MBA is one of the most promising management degrees offered by various B-schools across the country. The first step in getting admission into top MBA colleges in India lies in a candidate's score in an MBA entrance exam conducted by different bodies. MBA entrance exams are conducted at both the national and state level. Some national-level tests are CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, and more.
Generally, the season for entrance exams begins in September or October every year and continues till the month of March of the next year. This blog aims to give insights on some of the popular MBA entrance exams so that aspiring candidates can chalk out the strategy for preparing for such tests and improving their chances of securing a seat at their preferred B-school.
Common Admission Test (CAT)
CAT entrance exam is a mandatory entrance exam for MBA in all the 20 IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, along with numerous other top B-schools in India. It is the most popular MBA entrance exam conducted by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to the business administration programs offered in India. It is a two hours long computer-based entrance test conducted every year at more than 155 test cities and 350+ test venues.
As per the revised pattern, the exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Every section of the test has a fixed particular time limit. Along with securing the overall exam cut-off, students need to ensure they score high in each section as well because of the sectional cut-off in IIMs for shortlisting.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
CMAT is the second-largest management entrance exam, popular among MBA aspirants after CAT. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam is held between January and March. CMAT is a computer-based test of three hours divided into five sections: Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Technique, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. However, the total number of questions is reduced from 125 to 100, with 20 questions per section. The maximum mark for the test is 400.
Unlike CAT, there is no individual time limit to attempt the CMAT exam. Candidates can attempt questions from any section of their choice within the allotted time.
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
XAT is another management entrance test conducted by Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI). The test is often referred to as the gateway to Xavier’s league. It is a computer-based test accepted by XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI, and more than 160 management institutes in India. Held every year on the first Sunday of January, the test accesses students on four fronts: Quantitative Ability, English Language & Logical Reasoning, Decision-Making, and General Knowledge.
It is a three hours long test consisting of objective-type questions. The exam pattern, however, in recent years, has changed several times, so students need to be alert for the exam pattern this year.
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
MAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam organized by the All India Management Association. The exam is held 4-5 times a year in February, May, September, and December and is conducted as a computer-based, Internet-based, and paper-based test. The MAT exam score is accepted by nearly 400+ B-schools. The entrance exam has a time duration of 150 minutes where students need to answer 200 questions divided into five sections based on the following subjects: Indian and Global Environment, Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills and Intelligence, and Critical Reasoning.
AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)
ATMA is also a popular national-level MBA entrance exam accepted by 200+ MBA/PGDM colleges in India. It is considered a credible, comprehensive, and single-window test for admissions to Post-Graduate Management Programs like PGDM, MBA, MMS, MCA, and other management post-graduate courses. It is an online objective type test held four times a year in the months of February, May, July, and August. However, the difficulty level of this test is considered equal to that of other MBA tests.
The test duration is three hours and consists of the following sections: Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1, Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2, Quantitative Skills Part 1, Quantitative Skills Part 2, Verbal Skills Part 1, and Verbal Skills Part 2. It consists of 180 questions carrying one mark each.
If you are also planning to apply for an MBA program in top Indian institutes but are not confused about where to start the application process, log on to the website today to book a counseling session with one of our experts and get all your queries answered on the spot.