Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams Other Than CAT in India 2025: Dates, Colleges & Details

Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams Other Than CAT in India 2025: Dates, Colleges & Details

Edited By Sundararajan | Updated on Jun 10, 2025 03:18 PM IST | #MBA

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.

This Story also Contains
  1. MBA Exam Other than CAT: Exam Dates
  2. MBA Application Form Fee
  3. MBA Admissions: Entrance exams other than CAT to take
  4. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
  5. Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
  6. Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT)
  7. Symbiosis National Aptitutde Test (SNAP)
  8. Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
  9. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
  10. Mudra Institute of Communications Admissions Test (MICAT)
  11. Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET)
  12. ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)
  13. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
  14. AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)
Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams Other Than CAT in India 2025: Dates, Colleges & Details
Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams Other Than CAT in India 2025: Dates, Colleges & Details

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.

MBA Exam Other than CAT: Exam Dates

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 Name

MBA Exam Dates (Tentative)

Top Accepting Colleges

XAT

First Week of January

CMAT

First week of April

NMAT

2 selected test dates within 75-day test window between October-December

NMIMS, K J Somaiya, VIT Vellore, SD Bacconi Asia Centre, XUB, Amity, LPU

SNAP

  • Three slots in December
  • Total 2 attempts can be taken

IIFT

First week of December (NOTE: Last year, IIFT admission is based on CAT exam)

MICAT

MICAT I & MICAT II, respectively, in first week of December and last week of January

Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad

MAT

Four times a year in February, May, September, and December

TISSNET

Last week of February

IBSAT

Last week of December

IBS B-Schools

GMAT

Throughout the year, on the published dates

SPJIMR, XIMB, TAPMI, LBSIM, GIM Goa, FORE, IMI, and IMT

ATMAFour times a year in February 18, May 11, June 23, and July 21, 2024
MDI Gurgaon, IPE Hyderabad, JIMS Rohini Delhi, IMS Ghaziabad, etc

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 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 1800

Rs 1800

CMAT

Rs 2000

Rs 1000

NMAT

Rs 2300

Rs 2300

SNAP

Rs 1950

Rs 1950

IIFT

Rs 2500

Rs 1000

MICAT

Rs 2100

Rs 2100

MAT

Rs 1950

Rs 3100

TISSNET

Rs 1030 per course

Rs 260 per course

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

*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.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

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 tentatively released in the month of August every year. Usually, XLRI conducts the XAT entrance test on the first or second Sunday of January every year.

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 additional sections of decision-making, General Awareness and essay writing.

Also read: XAT eligibility criteria

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

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.

Also Read: CMAT Eligibility criteria

Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT)

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.

Also read: NMAT Eligibility Criteria

Symbiosis National Aptitutde Test (SNAP)

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 conducted three times, tentatively in the month of December. 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.

Also Read: How to prepare for SNAP

Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

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.

BFIT Technical Campus Dehradun | MBA Admissions 2025

2-year full-time MBA program affiliated with HNB Garhwal Central University and approved by UGC.

WUD | MBA- Design Strategy & Management Admissions 2025

International Tie Ups | Project Based Learning | State of the art infrastructure | Applications Closing Soon!

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)

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.

Top UGC Approved Colleges for Online MBA
Download this ebook and get all details related to the top UGC approved colleges for Online MBA.
Download List Here

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 February) 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 the admissions.

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.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET)

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is one of the oldest universities in India that offers M.A programmes in HRM considered equivalent to MBA. TISS-NET (National Entrance Test) leads admission to its School of Management and Labour Studies, Mumbai. The MBA equivalent courses offered by TISS are unique courses with affordable fees. Career prospects are also bright with students bagging average packages of 20-25 LPA from world-renowned firms. TISS-NET exam pattern follows an online test of 100 minute duration conducted in February. The syllabus is similar to the CAT. However, TISSNET is generally less difficult compared to the CAT.

ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)

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 is conducted in the month of December within the MBA exam season.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

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.

Learn more about the various state-level and private MBA entrance exams in India, along with the top MBA colleges in the country.

