criteria for both examinations. We have mentioned below the detailed eligibility criteria for SSC CGL and the CAT examination.

SSC CGL Eligibility Criteria

Though there are different criteria for each of the posts filled by the SSC CGL exam, the essential eligibility criteria for this exam are as follows.

Nationality/citizenship

The candidate must be an Indian citizen or of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee.

Age limit

Minimum Age Limit:18  and Maximum Age Limit: 32 years

Educational Qualification

Essential Educational Qualifications for various posts include :

All other Posts except Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer and JSO

Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent.

The candidates who have appeared in the final year of their graduation can also apply, however, they must possess Essential qualifications on or before the cut-off date.

Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer

• Essential Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute.
• Desirable Qualifications: Chartered Accountant Cost & Management Accountant Company Secretary or Masters in Commerce Master in Business Studies Master in Business Administration (Finance) or Master in Business Economics.
• During the period of probation direct recruits shall have to qualify for the “Subordinate  Audit/   Accounts   Service   Examination” in respective branches for confirmation and regular appointment as Assistant  Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer.

Junior Statistical Officer

Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognized University or Institute with at least 60% Marks in Mathematics at 12th standard level;

Or

Bachelor’s Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects at the degree level.

CAT Eligibility Criteria

We have mentioned below the detailed eligibility criteria for the CAT examination for a better understanding of the candidates.

Age Limit

There is no upper limit to applying for CAT. Candidates can apply for CAT without any restrictions on age.

Educational Qualification

• Candidates should have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
• The previous criteria were that a General and NC-OBC candidate should obtain 50% of a Bachelor’s while candidates belonging to SC/ST and PWD should obtain 45%.

SSC CGL Vs CAT – Exam Pattern

SSC CGL and CAT have very different exam patterns as one is a government job examination and the other is an entrance examination for Business Schools. SSC CGL has a two-tier online examination while CAT has an online test and the personal assessment stages of the examination.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern

We have mentioned below the detailed exam pattern for both Tier-I and Tier-II.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern

Subject	Questions	Maximum Marks
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
General English	25	50
General Awareness	25	50

Note: Total Duration of Tier 1 Exam is 60 minutes

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern

In this phase, two exams are conducted on the same day, the details of the Tier-II exams are listed below. The merit list will be prepared on the basis of the overall performance of candidates in the Tier-II Examination only. Total time duration is 2 hours 15 minutes for Paper – 1 and 2 hours for Paper – 2 and 3 each.

Paper	Session	Section	Subject	Questions	Marks
I	I (2 hours and 15 minutes)	I (1 hour )	Module I – Mathematical abilities Module II – Reasoning and General Intelligence	3030Total – 60	60 x 3= 180
		II (1 hour )	Module I – English Language ComprehensionModule II – General Awareness	4525 Total = 70	70 x 3 =210
		III (15 minutes)	Module – I – Computer Knowledge module	20	20 x 3 = 60
	II (15 minutes)	III	Module – II : Data Entry Speed Test	One data entry task
II	2 hours		Statistics (Paper I & II as above)	100	100 x 2= 200
III	2 hours		General Studies (Paper I & II as above) (Finance & Economics)	100	100 x 2= 200
			Total	500	850

CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT 2023 exam pattern is as follows

CAT Section	Questions	MCQs	Non-MCQs	Maximum Marks
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	26	18	8	78
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	24	18	6	72
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	26	18	8	78
Total	76	54	22	228

Note: There will be a negative marking of 1 mark for the MCQs while no negative marking for Non-MCQ questions.

SSC CGL Vs CAT – Salary

Candidates who qualify for either the SSC CGL or CAT examination receive a handsome amount of salary. Government Services employees enjoy additional benefits and perks along with the basic salary while candidates who get places from IIMs receive a large CTC and extra benefits depending on the company culture.

SSC CGL Salary Structure

The salary structure of SSC CGL varies from 25,500 to 1,51,000. In addition to the basic pay, the SSC CGL post also offers allowances in the form of a dearness allowance, HRA, travel allowance, etc.

Pay Levels of SSC CGL

Pay Levels	Pay Scale
4	25,500-81,100
5	29,200-92,300
6	35400-1,12,400
7	44,900-1,42,400
8	47,600-1,51,100

CAT Salary Structure

Candidates graduating from IIMs receive high CTCs at reputed MNCs and multi-millionaire companies. The average salary is 17LPA for the IIMs and the highest package can go as above as 2 Crore per annum. These packages encompass various components, including base salary, performance-based bonuses, allowances, benefits, and stock options, among others.

SSC CGL Vs CAT – Which is the Better Career Option?

Choosing between SSC CGL and CAT largely depends on your career aspirations, strengths, and interests. If you’re inclined towards a stable government job with a focus on administrative roles, SSC CGL could be the right fit for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking to pursue a career in business management, develop leadership skills, and explore opportunities in the corporate world, CAT offers a pathway to top-notch management institutes.

Regardless of your choice, remember that both examinations demand dedication, hard work, and perseverance. Success comes from not only preparing effectively but also maintaining a positive attitude and adapting to new challenges. So, whether you’re aiming for a government job or envisioning a career in business management, embrace the journey and give it your best shot!

Conclusion

We hope this blog helped you in understanding the career options for both the SSC CGL and CAT. To read more such blogs, visit the Oliveboard website!

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SSC CGL Vs CAT – Frequently Asked Questions