Top MBA entrance exams in India include CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT, IIFT, MAT, MAH CET, IBSAT, etc. MBA aspirants who are planning to pursue the course in the 2023 or 2024 academic session must know all about these top MBA entrance exams. Since, appearing for the MBA entrance exams is mandatory for admission to the course, aspirants must know gather all the information about these tests and then choose the one which is most convenient for them. For example, if an aspirant is aiming for IIMs, then they must appear for the CAT but if an aspirant is aiming for a Tier-2 private MBA college, then they should appear for CMAT or MAT.
IIM administered CAT is the most popular entrance exam for MBA in India as over 1,200 MBA colleges select candidates for admission on the basis of marks obtained in this exam. Following CAT, the second most popular MBA entrance exam is CMAT conducted by the NTA. CMAT score is accepted by 1,000 MBA colleges across India. Third most popular MBA entrance exam is XAT which is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT score is accepted by over 800 MBA colleges in India.
Apart from these exams, there are more than 50 entrance tests for admission to the top MBA colleges in India. The MBA entrance exams in India are conducted at three different levels.
- National level: Most popular among them are CAT, CMAT and MAT
- State level: Most popular among them are MAH-CET, TSICET, APICET, KMAT and TANCET
- University/College level: Some prominent entrance tests include XAT, SNAP, IIFT Exam and IRMASAT
Top MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, TISSNET, IBSAT, CMAT, etc. for 2023 academic session will be conducted between November 2023 and April 2024. MBA aspirants can also choose from MAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, GMAT, OJEE, KMAT, APICET, TSICET and other state level entrance exams from February to May 2024. CAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT exams for 2023 are over but registrations for MAT and ATMA are underway. Read below to know which MBA exams you can take in the coming months, their registration process, eligibility, fees, syllabus, pattern and preparation strategy. This information will help you in deciding which entrance exam for MBA you can take this year and which MBA colleges you can apply to.
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Top MBA Entrance Exams 2023: Application and Exam Dates
The table below lists the application deadline and the exam date of top 20 MBA exams in India. Read further below to know exam-wise registration process, fee and other exam related details.
The subsequent sections provide details about the top MBA entrance exams in India and other related links.
Overview of CAT
Common Admission Test or CAT, the most popular entrance exam for MBA of India, is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM). CAT score is used by 20 IIMs and over 1200 other management institutes across the country for admission. More than two lakh students appear for the exam each year.
CAT started in 1950 and graduated to being an online-entrance test in 2009 of 3 hours. The CAT question paper consists of MCQs and Non-MCQs. In 2020, CAT exam was conducted in three sessions instead of two due to COVID-19 pandemic and the duration of the exam was 120 minutes, the number of questions was reduced to 76. Since then it is conducted in three slots and for 2 hours only. Registration for CAT is online and the exam is held at over 400 exam centres. CAT exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.
These segments are grouped into three sections:
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)
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Overview of CMAT
The second-largest management entrance examination of the country, the Common Management Admission Test or CMAT is taken by roughly 1.5 lakh candidates. Conducted by the National Testing Agency, CMAT is a popular option among MBA aspirants after CAT. The first CMAT exam took place in 2012. The exam score is accepted by more than 1,000 MBA institutes across the country. The exam is held between January and March.
CMAT is a computer-based exam (held for 180 minutes) and tests the candidate’s aptitude in four main sections:
- Quantitative Technique
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Also Read:
Overview of XAT
Another top management entrance, Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is a computer-based management aptitude test. Conducted by Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur, XAT is taken by approximately one lakh candidates, annually. XAT is held on the first Sunday of the year (January). XAT scores are accepted by XLRI Jamshedpur and more than 800 management institutes.
