CAT Registration Closed, Now What? The XAT, SNAP and NMAT Game Plan!

Several candidates who were unable to apply for CAT 2026 exam have missed their chance for IIM admission 2027. This does not mean MBA admissions should be on hold. Know all about tier-1 college admissions via XAT, SNAP, or NMAT.

CAT Registration Closed! SNAP, XAT & NMAT Game Plan

CAT 2026 registrations were closed on September 22. Candidates who applied for the CAT 2026 can also apply for other exams. Those who missed the CAT last date to apply must not lose hope as other upcoming MBA entrance exams, such as XAT, SNAP, and NMAT, have their registration window open. NMAT application process is available until the extended deadline of October 25. SNAP registrations close on November 25, whereas the XAT 2027 registration will end on December 6.

All three exams other than CAT can help candidates in MBA admission 2027 to a top B-school in India. NMAT exam is accepted by SVKM's NMIMS, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, etc. SNAP 2026 is the gateway for admission to constituent institutes of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU). Whereas XAT is accepted by 250+ B-schools, including XLRI, Jamshedpur, XLRI Delhi NCR, XIME, and more.

NOTE: IIM Indore will be releasing the CAT admit card on November 4.

Immediate Action if CAT Registration Deadline was Missed

Candidates who missed CAT registration, they can follow a targeted action plan based on their decision. As of the current phase, candidates must follow this chronological checklist if they wish to apply for NMAT, SNAP, as well as XAT:

• Register for NMAT: Since the NMAT registration concludes before XAT and SNAP, candidates must visit the official GMAC dashboard to confirm the registration is complete and slot is booked. (Follow this only if NMAT is a target)
• Evaluate Exam Portfolio: Review your target b-schools and determine which alternative tests they accept.
• Register for SNAP: Complete your SNAP registration on or before November 25.
• Register for XAT: Submit your XAT application before December 6 deadline.
• Institute Applications: Remember that exam registration is only the first step; many accepting colleges require separate application forms and fee payment.

NOTE: Candidates aiming for NMIMS admissions via NMAT are also required to fill the institute admission form on or before October 25.

Exam Deadlines for Management Exams Other than CAT

Check the table below for verified deadlines and exam dates for CAT, XAT, NMAT and SNAP:

Also Check: Top MBA Entrance Exams 2026

CAT Registration Closed: How to Decide Alternate Exam for MBA Admissions

Selecting the right alternate exam requires checking the target list of business schools, the amount of preparation time remaining, and the comfort level with exam patterns.

Filter Exams for Target Colleges

Before registering for any management exam other than CAT, check which management institutes accept its scores. For instance, NMIMS accepts only NMAT scores, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) affiliated institutes accept SNAP scores, and XLRI Jamshedpur along with numerous associated B-schools accept XAT scores. Filter down the list of desired b-schools and map these to the exams.

Filter Exams based on Time and Preparation Level

All candidates who have missed the CAT registration may vary in terms of their preparation level. Those with strong Quant and Verbal skills can choose any exam without much thought. Candidates who are yet to start preparing for an entrance exam will have to prioritise exam based on difficulty level, and syllabus. Candidates must assess their current mock test scores and decide whether they can target a specific exam or not.

XAT 2027

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur and serves as the gateway for admission to XLRI as well as over 250+ participating management institutes across India. Check details for XAT 2027 below:

Also Check: XAT 2027 Exam Date

How is XAT Different from CAT?

While XAT has several similarities with CAT exam in terms of Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning sections, candidates must devise a dedicated prep strategy for the Decision Making section. XAT Decision Making section evaluates ethical, managerial, and analytical problem-solving skills through caselets. XAT exam pattern also includes a General Knowledge (GK) section. Before choosing this exam, candidates must refer to XAT syllabus to understand whether they would be able to prepare for the exam in the remaining time.

Top B-Schools Accepting XAT Scores

Some of the top colleges accepting XAT scores are as follows:

• XLRI Jamshedpur
• XLRI Delhi NCR
• XIM University (XIMB), Bhubaneswar
• IMT Ghaziabad
• IMI Delhi

How to Prepare for XAT 2027?

Basic CAT preparation will cover quantitative and verbal segments. Primary focus for XAT preparation should be practising Decision Making question sets and building current affairs awareness for the GK section. Candidates must take mock tests that are designed specifically for XAT exam.

SNAP 2026

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) is the common entrance test conducted by SIU for admission to its constituent MBA programmes. Candidates who take SNAP get the flexibility of improving their score using multiple attempts. SNAP is well-suited for aspirants aiming for institutes such SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, and SIBM Bengaluru. Check the table below for an overview of SNAP 2026 exam:

How Multiple SNAP Attempts Work?

SNAP allows candidates to appear for up to three test attempts. Candidates who appear for multiple attempts will get their highest score considered for shortlisting. Candidates applying for multiple attempts at SNAP exam will have to pay the registration fee for each attempt separately.

How to Prepare for SNAP 2026?

To prepare for SNAP 2026, candidates must focus on speed and accuracy. Practice important topics from General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates must take frequent, timed mock tests, for an all round SNAP preparation. While taking mocks, candidates must prioritise time management as the SNAP exam pattern requires solving 60 questions in 60 minutes.

NMAT by GMAC 2026

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts the NMAT exam in a computer-adaptive format. GMAC allows up to three attempts at NMAT. However, candidates can book a slot within the window as per NMAT exam dates. Check important highlights for NMAT exam below:

Also Read: Difference Between CAT and NMAT

NMAT Registration, Scheduling and Retakes

NMAT has a distinction among other MBA exams by allowing candidates to book slot and schedule retake attempts. Candidates have the facility to choose their exam date via NMAT 2026 slot booking.

A critical distinction for NMAT candidates is that registration and exam slot scheduling are separate steps. Successfully paying the registration fee does not automatically book your test date; you must actively select your test slot on the portal before availability runs out. Furthermore, NMAT permits candidate retakes within the designated testing window if you wish to improve your score, subject to individual retake rules.

Top B-Schools Accepting NMAT Scores

Some of the top colleges accepting NMAT scores are as follows:

• NMIMS Mumbai
• K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management
• S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)
• T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)
• SDA Bocconi Asia Center

Also Check: Colleges Accepting NMAT Score: Check List of 60+ NMAT Colleges in India

How to Prepare for NMAT?

For a holistic preparation, candidates must start by understanding NMAT exam pattern and adaptive format. Similar to other MBA exams, NMAT evaluates candidates across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Candidates must start by focusing on foundational concepts as per NMAT syllabus and then move on for speed and accuracy. One can practice official mock tests or NMAT mock test by Shiksha to understand difficulty level, and devise an exam day strategy.

MBA Exams other than CAT, XAT, SNAP & NMAT

Beyond CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT, management aspirants can explore additional national and state-level entrance exams such as CMAT exam, MAT, MAH MBA CET, TANCET, TGICET, etc. The syllabus for these entrance exams are more or less the same as CAT syllabus. However, differences lie in the exam timeline, test pattern, as well as the difficulty level.

Read More:

• CMAT Registration 2027
• MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam: Check Courses List & Selection Criteria
• Best MBA Colleges Without CAT 2026 Exam; How to Get Direct Admission
• What is the difference between CAT and other MBA entrance exams?