Which MBA Entrance Exam Is Right for Me?

Over 300,000 learners graduate annually with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in India [1]. The country is home to one of the largest populations of graduate management education master degree holders, which includes MBA graduates. According to a 2021 report from the Graduate Management Admissions Council, it is second only to China, which manages the GMAT exam [2].

If you’re considering joining that pool of distinguished graduates, you’ll need to start by choosing an MBA entrance exam and preparing for it. When applying for an MBA, you won’t find a single set entrance exam. In fact, you’ll find multiple entry exams with different entry criteria, offering entrance to different MBA schools, colleges, and universities. 

It may not be obvious which to choose with so many options. This article will help you learn more about each MBA entrance exam criteria, discover why some are more popular, and examine the factors to consider when choosing an MBA entrance exam as you decide on the best option for you. 

What is an MBA entrance exam?

An MBA entrance exam is a test you take as part of your preparation for entry into a business school’s MBA programme. It tests your suitability for the MBA course of study with questions designed to determine your abilities in certain areas of the syllabus, such as your reasoning, data analysis and interpretation, language comprehension, and decision-making skills. 

Different tests focus on different areas. Your score on the MBA entrance exam will determine your place at the B-school of your choice. 

Types of MBA entrance exam

Eight national-level MBA entrance exams, including the popular CAT and GMAT, and state-level MBA entrance exams are available. Private B-schools may also offer entrance exams exclusive to them. Different schools accept different entrance exams and have unique requirements and criteria regarding the pass rate they accept. 

Let’s take a look at some MBA entrance exams in more detail.

CMAT

The Common Management Admission Test, or CMAT, is a popular national-level MBA entrance exam and one of the largest in India. It is a 180-minute exam based entirely on a computer. As a long-standing exam, over 1,000 MBA schools in India accept it for entrance to an MBA course. It assesses general awareness, logical reasoning, entrepreneurship, language comprehension, quantitative techniques, and innovation. 

Dates to study: Typically between January and May 

Schools that accept CMAT: AICTE universities such as JBIMS Mumbai, PUMBA Pune, Great Lakes Chennai. 

CAT

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a popular MBA entrance exam in India administered by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and accepted at national institutions. CAT is the choice of more than two lakh students each year, and you can take it at 400 exam centres across India. The exam itself takes two hours and focuses on logical reasoning and data interpretation, quantitative aptitude, and verbal and reasoning comprehension. 

Dates to study: Typically from August to November 

Schools that accept CAT: FMS Delhi, IIFT Delhi, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, Management Development Institute Gurgaon

XAT

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is another popular MBA entrance exam chosen by around one lakh candidates annually. The computer-based exam lasts three hours and ten minutes and tests quantitative ability, general knowledge, decision-making, and English language and logical reasoning. 

Dates to study: Typically early December through the first Sunday in January

Schools that accept XAT: Xavier Institute of Management, XLRI, Amrita School of Business

GMAT

The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admissions Test, is an MBA entrance exam recognised internationally, and you can take it in roughly 110 countries either in one of the testing centres that offer it or online. Candidates work through three sections on quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data insights, totaling two hours and 15 minutes.

Dates to study: The exam takes place year-round on varying dates.

Schools that accept GMAT: IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore, as well as business schools across the US, Australia, Canada, and Europe.

NMAT

The NMAT, or Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test, grants access to some top business schools. The online exam follows three components (quantitative skills, language skills, and logical reasoning) and takes two hours to complete. 

Dates to study: Typically into June or July

Schools that accept NMAT: NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR, and ISB

MAT

MAT stands for Management Aptitude Test and is a popular MBA entrance exam in India, accepted by most of the top MBA schools. This computer-based test takes 120 minutes and consists of 150 questions, testing candidates in areas like Indian and global environment, language comprehension, maths, data analysis and sufficiency, intelligence, and critical reasoning. Dates to study: Typically from March through May 

Schools that accept MAT: MET Mumbai, SOIL Gurgaon, Amity University - Noida

SNAP

SNAP, or Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, is a national MBA entrance exam specifically for admission to institutes under Symbiosis International University. The exam is computer-based and lasts one hour. It covers qualitative data interpretation, reasoning skills, and general English. 

Dates to study: Typically from August to December 

Schools that accept SNAP: All 17 schools under the Symbiosis International University. 

IBSAT

The IBSAT is helpful for entry into any ICFAI business school in India, although they also typically accept the GMAT and NMAT exams. The two-hour computer-based exam tests verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, data interpretation, and sufficiency. 

Dates to study: Typically from July to December 

Schools that accept IBSAT: Nine ICFAI business schools in India 

Which is the most popular MBA entrance exam?

Learners and institutions view the CAT exam as India’s most popular and prestigious MBA entrance exam [3]. More than 1,200 management institutions across India and roughly 20 IIMs accept CAT. Other highly sought-after options include the CMAT and  XAT.

However, popularity is only one factor to consider. Before choosing an MBA entrance exam, you should establish which is right for you and your career trajectory.

How do I know which MBA entrance exam is right for me?

With so many choices when it comes to MBA entrance exams, you should consider factors such as your level, the cost of the exam, the MBA exams your school of choice accepts, and what you’re looking to do as a career.

Consider your level.

The eligibility criteria are different for each exam, so it’s essential to consider how prepared you are and your mastery of the subject matter. In addition to this, the exams have varying difficulty levels. For example, some view the MAT and SNAP exams as easier than CAT. 

Consider the cost.

MBA entrance exams vary in price, so finding one you can afford is important. That said, weigh the pros and cons of paying more for a widely accepted one. If you choose one that is only relevant to a few schools and you don’t get in, you’ll have to pay for another exam. 

Check the requirements of your chosen school.

It’s vital to check which exams are accepted by your chosen business school and the pass mark so you can put together a study plan. Choose a widely accepted entrance exam, at least on your list of possible choices.

Start your MBA with Coursera

You have many options available to start your MBA journey. For example, you may consider an online version. O.P. Jindal Global University delivers an MBA in Business Analytics online, or you might consider the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from the University of Illinois.