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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Dec 19, 2025 15:41 IST
To be eligible for ATMA, candidates must be a graduate. The detailed ATMA eligibility criteria is available on this page. Check here the age and educational qualification. The article below give programme-wise eligibility criteria for ATMA 2026 exam. The candidates must match the eligibility criteria before applying for the online ATMA exam.

ATMA eligibility criteria states that the studen should have a graduation degree. Read the article below to know the detailed ATMA eligibility criteria 2026.

ATMA eligibility criteria 2026 provide details regarding age and educational qualifications that candidates need to fulfil in order to be eligible for the exam. According to ATMA eligibility criteria 2026, the candidate should be a graduate from a recognised university in the 10+2+3 scheme. Candidates who are in their final year of graduation can also apply for the exam. ATMA registration 2026 started on December 1, 2025, and last date of ATMA registration is February 10, 2026. The ATMA application process is an online process and there is no provision for filling out the registration form offline.

ATMA exam is conducted four to five times a year. The exam is usually conducted in centre-based online test mode. ATMA 2026 exam for the February session will be conducted on February 22, 2026. Before filling the application form, candidates should check ATMA eligibility criteria to ensure whether they are eligible for the exam or not. Candidates’ eligibility will be verified at the time of admission, if anyone is found to be ineligible, then they will not be offered admission. Candidates can check the detailed eligibility criteria in this article.

Table of contents
  • ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights
  • Qualifying Marks for ATMA Exam 2026
  • ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026: MCA Course
  • Reservation Criteria
  • College-wise ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026
  • What After Fulfilling ATMA 2026 Eligibility Criteria?
  • ATMA 2026 Important Dates and Events (Expected)
  • ATMA Exam Selection Process 2026-27
View More

ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights

Check the table below to know the highlights for ATMA 2026 eligibility criteria for the MBA programme.

Factors

Details

Age limit

There is no age limit for ATMA. Besides, candidates who have applied for the ATMA exam earlier can reapply for other sessions. 

Nationality

Candidates applying for ATMA must be citizens of India

Educational Qualification

  • Any graduate from a UGC-recognised university can apply for ATMA
  • Final year graduation students can also apply
  • Candidates must have the minimum aggregate in the qualifying exam prescribed by the examination authority

Work experience

ATMA exam eligibility criteria does not include work experience. Both working and non-working candidates can apply for the exam

Number of attempts

ATMA is conducted three to five times a year. Candidates can attempt the ATMA exam any number of times. The score of the latest ATMA exam will be considered for admission.

Q:   How can I apply through ATMA in MBA colleges?
A:

ATMA scores are accepted by over 700 management colleges in India. Students who appear for the ATMA exam can get admission to various top MBA, MCA PGDM and MS colleges in India. Each participating institute releases an ATMA cut off after the exam is conducted. Those who meet the ATMA cutoff will be called for further selection process which includes GD What and PI. The selection process is a 4 step process:

  • ATMA exam: Students need to appear for the ATMA exam on the scheduled date. The exam is conducted in the CBT Test mode at different exam centres across the country.
  • Group Discussion: Group Discussion or GD is conducted for the students who clear the ATMA exam and meet the ATMA cutoff. They will have to talk on a particular topic and they will be judged on different grounds.
  • Written Ability Test: Students will be required to take a WAT and write a short essay on any topic allotted by the panel of judges.
  • Personal Interview: Students will then have to appear for an interview before the expert panel after they clear all the previous selection rounds. They will be assessed on general awareness, extracurricular activities, academics, etc.
Q:   Is there any age limit for taking ATMA exams?
A:

There is no age limit to appear for ATMA. The ATMA exam is open for fresh graduates as well as working professionals. Since ATMA is accepted by over 700 B-schools across India for their full-time MBA and MCA courses, a lot of students appear for the exam. ATMA score is accepted by some of the top MBA colleges in India also shortlist candidates for executive MBA or part-time MBA on the basis of ATMA score. The minimum age limit for has to be 20 years as the minimum qualification for ATMA exam is graduation. Any candidate who has completed Graduation with 50 per cent aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST candidates). Any candidate in final year of Bachelor's degree course can appear in ATMA exam. 

Q:   Can I appear for the ATMA exam more than once?
A:

AIMS Test for Management Admissions ATMA is held three to five times a year. Applicants can appear more than once and the score of the last exam attempted would be considered for admissions.

Qualifying Marks for ATMA Exam 2026

The qualifying marks of graduation for the General category is 50 per cent aggregate while there is a relaxation for candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD categories. The category-wise qualifying marks for graduation are given in the table below –

Category

Qualifying marks

General category

50%

SC/ST

45%

PWD

45%

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ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026: MCA Course

The following is the ATMA eligibility criteria for the MCA programme:

  • Candidates must have secured a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate in BCA.
  • The minimum age limit to appear for the exam is 21 years. There is no upper age limit.
  • Only citizens of India are eligible to apply for the ATMA exam.
  • Candidates in the final year of BCA can also apply.
Q:   What are the qualifying marks for the ATMA exam?
A:

The qualifying marks for ATMA eligibility is different for each category. Check the table below to know more:

Category

Qualifying marks

General category

50%

SC/ST

45%

PWD

45%

Q:   Do IIMs accept ATMA scores?
A:

No, IIMs do not accept ATMA test scores for admission. IIMs conduct Common Admission Test (CAT) for admission to MBA programmes. ATMA scores are accepted by some of the best BSchools in the country. These include institutes such as PUMBA, Xavier Institute of Management and Research, PSG College of Technology, RV Institute of Management, Jayawantrao Sawant Institute of Management and Research,  KV Institute of Management and Information Studies, etc. 

