All About CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT: Full Form, Eligibility, Dates, Exam Fees, Syllabus

All About CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT: Full Form, Eligibility, Dates, Exam Fees, Syllabus

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Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Apr 5, 2025 14:19 IST

CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT are the top four MBA entrance exams in India for MBA admission. 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.

Top MBA entrance exams

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 distinct 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 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.

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Top MBA Entrance Exams in India

Common Admission Test or CAT, conducted by the IIMs is the top entrance exam for MBA. It is the gateway to IIMs, FMS Delhi, IMT, SPJIMR, IIT-DoMS, MDI Gurgaon, IMI Delhi and other top ranked MBA colleges.

Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is the gateway to XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI, IMT, LIBA, BITS Pilani, XISS, KJ Somaiya, MICA, BIMTECH, IRMA, XIMB, etc.

Q:   What is the age limit to appear for CAT?
A:
There is no age limit to appear for CAT. The CAT exam is open for fresh graduates as well as working professionals. Since CAT is accepted by over 1300 B-schools across India for their full-time as well as executive MBA or online professional courses, a lot of working professionals appear for the CAT to pursue such courses. CAT score is accepted by Iims for full time MBA, executive MBA and FPM programmes. Other top MBA colleges in India also shortlist candidates for executive MBA or part-time MBA on the basis of CAT score. The minimum age limit for has to be 20 years as the minimum qualification for CAT exam 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 CAT exam. Any candidate having a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWAI with a minimum of 50 per cent in aggregate.
Q:   What are the benefits of appearing in CMAT?
A:

There are several benefits of appearing in the CMAT exam. It is easier than other exams and accepted by many B-schools. Check below some of the key benefits of CMAT.

  • CMAT is conducted at the end of MBA entrance exam season, so MBA aspirants don't have to study much as the previous experience of exams like CAT, XAT, SNAP comes in use.
  • CMAT score is accepted by about 1,300 MBA colleges in India which includes top colleges in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. 
  • CMAT exam is a moderate difficulty level exam so it is easier to score high in CMAT than CAT, XAT, IIFT, GMAT.
  • CMAT cut offs for admission to top colleges are not exceptionally high, so you can get a good MBA college with a decent CMAT score.
  • There's no 50 per cent aggregate criteria for CMAT application. Candidates with passing marks in graduation can also appear for the exam. 
  • CMAT application fee for women and reserved category candidates is only INR 1,000 which is quite less as compared to CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP fees.
Q:   Can I appear for the NMAT exam thrice or just once?
A:
As per the official guidelines of NMAT by GMAC, a candidate can appear for the NMAT exam three times during the testing window. The testing window for NMAT generally starts in the first week of October and ends in the third week of December every year. However, it is important to note that each attempt of NMAT requires a fresh registration and payment of the application fee. The candidate needs to go through the entire registration process again for each attempt. It is also essential to keep in mind that the best score among the attempts will be considered for admission to the participating institutes. So, candidates can aim to improve their scores by taking multiple attempts, but they should also prepare well and take the test seriously for each attempt.

Management Aptitude Test or 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. 

Common Management Aptitude Test or CMAT exam score is valid for admission to 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. CMAT is conducted by the NTA.

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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.

Q:   When can I apply for CMAT?
A:

The next CMAT exam will be held on January 25, 2025. The NTA has started registration process for the same most on November 14, 2024. Those interested in appearing for the exam are required to register for it at CMAT-NTA website and fill the online application form before December 25, 2024. The score of CMAT will be valid for one year only, so if you appear for CMAT 2025, 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.

Q:   Do top IIM accept ATMA score?
A:
No, IIM does not accept ATMA test scores for admission. If you want to get admission to the IIM, you will have to appear in the CAT exam. With the score of the ATMA test, you can get admission to more than 700 colleges. You can get admission to the following top management colleges: 1. The Xavier Institute of Management and Research 2. PSG College of Technology 3. RV Institute of Management 4. The Jayawantrao Sawant Institute of Management and Research 5. The KV Institute of Management and Information Studies (KVIMIS) You can also apply to the Department of Management Sciences at Pune University with the score of the ATMA test.
Q:   Can I give NMAT three times?
A:

Candidates can appear for NMAT exam three times during one admission session. GMAC considers the best of three scores to be sent to the NMAT participating institutes for admission. Candidates who wish to appear for more than one exam take have to fill the retake registration form. The retake registration can be filled after the candidate takes the first exam attempt. While filling the retake registration form, candidates have to pay the registration fee again. Additionally, candidates have to schedule the retake exam.

