Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
Pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a significant step for many aspiring business leaders and professionals. The journey, however, begins with clearing a rigorous entrance examination. Here, we explore the top six toughest MBA entrance exams globally, renowned for their challenging nature and the high standards they set for all applicants.
1. XAT
Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, organizes the XAT exam once annually to facilitate admission to MBA/PGDM programs. This MBA entrance exam is held in a computer-based mode. Refer to the following table to know the exam pattern of XAT:
| Mode of XAT | Online |
| XAT exam frequency | Once a year |
| Exam paper sections |
|
| No. of Questions | 100 |
| Exam duration | 210 minutes |
2. NMAT
NMAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). NMAT is held three times a year, and candidates’ best scores in all the attempts are considered for admission. Candidates who qualify for the NMAT exam can secure a seat in MBA institutes in India, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Here is the detail of the NMAT exam pattern:
| Mode of NMAT | Online |
| NMAT exam frequency | Thrice a year |
| Exam paper sections |
|
| No. of Questions | 108 |
| Exam duration | 120 minutes |
3. SNAP
SNAP is a national-level MBA entrance exam administered by SIU. Candidates who qualify for the SNAP exam are eligible for admission to 16 Symbiosis institutes offering MBA or PGDM programs. Candidates are allowed to appear for all the SNAP exams. The SNAP result will be declared considering the candidates’ best score in all the attempts.
The table below shows the exam pattern of the SNAP exam:
| Mode of SNAP | Online |
| SNAP exam frequency | Three days in a year |
| Exam paper sections |
|
| No. of Questions | 60 |
| Exam duration | 60 minutes |
4. CMAT
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is another highly renowned national-level MBA entrance exam. National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CMAT once a year in the online mode. Here are the details of the CMAT exam pattern:
| Mode of CMAT | Online |
| CMAT exam frequency | Once a year |
| Exam paper sections |
|
| No. of Questions | 100 |
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
5. MICAT
The pattern of MICAT along with the MICAT syllabus is different from other MBA Entrance Exams. Most of the MBA Entrance exams are made up entirely of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). However, MICAT has a paper pattern that asks objective, as well as subjective questions.
| MICAT full form | Mudra Institute of Communication Admission Test |
| MICAT conducting body | MICA, Ahmedabad |
| Level of examination | National-level |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year |
| Application fee | 2100 |
| Medium of MICAT | English |
| Exam duration | 2 hours 15 mins |
| NO. of MICAT test centre | 48 |
| MICAT exam section | Section A: Psychometric Test
Section B: Descriptive Test Section C: Aptitude Test |
6. GMAT
The GMAT is perhaps the most globally recognized MBA entrance exam, required by over 7,000 programs worldwide. Administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), it assesses analytical writing, integrated reasoning, and quantitative, and verbal skills.
Here are the details of the GMAT exam pattern:
| Duration | 1 hour and 45 minutes |
| Sections | Verbal, Quantitative, Data Insights |
| Total Number of Questions | 64 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 questions |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 questions |
| Data Insights | 20 questions |
| Analytical Writing Assessment | Not included |
| Focus | Skills important to business and management programs: critical reasoning, problem-solving, data analysis, logic, etc. |
Conclusion
Clearing these MBA entrance exams is no small feat, requiring dedication, strategic preparation, and a robust understanding of diverse subjects. Each exam presents its own set of challenges, pushing candidates to demonstrate not just academic prowess but also critical thinking, adaptability, and effective time management. For those who succeed, the reward is an opportunity to study at some of the world's most prestigious business schools, opening doors to promising careers in the global business arena.
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