Top MBA Exams: Candidates aspiring to pursue an MBA must gain comprehensive knowledge about the top MBA exams. These exams are obligatory for securing admission to MBA/PGDM programs offered at different management institutions. Therefore, it is imperative for aspirants to gather detailed information about each test and select the one that aligns with their preferences. For instance, those targeting admission to IIMs should opt for CAT , while those aiming for Tier-2 private MBA colleges might find CMAT or MAT more suitable.
CAT, administered by IIMs, stands out as the most widely recognised MBA entrance exam in India. Over 1,200 MBA colleges use CAT scores as a basis for shortlisting students for MBA batches. Following closely is the CMAT, conducted by the NTA, which is the second most popular exam. CMAT scores are accepted by nearly 1,000 MBA colleges across India.Entrance Exam | Exam Timeline | Official Website |
CAT (Common Admission Test) | 26 November 2023 | iimcat.ac.in |
CMAT | First week of May 2024 (Expected) | cmat.nta.nic.in |
NMAT by GMAC | October 2023 to December 2023 | www.mba.com/en-in/exams/nmat |
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) | 10, 17, and 22 December 2023 | www.snaptest.org |
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) | 7 January 2024 | xatonline.in |
MICAT I & II | MICAT I: 2 December 2023 MICAT II: 27 January 2024 | www.mica.ac.in/pgdm |
TISSNET | Last week of February 2024 | appln.tiss.edu |
PGDBA | First week of March 2024 | www.pgdba.iitkgp.ac.in |
IBSAT | Last week of December 2024 | ibsindia.org/admissions/ |
State Level MBA Entrance Exam | MBA Exam Date (Expected) |
MAH MBA CET 2024 | Last week of March 2024 |
AP ICET 2024 | Last week of May 2024 |
OJEE MBA 2024 | Second week of May 2024 |
KMAT Kerala | Third week of February 2024 |
TS ICET 2024 | Last week of May 2024 |
TANCET MBA 2024 | Last week of March 2024 |
KMAT Karnataka 2023 | Last week of December 2024 |
MBA Entrance Exam | Fee (General Category) | Fee (Reserved Category) |
CAT | Rs. 2400/- | Rs. 120/- |
CMAT | Rs. 2000/- | Rs. 1000/- |
SNAP | Rs. 2250/- | Rs. 2250/- |
NMAT by GMAC | Rs. 2800/- | Rs. 2800/- |
KIITEE Management | Rs. 1250/- | Rs. 1250/- |
TISSNET | Rs. 1030/- | Rs. 260/- |
IBSAT | Rs. 1800/- | Rs. 1800/- |
MAT | Rs. 1950/- | Rs. 1950/- |
MAH CET | Rs. 1000/- | Rs. 800/- |
MICAT | Rs. 2100/- | Rs. 2100/- |
XAT | Rs. 2100/- (Foreign nationals need to pay Rs. 5000 as XAT application fee) | Rs. 2100/- |
Mode of CAT | Online CBT |
CAT slots | 3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 66 |
Exam duration | 120 minutes |
Mode of CMAT | Online |
CMAT exam frequency | Once a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 100 |
Exam duration | 3 hours |
Mode of XAT | Online |
XAT exam frequency | Once a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 100 |
Exam duration | 210 minutes |
Mode of SNAP | Online |
SNAP exam frequency | Three days in a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 60 |
Exam duration | 60 minutes |
Mode of NMAT | Online |
NMAT exam frequency | Thrice a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 108 |
Exam duration | 120 minutes |
Mode of MAH MBA CET | Online |
MAH MBA CET exam frequency | Once a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 200 |
Exam duration | 150 minutes |
Mode of MAT |
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MAT exam frequency | Four times in a year |
Exam paper sections |
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No. of Questions | 200 |
Exam duration | 150 minutes |
Difficulty Level | MBA Entrance Exams |
Easy | MAT CMAT IBSAT |
Moderately to high | SNAP NMAT TISSNET |
Highly Difficult | CAT XAT |