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CAT, XAT, MAT, and CMAT are the most popular MBA entrance exams in India as they are valid for admission in a large number of MBA colleges in India. MBA aspirants have dreams of getting a top Bschool, but they often misjudge the path. It is more important to choose a passable entrance exam with high marks rather than a difficult exam. Ultimately, getting the most suitable MBA college to pursue your studies. The only way to get a good MBA college in India is through MBA entrance exams, specifically CAT, MAT, CMAT and XAT. In this article, we have shared important details about CAT, MAT, XAT and CMAT for you to make the right choice.
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Whether it is the private or public sector, the competition is high, making it tougher to get a job with a high package. The right skills and knowledge is the demand of the industry today. For that, instead of just having a basic qualification, candidates nowadays are attracted to professional courses such as a Master's in Business Management. Students wishing to get MBA/ PGDM admission into one of the reputed top B-schools would want to take management entrance exams like CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, etc.
In this article, Careers360 not only explains the CAT full form for MBA, CMAT, MAT, and XAT as well as discusses in detail other aspects like eligibility criteria to appear for Top B-School entrance exams, application process details as well as the top colleges that accept the scores of CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT. Apart from that this article also will discuss other entrance exams.
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Before moving straight onto What is the CAT test full form, CMAT, MAT, and XAT. Let us first understand what are these and why these are conducted. Well, to begin with, there are certain educational institutes like Indian Institutes of Management, Indian Institutes of Technology, Institute of Business Management, Amity University, JBIMS, etc., which accept the scores of those entrance exams.
As more and more students aspire to pursue a management degree from a top B-school. These entrance exams are conducted to shortlist the most suitable candidates for selection rounds. Based on the scores of the entrance exams, B-schools select candidates for further rounds of the admission process such as GD, PI, etc.
Also Read: MBA Admission 2024 - Dates, Process, Application Form, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges
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The full form for CAT in MBA is the Common Admission Test. The CAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted annually by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis in online mode. CAT scores are accepted by IIMs and other top B-Schools than IIMs. Candidates who qualify for the entrance exam with good marks on the basis of the cutoff of CAT are called upon for further rounds as a part of the IIM admission process.
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CAT Particulars | CAT Details |
CAT exam conducting body | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) |
CAT full form exam | Common Admission Test |
CAT application mode | Online |
CAT exam mode | Online (Computer-based test) |
CAT exam questions type | MCQs and TITA |
CAT exam date 2024 | November 24, 2024 |
Eligibility for CAT 2024 | Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University with 50% of aggregated marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Course offered through CAT exam | PGDM/ MBA |
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CMAT exam full form is a Common Management Admission Test which is a national-level entrance test. CMAT is conducted in online mode by the National Testing Agency i.e. NTA. Until 2018, CMAT was administered by the All India Council for Technical Education on a yearly basis as per the regulations of MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development), Government of India.
CMAT Particulars | CMAT Details |
CMAT Full Form | Common Management Admission Test |
Commonly known as | CMAT |
CMAT Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Mode of CMAT Application Form | Online Mode |
CMAT Official website | cmat.nta.nic.in |
Seat reservation | As per the government of India |
CMAT helpline number | 0120-6895200 |
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MAT exam full form is a Management Aptitude Test. It is also a national-level entrance exam that is conducted four times a year. MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) at various centres across India. As per the exam pattern of MAT, as defined by the AIMA, the MAT entrance exam is conducted as Computer Based Test (CBT) and Paper Based Test (PBT).
MAT Particulars | MAT Details |
MAT Full Form | Management Aptitude Test |
Short Exam Name | MAT |
Conducting Body | All India Management Association |
Frequency of Conduct | 4 times a year |
Exam Level | National Level Exam |
Languages | English |
Mode of Application | Online |
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MAT related articles:
Every year, XLRI Jamshedpur conducts the XAT entrance exam to admit candidates to various post-graduate courses. The XAT full form is the Xavier Aptitude Test. More than 50,000 candidates register themselves for XAT every year. The scores of XAT are accepted by not only XLRI Jamshedpur but more than 150 B-Schools across India.