Q:   Does IIFT accept score of other entrance exams?
A:

Apart from the IIFT entrance exam score, only GMAT score is accepted for admission to the MBA-International Business programme. The GMAT score is accepted from international /NRI/PIO students only. For domestic students applying for MBA International Business course, appearing in IIFT entrance exam is mandatory. However, for the 2024-26 batch admission, the institute has decided to not conduct the IIFT entrance exam and instead accept CAT 2023 score for domestic candidates. Which means, domestic candidates have to appear for CAT 2023 exam to be eligible for IIFT-MBA admission.

Also Read: MBA Admission 2025: 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 1,200 MBA colleges in India. CAT is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management and considered the toughest MBA entrance exam. Read key highlights of CAT exam 2025 below:

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

First week of August to Third week of September 2025

Eligibility 

  • Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students)
  • Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply

Number of applications

3.29 lakh (in 2024)

Exam fees

INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category)

CAT syllabus

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT pattern

66 MCQs and non-MCQs

No. of test cities

170

Exam purpose

Admission into IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India

Course offered

MBA/PGDM

Exam helpdesk no.

1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free)

Exam website

 https://iimcat.ac.in

Also Read:

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. 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 and IBT

Exam duration

2 hours

MAT exam schedule

31-May2025 (PBT)

08-Jun-2025 (CBT)

MAT registration dates

25-May-2025 (PBT)

02-Jun-2025 (CBT)

Eligibility 

  • Graduation in any stream from a recognised university
  • Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply

Number of applications

40,000 (approx.)

Exam fees

INR 2,100 (INR 1,500 additionally for second test mode)

MAT syllabus

  • Language Comprehension
  • Data Analysis & Sufficiency
  • Mathematical Skills (Quantitative Aptitude)
  • Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
  • Economic and Business Environment

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

MBA/PGDM

Exam helpdesk no.

011 - 24645100 / 011 - 24617354 / 011 - 43128100

Exam website

https://mat.aima.in/

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. Read key highlights of XAT exam 2026 below:

XAT Features 

XAT Details 

Conducting institute

XLRI, Jamshedpur

Exam level

National

Exam frequency

Once a year

Exam mode

CBT

Exam Duration

180 minutes

XAT exam date

First Sunday of January 2025

Registration Dates

Second week of July to first week of December 2025

Eligibility 

  • Graduation in any stream from a recognised university
  • Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply

Number of applications

Nearly 1.00 lakh ( for 2025 exam)

Exam fees

INR 2,200

XAT syllabus

  • Decision Making
  • Verbal & Logical Ability
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
  • General Knowledge
  • Essay Writing

XAT pattern

95 questions in MCQ format

No. of test cities

110

Exam purpose

Admission to XLRI and 800 MBA colleges

Course offered

MBA/PGDM

Exam helpdesk no.

18002674008

Exam website

https://xatonline.in/

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 30 minutes for optional paper

Exam schedule

Last week of January 2026

Registration Dates

Second week of November 2025 to Last week of December 2025

Eligibility 

  • Graduation in any stream from a recognised university
  • Final year graduation students are also eligible to apply

Number of applications

75,000

Exam fees

INR 2,500

CMAT syllabus

  • Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability
  • General Awareness
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship (optional paper)

CMAT pattern

100 questions in MCQ format

No. of test cities

124

Exam purpose

Admission to 1300 MBA colleges

Course offered

MBA/PGDM

Exam helpdesk no.

0120-6895200

Exam website

 https://www.nta.ac.in

Also Read:

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

KMAT

Karnataka Management Aptitude Test

IBSAT

ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test 

MICAT

MICA Common Aptitude Test

MAH CET

Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test

NMAT by GMAC

Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test by GMAC

SNAP

Symbiosis National Aptitude Test

TANCET

Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test Exam

List of all MBA entrance exams

Check Cut offs of top MBA entrance exams and predict calls from IIMs and other Top MBA Colleges. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and eligibility of all MBA Colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict IIM & Non IIM Calls

FAQs on CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT

Q: What is the eligibility criteria for CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT?

