All About CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT: Full Form, Eligibility, Dates, Exam Fees, Syllabus
CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT are the top four MBA entrance exams in India for MBA admission. These exam scores are accepted by the top MBA colleges in India. Read all about CAT, MAT, CMAT and XAT in this article. Also know about other top MBA entrance exams that are gateway to some of the top MBA colleges in India.
CAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT are the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. These exams are conducted at all India level and accepted by a large pool of MBA colleges in India. Any candidate who is a graduate can appear for CAT, MAT, XAT or CMAT. Although these MBA entrance exams have similar pattern and syllabus, they are unique in their own way. Candidates can appear for all these exams in the same academic session but they need to prepare for each one of them as per their specific requirements. In this article, we have shared key details about CAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT for you to make the right choice. The article also has a list of other MBA entrance exams in India you can appear in 2025.
- Top MBA Entrance Exams in India 2025-2026
- CAT Full Form and Highlights
- MAT Full Form and Highlights
- XAT Full Form and Highlights
- CMAT Full Form and Highlights
- Other Top MBA Entrance Exams
Top MBA Entrance Exams in India 2025-2026
CAT, conducted by IIM is the top entrance exam in India for MBA. Every year nearly 3 lakh mba aspirants apply for CAT. It is the gateway to IIMs, FMS Delhi, IMT, SPJIMR, IIT-DoMS, MDI Gurgaon, IMI Delhi and other top ranked MBA colleges. Overall, nearly 1600 colleges accept CAT score for admission.
XAT is the gateway to XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI, IMT, LIBA, BITS Pilani, XISS, KJ Somaiya, MICA, BIMTECH, IRMA, XIMB, etc. XAT is also accepted by nearly 1000 + B-Schools in India.
MAT exam score is accepted by over 800 B-schools in India including Amity University, Christ University, ITM University, DY Patil B-School, JIMS Rohini, Taxila Business School, Alliance University, etc. MAT is conducted by AIMA.
CMAT is conducted by the NTA and is valid for admission to all AICTE approved colleges. Top colleges accepting the score include, JBIMS Mumbai, GIM Goa, KJ Somaiya, Welingkar Institute of Management Mumbai, SIMSREE Mumbai, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, NL Dalmiya Institute of Management, Jaipuria Institute of Management, BIMTECH, KIIT School of Management, XIME Bangalore, etc.
Now that you know the MBA colleges for which CAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT scores are valid, you can decide which exam to target this season. The wise thing to do is appear for all four or more entrance exams so that you can secure a seat in a good MBA college, as the admission criteria does not include only entrance exam score. Candidates can also choose a combination of any two depending upon their target B-Schools. For MBA admission, candidates have to appear for Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI), as well. So, they must prepare for both entrance tests and personality assessment round.
Also Read: MBA Admission 2026: Check Application Deadline and Process of Top B-Schools
CAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of CAT is Common Admission Test. The exam is valid for admission to over 1,300 MBA colleges in India. CAT is conducted annually and considered the toughest MBA entrance exam. This year, IIM Kozhikode will conduct the exam this year. Here are key highlights of CAT exam 2025:
| CAT Features |
CAT Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute |
IIM |
| Exam level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam mode |
CBT |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
| CAT 2025 exam date |
30-Nov-2025 |
| Registration Dates |
01-Aug-2025 to 20-Sep-2025 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
2.95 lakh (in 2025) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,600 (General category) and INR 1,300 (Reserved category) |
| CAT syllabus |
|
| CAT pattern |
68 MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities |
170 |
| Exam purpose |
Admission into IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India |
| Course offered |
|
| Exam helpdesk no. |
1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
| Exam website |
https://iimcat.ac.in |
Also Read:
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- CAT syllabus 2025
- CAT exam pattern 2025
- CAT question papers
- CAT 2025 preparation tips
- CAT books for preparation 2025
MAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of MAT is Management Aptitude Test. It is considered an easy exam. The greatest benefit of MAT is that one can choose the month as well as the mode in which one wants to appear for it. Multiple attempts are also allowed in MAT as it is conducted in multiple sessions. Read key highlights of MAT 2025 exam below:
| MAT Features |
MAT Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute |
All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Exam level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Multiple times a year |
| Exam mode |
CBT, PBT |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
| MAT exam schedule |
13-Dec-2025 (PBT) 21-Dec-2025 (CBT) |
| MAT registration dates |
07-Dec-2025 (PBT) 15-Dec-2025 (CBT) |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
40,000 (approx.) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,200 (INR 1,600 additionally for second test mode) |
| MAT syllabus |
|
| MAT pattern |
150 questions in MCQs format |
| No. of test cities |
35-40 |
| Exam purpose |
Admission to 800 MBA Colleges in India (approx.) |
| Course offered |
|
| Exam helpdesk no. |
011 - 24645100 / 011 - 24617354 / 011 - 43128100 |
| Exam website |
Also Read:
XAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of XAT is Xavier Aptitude Test and it is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur annually every year on first Sunday of January. XAT is of moderate to high difficulty level. After CAT, XAT is the most popular option among MBA aspirants. Read key highlights of XAT exam 2026 below:
| XAT Features |
XAT Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute |
|
| Exam level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam mode |
CBT |
| Exam Duration |
180 minutes |
| XAT exam date |
January 4, 2026 |
| Registration Dates |
10-Jul-2025 to 05-Dec-2025 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
