Top 10 MBA Exam Other Than CAT in India: Studying MBA in premier B-Schools is the dream of many graduates in India. Most graduates aim to crack CAT to get admission in IIMs. However, CAT or IIMs are not the only gateway for world-class MBA education. CAT is a highly competitive exam, and there are some other MBA exams similar to CAT, i.e. XAT, CMAT, MAT, and SNAP, which are some of the exams candidates should consider.
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MBA Exam Other than CAT: Exam Dates
MBA Application Form Fee
MBA Admissions: Entrance exams other than CAT to take
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT)
Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
Mudra Institute of Communications Admissions Test (MICAT)
ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)
Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams Other Than CAT in India
There are many other top MBA exam other than CAT for studying MBA courses in renowned B-Schools. In fact, institutes like IIFT, MICA, and XIM offer one-of-a-kind MBA courses that are valued on par, sometimes more than IIM PGDM programmes.
Candidates can get familiar with the tentative month in which these MBA national-level entrance exams are conducted. Along with it, we have also provided the list of institutes accepting the respective exams other that CAT for MBA. The provided list is CAT-like exams Check below:
Exam preparation for top MBA entrance exams like CAT requires 9–12 months of dedicated studies, which means the candidate will be able to join an MBA institute only after a year, while in case of admission via other MBA exams beyond CAT, the candidate can start the MBA course immediately after graduation. Though the placements differ when it comes to IIMs and other colleges,. However, wasting a year and ROI is much better than getting an MBA from other colleges too.
MBA Application Form Fee
Here we have listed in detail the category-wise MBA form fee for Non CAT exam. Check out the details:
Exam Name
Application Fee (General Category)*
Application Fee (Reserved Category)*
XAT
Rs 2200
Rs 2200
CMAT
Rs 2500
Rs 1250
NMAT
Rs 3000
Rs 3000
SNAP
Rs 2250
Rs 2250
IIFT
Rs 3000
Rs 1500
MICAT
Rs 2100
Rs 2100
MAT
Rs 2200
Rs 2200
IBSAT
Rs 1800
Rs 1800
GMAT exam form fees
$275 for offline test
$300 for online test
$275 for offline test
$300 for online test
ATMA Registration Fees
Rs. 2000
Rs. 2000
*The fee is subject to change as per the current exam session.
MBA Admissions: Entrance exams other than CAT to take
Read below to know which MBA exams at national level, which are also CAT equivalent exams, you can take in the coming months, their registration process, eligibility, fees, syllabus, pattern and preparation strategy. This information will help you decide which MBA entrance exams you can take this year and which MBA colleges you can apply to.
XAT is the second most popular MBA entrance exam other than CAT. Over 1 lakh candidates take the test. The exam-conducting body is the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) in India, including XLRI. XLRI stands at 8 in the NIRF rankings, only next to IIMs. The exam notification is scheduled to be conducted on January 04, 2026.
Over 1000 MBA colleges in India accept XAT scores. It is a computer-based test with a 3-hour, 10-minute duration. The XAT syllabus is similar to CAT, except for additional sections of decision-making, General Awareness and essay writing.
CMAT is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is one of the standard exams for MBA other than CAT in the country. Over 75,000 candidates apply for the test every year. Unlike other MBA entrances, CMAT usually happens in the month of March, making it easy for students to prepare. CMAT scores are accepted by over 1300 government and private AICTE approved MBA colleges in India. The CMAT exam pattern follows questions from Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language, Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
NMAT or NMIMS Management Test, is used by various B-Schools in India and abroad for their MBA admissions. From 2015, GMAC has been conducting the exam along with GMAT. NMAT is a preferred MBA exam other than CAT as it offers flexibility to choose our own date and venue in 45 day window in November–December. A two-hour exam with 108 MCQs, NMAT syllabus comprises Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Language skills. Candidates can take the exam 3 times within the window period, with a 15-day gap between 2 successive attempts. The best score will be considered for further admission.
Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune, convenes the SNAP exam notification, conducting SNAP every year. It admits students into PGDM courses offered by SIU and 14 affiliated institutions across the country. SNAP always stands among the highest-ranked MBA entrance exams other than CAT for the variety of MBA specialisations it offers, including executive MBA and PGDM. The average package for SIBM, Pune MBA graduates is 20 LPA. It is a one-hour online exam scheduled to be conducted on SNAP Test 01: December 06, 2025, SNAP Test 02: December 14, 2025, and SNAP Test 03: December 20, 2025. Maximum two attempts are allowed out of which, the best score will be considered.
There will be 60 questions from General English, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency, Analytical & Logical Reasoning subjects. The exam is conducted in the month of December following CAT.
MAT (Management Aptitude Test), just like CMAT, is a common national-level MBA entrance in India. Over 600 MBA colleges in India accept MAT scores. It is one of the best management exams other than CAT for quality MBA education at affordable costs. Candidates can take the test four times a year (February, May, September and December) by AIMA (All India Management Association). There are 200 questions with a 150 minute duration. The exam is conducted 4 times a year in February, May, September and December in all three modes– CBT, IBT, PBT. Registration windows for respective tests will be open in the given months.
IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) is the most sought-after MBA exams other than CAT for its flagship MBA programmes in International trade and business. But, last year, IIFT admission for MBA programme is based on CAT scores. Students who specialise in nation’s trade management gain exposure into international bodies such as WTO and UNCTAD.
NTA conducts the IIFT exam in the month of December for admissions to IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada. The IIFT exam pattern follows an objective question paper with 110 MCQs and 2 hr duration. The syllabus of IIFT MBA entrance comprises Quantitative Aptitude, VARC, LIDR, and General Knowledge. Foreign nationals can also undertake this exam if they fulfil IIFT eligibility criteria. With a difficulty level comparable to the CAT, the average packages for successful MBA graduates stand at 25-30 LPA.
Mudra Institute of Communications Admissions Test (MICAT)
MICAT is a premier MBA entrance exam other than CAT in India. MICA stands for Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad. MICA MBA course in Strategic Marketing and Communications is a flagship program. Over 5000 students take the test for 180 seats. Candidates must have a valid score in CAT, XAT or GMAT to be eligible for MICAT. MICAT exam dates are conducted twice a year (December and January) as MICAT I & MICAT II. Candidates can take both to improve scores. In the case of writing two tests, the best score will be considered for admission.
The MICAT exam syllabus is unique with both objective and descriptive type assessment. Subjects include Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, Convergent & Divergent Thinking along with a Descriptive Test, and Psychometric Test.
ICFAI Business Schools are the premier B-Schools in the country for industry-oriented MBA programmes. IBS Hyderabad received 19th rank among private colleges in IIRF Ranking. IBSAT is the only gateway for ICFAI B-Schools (IBS). It is conducted in online mode at the candidate's own location once a year in the month of December. IBSAT requires valid scores in the CAT, GMAT, or NMAT of the last two years.
Unlike CAT and other MBA entrance exams, the IBSAT exam pattern gives more weightage to Verbal Ability & Reading comprehension. It is a two hour test with 140 MCQs from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Adequacy & Sufficiency. The maximum marks are 140, with no negative marking. The exam will be conducted on December 27 and 28, 2025.
GMAT is a globally recognised management entrance conducted by the GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council). It is a widely accepted MBA entrance exam other than the CAT. GMAT scores are accepted by IIMs for their 1 year MBA programmes. The GMAT is a highly candidate-friendly exam. Candidates can take the exam throughout the year, and registrations are allowed up to 24 hrs before the exam. GMAT is a gateway for studying MBA at global universities as well. The GMAT exam syllabus is based on Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment.
ATMA is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Association of Indian Management School (AIMS). ATMA is a single-window test held for admission to various post-graduate programmes like MBA, MMS, PGDM, etc. The ATMA exam will be conducted multiple times in a year, i.e., in February, May, June, and July. The ATMA exam is conducted in computer-based test mode. The duration of the ATMA is 180 minutes (3 hours). The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying one mark each.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are the upcoming top MBA exams?
A:
Some of the top MBA exams which will soon be conducted are CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and among others.
Q: Which is highest demand in MBA?
A:
Some of the most in-demand specialisations are Technology management, finance, data analytics and business intelligence, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, supply chain management and operations.
Q: What are the other exams other than CAT for MBA?
A:
Other than CAT, there are some more national-level MBA entrance exam such as Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) MBA (IB), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Management Aptitude Test (MAT).
Q: Which exam is better than CAT?
A:
CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams among MBA aspirants. If a candidates looking for MBA entrance exam except than CAT then for them there are lots of other national and state level MBA entrance exam to take.
Q: Is MBA good without CAT?
A:
Yes, if a candidate does not want to appear for CAT or any other MBA entrance exam then they can choose the path of direct MBA admission. There are many notable B-Schools that provide direct admission to management courses.
Both Bengal Institute of Business Studies (BIBS) and United World School of Business (UWSB) have strong placement records in Kolkata. with specific data suggesting BIBS has a slightly higher potential higher salary package. While the UWSB provides a higher placement rate.
With an NMAT score of 205, you have decent chances in good mid-tier MBA colleges.
You may get calls from NMIMS Hyderabad or Indore, but the Mumbai core is usually slightly higher.
Colleges like SDA Bocconi Asia Centre, BML Munjal, and IBS Hyderabad are realistic options.
Some reputed private B-schools may also consider you if sectional cutoffs are clear. Overall, 205 is a fair score that can lead to a solid MBA college with good planning.
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CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.
The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.
After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.
Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.
So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.
If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.
First-year MBA fees in India vary greatly, ranging from less than rupees one lakh for government/distance programs to rupees ten to twenty-five lakhs or more for elite private B-schools (such as ISB, IIMs, and XLRI). The majority of elite private institutions charge between rupees eight and twenty-five lakh for the entire two-year program, indicating that first-year expenses are substantial.
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Transferring mid-stream from an online MBA to an offline MBA is generally very difficult and rare, requiring a fresh application and usually withdrawal from your current program. You can apply for a new offline MBA after completing your online MBA or even while pursuing it (with caution), provided your current university is recognized.
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