List of Top 11 MBA Entrance Exams in India | Popular List of MBA Entrance Exam
Those who are interested in to enhance their careers, want to do leadership roles, and want to generate higher salaries then student can choose to Persue an MBA (Master of Business Administration degree). MBA can opens doors to various career opportunities, especially in management and leadership positions across industries like Finance, Marketing, Consulting and in many other specializations .So, In order to take admission in the best business school in India then you will have first be required to pass in an entrance examination.
Well, there are many MBA entrance tests in India that check your skills in subject like Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and English. These exams let universities to judge how well you can solve problems, how you think logically, and read or analyse thing.
Here are some of the most popular tests include CAT, GMAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT and many other exams, We will look into each of these exams and more in this blog
CAT
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is one of the most popular MBA entrance exam India, It is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It is considered one of the most difficult tests for doing an MBA. In this exam there are three sections: Quants (math), DILR (data interpretation and logical reasoning), and VARC (verbal ability).
The CAT exam is famous for its high level of difficulty and competitiveness, since it becomes an entry point to enter in the top IIMs. There are many other good business schools in India that accepts CAT scores, That’s why this is an important exam for anyone pursuing an MBA.
- Conducted By: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
- Accepted by: All IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, and over 100 other top B-schools in India.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD categories).
- Exam Format: Computer-based, 3 sections: VARC, DILR, QA. MCQs and non-MCQs.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Number of Questions: 66 (approx.)
- Registration starts in month from and to: August to September
- Exam Date: November
XAT
XAT is another popular MBA admission test in India, conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. It is considered to be the tougher test than the other tests due to its additional topic. As commonly there are sections like Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, and Logical Reasoning, but additionally XAT has a Decision Making section in which you are given a real-world business issues to address. This section analyses your critical thinking skills and capacity to make decisions under stress.
Well, Many popular business schools accept XAT scores, you can consider this exam to persue you MBA journey from popular colleges . The examination is normally held in January.
- Conducted By: XLRI Jamshedpur
- Accepted by: XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, and other B-schools in India.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or final-year students.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability, General Knowledge, and Essay.
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Number of Questions: 100 (approx.)
- Registration starts in month from and to: August to November
- Exam Date: First week of January
CMAT
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national admission exam which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). In India, There are more than a thousand business schools that accept this entrance exam scores. The exam test your quantitative ability (math), logical reasoning, verbal ability, and general awareness. For students who want more options in a variety of MBA programs, the CMAT is considered as a good choice because it is simpler than tests like the CAT or XAT exam.
This exam is only given once a year, typically in January, and is less stressful for most students due to its moderate difficulty level.
- Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Accepted by: Over 1000 B-schools in India, including JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, and others.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, 4 sections: QA, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness.
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Number of Questions: 100
- Registration starts in month from and to: November to December
- Exam Date: January
NMAT
NMAT is a popular entrance exam for MBA programs which is conducted by the GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council). This exam mainly focuses for NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) which is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra and known as the popular B-schools in india, However there are other popular Indian business school accepts this NMAT score for admission to their MBA programs. .
This exam test your logical reasoning, maths, and verbal. And, The main unique thing of this exam is that you can select your own exam date and also you can retake this exam it if you’re unhappy with your result which is one of the unique features of the NMAT. You have more freedom to perform successfully as a result. The NMAT is a popular option for those wishing to pursue an MBA. And, it is conducted yearly between October and December.
- Conducted By: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Accepted by: NMIMS, XIMB, SPJIMR, and other institutes.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with no specific percentage requirement.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, 3 sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Number of Questions: 108
- Registration starts in month from and to: July to October
- Exam Date: October to December (flexible scheduling)
SNAP
Symbiosis International University conducts this SNAP exam to those students who wants to take admission to their most famous MBA programs at popular B-Schools like SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIIB, and many others. If you want to get into an MBA from one of Symbiosis’s schools, you’ll have to clear this exam. This exam test your General Knowledge, DILR, Quantitative Ability, and General English, these are the four primary topics of this exam.
This exam is a good alternatives to do an MBA program from the top universities, It is usually held in December. The exam is known for its moderate difficulty level, which makes it accessible for most applicants. It provides flexibility for students who want to enter into the India’s top business schools.
- Conducted By: Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
- Accepted by: All Symbiosis Institutes, including SIBM, SCMHRD, and others.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST).
- Exam Format: Computer-based, 4 sections: General English, QA, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning.
- Exam Duration: 1 hour
- Number of Questions: 60
- Registration starts in month from and to: August to November
- Exam Date: December
IIFT
The IIFT exam is specially designed for the students who want to pursue an MBA in International Business. It is managed by the famous business school in India by IIFT Delhi and IIFT Kolkata. This exam test candidates’ skills in a variety of topics, such as Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, and General Knowledge. The IIFT exam is unique due to its main focus on global business knowledge, which is important for students who want to pursue careers in international business. The MBA program has a limited number of places, which is why the exam is tough & highly competitive. It usually takes place in December of each year.