Q:   What is the eligibility criteria for ATMA?
A:

ATMA is commonly used name for AIMS Test for Management Admissions. ATMA Eligibility criteria for this test is:

  • Candidate should be an Indian citizen
  • Candidate should have graduation degree from a recognised university
  • Minimum percentage required is 50% in qualifying exam.
  • Students in final year of graduation can also apply.

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Reservation Criteria

There are no reservation criteria for ATMA besides offering relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks and application fees. Concession in fees is given to women and candidates belonging to the seven northeastern states of India. 25% concession in fees is given to women candidates, while 50% to candidates belonging to the North-Eastern states.

College-wise ATMA Eligibility Criteria 2026

Check out the college-wise eligibility criteria for the ATMA 2026 exam below:

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Usha & Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management (BULMIM)

  • The minimum qualification of candidates seeking admission to the PGDM programme offered by the BULMIM is a graduation.
  • Candidates must have obtained 50% aggregate (45 per cent in case of reserved category) in graduation.
  • Candidates must have a valid score in ATMA.
  • Final year graduation students can apply, provided they submit proof of graduation within 90 days of the commencement of programme.

IIHMR University

  • Graduates with a 50% aggregate can apply for IIHMR University.
  • Candidates appearing in the final year of graduation can also apply provisionally. Such candidates need to provide evidence of having completed the graduation within two months after the session begins.
  • Candidates with relevant work experience are encouraged to apply.

Institute of Management Study (IMS)

Any graduate candidates having qualified the ATMA exam can apply for the MBA programmes offered at the IMS.

St Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMAR)

  • Candidates must have passed graduation with a 50% aggregate.
  • They must have appeared and cleared the ATMA exam.

Also Read: Top Colleges Accepting ATMA 2026 Score

What After Fulfilling ATMA 2026 Eligibility Criteria?

Candidates who fulfil the ATMA eligibility criteria will be able to apply for the ATMA exam by filling the ATMA application form. The application forms will be available on the official website of ATMA AIMS. Registrations for the next session are expected to begin in the second week of August 2026 and the exam will likely be conducted in September 2026. Candidates can submit the application form online and pay the application fee. 

ATMA 2026 Important Dates and Events (Expected)

Refer to the table below to know the important ATMA dates and events for the upcoming session:

Event Dates
Registrations begin 01-Dec-2025
Last date to pay the application fee 09-Feb-2026
Last date to fill the application form 10-Feb-2026
Admit card release 18-Feb-2026
ATMA 2026 22-Feb-2026
Result announcement 28-Feb-2026

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ATMA Exam Selection Process 2026-27

Check out the table below to know the weightage for the ATMA selection process.

Components

Details

ATMA score

50%

Group Discussion

10% to 15%

Personal Interview

15%

Work experience

5%

Academic performance in Class 10, Class 12, Graduation/ Post Graduation Degree, Sports/ Extra-Curricular activities, Academic diversity and gender diversity

15% to 20%

Read More:

ATMA preparation tips and tricks ATMA 2026 exam pattern

ATMA syllabus 2026

ATMA question papers (previous years)
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About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content

Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud

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Answered Yesterday

Yes, PUMBA accepts ATMA scores for MBA admissions. The ATMA cut off for PUMBA is usually high and ranges between 85 to 90 percentile.

R

Rashmi Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

Association of Indian Management Schools does not conduct a centralised counselling process for the ATMA exam. Each participating institute releases its ATMA cutoff and students who match it have to appear for GD/PI/WAT rounds. 

78439216
Saumya Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

JBIMS does not accept ATMA scores anymore for MMS admissions and it accepts CAT, MAH MBA CET, and GMAT scores. 

The ATMA cutoff for PUMBA is usually high and ranges between 95 to 99 percentile. 

M

Mani Malhotra

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

To crack ATMA in first attempt, students should have a good preparation plan. Along with that, students should know ATMA exam pattern, have strong basics and concepts. Practice using sample papers and mock tests will help students fetch a good score.

M

Mani Malhotra

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 days ago

Preparing for the ATMA exam from books and study material recommended by experts is important in order to gain an in-depth knowledge on different topics included in the ATMA syllabus. ATMA reference books contain detailed information on each topic of ATMA syllabus and will acquaint the students with

...Read more

R

Rohini Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 days ago

CAT and ATMA are both MBA entrance exams. But, historically, the difficulty level of CAT exam is higher as compared to that of ATMA exam. 

A

Abhishek Kumar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 5 days ago

ATMA is a national level entrance exam conducted by Association of Indian Management Schools. ATMA is conducted for admission to MBA, MMS, PGDM programmes at over 700 B Schools in the country.

S

Shruti Tyagi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 5 days ago

It is not compulsory but ideal to take the ATMA mock test for preparation. Students will know the type of questions, difficulty level, important topics, etc. through practising mock tests. 

V

Vikram Hazarika

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 5 days ago

The total score in ATMA exam is 180 marks. There are 180 questions and each question carries one mark. There is a negative marking of -0.25 marks. 

R

Rashmi Chatterjee

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a week ago

The documents required while filling the ATMA registration form:

  • Scanned copy of photograph
  • Scanned copy of signatures
  • Scanned copy of caste certificate
  • Scanned copy of academic certificates and marksheets

78439156
Saumya Jain

Contributor-Level 10