Top MBA entrance exams in India such as CAT, XAT, MAT, SNAP, NMAT, and many more will take place from November 2024 to March 2025. MBA admission to some of the most prominent MBA colleges in India is done through these entrance tests.
Since the CAT exam is the only way to get into the IIMs, it is one of the most well-liked and sought-after MBA entrance exams in India. To compete for a few thousand seats in IIMs and other prestigious B-schools, such as FMS Delhi, KCC ITM, IIT Delhi, GBU, JNU, Delhi School of Management, etc., over 3 lakh students enroll in the CAT exam each year alone. Other moderate-level MBA entrance exams like the XAT exam, NMAT exam, MAT exam, and CMAT exam, are available in addition to the CAT.
There is fierce competition for MBA admission to top colleges in India. Therefore, every student should get ready for three to four MBA entrance exams to guarantee admission to at least one of these B-schools. The majority of these tests can be prepared concurrently and share a similar exam format and syllabus.
Learn more about the top MBA entrance exams for 2024-25, their exam pattern, and the colleges that accept them in this post.
Top MBA Entrance Exams for 2024–2025: Dates and Format of the Paper
Across the nation, there are several entrance tests required for MBA admission to top colleges. Nonetheless, the best MBA entrance exams guarantee applicants a chance to enroll in a prestigious B-school with a stellar reputation and excellent placement rates. The top MBA admission examinations in India are listed below:
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Entrance Exam
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Number of Questions
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Time Allotted
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Last Date to Apply
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Exam Timeline
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Official website
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CAT 2024
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66
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120 minutes
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20th September 2024
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24th November 2024
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iimcat.ac.in
|
|
XAT 2025
|
95
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180 minutes
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30th November 2024
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5th January 2025
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xatonline.in
|
|
NMAT 2024
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108
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120 minutes
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10th October 2024
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5th November 2024 to 20th December 2024
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www.mba.com/en-in/exams/nmat
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|
CMAT 2025
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100
|
180 minutes
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TBA
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April - May 2025
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https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
|
|
IBSAT 2024
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140
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120 minutes
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20th December 2024
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28th December 2024
29th December 2024
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https://admissions.ibsindia.org/ibsat/
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|
MAT 2024
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150
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120 minutes
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30th November 2024 (CBT 1)
7th December 2024 (PBT)
15th December 2024
(CBT 2)
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7th December 2024 (CBT 1)
14th December 2024 (PBT)
22nd December 2024 (CBT 2)
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https://mat.aima.in/
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|
TANCET 2025
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100
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120 minutes
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TBA
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March 2025
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https://tancet.annauniv.edu/tancet/
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|
CUET PG 2025
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75
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105 minutes
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TBA
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March 2025
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https://nta.ac.in/
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Popular MBA Entrance Exams 2024-25 in India
If you want to get into some of the best MBA colleges in India, you will need to pass one of the more than fifty MBA entrance exams available. There will be three tiers to these MBA entrance exams in 2024.
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National Level: The CAT, CMAT, and MAT are the most popular national-level MBA entrance exams, and they open doors to prestigious IIMs and other B-schools.
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State Level: The MAH-CET, TSICET, APICET, KMAT, and TANCET are the most often applied state-level MBA entrance exams.
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University/College Level: The XAT, SNAP, and MICAT are a few of the well-known university-level MBA entrance exams.
Let's take a closer look at these MBA entrance exams in India, their exam pattern, and the universities that offer them.
Common Admission Test CAT 2024
With more than 2 lakh candidates annually, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular entrance exam for MBA admission in India. Candidates are chosen for MBA admission by more than 1,300 MBA colleges based on their exam scores. Every year in November, students from all across the nation take this computer-based test. More than 150 B-schools accept the scores of the CAT exam for MBA admission to various specializations, and it is the only entrance exam required for MBA admission at the IIMs.
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What is a CAT Exam?
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The Common Admission Test (CAT) is administered annually by one of the six older IIMs for MBA admission.
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CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
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50% in any discipline for a Bachelor's degree from a reputable university or institution
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CAT 2024 Registration Dates
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1 Aug–20 Sept 2024
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CAT 2024 Exam Date
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November 24, 2024
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|
CAT Entrance exam sessions
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Will be Conducted in 3 sessions – Morning, Afternoon, and Evening on the same day
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|
CAT 2024 Conducting IIM
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IIM Calcutta
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CAT Exam Mode
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Computer-based Online
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Number of Questions in CAT 2024
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66 questions divided into 3 sections
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|
CAT Exam Time Duration
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2 hours for each Session
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|
Expected CAT 2024 Difficulty level
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Moderate to Difficult
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CAT Exam pattern
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Sectional Division of CAT Syllabus
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Overview of Topics in Syllabus
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Overall Weightage in the CAT exam
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Section-1: CAT VARC Syllabus Weightage & Topics
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RC Based Questions, Para jumbles, Para summary, Out of Context Sentence
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36%
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Section-2: CAT DILR Syllabus Weightage & Topics
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Tables, Graphs, Data Analysis Charts, seating arrangements, Direction sense
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32%
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Section-3: CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus Weightage & Key Topics
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Individual Questions based on Modern Math, Geometry, Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Number system
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34%
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CAT Exam Pattern
Xavier Aptitude Test XAT
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is another well-known MBA entrance exam for MBA admission to Xavier member institutions, such as XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, and XIME. Over 75,000 candidates take the XAT exam, which is administered every year in January. Other prestigious B-schools that take the XAT exam include TAPMI, SPJIMR, Great Lakes Chennai, and others.
