Is RBI Grade B tougher than CAT?

The question “Is RBI Grade B tougher than CAT?” comes up often among aspirants planning to pursue careers in management or banking. Both these exams are highly competitive, attract lakhs of candidates every year, and open the door to prestigious positions- RBI Grade B for a regulatory role in India’s central bank and CAT as the gateway to top IIMs for an MBA. However, a close look at their structures, subjects, and selection processes shows that the nature of their challenges is quite different.

Is RBI Grade B tougher than CAT?

Before diving into the comparison, it is important to know that the RBI Grade B Recruitment for 2025 is expected to begin soon. The official notification for RBI Grade B Officer vacancies will be released on or after 08 September 2025. Both CAT and RBI Grade B are tough and demand high-level preparation, but in different ways. CAT is more aptitude and logic-driven, while RBI Grade B leans heavily on conceptual understanding and analytical writing.

RBI Grade B & CAT Exam Structure and Focus

For an MBA aspirant confident in math and reasoning, CAT feels tougher. For those with good general awareness, communication, and a liking for economics, RBI Grade B may be more achievable with structured preparation.

RBI Grade B

Exam Style: RBI Grade B selection has three phases: Phase 1 (objective prelims), Phase 2 (objective and descriptive mains), and a final Interview.

Subjects: Includes General Awareness, Reasoning, English, Quant in Phase 1; Economics & Social Issues (ESI), Finance & Management (FM) and English writing skills in Phase 2.

Difficulty: Demands conceptual clarity in economics, finance, and current affairs; Phase 2 descriptive papers require strong analytical and writing skills.

Competition: Roughly 2 lakh+ aspirants vie for fewer than 300 posts, making it extremely selective.

Core Skills: More focus on domain knowledge, analytical writing, and awareness of economic policies.

CAT (MBA)

Exam Style: CAT (Common Admission Test) is a single-stage, computer-based exam focusing on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Difficulty: Known for tough, abstract, and time-consuming questions, especially in Quant and DILR.

Marking: 120 minutes, with sectional time limits, and a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs.

Competition: Tested by over 2 lakh aspirants each year for less than 3,000 seats in top IIMs.

Core Skills: Emphasises fast, accurate reasoning and sharp mathematical skills.

Which Exam Is Tougher RBI Grade B or CAT?

The answer depends on background and preparation:

Aptitude Focus: CAT’s QA and DILR often stump even engineers; trickier and faster-paced compared to RBI Grade B’s Quant, which is seen as more manageable.

Subject Specialisation: RBI Grade B’s ESI and FM are vast and technical, favouring those with a commerce or economics background, but manageable with planned study.

Nature of Questions: CAT tests “how fast and accurately” you can think; RBI Grade B, especially in Phase 2, tests “how deep” you understand finance, economy, and policy issues, and how well you write.

Overall Demand: CAT is broadly regarded as tougher for most due to its speed-based, abstract, and math-heavy structure. RBI Grade B, however, has a wider syllabus and requires in-depth coverage, but rewards those with a clear strategy and consistent domain-based preparation.