Updated on 9th October 2024 | 12:36 am | #TopMBAEntranceExams
Top MBA entrance exams in India, such as CAT, XAT, MAT, SNAP, NMAT, and many others, will be held between November 2024 and March 2025. These MBA entrance exams open the doors to some of the most prestigious MBA colleges in India.
Out of India's top MBA entrance exams, CAT is the most popular and sought after as it is the only means to the IIMs. More than 3 lakh students register for CAT every year, competing for a few thousand seats in IIMs and other top B-schools, including FMS Delhi, SP Jain, IMT Ghaziabad, MDI Gurgaon, etc. Apart from CAT, there are some other MBA entrance exams such as XAT, NMAT, SNAP, MAT, CMAT, and more.
The competition to secure a seat in these top MBA colleges is tough. Hence, to ensure your admission to at least one of these B-schools, every student should prepare to take 3 to 4 MBA entrance exams. Most of these exams have a similar syllabus structure and can be prepared simultaneously.
In this article, learn more about some of the top MBA entrance exams 2024, their exam pattern, and the colleges that accept them.
There are numerous entrance exams for admissions to MBA programs across the country. However, the top MBA entrance exams ensure candidates an opportunity to get into a top B-school with a good reputation and high placements. Here is a list of the top MBA entrance exams in India:
|
Entrance Exam |
Number of Questions |
Time Allotted |
Last Date to Apply |
Exam Timeline (Tentative) |
Official website |
|
CAT 2024 |
66 |
120 minutes |
20th September 2024 |
24th November 2024 |
|
|
XAT 2025 |
95 |
180 minutes |
30th November 2024 |
5th January 2025 |
|
|
NMAT 2024 |
108 |
120 minutes |
10th October 2024 |
5th November 2024 to 20th December 2024 |
|
|
SNAP 2024 |
60 |
60 minutes |
22nd November 2024 |
8th December 2024 15th December 2024 21st December 2024 |
|
|
MICAT 2025 |
234 |
165 minutes |
22nd November 2024 (MICAT I) 17th January 2025 (MICAT II) |
7th December 2024 (MICAT I) 27th January 2025 (MICAT II) |
|
|
MAH MBA CET 2025 |
200 |
150 minutes |
TBA |
March 2024 |
|
|
CMAT 2025 |
100 |
180 minutes |
TBA |
April - May 2025 |
|
|
IBSAT 2024 |
140 |
120 minutes |
20th December 2024 |
28th December 2024 29th December 2024 |
|
|
MAT 2024 |
150 |
120 minutes |
30th November 2024 (CBT 1) 7th December 2024 (PBT) 15th December 2024 (CBT 2) |
7th December 2024 (CBT 1) 14th December 2024 (PBT) 22nd December 2024 (CBT 2) |
|
|
TANCET 2025 |
100 |
120 minutes |
TBA |
March 2025 |
|
|
CUET PG 2025 |
75 |
105 minutes |
TBA |
March 2025 |
|
|
IIFT |
Admissions will be conducted through CAT until further notice |
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TISSNET |
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Amongst the top MBA entrance exams in India, there are more than 50 entrance tests that will help you gain admission to some of the top MBA colleges in India. These MBA entrance exams 2024 will be conducted at three different levels.
Let's learn about these entrance exams for MBA in India in detail, along with their exam pattern and the colleges that accept them.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular entrance exam for MBA in India, with over 2 lakh applicants per year. Over 1,300 MBA colleges select candidates for admission based on marks obtained in this exam. It is a computer-based exam held across the country in the month of November every year. CAT is the only entrance test for admission to MBA programs in the IIMs, and over 150 B-schools accept the CAT score for admission to their programs.
Also Check: CAT Syllabus 2024 | CAT Exam Pattern 2024
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is another popular MBA entrance exam held for admissions to the Xavier member institutes, including XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, and XIME. The exam is given by over 75,000 candidates per year and is held annually in the month of January. Some other top B-schools that accept XAT are Great Lakes Chennai, SPJIMR, TAPMI, etc.
The NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is a national-level examination held by GMAC for admission to top MBA institutes, including NMIMS and XIMB, among 30 B-schools in India. The exam is held annually for over 70 days, and candidates can attempt the exam three times. Unlike other MBA entrance exams, the exam can be attempted in two modes, i.e. online, proctored at home, or at a test center.
The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) is held by Symbiosis International (Deemed University) for admission to 15 member institutes, including SIBM, SCMHRD, and SICSR. The national-level exam is held annually over three days. Candidates can attempt the exam three times, out of which the highest score will be considered the final score, and no normalization will take place.
The Mudra Institute of Communications Admissions Test (MICAT) is a computer-based test that is held twice annually. Candidates appear for MICAT to aim for admission to the PGDM programs at MICA Ahmedabad. Ideally, the entrance exam is held in the months of December and January.
