Top MBA entrance exams you can not miss for MBA / PGDM admission 2018

Most of the candidates end up taking about two to three exams in an academic season for admission in Top MBA colleges of Bangalore and other cities across India.

Top MBA entrance exams for MBA/PGDM admission 2018

CAT-XAT-CMAT are the top choices among all, because the best MBA colleges in Bangalore and others in the country such as IIMs, MDI, FMS, IMT, XLRI, SP Jain accept these scores. But the fact is, India has more than 50 entrance exams for MBA / PGDM admission being conducted at National, State and Institute level. Most of these exams are being attempted by few MBA aspirants compared to number of CAT, XAT or CMAT takers due to lack of awareness.

Every candidates should be aware about the options available to them to apply for these exams to secure the place in the Best MBA colleges in India.

Direct Admissions in Top MBA Colleges in Bangalore

Helpline : +91-8884449181 Get a Call Back For Admission Guidance

We have listed the most important MBA entrance exams that every MBA aspirants should consider while preparing for MBA Admission and preparation season.

1. Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT is the biggest and most popular entrance examination of India for MBA admission, CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM). CAT scores are considered for admission by 20 IIMs and various other management institutes across the country. More than two lakh students appear for the exam each year.

CAT exam was started in 1950. It's the first entrance exam started in India after independence for MBA admission in top colleges. Candidates need to attempt 100 questions in 180 minutes. Registration for CAT begins in August-September and the CAT exam is held in November-December. In 2017, CAT was held on November 26.

CAT exam primarily consists of four segments: Verbal, Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. These segments are accordingly grouped into sections. CAT has three sections:

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)

2. Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

CMAT is the second largest management entrance examination in the country. CMAT is taken by roughly 1.5 lakh candidates every year. CMAT is Conducted by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). The first CMAT exam took place in 2012. The exam is accepted by more than 500 MBA institutes across the country.

The CMAT exam is held in January every year.

CMAT is a computer-based exam (held for 180 minutes) and tests the candidate’s aptitude in four main sections:

Quantitative technique
Logical reasoning
Language comprehension
General Awareness

3. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

XAT is a computer based management aptitude test which is conducted by Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur. XAT is taken by approximately one lakh candidates annually.

Traditionally, XAT is held on the first Sunday of the year (January). XAT scores are accepted by more than 100 management institutes.

XAT tests the candidate on four sections:

Quantitative Ability
English Language & Logical Reasoning
Decision Making
GK & Essay

However, essay section is used only after candidates have been shortlisted for XLRI courses. Test duration is 170 minutes.

4. Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP)

SNAP is conducted by Symbiosis International University, SNAP is also a national-level management entrance examination. SNAP scores are primarily used for admission to 15 institutes under Symbiosis International University based in Pune. However, many other MBA colleges use SNAP scores for admission.

SNAP is held in December and the registrations go on till November.

SNAP test is a computer-based exam and held for two hours. It tests a candidates:

General English
Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
General Awareness: General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Business Scenario
Analytical & Logical Reasoning

5. NMAT by GMAC

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is also one of the important MBA entrance exams. NMAT has been acquired by GMAC recently and was rebranded as NMAT by GMAC. Scores for this exam will be used for admission to Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Alliance University, SRM University, BML Munjal University, VIT University, ICFAI Business School (IBS) and Ansal University.

The computer-based exam is held over a 75-day testing window, between October and December. Candidates need to attempt 120 MCQs in 120 minutes.

Candidates can appear for the exam a total of three times and the best of three scores will be used for admission.

NMAT exam has three main sections:

Language Skills
Quantitative Skills
Logical Reasoning

6. Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

MAT is also one of the most popular MBA entrance exam. More than 600 institutes accept MAT scores for admission to management programmes. All India Management Association (AIMA) conducts MAT four times a year – February, May, September and December. The exam is held in both online (computer-based) and offline (written) mode.

MAT test duration is 150 minutes, having 200 questions. The aspirant is tested in the following five areas:

Indian and Global Environment
Language Comprehension
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
Mathematical Skills
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

7. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Exam

IIFT entrance test is an institute specific entrance test. The exam is held for admission to the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). It is held in pen and paper mode.

IIFT test is conducted in November for two hours and consists of 200 multiple choice questions. It tests a candidate’s aptitude in the following areas:

English Comprehension
General Knowledge & Awareness
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Analysis

8. AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)

ATMA is also a national-level management entrance test. It is conducted in online as well as offline mode and held four times a year-February, May, July and August.

ATMA scores are used for admission in by several management programmes. Held for three hours, ATMA tests a candidate on the following areas:

Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1
Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2
Quantitative Skills Part 1
Quantitative Skills Part 2
Verbal Skills Part 1
Verbal Skills Part 2

9. ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test (IBSAT)

IBSAT is an institute level entrance test. The exam is conducted by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. IBSAT test scores are used for admission to MBA and PhD programs at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses – Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Dehradun, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

IBSAT is held over a period of 15 days wherein the candidate can book a slot as per convenience.

The computer-based test (CBT) tests the applicant’s ability in the following:

Verbal Ability
Reading Comprehension
Quantitative Aptitude
Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation

10. MICAT

MICAT is the online entrance test for MICA's flagship two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management - Communications (PGDM-C).

Candidates first need to apply with CAT, XAT and GMAT (2012 onwards). All applicants will be called for MICAT entrance test which is held in December.

Held over 125 minutes, MICAT has two sections:

Section 1 assesses the candidates’ analytical skills, logical skills, verbal skills, divergent thinking, written communication skills and general awareness.
Section 2 consists of a Psychometric Test.

11. Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) Admission test

IRMA Admission test is an institute-level entrance examination. It is conducted for admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management (PRM) and Fellow Programme in Rural Management (FPRM) at Institute of Rural Management, Anand. The exam is held in the month of January.

IRMA uses CAT scores for shortlisting candidates in the first round. Shortlisted candidates are then called for IRMA written test on the subject of “Issues of Social Concern”.

Candidates need to answer 40 questions in 80 minutes.

12. Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT)

KMAT is also a state-level entrance examination for admission to post graduate level programmes offered by MBA colleges and B-schools in the state of Karnataka. The exam is held thrice in the months of May, July and September. Registration schedule is announed in April.

Conducted by Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges Association (KPPGCA), KMAT scores are used for admission by more than 169 colleges across the state.

Candidates need to attempt 120 questions in 120 minutes. The test consists of the following sections:

Language Comprehension
Mathematical Skills
Basic Aptitude

13. Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET)

TISSNET is an institute-level exam conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences for all Masters programmes offered in TISS-Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, Guwahati, IMHST Chennai, MHAT Calicut and G-SET Ranchi.

A computer-based exam, TISSNET asks questions related to Social Sensitivity, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability and Knowledge on Contemporary issues. The exam is held for 100 minutes (1 hour & 40 minutes)