“Without the spur of competition, we’d loaf out our life.” -Arnold Glasow.
It is the spirit of competition that keeps our life abuzz. But with a population that contributes to nearly 17 percent of the entire world, the level and quality of competitors increase drastically.
In India, almost millions, if not billions, of candidates undertake competitive examinations for better prospects and a successful future. To succeed, you must be equipped with sufficient knowledge before even starting the preparation for any test.
Sadly, though most of the candidates do not lack any qualities, they still fail because they lack initial research work. You may have all the skills and knowledge but may not be aware of the arenas in which you could flaunt them. We understand this, and we want to spread awareness about the opportunities that one may utilize to exploit their potential in management programs.
In India, Master of Business Administration or MBA is one of the most popular post-graduate programs. This two-year program strengthens one’s understanding of business administration and management.
It opens up a plethora of opportunities and is also a lucrative and much-desired field.
If you have excellent communication and leadership skills, along with an analytical and research-oriented demeanor, then this field is best suited for you.
The diversity of this field is evident by the streams of people who can undertake this field. People from Science, Commerce, Art, or any other background can enroll themselves in an MBA program for better career prospects.
But selecting the right university is of utmost importance. Here is your chance to explore your alternatives and study at an esteemed university. We have compiled a list of top management/MBA Entrance Exams for our aspiring candidates that have either completed or are completing their undergraduate:
Management Entrance exams
1. CAT
CAT or Common Admission Test is the most popular computer-based national-level management entrance exam. It tops the complete list of MBA Entrance Exams due to its stature. It is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) for admission of aspiring candidates to IIM’s and B-schools across India. It is supervised by one of the IIMs on a yearly rotational basis.
The CAT exam is usually conducted on the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December.
The exam comprises 100 MCQs & non-MCQs from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). It is conducted in online mode once every year.
| Conducting Authority | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Restriction |
| Exam Frequency | Once Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online(At allotted test center) |
| Exam duration | 2 hours |
| Total number of questions | 76 |
| Course Offered | IIMs offer MBA, PGP, PGP-FABM, PGPEM, PGDM, EPGP PGPSM, PGPWE, PGDHRM, PGPEX, and PGPBM |
| Website | iimcat.ac.in |
2. GMAT
GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test is an MBA entrance exam conducted for admission to various colleges worldwide. GMAT Entrance Exam is organized by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
Though it is placed at the second position in the list of MBA Entrance Exams, it is an esteemed examination globally.
A candidate appearing for GMAT is tested in the following fields: Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. GMAT is a difficult exam, so students need a properly streamlined guide (books) to ace the examination.
Due to Covid-19, the candidates can now opt for online examinations as well. Once results are generated, a candidate’s score is valid for a period of 5 years.
| Conducting Authority | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) |
| Age Limit | A candidate should have completed 18 years of age. If a candidate is between 13-17 years of age, they should have legal permission from a guardian to appear for the exam. No upper age limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Restriction |
| Exam Frequency | Once Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online or Offline |
| Exam duration | 2 hours |
| Total number of questions | 80 |
| Course Offered | MBA courses in and outside India |
| Website | iimcat.ac.in |
3. XAT
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level online-based MBA entrance test conducted by Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur on behalf of Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI).
The XAT exam has four sections – Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), Decision Making (DM), Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and General Knowledge (GK).
| Conducting Authority | Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI) |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Restriction |
| Exam Frequency | Once Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Total number of questions | 100 |
| Course Offered | PGDM HRM, PGDM BM (Full-time residential programs), Exec- FPM, and BM (Part-time) |
| Website | xatonline.in |
4. SNAP
Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) is the university-level exam conducted by Symbiosis University. The SNAP exam paper comprises General English, Quantitative-Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency, and Analytical & Logical Reasoning. The pattern has changed from MCQ and Non-MCQ based to the only MCQ based.
