Top MBA Entrance Exams in India
by ago 16 views0
There are various MBA entrance exams in India through which students can get admission in top educational Institutions like Indian Institute of Management (IIM), SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Xavier School of Management (XLRI), etc. MBA equips the students with a broad spectrum of knowledge in the areas of Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, and so on.
To become eligible for admission at the above-mentioned or the desired College / Institute / University, students need to clear the respective MBA entrance exam. This blog covers the necessary details about the top entrance exams for MBA in 2025, eligibility criteria, admission process, and more.
Contents
List of Top 7 MBA Entrance Exams
Various entrance exams are conducted by the respective authorities offering admissions to the competent MBA aspirants in the renowned educational Institutions. Some of the top MBA entrance exams in 2025 are discussed below in detail:
1. Common Admission Test (CAT)
- Conducted By: Indian Institute of Management – IIM Kozhikode
- Exam Level: National Level Examination
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Official Website: ‘iimcat.ac.in’
CAT is a renowned MBA entrance exam which comprises 3 sections which are Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Students are allotted 120 minutes to attempt the MCQ and Non – MCQ (TITA) type questions. For each correct answer, +3 marks will be awarded, while for every incorrect answer -1 negative marking will be done.
2. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
- Conducted By: XLRI, Jamshedpur
- Exam Level: National Level Exam
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Official Website: ‘xatonline.in’
There are around 250+ educational Institutions across India accepting XAT scores for Master of Business Administration (MBA). The exam paper consists of 95 Multiple Choice Questions & 180 minutes are allotted to answer. The exam comprises four sections which are segregated into two parts, Part 1 & Part 2. Part 1 consists of Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR), Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), and Decision Making (DM). While Part 2 includes the General Knowledge (GK) section.
Candidates should note that 1 mark will be granted for every correct response and a negative marking of -0.25 marks will be there for each incorrect answer. Moreover, in this MBA entrance exam, there will be no negative marking for 8 skipped questions. However, if this limit exceeds, there will be a deduction of -0.10 marks for each unattempted question.
3. Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
- Conducted By: All India Management Association (AIMA)
- Exam Level: National Level Exam
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Paper-Based Test (PBT)
- Exam Frequency: 4 times a year – February, May, August, and December
- Official Website: ‘mat.aima.in’
MAT is a standardised National level MBA entrance exam. Based on previous years’ exam pattern, the exam covers 5 major sections which are Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian and Global Environment.
There are 150 questions wherein 30 questions are asked in each section. Candidates are given 120 minutes to attempt the exam. +1 is awarded for every correct response and -0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect response.
4. Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
- Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Exam Level: National Level Exam
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Official Website: ‘cmat.nta.nic.in’
CMAT is a very popular MBA entrance exam. This exam analyses the students’ proficiency in 5 major subjects typically being Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
There will be 20 questions per subject that sums a total of 100 questions. The candidates will get 180 minutes to complete the test. For the marking scheme: there will be a negative marking of -1 mark for every wrong answer, while for each of the right answers the candidate will be allocated +4 marks.
5. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
- Conducted By: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Exam Level: Global Level Exam (Accepted in India and Abroad)
- Exam Mode: Remote Proctored Online Test & Centre-Based Online Test
- Exam Frequency: Conducted Multiple Times (Round the Year)
- Official Website: ‘mba.com’
GMAT is one of the top MBA entrance exams which is accepted by over 2,400 Business Schools round the globe. The test consists of 64 MCQ-based questions. There are 3 sections featuring 21 questions for Quantitative Reasoning, 23 for Verbal Reasoning, and 20 for Data Insights section, respectively.
Moreover, the time limit for the exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes with an optional break of 10 minutes. This exam is conducted multiple times throughout the year but candidates are not allowed to appear for the exam more than 5 times a year.
6. Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
- Conducted By: Symbiosis International (Deemed) University (SIU)
- Exam Level: National Level Exam
- Exam Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Exam Frequency: 3 times a year in December
- Official Website: ‘snaptest.org’
SNAP is a widely recognised MBA entrance exam which is conducted thrice a year on varied dates in December. Candidates can appear for up to three tests. The question paper of SNAP has 3 sections i.e., 15 questions for General English, 25 for Analytical & Logical Reasoning, and 20 questions for Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency section.
The total duration of the test is 60 minutes. 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer and a deduction of -0.25 marks is done for each incorrect response.
7. Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT)
- Conducted By: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Exam Level: National Level Exam
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Exam Frequency: Once a Year with a Testing Window of 45 days
- Official Website: ‘mba.com’
NMAT is a recognised MBA entrance exam wherein each section is individually timed. There are 3 sections with 36 questions in each section. The sections are Language Skill, Quantitative Skill, and Logical Reasoning sections. Overall, there are 108 questions, for which students are allotted 120 minutes. Each question carries 3 marks.
Furthermore, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers, so the candidates can feel free to attempt as many questions as they want.
*Admission to MBA courses after appearing for MBA entrance exam is subject to specific cut-off marks and other admission parameters regulated by the respective educational Institutions.
Eligibility Criteria for MBA Entrance Exam
Below-outlined is the table highlighting the eligibility requirements for MBA exams:
| MBA Entrance Exam | Eligibility Criteria |
| CAT | ● Completed Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate (45% for SC / ST / PWD students) or equivalent CGPA. |
| XAT | ● Passed 3-years Bachelor’s Degree / equivalent in any stream. |
| MAT | ● Graduates from any stream can apply. |
| CMAT | ● Should be an Indian citizen.
● Qualified Graduation in any discipline. |
| GMAT | ● Minimum age to apply is 18 years.
*Those who are 13 – 17 years old are required to submit a written consent by their parents or legal guardian before scheduling the exam. |
| SNAP | ● Secured at least 50% marks or equivalent in Graduation.
*5% relaxation is given to SC / ST applicants. |
| NMAT | ● Graduate in any discipline with minimum 50% aggregate marks. |
Note: There are no minimum & maximum age restrictions for all the above-mentioned MBA entrance exams except for GMAT. Additionally, for MBA entrance exams like NMAT, SNAP, GMAT and XAT, foreign candidates can apply. They must be proficient in the English language.
*Candidates awaiting their final year results or in the final year of their UG courses can also apply. However, they would be granted admission on a provisional basis.
MBA Admission Process in India
The admission process includes qualifying the MBA entrance exam and then further following the norms & procedures of the respective educational Institutions given below below:
- Fulfil Eligibility Requirements: The candidates should make sure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria for their preferred exam.
- Register for the Exam: Applicants should fill-in the application form for their preferred MBA entrance exam prior to the deadline to avoid inconvenience.
- Issue of Admit Card: Candidates will receive the notification of the admit card a few days before the exam date. The admit card contains necessary information like exam centre, timings of the exam, instructions to be followed at the exam centre, and more.
- Examination Date: Aspirants are required to reach their MBA entrance exam centre at least an hour prior to the exam to complete the requisite formalities. It is to be made sure that the candidates carry all the required documents with them.
- Notification of the Exam Result: Check the results of the exam on the respective official websites. Based on the scores obtained, the candidates can proceed further by applying in the respective / preferred Colleges and attend the counselling rounds.
- Confirmation of Admission: Candidates would be required to submit their documents for further verification and pay the fees after the counselling to confirm their admission.
Tips to Score well in MBA Entrance Exam
Want to achieve a good score in the MBA entrance exam? Refer to the below-listed tips for more details about the same:
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: It is necessary for the students to be well-versed with the MBA entrance exam syllabus and pattern as it helps in gaining insights into how to prepare effectively for the exam. Moreover, they can solve previous year question papers which will assist them in analysing the difficulty level of the exam and important topics to focus on.
- Reliable Study Material: Choosing the right books for the MBA entrance exam is as important as knowing the exam pattern and syllabus. This provides accurate and up-to-date information on the topics. Students can also make use of video lectures to enhance their learning experience.
- Time Management: Having a study plan for the MBA entrance exam can come off as a great way to finish the lengthy syllabus, reduce stress levels, and enhance Students should ensure they take mock tests regularly & evaluate the performance level to identify the areas of improvement.
Wrap Up!
MBA equips students with knowledge in the field of Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, and more such disciplines. To become eligible for admission in esteemed educational Institutions, students can appear for some of the top MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc. based on their preferences.
Candidates must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria for their preferred MBA entrance exam, and are well aware of the exam pattern & syllabus. Furthermore, candidates should emphasise on preparing proper time management strategies, and rely on authentic & limited sources to study in order to obtain excellent results.