Convened by the National Testing Agency, the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a three-hour online, online-held MBA entrance exam. Over 1000 AICTE-approved institutes across India accept CMAT scores for their MBA admissions. Some of the top management institutes that accept the exam include Great Lakes Chennai, BIMTECH, and VIT Vellore
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH-CET) is an entrance exam that paves the way for MBA programs in Maharashtra. Held by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), the government body responsible for technical education in Maharashtra, the exam is 2.5 hours long. The exam has 200 multiple-choice questions divided into 4 sections.
The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) is an annual state-level MBA entrance examination conducted by Anna University every year. The exam is divided into 5 sections of 20 questions each. It measures a candidate's aptitude for management studies and their ability to handle the rigors of an MBA program.
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET PG) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in India for admission to postgraduate programs offered by central universities, participating state universities, and deemed universities
In recent years, pursuing an MBA/PGDM has gained immense popularity due to several factors. The primary concern related to an MBA is the amount of time and effort a candidate has to put in before and after admission. So, it is imperative to understand the various MBA entrance exams to identify the relevance of each tier to the goals.
|
Features |
MBA Entrance Exam 2024 |
|
MBA Program Fees |
INR 2 - 30 lakhs |
|
|
|
MBA Average CTC Offered |
Tier 1 B-schools: INR 27 - 34 lakhs Tier 2 B-schools: INR 18 - 27 lakhs Tier 3 B-schools: INR 15 - 20 lakhs |
|
Top Recruiting Sectors |
Banking & Finance Branding & Advertising Digital Marketing Foreign Trade Human Resource Management |
|
Top Recruiters |
Amazon, Apple, Bain & Company, Citigroup, Deloitte, Facebook, Accenture, Boston Consulting Group, JP Morgan and Chase Co, Morgan Stanley, etc. |
|
Important Parameters |
Description |
|
Eligibility Criteria |
At least 50% in graduation, final year students can register as well. |
|
Age limit |
none |
|
Selection of the Entrance exam based on targeted colleges |
CAT scores: 20 IIMs, FMS, IMT, MDI, IMI, and IITs XAT scores: XLRI, GIM, IMT, MICA NMAT score: NMIMS, SP Jain, Great Lakes, KJ Sumaiya SNAP score: 16 Symbiosis member institutes |
|
Selection of shortlisted students for further admission rounds (Group Discussion- Written Ability Test-Personal Interview) |
Shortlisting is based on weightage given to several parameters including exam score, academic background, professional work experience, and gender diversity. Top B-schools like IIMs, FMS, IMT, and MDI conduct mandatory batch-wise group discussion sessions for students who are shortlisted. |
|
Declaration of merit lists by the universities |
The institutes announce the results of candidates in the form of merit lists. It can be downloaded from the official website of the institute. The list usually contains the name of the selected student, registration number, roll number, entrance exam score, and entrance exam percentile. |
|
Accepting admission letter and payment of acceptance fees |
The university/B-school sends an e-offer letter via an official email after the declaration of the result. A candidate needs to revert to the email by accepting the offer letter and paying the acceptance fees by the given date to confirm admission. |
The data/statistics formulated every year in the form of cut-offs, weightage, batch profile, gender diversity, academic diversity, summer placements, and final placements play a mandatory role in shaping the repute of the institute. When talking about the topmost B-schools in our country, most of the institutes’ admission procedures can be drawn along similar lines.
When candidates choose the MBA entrance exams they wish to appear for, they must identify the B-schools of their choice. Based on the institutes and the entrance exams they accept, candidates should finalize their decision for the MBA entrance exams. Here are the top MBA entrance exams and the list of major universities that accept them for admission.
| MBA Entrance Exams | Top B-schools Across India |
| CAT | IIMs, IMI, FMS Delhi, JBIMS, SPJIMR, IIT, MDI |
| XAT | XLRI, XIMB, XIME, TAPMI, MICA, IMT, GIM |
| NMAT | NMIMS, XIMB, ISB Hyderabad, SPJIMR, TAPMI, IBS |
| MICAT | MICA Ahmedabad |
| CMAT | Great Lakes, GIM, VIT, BIMTECH |
| SNAP | SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune +13 other Symbiosis Colleges |
| MAH MBA CET | JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA |
| TANCET | Anna University, PPG Business School |
Yes, you can pursue an MBA without sitting for the CAT exam. You can opt for other MBA entrance exams such as XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, etc. However, you will not be able to get admission to top B-schools such as the IIMs without acing CAT.
CAT or Common Admission Test is the most popular MBA entrance exam with over two lakh registrations. CAT provides the opportunity of getting into prestigious institutes such as IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, etc.
The best way to decide which entrance exams you should apply for is by deciding the courses and institutes you wish to get admission to. Based on the list, identify the MBA entrance exams required to meet the B-schools' individual requirements.
All the MBA entrance exams have individual registration dates. Ensure that you keep a track of all the entrances you wish to give. Tentatively, registrations for CAT, XAT, SNAP and NMAT will begin in the 1st week of August .
Any exam preparation requires a well-thought-out strategy. If you are appearing for multiple MBA entrance exams, you must begin covering the syllabus for the exam nearest. As topics and syllabi overlap for most entrance exams, you can focus on the nearest exam and cover the remaining topics per exam as the dates come closer.