- Conducted By: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
- Accepted by: IIFT campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on English, Quantitative Analysis, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge, and Essay.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Number of Questions: 110
- Registration starts in month from and to: August to November
- Exam Date: December
TISSNET
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) conduct this Entrance Test (TISSNET) for students who want to get into MBA and other graduate programs at TISS. TISS is mainly popular for their HR Program and social sciences. The test checks your general knowledge, your English skills, and your ability to think logically. TISSNET doesn’t have a separate quantitative part like some other MBA tests do.
When you Shortlisted after clearing this exam then the candidates have to go through a personal interview test. This exam usually held in the month of January.
- Conducted By: Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
- Accepted by: TISS campuses in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on General Knowledge, Analytical Ability, English Proficiency, and Logical Reasoning.
- Exam Duration: 1.5 hours
- Number of Questions: 100
- Registration starts in month from and to: October to December
- Exam Date: January
GMAT
The GMAT is an international MBA entrance exam that is approved by India’s and other top business schools globally. This exam is conducted by GMAC and this test focusses on Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. Other Indian Entrance test, the GMAT allows you to choose a test date and retake it if required. This makes this exam more flexible as compared to other exams. ISB, IIMs, and many other top universities in India accept GMAT scores, these things make it an excellent choice for students who is looking for an MBA both in India and overseas.
- Conducted By: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Accepted by: Top business schools worldwide, including Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, etc.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
- Exam Duration: 3.5 hours
- Number of Questions: 80-90
- Registration starts in month from and to: Flexible, available year-round
- Exam Date: Year-round with flexible scheduling
CUET PG
CUET PG (Common University Entrance Test Postgraduate) is a national-level entrance test that is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into multiple postgraduate programs, including the MBA.
This Exam topics include quantitative aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and general knowledge. Students may improve their college admissions process with CUET PG by applying to many schools with a single exam. It is a popular and easy option for candidates because many popular universities accept this CUET PG results for MBA admission.
- Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Accepted by: Central and state universities, some deemed universities.
- Eligibility Criteria: Relevant Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- Exam Format: Computer-based, General Test, Domain-Specific Papers, Language Test.
- Exam Duration: Varies by subject
- Number of Questions: 100 (approx.)
- Registration starts in month from and to: March to April
- Exam Date: June
MAH MBA CET
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test conducts the MAH MBA CET (Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test) exam, this is a state-level entrance test. This exam for those who want to pursue MBA or other programs at universities that are located in Maharashtra. The exam uses multiple-choice questions to check students’ logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and verbal ability. Following the exam, candidates are shortlisted based on their scores and go to the personal interviews session. MAH MBA CET scores are accepted by many top business schools in Maharashtra.
- Conducted By: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra
- Accepted by: MBA colleges in Maharashtra, including JBIMS, SIMSREE, and others.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST).
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on Logical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Number of Questions: 200
- Registration starts : January to February
- Exam Date: March
TANCET
TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) is a state-level entrance exam that is conducted by Anna University for MBA, MCA, and other postgraduate programs in Tamil Nadu. This exam test students quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, English, and general awareness. This exam often held in the month of march every year. The scores of this exam almost accepted by the all top colleges in Tamil Nadu.
- Conducted By: Anna University, Chennai
- Accepted by: MBA colleges in Tamil Nadu, including IIT Madras.
- Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST).
- Exam Format: Computer-based, sections on Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and English Proficiency.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Number of Questions: 100
- Registration start : February to March
- Exam Date: May
Conclusion:
The Indian market has a number of excellent MBA Entrance exams, including CAT, GMAT, XAT, NMAT and many other. These all entrance exams helps you to open doors to your popular universities/colleges.
These exams test includes Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability. Choosing the right exam depends on your goals and the business schools you’re interested in. Proper preparation will help you move closer to achieving your MBA aspirations.
Which entrance exam is best for MBA in India?
The best MBA entrance exam depends on your goals and target schools:
CAT: Good for admission to the top IIMs and popular Indian B-schools like FMS, SPJIMR and more.
XAT: Best exam for XLRI Jamshedpur and other Xavier-affiliated institutes.
GMAT: Best for international MBA programs as well as for top Indian B-Schools.
CMAT, SNAP, NMAT: Good options to get into top B-schools, with less difficulty than CAT.
IIFT: Targeted for those who want to explore the international business program through MBA in IIFT.
When should I start preparing for the MBA?
The best time to start studying is six to twelve months before to entrance exam. This gives you lots of time to learn concepts, practice mocks, and develop time management skills.
Which MBA entrance exam is easy in India?
CMAT and TISSNET are generally considered the easiest MBA entrance exams in India. From these two exams CMAT has an average difficulty level, but TISSNET focusses on General Knowledge and English, which makes easier for students.