XAT exam tests the candidate on four fronts:
- Quantitative Ability
- English Language & Logical Reasoning
- Decision Making
- General Knowledge
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Overview of SNAP
Conducted by Symbiosis International University, Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP is also a national-level management entrance examination. SNAP score is primarily used for admission to 16 institutes under Symbiosis International University. In SNAP, candidates get three attempts and the best of three scores is taken into consideration for admission shortlisting process. SNAP registrations take place from August to November and the exam is held in December.
SNAP Test is a computer-based exam and the duration is two hours. It tests candidates on:
- General English
- Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
- Analytical & Logical Reasoning
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Overview of NMAT by GMAC
NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is also one of the popular MBA entrance exams. It was acquired by GMAC in 2015 and rebranded as NMAT by GMAC. NMAT by GMAC is a computer-based exam, held over a 75-day testing window, between October and December. Candidates need to attempt 108 MCQs in 120 minutes. This year, NMAC has provided the facility of taking the test from home in remotely proctored mode, to students. This provision has been made in wake of COVID-19 situation in the country.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting NMAT by GMAC score
NMAT by GMAC has various candidate-friendly options. For instance, candidates can appear for the exam a total of three times and the best of three scores will be used for admission. The NMAT exam has three main sections:
- Language Skills
- Quantitative Skills
- Logical Reasoning
Also Read:
Overview of MAT
Management Aptitude Test or MAT is also a very popular MBA entrance exam. More than 600 institutes accept MAT exam scores for admission to management programmes. Conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), MAT is held four times a year – February, May, September and December. The exam is held in Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT) mode and Internet Based Test (IBT) mode. Held for 150 minutes, MAT exam has 200 questions. The aspirant is tested on the following subjects:
- Indian and Global Environment
- Language Comprehension
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency
- Mathematical Skills
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
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Overview of IIFT Exam
IIFT exam is an institute specific entrance test. The exam is conducted by the NTA for admission to the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). IIFT exam score is valid for admission to IIFT only. It is held in online mode in over 200 cities. IIFT exam is conducted in December. The duration of exam is two hours and the question paper consists of 110 multiple choice questions. IIFT exam tests a candidate’s aptitude in the following areas:
- English Comprehension
- General Knowledge & Awareness
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Analysis
Also Read:
Overview of ATMA
AIMS Test for Management Admissions or ATMA is also a national-level management entrance test. It is conducted online in internet based test mode and held four times a year--February, May, July and August. ATMA score is used for admission by several management programmes in over 500 MBA institutes.
Held for three hours, ATMA question paper consists of the following sections:
- Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1
- Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2
- Quantitative Skills Part 1
- Quantitative Skills Part 2
- Verbal Skills Part 1
- Verbal Skills Part 2
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Overview of IBSAT
ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test or IBSAT is an institute-level entrance test. The exam is conducted by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. IBSAT exam score is used for admission to MBA and PhD programmes at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses – Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Dehradun, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
IBSAT exam is an Internet Based Test (IBT) and it assesses the candidate’s ability in the following:
- Verbal Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation
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Overview of MICAT
MICAT is the online entrance test for MICA's flagship two-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management – Communications (PGDM-C). To be eligible for MICAT, candidates first need to apply with CAT, XAT and GMAT. Selected applicants will be called for MICAT entrance test which is held in December and February.
Also Read: Colleges accepting MICAT score
Conducted for over 125 minutes, MICAT has two sections:
- Section 1 assesses the candidates’ Analytical Skills, Logical Skills, Verbal Skills, Divergent Thinking, Written Communication Skills and General Awareness.
- Section 2 consists of a Psychometric Test
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Overview of MAH MBA CET
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test or MAH-CET is a state-level MBA entrance exam. The exam is conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra, for admission to various management courses such as MBA, MMS, PGDBM and PGDM in various institutes in the state of Maharashtra. MAH CET MBA is held in the month of March. Candidates need to attempt 200 questions in 150 minutes.
MAH MBA CET question paper has three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Logical / Abstract Reasoning
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Overview of IRMASAT
IRMA Social Awareness Test or IRMASAT is an institute-level entrance examination. It is conducted for admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management (PGDRM) and Fellow Programme in Rural Management (FPRM) at Institute of Rural Management, Anand. IRMA exam is held in the month of January.