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XAT 2025 Conducting Authority
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Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur
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XAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
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Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline
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XAT 2025 Registration Dates
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July 15 to November 30, 2024
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XAT 2025 Exam Fees
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Rs.2100
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XAT 2025 Exam Date
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January 5, 2025
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XAT 2025 Testing Session
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2 PM to 5.10 PM (3 Hrs. 10 Minutes)
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|
Total Universities accepting XAT score
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150+
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Mode of Examination
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Online Computer-Based Test
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|
Total Questions in XAT Question Paper
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101
|
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XAT Exam Difficulty Level
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Moderate to Difficult
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XAT 2025 Exam Pattern
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Exam Sections
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Number of questions
|
Overall Time Duration
|
|
Part-1
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75 Total MCQs
|
165 Minutes
|
|
Verbal and Logical Ability
|
26
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No Sectional Time Limit
|
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Decision Making
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21
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No Sectional Time Limit
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Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
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28
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No Sectional Time Limit
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Part-2
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25 Total MCQs + Essay Writing Test
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25 Minutes
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General Knowledge
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25
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|
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Essay
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1 Descriptive Topic
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10 Minutes
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Total questions (Part 1 + Part 2)
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101
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Management Aptitude Test MAT
The Management Aptitude Test or MAT exam is a popular national-level exam for MBA admission in India. At least four times a year, the MAT exam is given in February, May, September, and December. More than 400 prestigious MBA colleges that accept results from the MAT exam will consider applicants for MBA admission in 2024. The MAT CBT, PBT, and IBT schedule for September is now closed. Find out everything there is to know about the MAT exam, including which institutions accept it, how to prepare, and how to register.
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Questions related to the Exam
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Answer related to the Exam
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Exam Conducting Authority
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All India Management Association
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|
Total Exams in a Year
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Held in February, May, September, December
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|
Total MBA colleges accepting MAT Exam
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400 to 600+
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Testing Modes
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3: IBT, PBT, CBT
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Number of Attempts
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2
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Application Fee
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Rs.1950/- for 1 exam;
Rs. 3100/- for 2 exams
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MAT Full Form
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Management Aptitude Test
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|
Total Questions in Test Paper
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200
|
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Sectional Division of Exam 2024
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5 Sections with 40 Questions in Each Section
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|
Difficulty Level
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Easy to Moderate
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Minimum Percentile Required for Admission in Top MBA Colleges
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90+
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Importance of Taking the Dec 2024 MAT Exam
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Offers MBA admission opportunities in 2024 and Offers the opportunity to improve rank and score
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Application process
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Online
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MAT Exam Pattern
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There is a 2-hour time limit on the test paper.
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There are 200 objective-type multiple-choice questions on the MAT question paper.
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The degree of difficulty is easy to moderate.
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There will be 40 questions in each section.
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The question paper will be divided into five sections.
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A score of one is awarded for each correct response.
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Every wrong answer results in a negative grade of -0.25.
NMAT
GMAC administers the national exam - NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) for MBA admission to 30 B-schools in India such as XIMB and NMIMS. Candidates are allowed to take the NMAT exam three times, and it is administered every year for more than 70 days. The NMAT exam can be taken online, proctored at home, or at a testing location, in contrast to other MBA entrance exams.
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NMAT 2024 Exam Conducting Body
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Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
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NMAT Official Website
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mba.com/nmat
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NMAT 2024 Registration dates
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Aug 1 to Oct 13, 2024
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NMAT Exam Dates 2024
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46 days from November 5 to December 20, 2024
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NMAT 2024 Testing Mode
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1. Online Exam at Test Centre; Or
2. Online proctored exam from home
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Number of Times you can Take the NMAT exam 2024
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Three
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NMAT Exam Fee 2024
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Rs.2800/-
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Total Questions in NMAT Exam 2024
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108
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Exam Difficulty Level
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Moderate as compared to CAT, XAT, SNAP
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NMAT Exam Pattern
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Section Name
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Total Questions
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Time Allotted for Each Section in minutes
|
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Language Skills
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36
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28
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Quantitative Skills
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36
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52
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Logical Reasoning
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36
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40
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Total
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108
|
120
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Common Management Admission Test CMAT
The Common Management Admission Test or CMAT exam is a national-level entrance exam for MBA admission organized by the National Testing Agency. CMAT scores are accepted for MBA admission at more than 1000 AICTE-approved institutions around India. Top management colleges that take the test include KCC ITM, BIMTECH, and Great Lakes Chennai.
