Top Entrance Exams for MBA Admission 2024

Most popular MBA entrance exams in 2024 like CAT, XAT, MAT, SNAP, IBSAT, CMAT etc. will be conducted from November 2024 to April 2025. Other advanced MBA entrance exams like MAH-CET, AP ICET, TS ICET, OJEE, KMAT and GMAT, MAT, ATMA etc. will be conducted from February to May 2024. MBA aspirants can choose various management entrance exams at their convenience. and according to the MBA college for MBA admission.

Before they prepare for the MBA entrance exam and start training for MBA 2024, they must know important MBA exam dates and MBA admission criteria in various colleges that accept these exams. Scroll down to know about MBA Entrance Exams, Government College MBA Entrance Exams, MBA Application Last Date, Start Date, MBA Fees, Colleges Accepting Various MBA Entrance Exams etc.

Top MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Latest Updates

Candidates who are interested in MBA course can follow the latest updates on the most popular MBA entrance exam 2024 here

1. The CMAT 2024 application is available online.
2. TS ICET and AP ICET 2024 application process is active.
3. MAH MBA CET 2024 exam dates were held on 9th and 10th March.
4. TANCET 2024 ended on March 9.
5. KMAT Kerala exam has been scheduled to be held on 3rd March 2024.
6. February session of the 2024 MAT application process for IBT, CBT and PBT mode is ongoing.
7. The ATMA 2024 exam was conducted on February 18, 2024

Top MBA Entrance Exams 2024: Application and Exam Dates

The table below lists the application and exam dates for the Top 20 MBA Exams in India. More information about the exam registration process, payment and other exam-related details can be found below

Overview of CAT 

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducts the most popular entrance test for the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), which is the Common Entrance Test or CAT. CAT scores are used for admissions by 20 IIMs and over 1,200 other management institutes across the country. More than two million students appear for the exam every year.

CAT was introduced in 1950 and was discontinued in 2009 as a three-hour online entrance test. The CAT question paper consists of MCQs and non-MCQs. In 2020, the CAT exam was conducted in three periods and the duration of the exam was 120 minutes, with the number of questions reduced to 76. In 2021, the number of questions further decreased to 66. Since then it has been done in 3 episodes and only 2 hours long. CAT registration is online and the exam is conducted at more than 400 exam centres. The CAT exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Information Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

These segments are grouped into three sections:

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

Overview of CMAT

The country's second-largest entrance exam, the Common Management Admission Test or CMAT, is taken by around 1.5 lakh candidates. Conducted by a national testing agency, CMAT is a popular choice among MBA aspirants after CAT. The first CMAT exam was held in 2012. The exam results are accepted by more than 1,300 MBA institutes across the country. The exam will be held in May.

CMAT is a computer-based test (taken for 180 minutes) in two sessions and tests the candidate's ability in four main sections

1. Quantitative Technique
2. Logical Reasoning
3. Language Comprehension
4. General Awareness
5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Overview of XAT

Another top management gateway, the Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is a computer-based management aptitude test. Conducted by Xavier Labor Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur, XAT is conducted by approximately one lakh candidates every year. XAT is held on the first Sunday of the year (January). XAT score is accepted by XLRI Jamshedpur and more than 800 management institutes.

In the XAT exam, the candidate is tested on the following questions:

1. Quantitative Ability
2. English Language & Logical Reasoning
3. Decision Making
4. General Knowledge
5. Essay Writing 

Overview of SNAP

Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP conducted by Symbiosis International University is also a national-level management entrance exam. SNAP points are mainly used for admission to the 16 institutes of Symbiosis International University. In SNAP, applicants are given three tests and the best of the three scores is considered in the selection process. SNAP registration is from August to November and the exam is in December.

The SNAP test is a computer-based test and the duration is two hours. It tests the candidates:

1. General English
2. Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
3. Analytical & Logical Reasoning

Overview of NMAT by GMAC

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is also one of the most popular MBA entrance exams. It was acquired by GMAC in 2015 and renamed NMAT by GMAC. GMAC's NMAT is a computer-based exam that takes place over a 75-day testing period from October to December. Candidates have to complete 108 MCQs in 120 minutes. This year, NMAC has provided an option for students to take their exams from home in remote monitoring mode. This provision has been made due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

GMAC's NMAT offers several candidate-friendly options. For example, candidates can appear in the exam a total of three times and the best of the three will be used for admission. The NMAT exam has three main parts:

1. Language Skills
2. Quantitative Skills
3. Logical Reasoning

Overview of MAT

The Management Aptitude Test or MAT is also a very popular MBA option. More than 600 institutes accept MAT exam scores for admission to management programs. Conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), MAT is conducted four times in a year – February, May, September and December. The exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT) and Online Test (IBT). The MAT exam pattern has changed recently. It now lasts 150 minutes and contains 200 questions. The aspirant is tested on the following subjects:

1. Indian and Global Environment
2. Language Comprehension
3. Data Analysis and Sufficiency
4. Mathematical Skills
5. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

Overview of the IIFT Exam

The IIFT exam is an institution-specific entrance exam. NTA conducts the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) entrance exam. The IIFT test score is only valid for admission to the IIFT exam. It is organized online in more than 200 cities. The IIFT exam will be conducted in December. The duration of the exam is two hours and the question paper consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. The IIFT exam tests the candidate's aptitude in the following areas:

1. English Comprehension
2. General Knowledge & Awareness
3. Logical Reasoning
4. Quantitative Analysis

Overview of ATMA

AIMS Test for Management Admissions or ATMA is also a national-level management exam. It is conducted in online test mode and takes place four times in a year - February, May, July and August. ATMA points are used in several management programs at more than 500 MBA institutes.

The three-hour ATMA questionnaire consists of the following parts:

1. Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1
2. Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2
3. Quantitative Skills Part 1
4. Quantitative Skills Part 2
5. Verbal Skills Part 1
6. Verbal Skills Part 2

Frequently Asked Question 

Ques. Which is the best entrance exam for MBA admissions in India?

Ans. There's no single "best" exam. Top B-schools accept scores from various exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, etc. Choose the exam that aligns with your target schools and strengths.

Ques. When do I need to start preparing for the entrance exams?

Ans. Ideally, begin preparation 3-6 months before the exam date. This allows time for comprehensive study and practice tests.

Ques. Can I apply to multiple B-schools with the same exam score?

Ans. Yes, you can apply to multiple B-schools with a single exam score, but each school may have additional application requirements.

Specific Exams:

CAT (Common Admission Test):

Ques. What is the test format for CAT 2024?

Ans. The exact format might be announced later in 2024, but typically, CAT is a computer-based test with three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Ques. What is the scoring pattern for CAT?

Ans. There are usually positive marks for correct answers and negative marks for incorrect attempts (except for non-MCQs).

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test):

Ques. What makes XAT different from other entrance exams?

Ans. XAT has a unique Essay Writing section and a Decision-Making section that assesses your problem-solving approach.