Updated on 21st February 2025 | 10:54 am | #TopMBAEntranceExams
Top MBA entrance exams in India, such as CAT, XAT, MAT, SNAP, NMAT, and many others, will be held between November 2025 and March 2026. 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, etc. Apart from CAT, through a few 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. In this article, learn more about some of the top MBA entrance exams 2025, 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:
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Top MBA Entrance Exams 2025: Exam Dates & Paper Pattern |
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Entrance Exam |
Number of Questions |
Time Allotted |
Exam Timeline (Tentative) |
Official website |
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CAT 2025 |
68 |
120 minutes |
Last Sunday of November 2025 |
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XAT 2026 |
95 |
180 minutes |
First Sunday of January 2026 |
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NMAT 2025 |
108 |
120 minutes |
For Phase 1: November 2025 - December 2025 For Phase 2: January 2026 |
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SNAP 2025 |
60 |
60 minutes |
December 2025 |
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MICAT 2026 |
234 |
165 minutes |
For Phase 1: December 2025 For Phase 2: January 2026 |
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MAH MBA CET 2025 |
200 |
150 minutes |
April 1 - April 3, 2025 |
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CMAT 2026 |
100 |
180 minutes |
January 2026 |
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IBSAT 2025 |
140 |
120 minutes |
December 2025 |
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MAT 2025 |
150 |
120 minutes |
December 2025 |
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TANCET 2025 |
100 |
120 minutes |
March 22, 2025 |
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CUET PG 2025 |
75 |
105 minutes |
March 13, 2025, to March 31, 2025 |
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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 2025 will be conducted at three different levels.
Most of the MBA Entrance Exams have undergone severe changes in the academic year 2024. Let's learn about these entrance exams for MBA in India in detail, along with their exam patterns and the colleges that accept them.
The Common Admission Test or CAT Exam 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.
The CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) comprised of 3 sections:
There are a total of 68 questions, as seen from the previous year's trends of CAT 2024 (24 VARC, 22 DILR, and 22 QA). The examination is held for a duration of 2 hours, with 40 minutes being allotted for each section, and it uses a +3 marking scheme for each correct response and a -1 for each incorrect response (for MCQs). The CAT 2024 exam pattern has undergone several changes; there were 5 sets instead of 4 sets in the CAT DILR section, and there were no parajumbles seen in the CAT VARC section.
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All About CAT |
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The Xavier Aptitude Test, known as 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 paper pattern for XAT 2025 was revised, with essay writing being scrapped out completely and the number of GK questions reduced to 20 from 25. Not only this, the total duration of the exam was also reduced from 210 minutes to 180 minutes. The new XAT exam pattern is expected to be the same for the XAT 2026 exam as well.
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All About XAT |
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The NMIMS Management Aptitude Test, or 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 the NMAT test center.
It is the most student-friendly exam as it follows an adaptive test format. The selection process for NMIMS and other B-schools accepting NMAT has been completely changed in 2024. The cutoff score has been set at 209 and above for candidates to be eligible for round 2 of the NMIMS selection process. The weightage of the NMAT score has been drastically reduced to 20%. Additionally, NMIMS has introduced a new concept of NMIMS Competency Test, along with an AI-based interview.
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All About NMAT |
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The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, popularly known as SNAP exam, 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, with the exam duration of SNAP being 60 minutes. 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.
Based on the previous year's trends, the SNAP exam pattern 2025 is most likely to consist of three sections:
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All About SNAP |
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The MICAT exam is a computer-based test that is held twice annually and is conducted in 2 phases. Candidates appear for MICAT to aim for admission to the PGDM programs at MICA Ahmedabad. Ideally, the entrance exam is held in 2 phases most likely in the months of December and January.
The total number of questions is 234. The exam duration is 2 hours 15 minutes. MICAT has 3 sections:
The marking scheme is +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer (MCQs only), and no marks for unattempted questions.
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All About MICAT |
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Convened by the National Testing Agency, the Common Management Admission Test i.e., CMAT exam, 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.
CMAT comprises a total of 100 questions with 5 sections:
The duration of the CMAT exam is 180 minutes. The marking scheme of CMAT is +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer (MCQs only), and no marks for unattempted questions
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All About CMAT |
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The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test or MAH MBA 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.
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All About MAH MBA CET |
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The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test, also known as 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.
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All About TANCET |
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The Common University Entrance Test or 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.
NTA conducts the exam in the CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode. The exam duration is 105 minutes, with a total of 75 questions and the exam is divided into 3 sections:
The marking scheme is +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each incorrect answer.
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All About CUET PG |
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Understanding the registration process is an important step, as it ensures that you secure a spot for writing these entrance exams for MBA, considering you meet all necessary eligibility requirements. To help you navigate this process with ease, we’ve outlined the general steps you need to follow to register for these MBA entrance exams. By following these steps carefully, you can complete your registration smoothly and set yourself up for success.
To register yourself for these entrance exams for MBA for the academic year 2025-26, follow these simple steps:
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Important Parameters |
Description |
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Eligibility Criteria |
At least 50% in graduation, final year students can register as well. |
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Age limit |
none |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 institute's official website. The list usually contains the name of the selected student, registration number, roll number, entrance exam score, and entrance exam percentile. |
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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 reputation 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.
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Top B-schools Accepting MBA Entrance Exams 2025 |
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MBA Entrance Exams |
Top B-schools Across India |
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CAT |
IIMs, IMI, FMS Delhi, JBIMS, SPJIMR, IIT, MDI |
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XAT |
XLRI, XIMB, XIME, TAPMI, MICA, IMT, GIM |
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NMAT |
NMIMS, XIMB, ISB Hyderabad, SPJIMR, TAPMI, IBS |
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MICAT |
MICA Ahmedabad |
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CMAT |
Great Lakes, GIM, VIT, BIMTECH |
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SNAP |
SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune +13 other Symbiosis Colleges |
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MAH MBA CET |
JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA |
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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.
Exams like MAT, ATMA, and TANCET are generally considered to be easier compared to others. However, the difficulty level can change from year to year for various reasons. Each exam has its own benefits and challenges.
Yes, there are options for students who want to pursue an MBA without taking an entrance exam. However, gaining admission to the top B-schools in the country typically requires passing an entrance exam. This type of course has its advantages and disadvantages, so candidates should weigh these factors before applying.
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 requirement
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 as soon as possible. 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.