Nearly 1.00 lakh ( for 2025 exam) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,200 |
| XAT syllabus |
|
| XAT pattern |
95 questions in MCQ format |
| No. of test cities |
110 |
| Exam purpose |
|
| Course offered |
|
| Exam helpdesk no. |
18002674008 |
| Exam website |
Also Read:
| What is the difference between CAT and XAT? | What is the difference between CAT and MAT? | What is the difference between CAT and CMAT? |
CMAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of CMAT is Common Management Admission Test. It is conducted by the NTA and valid for admission to all government institutions for MBA and PDGM programmes. Many private institutes also accept CMAT score for admission. Read key highlights of CMAT exam 2026 below:
| CMAT Features |
CMAT Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute |
National Testing Agency |
| Exam level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam mode |
CBT |
| Exam Duration |
3 hours |
| Exam schedule |
Last week of January 2026 |
| Registration Dates |
17-Oct-2025 to 24-Nov-2025 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
75,000 |
| Exam fees |
General male candidates: INR 2,500 Reserved category male, women and transgender: INR 1250 |
| CMAT syllabus |
|
| CMAT pattern |
100 questions in MCQ format |
| No. of test cities |
124 |
| Exam purpose |
|
| Course offered |
MBA/PGDM |
| Exam helpdesk no. |
0120-6895200 |
| Exam website |
Also Read:
- CMAT syllabus 2026
- CMAT exam pattern 2026
- CMAT question papers
- CMAT preparation 2026
- CMAT books for preparation
Other Top MBA Entrance Exams
Given below is the list of some other popular MBA entrance exams you can explore and consider applying for admission a B-School of your choice:
| MBA Entrance Exams |
MBA Entrance Exams Full-Form |
|---|---|
| Karnataka Management Aptitude Test |
|
| ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test |
|
| MICA Common Aptitude Test |
|
| Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test |
|
| Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test by GMAC |
|
| Symbiosis National Aptitude Test |
|
| Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test Exam |
|
| Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test |
|
| Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test |
|
| Karnataka Post Graduation Common Entrance Test |
|
| Odisha Joint Entrance Examination MBA |
|
| Kerala Management Aptitude Test |
List of all MBA entrance exams
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
10 Jul '25 - 5 Dec '25
28 Nov '25 - 6 Dec '25
3 Dec '25 - 6 Dec '25
13 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25
23 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25
30 Sep '25 - 10 Dec '25
CAT
1 Aug '25 - 16 Dec '25
1 Jul '25 - 19 Dec '25
31 Dec '25
The next CMAT exam will be held in January 2026. The NTA will start registration for the same in November 2025. Those interested in appearing for the exam are required to register for it at CMAT-NTA website and fill the online application form. The score of CMAT will be valid for one year only, so if you appear for CMAT 2026, you must take admission in the same academic year.
Apart from 1300 B-schools, the CMAT score is also valid for admission through MAH CET CAP. The Maharashtra State CET Cell conducts MBA/MMS admissions for 300 colleges in the state. It is followed by a common counselling process called CAP. CMAT test takers can also participate in MAH MBA CET CAP and secure a seat in MBA/MMS course offered by over 300 colleges in Maharashtra.
The minimum academic criteria for MBA admission through CMAT is minimum 50% in graduation for General category students and minimum 45% for SC/ST/PwD category students. Even though this eligibility criteria is not mandatory for CMAT, it is the basic requirement for full time MBA as per the AICTE regulations.
CAT score is valid for one year at the IIMs and top B-Schools. In some tier 3 and government institutions, CAT score of previous two years are also acceptable. Many B-schools including IIMs have an option of deferment of admission, wherein you can confirm your admission and pay the nominal fee but join the batch in the next year. It is advised that candidates take admission in the same year as their CAT attempt so that they don't have to reappear next year. Given the competition in MBA space, it is difficult to get a good college whether you have a low score or average score. So, incase one is getting a good college, they should take admission and not drop a year to appear for CAT again.
Yes, it is mandatory to qualify CAT for admission to full time MBA programmes offered by the 21 IITs, along with full-time MBA, qualifying CAT score is also required for PGP, FPM, PhD, PhD Executive, Executive MBA, Doctoral Programme, PGPx courses.
NMAT exam is conducted for admission to more than 45 b-schools in India. The exam eligibility criteria can vary from the eligibility criteria of a particular institute. Additionally, MBA eligibility conditions for all participating institutes can vary. However, the NMAT exam eligibility remains the same. The space below mentions the NMAT eligibility criteria:
- Candidate must have a bachelor's degree, completed under 10+2+3 or four years of education pattern, irrespective of the stream.
- Aggregate score in the graduation degree level should not be less than 50 per cent the final year of the degree course.
- Candidates waiting for results or are currently in the final year of graduation are eligible to apply for NMAT exam.
Those who are yet to pass the bachelor's degree course get a provisional admission until the graduation mark sheet and certificate of the qualifying examination are submitted at the participating institute.
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The IIFT selection criteria includes Writing Skill Assessment (WSA), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). These activities will be conducted in March-April 2025. Since, the admission to 2025 batch will be based on CAT score, candidates who will clear the CAT exam were shortlisted for WSA, GD and PI which is conducted in at several cities. The shortlist will be prepared on the basis of cut offs and the final selection will be done on the basis of candidate's overall performance in all the selection rounds. Certain points out of 100 are attributed to the parameters for selection of candidates for WSA, GD and PI. Check the table below:
IIFT Selection Parameters
Score*
IIFT exam score
73
Class 10 score
10
Class 12 score
10
Academic diversity
Non-Engg = 5, Engg=0
Gender diversity (M=0; F=2)
2
Total score
100