A: The basic eligibility criteria for CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT is graduation. For CAT candidates must have scored at least 50 per cent in aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD candidates) in graduation from a recognised university. Candidates having professional degrees such as CA/CS/ICWAI are also eligible for these exams. Final year graduation students can also apply.  

Q: What is the difficulty level of CAT exam?

A: CAT exam is of moderate to high difficulty level. Candidates have to solve 66 question in 120 minutes but there is a sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section, which makes the exam a bit difficult as there is a pressure of completing each section on time. Apart from that, the CAT question paper usually have tough or tricky questions.

Q: What is the difficulty level of MAT exam?

A: MAT exam is easy. Candidates can crack MAT with three or four months of preparation of Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Knowledge. MAT is the easiest MBA entrance exam of all and one can attempt it multiple times in the same academic year. 

Q: What is the difficulty level of XAT exam?

A: XAT is an exam whose difficulty level is usually moderate to high. The question paper comprises tough Reading Comprehension and Decision Making passages, which test the candidate’s comprehension as well as analytical abilities. Sometimes, the Quantitative Aptitude questions also turn out to be tough and calculation intensive. However, in XAT 2025 there will be no essay writing, thus there is no added stress of preparing essays along with other subjects.

Q: What is the difficulty level of CMAT exam?

A: CMAT is a moderate difficulty level exam. It has 100 questions to be solved in three hours. There is no sectional time limit. Candidates have to choose the right answer from the give options. The questions are asked from Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, English Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, General Knowledge. Innovation and Entrepreneurship was added as a section in 2021. Since it is a new section less study material is available for it. Candidates may find it difficult to crack CMAT. 

Q: Which top MBA colleges accept CAT score for admission?

A: All the IIMs accept CAT score for MBA admission. Apart from IIMs, the top colleges that accept CAT score for admission include MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMI Delhi, GLIM Chennai, BIMTECH, IIT-DoMS, LIBA, GIM Goa and many more.

Q: Which top MBA colleges accept XAT score for admission?

A: Top MBA colleges that accept XAT score for admission include XLRI Jamshedpur, Amrita School of Business, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, Doon Business School Dehradun, IMS-Noida, Indus School of Business Gurgaon, IIMT School of Management (ISM), Gurgaon, FORE School of Management, New Delhi, JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur, Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) Noida, Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research Mumbai, MICA Ahmedabad, IRMA Anand among others.

Q: Which top MBA colleges accept CMAT score for admission?

A: Top MBA colleges that accept CMAT score for admission include SIMSREE, JBIMS, Amrita School of Business, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, TAPMI, Jaipuria Noida, LM Thappar School of Management, BM Munjal University, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Tezpur University, Shri Ram Institute of Management among others.

Q: Which top MBA colleges accept MAT score for admission?

A: Top MBA colleges that accept MAT score for admission include Amity Business School, Noida, Christ University Bengaluru, BIMTECH Greater Noida, SIESCOMS Navi Mumbai, Jagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS), Rohini Delhi, Indus Business Academy, IPE Hyderabad, Institute of Public Enterprise, ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai among others.

Q: What should be the preparation strategy for CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT?

A: Candidates preparing for CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT must prepare subjects like Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Knowledge. XAT has an additional section Decision Making. CMAT too has an additional section Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Q: What is the fees of CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT?

A: Application fee for MBA entrance exam is to be paid at the time of form submission. The fee amount to be paid are:

  • CAT: INR 2,500 (INR 1,250 for Reserved category)
  • XAT: INR 2,200
  • MAT: INR 2,100
  • CMAT: INR 2,500 (INR 1,250 for Reserved category, women and transgender)
About the Author
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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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Comments

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nadeem ride

2 years ago

How to apply mba admissions

Reply to nadeem ride

A

Anindita Ghosh

3 years ago

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Reply to Anindita Ghosh

Awesome information and read latest article educational

Reply to Raghuveer Charan