Also Read: GMAT Exam Pattern

AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)

ATMA is a national-level entrance exam conducted by 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 will be 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)

1. What are the other exams other than CAT for MBA?

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).

2. Which exam is better than CAT?

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.

3. Is MBA good without CAT?

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.

4. What are the upcoming top MBA exams?

Some of the top MBA exams which will soon be conducted are CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and among others. 

5. Which is highest demand in MBA?

Some of the most in-demand specialisations are Technology management, finance, data analytics and business intelligence, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, supply chain management and operations.

Articles

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
 Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
 Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
 Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
 Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
 The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to MBA

Have a question related to MBA ?

Hello,

Yes, with a 622 rank in IPU CET for MBA and being a Delhi candidate, you have a good chance of getting admission in MAIT (Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology).

You don’t need to worry about not giving the CAT exam. IPU CET rank is enough for admission in MAIT under the CET quota.

Just make sure to keep MAIT high in your preference list during counselling.

Hope it helps !

Hello Aspirant,

Yes, you can do an MBA after the BPP B. com from IGNOU, provided that you meet the eligibility requirements of the university or college that runs the MBA program. The BPP (Bachelor's Preparatory Program) certificate from IGNOU, followed by the B. com degree is accepted as credentialed by most institutions, especially open universities and distance learning institutions. Programs of study that are full-time or ranked highly - generally MBA programs from reputed institutions such as IIMs or other rank recognized private B-schools - will typically require:

  • Credentialed Bachelor's degree (the B. com degree from IGNOU)
  • Entrance exam scores (examinations include, but are not limited to, CAT, MAT, XAT, and university specific tests)
  • Although not very common, some programs do ask for 10+2 qualification, so each university will have its own eligibility criteria requirements.

If you are looking for flexible or distance MBA programs, both IGNOU and some open universities like Symbiosis (SCDL), NMIMS Global, or Annamalai University, should also accept you as a student.

You're absolutely eligible to pursue an MBA in Bangalore or Mysore even if you completed your Intermediate through APOSS (Andhra Pradesh Open School Society) and your degree through regular mode.

Most MBA colleges—whether affiliated to universities like Bangalore University, VTU, or Mysore University—primarily require a recognized bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). Since you've completed your graduation through regular mode from a recognized university, that fulfills the key eligibility.

Your APOSS qualification is also valid as long as it’s recognized by the government and education boards, which it is. It might raise minor documentation or verification questions during admission, but it won’t disqualify you. You should carry all necessary original certificates including your APOSS pass certificate, transfer/migration certificate, and degree marksheets during admission or counselling.

Hello aspirant,
The OJEE integrated MBA cutoff is the rank range within which colleges offer admission post-counselling. For 2025, general category cutoffs varied by institute. For example, Gangadhar Meher College’s integrated MBA program opened at rank 411 and closed near 8,200. Overall expected closing ranks for general category fall roughly within 1,500 to 5,300 for popular programs and colleges. Reserved category students have a wider acceptance range based on their quotas.

These cutoffs are influenced by factors like difficulty, number of seats, and reservation. To secure a seat, aim to be within the closing rank of your target college, ideally around first 5,000–10,000 for general admission in top institutes.

Hello Aspirant

At SND College of Engineering and Research Centre Yeola Nashik the MBA program is available through its Department of Management which offers a 2 year postgraduate course with 180 seats. This institute is AICTE approved affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University and accredited by NAAC with B++ ensuring regulated quality standards.

Specializations offered by this college

  • Marketing Management

  • Financial Management

  • Human Resource Management

  • Operations and Supply Chain Management

  • Business Analytics

View All
Marketing Director

A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services. 

4 Jobs Available
Business Development Executive

A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.

3 Jobs Available
Content Marketing Specialist

Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.

3 Jobs Available
Sales Manager

A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.

2 Jobs Available
Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable. 

A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.

2 Jobs Available
SEO Analyst

An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns. 

2 Jobs Available
Digital Marketing Executive

Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.

2 Jobs Available
Business Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.

In a business analyst  job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts. 

2 Jobs Available
Back to top