The MBA is one of the most sought-after degrees in today’s corporate world. Individuals who earn an MBA improve their competence in a variety of sectors, which aids in the efficient operation of a business. The need for MBA graduates in the business world has prompted the establishment of various management institutes in the country, including IIMs.

Most institutes have a similar admission process, which includes an MBA entrance exam, GD or WAT, and PI. While some institutes administer their own admission examination, others accept scores from specified MBA entrance exam(s). The CAT exam is administered by IIMs, and CAT results are widely accepted by the majority of top MBA programs. MBA entrance test dates vary greatly, thus management candidates should keep track of the exam dates and updates on a regular basis. Some of the most important MBA entrance tests are listed below to help hopefuls become acquainted with them.

Why Is an Entrance Exam for MBA Important?

MBA entrance tests are required for admission to a variety of management schools. The exams are administered by the different institutes, which also determine the selection criteria. Every year, many students take several management entrance exams with the goal of getting a postgraduate degree in management. As a result, MBA applicants should be prepared to take a variety of MBA entrance examinations in India in order to increase their chances of being accepted by various business schools. For example, XAT has a portion for Decision Making and Essay Writing, while MH-CET, MAT, and SNAP have a section called General Knowledge, therefore applicants must stay up to date on current events when preparing for the CAT exam.

Exam Section	CAT	XAT	MAT	SNAP	GMAT	NMAT	CMAT	IIFT	MAH-CET	TISS NET	IBSAT	KMAT	TANCET	PG-CET	ATMA
Logical Reasoning	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Verbal Ability	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
QA	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Current Affairs/ General Awareness	✘	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘	✘	✔	✘
Essay Writing / Analytical WritingBusiness Analysis	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✔	✘	✘

Though the CAT exam score is accepted by the majority of management institutes in India, other exams are as relevant because some of the best B-Schools use these exams for admittance. Many institutes accept test scores, such as the MAT. Details about these tests are provided here, allowing students to become well-versed in the relevant details and prepare accordingly.

Top 15 MBA Entrance Exams in India

Every year, a number of major business schools offer their own entrance exams for admittance. Candidates may need to fine-tune their preparation in order to keep up with other important management tests. The following list contains complete information regarding the top MBA entrance tests in India.

• CAT –The CAT exam is unquestionably the most popular of all management entrance exams in India. Every year, the Common Admission Test allows management hopefuls to pursue their dream of admission to IIMs. Every year, one of the 20 IIMs conducts the exam in a rotation. The CAT is currently the most popular MBA admission exam, with around 2.5 lakh students taking it each year.
• XAT Xavier Aptitude Test – XAT, the second most common entrance exam for management aspirants after CAT, is conducted by XLRI for graduate programs in management across 11 XAMI member institutes in India. Taking place in January, it includes unique sections like Decision Making and Essay Writing. The latter often focuses on current affairs, requiring candidates to stay informed. Apart from Xavier Association and institutes, XAT scores are accepted by various other institutions such as S P Jain, GIM, and IIT – Madras. For detailed information, candidates can visit the official XAT website.
• MAT Management Aptitude Test – It is organized by AIMA for admission to MBA and similar programs at the various member institutes. The MAT exam is normally given four times a year, in February, May, September, and December. The test score cut-off varies from month to month and each Institute. For example, Christ University’s MAT February cut-off is 80%, however it might sometimes rise to 85% in December. The top institutions that accept MAT scores include Christ University, Galgotias Business School, NIILM Centre of Management Studies, MITCON Institute of Management, Alliance Business Academy, Jagan Institute of Management Studies, and ITM (Navi Mumbai).
• SNAP – Symbiosis National Aptitude Symbiosis International University (Deemed) conducts admissions exams for graduate programs. SNAP includes an additional component for General Awareness and has no sectional time limit. As a result, anyone can devote as much or as little time to each subject as they see fit. This event, held every December, serves as the gateway to the famous Symbiosis Group of Institutions.
• GMAT – There are more than 2,300 graduate business schools worldwide that accept Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. Candidates are assessed on their analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning skills. Through GMAT, candidates can get admission to graduate management programmes nationally and globally. A large number of colleges in India accept GMAT scores, in addition to global management schools.
• NMAT – Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test is normally held from October to December each year, with a 75-day exam window. A applicant is allowed three NMAT attempts each year, including no-shows. The sole requirement is to wait at least 15 days between two attempts. The results are available immediately after taking the exam.NMIMS – Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai Campus, ICFAI, Alliance University, ARM University, and BIT University all require NMAT exam marks. Aspirants can obtain all exam-related information by visiting the official website.
• CMAT – Common Management Admission Test is certified by AICTE and is a national-level test used to get admission to management programs in India. It is held in April, and this exam allows test takers to choose the score in which they performed best. Since 2015, CMAT has been held in international nations to facilitate MBA admission for foreign applicants in India. The CMAT also includes a part on general awareness. Some of the institutes that accept CMAT scores include Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Welingkar Institute of Management, Goa Institute of Management, Birla Institute of Technology – Mesra, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, and Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship in Bangalore. Aspirants can follow the official website. for updates on the CMAT exam.
• IIFT – The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade conducts a test for admission to their MBA programs in Delhi, Kakinada, and Kolkata. This test, like the CAT, is often administered in December and has no age limit for individuals who wish to take it.IIFT is one of India’s leading universities for Foreign Business Management. This autonomous public business school was formed in 1963 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) to help professionalize the country’s exports and imports, as well as trade management, by developing human resources through this Institute.
• MH-CET Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH-CET)or MH-MBA/MMS-CET is a computer-based test for admission to two-year full-time Post Graduate Degree Courses in MBA/MMS and PGDBM/PGDM in Government, University Departments, University Managed, and Unaided institutions in the state of Maharashtra. The scores are accepted by some of Maharashtra’s top B-Schools, including Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, Indira Institute of Management, PUMBA, and other MBA colleges.
• TISSNET – The Tata Institute of Social Sciences uses this computer-based test to select students for its full-time postgraduate degree programs. This test will have three sections: English Proficiency, Mathematical & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. Those who pass the TISSNET exam will be required to take the TISSMAT, an extra exam, as well as an in-person interview.
• TANCET – The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) is a state-level exam offered by Anna University for admission to MBA programs in Tamil Nadu. TANCET marks are also required for admission to several other courses. To be eligible for TANCET, students must have a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum of 50%.
• IBSAT – IBSAT is a computer-based management admission exam offered by the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. This exam is required for admission to all of the ICFAI Business Schools around the country. Questions cover vocabulary and reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, quantitative techniques, data adequacy, and data interpretation. ICFAI Business Schools accept GMAT, CAT, and NMAT scores in addition to IBSAT scores.
• KMAT – KMAT scores are used as an entrance criterion by AICTE-accredited business schools associated with Karnataka’s universities. KMAT is held in over ten cities across the country and is open to applicants from both India and outside. It’s a paper-and-pen exam with 120 multiple-choice questions. Each segment is assessed with 40 multiple-choice questions. This exam has three sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension.
• PGCET The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) oversees the Karnataka PGCET, a state-level entrance test for MBA and other postgraduate degrees. To apply for the Karnataka PGCET, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. This is a two-hour exam administered using paper and pen. A total of 100 multiple-choice questions are used to assess a candidate’s general knowledge, reasoning, English language competence, and overall quantitative analysis.
• ATMA – The AIMS Test for Management Admissions, often known as the ATMA, is administered four to five times every year. The exam will be computer-based. It is the management admission test for postgraduate programs including MBA, MMS, PGDM, and MCA. The All India Council for Technical Education and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) both recognise this objective-type national entrance test. ATMA does not require any prior managerial expertise. It evaluates a candidate’s analytical reasoning, linguistic skills, and aptitude. The sample tests offered on the official website offer a full overview of the exam. More than 200 top-tier colleges in India accept the ATMA score. AIMS has about 740 members, making it one of the world’s largest. networks of management institutes, with IIMs, ICFAI, Xavier Institutes, NMIMS ISB, Welingkar, MDI, S P Jain, and other notable Indian business schools among its members.

