SNAP vs NMAT: Which Among The Two Exam Is Tougher
SNAP vs. NMAT: The MBA program is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after and prestigious courses.
Anil Solonki16 Oct, 2025
Share
SNAP vs. NMAT : The MBA program is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after and prestigious courses. As aspiring MBA candidates embark on their preparation journey each year, they are faced with the crucial task of shortlisting the entrance exams that will pave their way into their dream B-Schools.
While the Common Admission Test ( CAT ) remains a popular default choice, other national and state-level entrance exams offer viable alternatives for MBA aspirants. Two such significant exams are the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) and the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT), also known as NMAT by GMAC. This comprehensive comparison and analysis will help you decide between SNAP and NMAT to choose the exam that best aligns with your aspirations.SNAP vs. NMAT: General Differences
| Point of Difference | NMAT | SNAP |
| Full Form | NMIMS Management Aptitude Test | Symbiosis National Aptitude Test |
| Conducting Authority | Graduate Management Aptitude Council (GMAC) | Symbiosis International (Deemed) University (SIU) |
| Exam Duration | 120 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to High | Moderate |
| Answer Options for MCQs | 5 | 4 |
| Marks per Question | 3 Marks | 1 Mark |
| Negative Marking | No | 25% |
| Sectional Time Limit | Yes | No |
| Top MBA Participating Colleges | NMIMS Mumbai, NMIMS Bangalore, Amity University Noida, IMI Kolkata, etc. | SIBM Pune, SIBM Bangalore, SIBM Hyderabad, SCMHRD Pune, etc. |
SNAP – Symbiosis National Aptitude Test
SNAP is a computer-based online test conducted by Symbiosis International University (SIU) at the national level. Approximately 50,000 candidates appear for this exam yearly to compete for 2,257 seats offered across 15 institutions affiliated with SIU. Successful SNAP qualifiers become eligible for admission into 23 MBA programs offered by SIU-affiliated institutes.NMAT – NMIMS Management Aptitude Test
NMAT, rebranded as NMAT by GMAC, is also a computer-based online entrance exam offering admissions to over 20 top B-Schools in India. The test scores are not only accepted by Indian institutes but also by institutions in South Africa and the Philippines. NMAT is conducted over a 75-day testing window across 58 centers in 44 cities in India. The exam witnessed a 7% increase in registration last year, attracting over 88,000 applicants in 2017.SNAP vs NMAT: Exam Pattern Comparison
| Exam | No. of Questions | Test Duration | Negative Marking | No. of Attempts |
| SNAP | 130 | 120 Minutes | 25% deduction | One Attempt Only |
| NMAT | 120 | 180 Minutes | No Negative Marking | Maximum 3 Retakes |
- The major difference in the exam pattern lies in the General Knowledge (GK) section. SNAP has a dedicated GK section with 25 questions, while NMAT lacks such a section.
- Additionally, the time allotted per question differs between the two exams, with SNAP allowing approximately 55 seconds per question and NMAT allowing 90 seconds per question.
- Notably, SNAP requires speed and accuracy due to negative marking, while NMAT allows candidates to choose the order of sections and offers no negative marking.
