Welcome to our dedicated page for MBA and Business School Entrance Exams. Master of Business Administration-MBA is one of the most sought after degrees in today's corporate world. By acquiring an MBA degree, individuals enhance their expertise in different fields, which helps in the efficient functioning of an organisation. The demand for MBA graduates in the corporate world has led to the foundation of many management institutes including IIMs, DMS IIT Delhi, XLRI Xavier School of Management, etc.
MBA opens entryways to get confirmation in beat B-schools over the country. Students have to prepare for the entrance exam to join these MBA colleges. Among the top MBA entrance exams in India, CAT is the most popular and preferred as the only route to IIMs. More than 2 lakh students write CAT every year, competing for a few thousand seats in top B Schools including IIMs, FMS Delhi, and MDI Gurgaon. Other top MBA entrance exams include XAT, MAT, GMAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, CUET PG, and many more.
Many Indian states have their own management entrance exams i.e. TANCET, TS ICET, AP ICET, MAH MBA CET, Karnataka PGCET, KMAT, and candidates from other states can also apply. The competition to get into the best Bschools is fierce. So, every student should be prepared to attempt 5-6 management entrance exams to ensure admission in at least one B-school. Most MBA entrance exams have a similar syllabus structure and can be prepared simultaneously.
Overview of MBA Stream
Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, and International Business are some of the most popular MBA streams worldwide. These streams cater to a wide range of career interfaces. These MBA entrance exams assess your verbal, analytical, and quantitative skills, ensuring you are well prepared for the rigours of the management curriculum.
In recent years, studying MBA/ PGDM has gained immense popularity due to several factors. The primary concern regarding MBA is how much time a candidate has to spend before and after MBA admission. Hence it is imperative to understand the various MBA entrance exams to identify the strata fit for goals.
MBA entrance exam dates vary considerably; So, management aspirants should keep track of exam dates and updates. Stay connected with Careers360 to get the latest updates about the B-school entrance exams in India.
Detailed Description of Major B-school Entrance Exams in India
Many top B-schools conduct their own entrance exams every year for their respective MBA/ PGDM admissions. At times, candidates need to change their preparation to stay up-to-date with other important management exams. The list below provides detailed information about the best MBA entrance exams in India.
Common Admission Test (CAT)
The Common Admission Test is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India and is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. The CAT is a computer based test and it comprises three sections; VARC, DILR, and QA. CAT exam is the gateway not only to IIMs but also to many top business schools in India.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
The Common Management Admission Test is a national level business aptitude test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBA programme in the country. The CMAT is a computer based test which consists of 100 questions from Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
The Management Aptitude Test is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). The MAT exam is conducted in multiple sessions in four phases - February, May, September, and December. The MAT score is accepted by more than 800 private MBA colleges across India.
MBA Admission Procedure through B-school Entrance Exams in India
The admission process for most of the institutes is same i.e. MBA entrance exam followed by WAT or GD/ PI. While some institutions conduct their own admission test, some accept certain MBA entrance test(s) scores.
Shortlisting is based on weightage given to several parameters including MBA entrance exam score, educational background, professional work experience, and gender diversity.
Institutes Accepting Top B-school Entrance Exams in India
When candidates choose the MBA entrance exams they want to appear for, they need to identify the Bschools they want. Candidates should finalize their decision for MBA entrance exams based on the institutes and their accepted entrance exams. Here is a list of top MBA entrance exams and top universities accepting admissions.
MBA Entrance Exams | Top B-schools |
CAT | IIMs, FMS Delhi, IMI, JBIMS, IIT, SPJIMR, MDI |
CMAT | GIM, BIMTECH, VIT, Great Lakes |
NMAT | NMIMS, ISB Hyderabad, XIMB, SPJIMR, IBS, TAPMI |
MICAT | MICA Ahmedabad |
SNAP | SCMHRD Pune, SIBM Pune, +13 other Symbiosis Colleges |
TANCET | PPG Business School, Anna University |
XAT | XLRI, XIME, TAPMI, XIMB, MICA, GIM, IMT |
MAH MBA CET | SIMSREE, JBIMS, PUMBA |
Preparation Tips for MBA Entrance Exams in India
MBA entrance exam preparation requires subject wise detailed study and practice of sample questions. The preparation strategy should be based on the entrance exams that a candidate chooses. Overall, MBA exam preparation is common to all, but candidates should have a flexible strategy that can be adapted according to the exam pattern of the particular exam.