IRMA uses CAT/XAT scores to shortlist candidates in the first round. Shortlisted candidates are called for IRMA written test or IRMASAT on the subject of “Issues of Social Concern”.
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Overview of KIITEE MBA Test
KIITEE is a national-level computer-based test for multiple courses, one of them being MBA. The KIITEE exam is conducted by KIIT University in January every year. The KIITEE MBA exam scores are primarily used for admission for two programmes:
Candidates need to answer 150 questions in 150 minutes. There are four sections in KIITEE MBA:
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Analytical Reasoning
- English
- General Knowledge
- Issue of Social concern
Also Read: Colleges Accepting KIITEE MBA score
Overview of OJEE MBA
Odisha Joint Entrance Exam or OJEE is a state-level MBA entrance test conducted by the Government of Orissa. The test scores are used for admission to various MBA courses in Odisha. The exam is conducted in April-May. OJEE is an online test in which candidates need to attempt 120 questions in 120 minutes.
OJEE MBA has five sections:
- Verbal reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- General Knowledge
- Comprehension
- Computer and Business fundamentals
Also Read:
Overview of KMAT
Karnataka Management Aptitude Test or KMAT is also a state-level MBA entrance examination for admission to post-graduate level programmes offered by MBA colleges and B-schools in the state of Karnataka. KMAT exam is held thrice in the months of May, July and September. The candidates can choose a slot on the exam day to take the test from home.
Conducted by Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges Association (KPPGCA), KMAT scores are used for admission by more than 169 colleges across the state.
Candidates need to attempt 120 questions in 120 minutes.
KMAT consists of the following sections:
- Language Comprehension
- Mathematical Skills
- Basic Aptitude
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Overview of APICET
Andhra Pradesh - Integrated Common Entrance Test or APICET is a state-level MBA entrance examination conducted for admission to various B-schools and MBA colleges in Andhra Pradesh. APICET is generally held in the month of May. The exam is conducted by Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, on behalf of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE).
Also Read: Colleges accepting APICET score
APICET is a paper-based entrance test. Candidates need to attempt 200 questions in 150 minutes.
APICET consist of three sections:
- Mathematical Ability
- Analytical Ability
- Communication
Also Read:
Overview of TSICET
Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test or TSICET is a state-level written MBA entrance test. TSICET was held for the first time in May 2015. The test scores are used for admission to various MBA courses in the state of Telangana.
Also Read: Colleges accepting TSICET score
TSICET question paper has three sections:
- Analytical Ability
- Mathematical Ability
- Communication Ability
Also Read:
Overview of TANCET
Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test or TANCET is a state-level written entrance examination conducted for admission to MBA courses in the state of Tamil Nadu. TANCET is conducted by Anna University, Chennai, on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Also Read: Colleges accepting TANCET Score
TANCET exam is held in May, is for two hours (100 questions) and tests the candidates ability in:
- Analysis of Business Situations
- Reading Comprehension
- Quantitative Ability
- Data Sufficiency
- English Usage
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Overview of TISSNET
Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test or TISSNET is an institute-level exam conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences for all Masters programmes offered in TISS-Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, Guwahati, IMHST Chennai, MHAT Calicut and G-SET Ranchi. A computer-based exam, TISSNET is held for 100 minutes (1 hour & 40 minutes).