A candidate can undertake the exam twice out of three times every year.
| Conducting Authority | Symbiosis International (Deemed) University |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | 2 Attempts |
| Exam Frequency | Thrice Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam duration | 1 hour |
| Total number of questions | 60 |
| Course Offered | MBA- I&E, IT, MBA CSE, MBA Communication, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Human Resources, Information Technology, Infrastructure Development and Management, Business Analytics, International Business, Agri-Business, Energy & Environment, Telecom Management, Communication Management, Operations Management, Information Technology Business Management, Data Science and Data Analytics, Hospital & Healthcare Management, Banking and Finance, and Sports Sciences |
| Website | snaptest.org |
5. CMAT
CMAT or the Common Management Admission Test is a national-level management examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for B-schools in India.
The examination has the following sections: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability, and General Awareness.
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Limitation |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Total number of questions | 100 |
| Course Offered | MBA/PGDM |
| Website | cmat.nta.nic.in |
6. NMAT
NMAT or NMIMS Management Aptitude Test is one of the most popular exams in the list of MBA entrance exams. NMAT is conducted on a national level for admission to NMIMS University and other reputed B-schools in India. It is conducted online and offline every year over a duration of a few months.
The number of questions has been revised and reduced from 120 to 108. The candidates are tested on their Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning.
| Conducting Authority | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | 3 attempts |
| Exam Frequency | Once Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online and Offline |
| Exam duration | 2 hours |
| Total number of questions | 108 |
| Course Offered | MBA(Finance, Information Systems, Marketing,Operations & Decision Sciences), MBA Human Resource, PGDM, MBA Decision Science & Analytics, PGDM |
| Website | nmat.org |
7. TISSNET
TISSNET or Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET) is a national entrance exam conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, for admission to its MBA courses.
The candidates appearing for this examination are tested in English Proficiency, Mathematics, and Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.
A candidate must be well versed in General Knowledge concepts as TISS emphasizes this area the most.
| Conducting Authority | Tata Institute of Social Sciences |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No limit |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Online(At allotted test center) |
| Exam duration | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Total number of questions | 100 |
| Course Offered | MBA/PGDM, MA |
| Website | tissnet |
8. MAT
Management Aptitude Test or MAT is a popular national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admissions to reputed B-schools across India. MAT is conducted four times every year in February, May, September, and December for admissions to MBA/PGDM courses.
MAT is flexible, and the candidates are allowed to select their model and date of examination.
A candidate appearing for MAT is tested in Language Comprehension, Data Analysis & Sufficiency and Mathematics, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Indian & Global Environment.
| Conducting Authority | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | 2 Attempts |
| Exam Frequency | Four Times Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online(at test centers), Offline and Remote Proctored |
| Exam duration | 2.5 hours |
| Total number of questions | 200 |
| Course Offered | MBA courses |
| Website | mat.aima.in |
9. IBSAT
IBSAT or IBS Aptitude Test is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (a deemed to be University) for admission to IBS colleges.
The candidates appearing for IBSAT are tested in Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Adequacy, and Data Interpretation.
ICFAI B-schools also accept CAT/NMAT/GMAT scores.
| Conducting Authority | ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (a deemed to be University) |
| Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Limitation |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Online(Remote Proctored) and Offline |
| Exam duration | 2 hours |
| Total number of questions | 140 |
| Course Offered | MBA/PGDM |
| Website | ibsindia.org |
10. MAH-CET
MAH-CET or Maharashtra Common Entrance Test is a state-level management entrance exam conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, for admissions to various institutions across the state of Maharashtra.
The candidates appearing for this examination are tested in Logical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension.
MAH CET affiliated colleges also accept CAT/GMAT/CMAT/MAT/XAT/ATMA scores.
| Conducting Authority | State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra |
| Age Limit | Lower Age Limit is 21 yearsNo Upper Age Limit |
| Number of attempts allowed | No Limitations |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Online(at test centers) |
| Exam duration | 2.5 hours |
| Total number of questions | 200 |
| Course Offered | MBA/PGDM |
| Website | mat.aima.in |
On a final note.
MBA stands apart from other post-graduate degrees because of better career prospects, a plethora of opportunities in any sector, flexibility, and personal growth.
A well-informed and well-prepared aspirant will get a chance to fulfil their dream to pursue MBA from the most esteemed university.
So seize this chance with our carefully curated list of MBA Entrance Exams and cover the distance between your dreams and actions.