XAT Particulars | XAT Details |
XAT Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test |
Short Exam Name | XAT |
Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
Frequency of Conduct | Once a year |
Exam Level | National Level Exam |
Languages | English |
Mode of Application | Online |
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XAT related articles
Apart from knowing What is the full form of CAT, CMAT, MAT, and XAT? Let us see some of the major differences between these entrance exams for better understanding and clarity. Note that some colleges may accept only CAT or only MAT, or only CMAT or only XAT.
While some colleges may accept one or two entrance exams, and some may accept all scores. It is better to check the selection procedure of each educational institute individually. Given below is the list of major differences between CAT, CMAT, MAT, and XAT.
Particulars | CAT | CMAT | MAT | XAT |
Full-Form | Common Admission Test | Common Management Admission Test | Management Aptitude Test | Xavier Aptitude Test |
Frequency | Once a year | Annually | Four times a year | Yearly |
Level of Exam | National | National | National | National |
Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Management | National Testing Agency | All India Management Association | XLRI Jamshedpur |
Application process | ||||
Eligibility Criteria | ||||
Exam Pattern |
To determine which MBA entrance exam to attend to get MBA admission, MBA aspirants must consider the MBA colleges they look for seats. Research the MBA admission criteria of the institute and get to know the MBA entrance exam accepted by the college. Some colleges accept multiple MBA exams while others have specific requirements. Based on the MBA eligibility criteria of the BSchool, a candidate can appear and qualify for any of the MBA entrance exams.
MBA Exams | Full-Form of Exams | Admission Criteria |
IIFT | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Exam | |
SNAP | Symbiosis National Aptitude Test | |
IBSAT | ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test | |
IRMASAT | Institute of Rural Management Anand Social Awareness Test | |
NMAT by GMAC | Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test by GMAC | |
TANCET MBA | Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test Exam MBA | |
TS ICET MBA | Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test | |
AP ICET | Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test for MBA | |
UPSEE MBA | Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam for MBA | |
MAH MBA CET | Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test |
CAT full form in MBA is the Common Admission Test. CAT is a national entrance exam conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM). CAT scores are accepted by IIMs and other top Bschools.
According to the CAT eligibility criteria, candidates who have completed any Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University with 50% of aggregated marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) are eligible to apply.
CAT is one of the most significant MBA entrance exams conducted for admission into MBA programs in the prestigious management institutes in India.
Candidates will have to pay the CAT registration fee of Rs 2,300 for the General/Unreserved category and Rs 1,150 for SC/ ST/ OBC and other reserved categories (as per the previous year).
CAT is an MBA entrance accepted by IIMs and all top BSchools in India. However, CMAT is the entrance test conducted by the NTA to get MBA admission at top CMAT-accepting colleges except IIM.
Yes, candidates can appear for multiple MBA exams.
The MAT entrance exam is usually conducted 4 times a year.
Based on the preparation of the candidate for the entrance exam, the difficulty level depends. It is not correct to say CMAT is easier than MAT or vice-versa.
No, IIMs do not accept XAT scores for MBA/PGP admission.
The application fee for the CAT, MAT, CMAT and XAT varies depending on the category of the candidate applying for the exam.
No, It is not mandatory to have work experience to apply for the MBA entrance exam.
Late Fee Application Date:15 April,2025 - 19 April,2025
Hello,
achieving a 99.99 pecentile in the CAT exam significantly enhances your prospects for admission to JBIMS, which evaluates candidates using an application rating(AR) score, which includes
-entrance exam score (CAT/MH-CET/CMAT) : 60% weightage
-Past Academic Record (PAR) : 15% weightage (https://cracku.in/colleges/jbims/admission-process/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Extra-curricular Activities/Work Experience : 20% weightage (https://jbims.edu/uploads/announcement/Revised_M_Sc__Finance_Admission_Procedure_Batch_2024-26.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Diversity (Academic/Gender): 5% weightage
while ahigh CAT percentile is crucial, a lower academic record may impact your overall AR score. Nonetheless, exceptional performance in other areas, such as entrance exams and extracurricular activities, can help offset weaker academic credentials. it's advisable to review JBIMS's detailed admission criteria and consider strengthening other aspects of your application to enhance your chances
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query
Okay, so you're a bit confused about what to put in those CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT forms regarding your 12th scores. Since you did CBSE, they usually only consider your final 12th standard marks.
