Before planning for MBA admission in India, you must have to apply for entrance exams. MBA entrance exams are the first step toward admission in MBA/PGDM courses. A good score in MBA entrance exams can help you with admission to the best MBA colleges in India. Also, MBA exams open new opportunities for career advancement and job opportunities. Exams are a must for admission to top MBA colleges such as IIM’s and top B-schools of India.
Popular MBA Entrance Exams
- Common Admission Test [CAT] is the major MBA entrance exam in India.
- CAT exams will help You with admission to top Government Institutions offering MBA degrees.
- Also, CAT exam results are used for admission to Top business schools in India offering PGDM degrees.
- But there are other entrance exams too, which you can apply for if you have not performed well in CAT or not applied for the exam.
- You can apply for MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA for admission to Private Business Schools in India.
- Also, you can apply for SNAP, NMAT by GMAC, IBSAT, TISNET, MICAT for admission in some of the popular deemed institutions offering MBA.
- These entrance exams are conducted in the months of November, December, and January every year.
- So make sure to check the dates and apply before the last date of registration.
- MBA exams are computer-based tests that contain multiple-choice questions and non-multiple-choice questions.
The questions are asked from the following 3 topics:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability
All MBA entrance exams will ask similar types of questions from the same syllabus.
if you have studied for any of the entrance exams, you can easily prepare for other exams too.
But if you fail to score good marks in MBA entrance exams, then what do you think you would do?
Don’t get disappointed, there are other options too.
If you want to pursue an MBA degree for higher education and career advancement.
And cannot afford to pay the exorbitant tuition fee of the private business schools.
In such conditions, you can apply for state-level MBA entrance exams to pursue MBA.
PGCET, MAH-CET, TANCET, KMAT are some of the state-level MBA entrance exams.
These exams are conducted for admission in institutions affiliated with Mumbai University, Bangalore University, Anna University.
State-level MBA entrance exams are held in the month of July & August every year.
Plan your goals before applying for any of the MBA entrance exams.
Below mentioned table to have better clarity on the Eligibility Criteria for an MBA in India:
| S.No. | Entrance Exam | Institute | Eligibility | Tentative Month | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GMAT | Graduate Management Admission Test | Graduation in any Discipline ( except for people opting for early/advance admissions) | All year around (365 days)- by appointment only | https://www.mba.com/ |
| 2 | CAT | Indian Institute of Management | 50% in Graduation | November | www.catiim.in |
| 3 | IRMA | Institute of Rural Management Anand | 50% in Graduation | November | www.irma.ac.in |
| 4 | MAT | All India Management Association | Graduation in any Discipline | September, December, February & May | www.aima-ind.org |
| 5 | SNAP | Symbiosis International University | 50% in Graduation(regular degree) | December | www.snaptest.org |
| 6 | IBSAT | ICFAI | 50% in Graduation | December | www.ibsat.org |
| 7 | NMAT | NMIMS | 50% in Graduation | December | www.nmims.edu |
| 8 | XAT | XLRI, Jamshedpur | 50% in Graduation | January | www.xlri.ac.in |
| 9 | TISS | Tata Institute of Social Sciences | Graduation in any Discipline | January | www.tiss.edu |
| 10 | ATMA | Association of Indian Management Studies | 50% in Graduation | February | www.atma-aims.org |
| 11 | CMAT | AICTE | 50% in Graduation | February | www.aicte-cmat.in |
MBA Entrance Exams 2025 – Registration and Exam Dates
| Exam Name | Registration Date (Tentative) | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CAT (Common Admission Test) | August – September 2025 | November 30, 2025 |
| SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) | August – November 2025 | December 2025 (Multiple Slots) |
| MAT (Management Aptitude Test) | Ongoing (Multiple Sessions) | February, May, September, December 2025 |
| CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) | February – March 2025 | March – April 2025 |
| IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) | September – October 2025 | December 2025 |
| MAH CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) | February – April 2025 | March – April 2025 |
| TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) | January – February 2025 | March 2025 |
| XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) | August – November 2025 | January 5, 2026 |
| NMAT (NMAT by GMAC) | July – October 2025 | October – December 2025 |
| ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions) | Ongoing (Multiple Sessions) | February, May, July, December 2025 |
| IBSAT (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) | August – December 2025 | December 2025 – January 2026 |
| TISS NET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) | October – December 2025 | January 2026 |
| KIITEE (KIIT Entrance Exam) | November 2025 – April 2026 | April – May 2026 |
| MICAT (MICA Admission Test) | September – November 2025 | December 2025 |
Important Notes:
- CAT 2025: IIM will conduct the CAT 2025 on November 30.
- XAT 2025: The Xavier Aptitude Test is scheduled for January 5, 2026. Registrations are expected to close in November 2025.
- NMAT 2025: NMAT by GMAC is expected to be held from November 5 to December 20, 2025 (tentative dates).
- CMAT 2025: The Common Management Admission Test is likely to be conducted in March-April 2025.
Key Exam Periods:
- Major exams like CAT, XAT, and SNAP take place between November and January.
- Exams like CMAT, MAH CET, and CUET PG are conducted between March and May.
Note: Dates are tentative and subject to change. Candidates are advised to check official websites for the most current information and exact dates.
Make a note of the following points before you apply for exams:
- Your college choice to study MBA/PGDM
- Past Academic Performance
- The total budget for the course
To know more about MBA entrance exams and to find out the best MBA exams to apply for in 2025, check out the articles CLICK HERE.