Also Read: Colleges Accepting TISSNET Score
Questions asked TISSNET are related to:
- Social Sensitivity
- Logical Reasoning
- Analytical Ability
- Knowledge on Contemporary issues
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Overview of HPU MAT
HP University Management Aptitude Test or HPU MAT is an institute-level entrance examination conducted for admission to Himachal Pradesh University Business School and and HPU Regional Center, Dharamshala.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting HPUMAT Score
The HPU-MAT entrance test has four sections:
- English Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Business Environment
- Arithmetic Comprehension & Data Interpretation
Also Read:
Overview of NBSAT
Narayana Business School Admission Test or NBSAT is a common entrance test conducted by Narayana Business School for admission to its PGDM/MBA programmes. It is an online proctored test that can be taken from home. The test is of two hours duration and comprises questions from Quantitative Techniques (QT), Data Interpretation & Data Adequacy (DI & DA), Vocabulary & Analytical Reasoning (AR) and Reading Comprehension (RC).
Other Popular MBA Entrance Exams
The table below indicated MBA entrance exams beyond the ones already discussed above. Click on the links below to get detailed information about each examination.
FAQs Related to Top MBA Entrance Exams in India 2023
Q: Which is the top most MBA entrance exam in India?
A: Common Admission Test or CAT by IIM is considered the top MBA entrance exam in India. CAT 2023 will be held on November 26 in 150 cities across India and the registration process will begin in August. Apart from CAT, XAT, CMAT and MAT are considered top MBA entrance exams.
Q: Which is the easiest MBA entrance exam?
A: The difficulty level of SNAP and MAT exams is usually lower than other MBA entrance exams. However, the candidates must not take any exam lightly preparation requires exhaustive study and practice of sample questions. Also Read: Is MAT tougher than CMAT?
Q: What is the syllabus of an MBA entrance exam?
A: MBA entrance exam syllabus consists of topics from Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, English Comprehension and General Awareness. CAT exam does not have General Awareness sections. CMAT has an extra section which is called Innovation and Entrepreneurship. XAT has a unique section which is called Decision Making.
Q: How many times is MAT conducted in a year?
A: MAT exam is conducted four times a year – February, May, September and December. The candidates can take the exam in the month they are best prepared to appear for it. MAT is conducted in three modes - Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT) and Internet Based Test (IBT).
Q: How many attempts are allowed in NMAT?
A: In NMAT, three attempts are allowed to each candidate within the 75-day test window. Performance in the last attempt is accepted for admission by NMAT participating colleges. Candidates can retake and reschedule the exam as and when during the 75-day test window.
Q: Is NMAT same as GMAT?
A: Both NMAT and GMAT are conducted by the same agency - GMAC. Both are adaptive tests and their scoring pattern is similar but there are several differences between NMAT and GMAT. Also Read: NMAT and GMAT: What are the key differences?
Q: Should I take CAT or GMAT?
A: GMAT scores are accepted by foreign universities but CAT score is not, thus if a candidate is planning to study management abroad, then they must take GMAT. But if the candidate is targeting the IIMs for full time MBA, they must take CAT. Also Read: CAT vs GMAT - which one to choose
Q: Which are the state level top MBA entrance exams?
A: Some of the top state level MBA entrance exams are MAH CET for Maharashtra, TSICET for Telangana, TANCET for Tamil Nadu, APICET for Andhra Pradesh, KMAT for Karnataka, KMAT Kerala for Kerala, DAVVCET for Madhya Pradesh, UPSEE for Uttar Pradesh, HPU MAT for Himachal Pradesh and OJEE for Odisha.
Q: How many colleges accept XAT exam score?
A: Over 700 MBA colleges accept XAT exam scores for admission apart from XLRI Jamshedpur, which includes Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), SP Jain Institute of Management Research (SPJIMR), Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME), international Management Institute (IMI), etc. Also Read: Top MBA colleges accepting XAT score for admission
Q: Which top MBA colleges apart from IIMs accept CAT?
A: CAT is accepted by all top MBA colleges in India including FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IMT, XIME, IMI, IITs (Department of Management), BIMTECH, Fore School of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Goa Institute of Management, etc.
Q: Are all MBA entrance exams conducted online?
A: All the top MBA entrance exams are conducted online but a few state-level and university entrances such as Karnataka PGCET and VMOU MET are conducted in pen and paper mode. MAT is conducted in both online and offline modes.
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