Even though you did great in 11th, scoring 495 out of 500, for these entrance exam forms, they're specifically asking about your 12th board exam marks .You mentioned you got 400 out of 500 in 12th, which comes out to 80%.
Therefore, when filling out the forms for CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT, you should enter 80% as your 12th percentage. The aggregate of 11th and 12th isn't typically what they're looking for in these sections. They want to know how you performed in your final board exams. So, stick with the 80% from your 12th results. Good luck with your applications!
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query:-
Determination of the best time to start the journey of CAT examination is based on individual factors like your current skill level, knowledge ,potential, learning pace and availability. To give yourself the best chance of success on the CAT exam , which usually takes place in November, it's advisable to begin studying between January and March of that same year. This 8 to 12-month preparation window is widely recommended by experts. But if you're managing your college along with the CAT preparations make sure you start from 2nd year onwards. It will hep you manage stress and you'll have ample amount of time to get along with the syllabus , pattern and various practice and mocks .
You'll be able to build a strong foundation in each sections and be able to know your strengths and weaknesses in different topics. The CAT syllabus is extensive, and early preparation allows for thorough coverage. Assess your learning speed and adjust your preparation timeline accordingly.
Essentially, while the ideal start time is subjective, beginning your CAT preparation well in advance is generally considered the most effective strategy for achieving optimal results.
The CUSAT CAT previous year question papers are available on the Careers360 website. You can find question papers from 2012 to 2023, which can be downloaded in PDF format HERE
Additionally, the official website of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) also provides previous year question papers. To access them, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the CUSAT official website - admissions.cusat.ac.in.
- Click on the resources tab from the homepage.
- Select the previous year's question papers from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Common Admission Test (CAT) question papers link.
- Now click on the B.Tech course.
By practicing with these previous year question papers, you can get familiar with the exam pattern, identify important topics, and improve your time management skills.
Hey Shathvika, that's a great question! So, you're wondering about MBA entrance exams besides the CAT , right? Absolutely, there are quite a few others you can consider in India. Here's a rundown: Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) : XLRI Jamshedpur runs this one, and over 150 B-schools across India accept it. You'll usually find it in January. What's cool about the XAT is that it often includes sections on Decision Making and sometimes even an Essay Writing part. Management Aptitude Test (MAT) : This is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). A lot of schools – over 600 in India – take MAT scores. The best part? You can take it four times a year: February, May, September, and December. Plus, you can choose between Paper-Based (PBT), Computer-Based (CBT), and even Internet-Based (IBT) options. Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) : If you're eyeing a Symbiosis institute for your MBA, this is the one. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) conducts it, and it's usually in December. SNAP's also known for having a somewhat unique way of scoring. Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) : The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the CMAT. AICTE-approved institutions all over India will accept it. This one's also typically held in January. It checks you on things like quantitative skills, logical thinking, how well you understand language, and your general knowledge. NMAT by GMAC : The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is behind this exam. NMIMS and quite a few other management schools accept it. What’s interesting is that you have a 75-day window, usually from October to December, to take it. And, you can even retake it up to three times if you want to improve your score! Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Exam : NTA also conducts this one. If you are keen on IIFT Delhi and Kolkata, this is your ticket. Expect to take it in December. This exam puts a little more weight on questions about international business and trade. MICA Admission Test (MICAT) : MICA Ahmedabad uses this for its PGDM-C program. They hold it twice a year, generally in December and January. MICAT looks at how creative you are, how well you write, and your general abilities. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) : GMAC runs the GMAT as well. Many B-schools in India, and even more worldwide, accept GMAT scores. You can take it pretty much any time of the year. People often go for the GMAT if they're thinking about executive MBA programs or schools with a focus on international business. Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test (LPUNEST) : LPU conducts it for admissions into its undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It's held multiple times throughout the year. It also works as a scholarship test, so doing well can get you some financial aid. So, there you have it! Each of these exams has its own quirks when it comes to structure, who can take it, and the scores you need. It’s worth digging into each one a bit to see which one fits best with what you've studied and where you want to take your career. Good luck!
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