SNAP vs NMAT: Syllabus Comparison
The syllabus of both SNAP and NMAT is similar to other management entrance tests, but they differ in the topics covered under each section. For example, NMAT's language comprehension includes contextual usage and syllogism, while SNAP covers topics like idioms, synonyms & antonyms, and fill in the blanks.| Section | NMAT | SNAP |
| English | Antonyms, Synonyms, Grammatical Errors, Fill in the Blanks, Tenses, Parts of Speech, Vocabulary, Jumbled Sentences, Phrasal Verbs, Sentence Correction, and more. | General English: Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Vocabulary, Grammar. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Trigonometry, Algebra, Probability, Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry, Line Graph, Mixture and Allegations, Permutations and Combinations, 2D and 3D Geometry, Statistics, Number System, Percentage, Time and Work, Profit and Loss, Average, Interest, and more. | Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency. |
| Logical Reasoning | Course of Action, Critical Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Puzzles, Family Tree, Syllogisms, and more. | Analytical & Logical Reasonin |
SNAP vs. NMAT: Competition Level & Scope
NMAT enjoys a higher competition level, as its scope extends to some of the top B-Schools in India, such as SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, ICFAI Business School (IBS), Xavier's University, ITM Business School, and more. On the other hand, SNAP's scope is limited to SIU and a few more institutions, but it includes many top-ranking B-Schools like SIBM, SIOM, SIIB, and SCMHRD.SNAP vs. NMAT: Cut off for Top Colleges
All applicants are evaluated by the NMAT participating universities based on their sectional and total scores, which range from 150 to 200 out of 360. On the other hand, SNAP-accepting universities just examine the total expected SNAP cutoff, which is around 68 to 70 out of 150. Here, students can find out the Expected NMAT 2022 Cut off Percentile given below:
Also Read: SNAP Exam Centre 2023
Expected NMAT 2022 Cutoff Percentile
| College | Expected NMAT
Cut off 2022 |
| NMIMS Mumbai | 200+ |
| BSE Institute Limited | 200+ |
| Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar | 200+ |
| Amity University | 200+ |
| NMIMS Bangalore | 180+ |
| NMIMS Hyderabad | 180+ |
| Bennett University | 180+ |
| ITM Business School | 200+ |
| GITAM School of International Business | 200+ |
| BML Munjal University | 200+ |
| ISBR Business School | 170+ |
| University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES) | 160+ |
| Thapar School of Management | 150+ |
| Woxsen Business School | 160+ |
| Alliance University | 100+ |
Expected SNAP 2022 Cutoff Percentile
| Institute | Expected SNAP 2022
Cutoff Percentile |
| SIBM Pune | 98.50% |
| SCMHRD Pune | 96% |
| SIIB Pune | 93% |
| SIBM Bangalore | 90% |
| SIBM Hyderabad | 58% |
| SIOM Nashik | 87% |
| SICSR Pune | 82% |
| SITM Pune | 83% |
| SSBF | 60% |
| SSMC Bangalore | 75% |
| SSSS Pune | 55% |
Check SNAP Vs NMAT Exam Dates (Upcoming)
Check out the upcoming exam dates for SNAP Vs NMAT|
Events |
NMAT Timeline |
SNAP Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Registration commencement |
August to October | August to November |
|
Admit Card |
Soon after scheduling the exam | December |
|
Exam window |
October to December | December |
|
Result |
Within 48 hours of taking the test |
Third week of January |
SNAP Vs NMAT FAQs
What is the difference in negative marking between NMAT and SNAP?
NMAT has no negative marking for wrong answers, allowing candidates to attempt questions without fear of losing marks. On the other hand, SNAP implements a negative marking scheme of 25% for each incorrect answer (excluding TITA questions).
Which exam is more difficult, SNAP or NMAT?
In SNAP Vs. NMAT, the overall difficulty level ranges from moderate to difficult. However, the sectional difficulty level differs between the two exams. SNAP's Quantitative and General Awareness sections are typically more challenging, while NMAT's Logical Reasoning section is considered comparatively easier.
Can NMAT be cracked in one month?
Yes, it is possible to crack NMAT in one month with proper preparation and focused study.
How is the difficulty level of SNAP VS NMAT?
SNAP is considered to have a moderate difficulty level, whereas NMAT is known to have a moderate to high difficulty level.
Is there a sectional time limit for these exams?
SNAP has sectional time limits, with each section having a specified duration. On the other hand, NMAT has no sectional time limits; candidates can manage their time across sections as per their preference.
Talk to a counsellorHave doubts? Our support team will be happy to assist you!
Check out these Related Articles
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Live & recorded classes available at easeDashboard for progress trackingMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Free Learning Resources
PW Books
Notes (Class 10-12)
PW Study Materials
Notes (Class 6-9)
Ncert Solutions
Govt Exams
Class 6th to 12th Online Courses
Govt Job Exams Courses
UPSC Coaching
Defence Exam Coaching
Gate Exam Coaching
Other Exams
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others
Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.