All About CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT: Full Form, Eligibility, Dates, Exam Fees, Syllabus
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CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT are among 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, XAT along with other top institute and state level exams, like IBSAT, APICET, and TS ICET 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 India’s most popular national level MBA entrance exams in India. If you qualify any of these exams, you are sure to get a seat in a well ranked and well reputed B-School. All four of these exams are conducted between November and January. Many aspirants appear for all four or at least two of them. Syllabus and pattern of CAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT are same with a few variations. For most of the candidates, CAT preparation forms the base for preparation of rest of the three. Read below to read key details of CAT, IBSAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT, including application dates, fee, pattern and syllabus.
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- Top MBA Entrance Exams in India 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 2026
- CAT, conducted by IIM is the top entrance exam in India for MBA. Every year nearly 2.5 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.
The MBA entrance exam season has kicked off with opening of XAT 2027 registration window and the announcement of CAT 2026 dates. XAT 2027 registration started July 15. CAT 2026 will start on August 3 and SNAP 2026 registrations will start on August 1. MAT 2026 application window is already open for the September 2026 session. NMAT 2026 and CMAT 2027 applications will follow.
So, if you are planning to pursue MBA in the 2027 academic session you must appear for any of these national-level MBA entrance exams. Ideally, you should appear in more than one national level MBA entrance exam as admission cut offs and score-accepting colleges are different for each of them. Appearing for more than one exam will give you more options.
CAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of CAT is Common Admission Test is conducted by the IIM. The exam score is valid for admission to over 1,600 MBA colleges in India. CAT is conducted annually and considered the toughest MBA entrance exam. This year IIM Indore will conduct the exam, so the test can be expected to be slightly easier than last year. Here are key highlights of CAT 2026 exam:
| CAT Features |
CAT Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute |
IIM |
| Exam level |
National |
| Exam frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam mode |
CBT |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
| CAT 2026 exam date |
29-Nov-2026 |
| Registration Dates |
03-Aug-2026 to 15-Sep-2026 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
2.95 lakh (in 2025) |
| Number of test takers |
2.58 lakh (in 2025) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,700 (General category) and INR 1,350 (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:
MAT Full Form and Highlights
The full form of MAT is Management Aptitude Test. It is an easy exam and conducted multiple times in a year. One can choose the month as well as the mode in which one wants to appear for it. Read key highlights of MAT 2026 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-September-2026 (PBT) 20-September-2026 (CBT) |
| MAT registration dates |
07-September-2026 (PBT) 14-September-2026 (CBT) |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
40,000 (approx.) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,300 (INR 1,700 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 2027 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 3, 2027 |
| Registration Dates |
15-July-2026 to 10-Dec-2026 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Number of applications |
Nearly 1.00 lakh ( for 2025 exam) |
| Exam fees |
INR 2,300 |
| 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? |
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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 2027 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 |
Fourth week of January 2026 |
| Registration Dates |
Third week of October to Last week of November 2026 |
| 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 2027 exam syllabus
- CMAT 2027 exam pattern
- CMAT question papers PDFs
- CMAT 2027 preparation tips
- CMAT books for preparation 2027
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:
Commonly asked questions
CAT cut off is prepared by all accepting colleges individually. There is no one authorized body to do so. Even the IIMs determine their admission cut offs separately.
Yes, the candidates are required to clear the sectional cut offs of IIFT entrance exam as well for selection to second round of IIFT admission process, which is group discussion or extempore, essay writing and personal interview. The sectional cut offs play an important role in assessing the abilities of a candidates in all subjects – Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and English Comprehension. That is why the institute releases sectional cut offs as well for shortlisting of candidates for the personality assessment round of the MBA admission process. Those who do not meet the sectional cut offs, may not get selected for the group discussion or extempore, essay writing and personal interview round.
NMAT cut off score is the minimum score or marks required for shortlisting the candidate for admission or admission rounds. In simple words mean, the cutoff scores help in the screening process by which candidates can be shortlisted for further selection rounds, including the Group Discussion (GD)/Case Discussion (CD) and Personal Interview. The cut-offs list is determined by each participating college; therefore the minimum marks/ percentage required to for selection differs across different participating institutes.
| MBA Entrance Exams |
MBA Entrance Exams Full-Form |
|---|---|
| ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test |
|
| Karnataka Management 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 |
Commonly asked questions
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.
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Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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