Participating Colleges for the Top 15 MBA Entrance Exams

CAT	IIMs, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMI Delhi, XLRI Jamshedpur, LIBA
MAT	ITM Business School, NIT Warangal, KIIT Bhubaneshwar, XIME Bangalore, SIESCOM, VIT Vellore
GMAT	IMI New Delhi, MICA Ahmedabad, GIM Goa, Great Lakes Chennai, SPJIMR Mumbai
XAT	XLRI Jamshedpur, LIBA, BIMTECH-Noida, MICA Ahmedabad, Great Lakes Chennai
SNAP	Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Symbiosis Institute of International Business, SSMC Bangalore, SRMS Bareilly
IIFT	Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, Community Institute of Management Studies Bangalore, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata
NMAT	Alliance University, Amity Business School, Noida, VIT University, Jindal Global Business School
TANCET	PSG Tech Coimbatore, MOP Vaishnav, American College Madurai, St.Joseph’s college Chennai, KCT Business School
MAH CET	Welingkar, CIMR, PUMBA, JBIMS, N.L Dalmia Institute
TISSNET	Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, ATLAS SKILLTECH UNIVERSITY, MUMBAI
KMAT	AIMS Institute, Alliance University, Karnataka Colleges of Management, ISBR Business School, Acharya Business School
IBSAT	ICFAI B-schools, Vanguard Business School, Rachna International Institute of Research and StudiesJK Business School
PG-CET	ISBR Bangalore, CMRIMS, ITM Business School, Chennai, IIBS Kolkota, BIT Bangalore
CMAT	Amity University, Noida, GIM Goa, Great Lakes, Chennai, ABBS Bangalore, NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
IBSAT	ICFAI Business Schools
ATMA	PUMBA, IMS Ghaziabad, PSGCT, Xavier Institute of Management and Research, KIIT School of Management

Entrance Exams Across India

National Level MBA Entrance Examinations help you get into top business institutions across the country. The names of MBA entrance exams are listed in the table below, organized by level of competition.

National-Level MBA Entrance Exam List with Dates

Name of the Exam	Exam Date(Tentative)	Frequency of the Exam
CAT 2023	26 November 2023	Once in a year
XAT 2024	First Sunday of January 2024	Once in a year
NMAT 2023	To be announced	Three times a year
GMAT 2023	As per the candidate’s convenience	Once in every 16 days(appointment-based)
CMAT 2023	First week of April 2023	Once in a year

State-Level MBA Entrance Exam List with Dates

Several Indian states have their own management entrance tests, to which applicants from other states can also apply. The exam’s syllabus and format are determined by the university that administers it.

Name of the Exam	Exam Date (Tentative)	Frequency of the Exam
UPSEE	May 2023	Once in a year
Karnataka PGCET	3rd week of July 2023	Once in a year
KMAT	July 2023	Once in a year
TANCET	March 2023	Once in a year
MAH-CET	18-19 March 2023	Once in a year