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CMAT Conducting Authority
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National Testing Agency (NTA)
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CMAT Full Form
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Common Management Admission Test
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Number of CMAT-accepting colleges
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1000+
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CMAT 2024 Registration Dates
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29 Mar–23 Apr 2024
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CMAT Exam Date
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15 May 2024
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CMAT Exam Slots
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2 Shift Exam with 3 hrs. Duration in each slot
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Mode of CMAT Entrance Exam 2024
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Online Computer Based Test
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CMAT 2024 Score Validity for MBA Admission
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2024-2025 academic session
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|
Total Questions in the CMAT Exam
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100
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CMAT 2024 Medium of Question Paper
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English
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Exam Difficulty Level
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Easy to Moderate
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Maximum Score
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400 Marks for 100 questions
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Exam Application Fee for Boys
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Rs.2000/-
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Application Fee for Girls
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Rs.1000/-
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Application Fee for EWS/OBC-NCL
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Rs.1000/-
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Application Fee for SC/ST/PwD
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Rs.1000/-
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CMAT Exam Pattern
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CMAT 2024 Exam Sections
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Number of Questions
|
Maximum Marks Section-wise
|
|
Language Comprehension
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20
|
80
|
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Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
|
20
|
80
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Logical Reasoning
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20
|
80
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General Awareness
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20
|
80
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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20
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80
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Total: Sections-5
|
100
|
400
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MBA Admission Procedure through MBA Entrance Exams 2024
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Important Parameters
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Description
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Eligibility Criteria
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Final-year students can also register if they are at least 50% of the graduating class.
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Age limit
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none
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Choosing the entrance exam according to the colleges you want to attend
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CAT scores: 20 IIMs, FMS, IMT, MDI, IMI, and IITs
XAT scores: XLRI, GIM, IMT, MICA
NMAT score: NMIMS, Great Lakes, KCC ITM
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Shortlisted students are chosen for subsequent MBA admission rounds, which include a written ability test, a personal interview, and a group discussion.
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Exam results, educational background, professional work experience, and gender diversity are among the factors that are given weight while creating the shortlist.
Students who are shortlisted must participate in batch-wise group discussion sessions at prestigious B-schools including IIMs, FMS, KCC ITM, and Fore School of Management.
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Universities' announcement of their merit lists
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Merit lists are used by the institutes to announce the candidates' results. It is available for download on the institute's official website. Typically, the list includes the chosen student's name, registration number, roll number, entrance exam score, and percentile.
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Accepting the acceptance letter and the acceptance fee
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Following the announcement of the results, the university or B-school sends an official email with an e-offer letter. To confirm admission, an applicant must respond to the email by accepting the offer letter and remitting the acceptance costs before the deadline.
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The institute's reputation is largely shaped by the data and statistics that are developed annually in the form of cut-offs, weighting, batch profiles, gender and academic diversity, summer placements, and final placements. The majority of the institutions' admissions processes can be compared to those of the best B-schools in India.
Indian Institutions Accepting the MBA Entrance Exams in 2024
Candidates must select the B-schools they want to attend while deciding which MBA entrance exams to take. Candidates should make a final selection regarding the MBA admission tests based on the institutes and the entrance examinations they accept. These are the most popular MBA entrance exams along with a list of prestigious universities that accept them.
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MBA Entrance Exams
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Top B-schools Across India
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CAT
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IIMs, IMI, FMS Delhi, IIT, KCC ITM
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XAT
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XLRI, XIMB, XIME, TAPMI, MICA, GIM
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NMAT
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NMIMS, XIMB, ISB Hyderabad, TAPMI, IBS
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MICAT
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MICA Ahmedabad
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CMAT
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Great Lakes, GIM, VIT, BIMTECH
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SNAP
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SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune +13 other Symbiosis Colleges
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MAH MBA CET
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JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA
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TANCET
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Anna University, PPG Business School
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Also read :
What should you know about MBA Entrance Exam?
MBA Entrance Exam 2024-25 FAQs
Q1. Can I apply for MBA admission without passing the CAT exam?
It is possible to pursue an MBA admission without taking the CAT exam. Other MBA entrance exams including the XAT, NMAT, CMAT, and others are also options. However, failing the CAT exam will prevent you from being admitted to prestigious B-schools like the IIMs.
Q2. Which is the best MBA entrance exam in India?
With more than two lakh registrants, the Common Admission Test, or CAT, is the most popular MBA admission exam. The CAT exam offers the chance to gain admission to esteemed institutions like FMS Delhi, IIMs, and others.
Q3. How can I choose which MBA entrance exams to take?
Selecting the courses and institutions you want to be admitted to lays the foundation for choosing the MBA entrance exams you should apply for. Determine which MBA admission examinations are necessary to fulfill the specific requirements of each B-school based on the list.
Q4. When should I submit my MBA entrance exam 2025 application form?
There are separate registration dates for each of the MBA entrance exams. Make sure you maintain a record of every entrance you want to grant. The first week of August is when registration for CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT is expected to open.
Q5. What is the best way to be ready for the MBA admission exams?
Any exam preparation calls for a carefully considered approach. You should start studying the syllabus for the closest MBA admission exam if you are taking more than one. You can concentrate on the closest exam and go over the remaining topics as the dates approach because most entrance exams have overlapping topics and syllabi.