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.
India's top MBA entrance exams include CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT, IIFT, MAT, MAH CET, etc. MBA aspirants who plan to pursue the course in the 2024 academic session must be familiar with all these top MBA entrance exams. Since appearing for these exams is mandatory for admission to MBA/PGDM courses, aspirants must gather all the information about these tests and then choose the most convenient. For example, if an aspirant is aiming for IIMs, they must appear for the CAT. However, if an aspirant is aiming for a Tier-2 Private MBA college, they should appear for CMAT or MAT.
In 2022, NTA introduced a pan-India entrance exam for multiple courses, including MBA, and CUET-PG. This national-level MBA entrance exam score is accepted by all Central universities. Candidates pursuing an MBA from a Central university must appear for CUET-PG. It is held in March every year.
IIM's CAT is the most popular entrance exam for an MBA in India as over 1,300 MBA colleges select candidates for admission based on marks obtained in this exam. Over 2 lakh candidates appear for the CAT every year. The second most popular MBA entrance exam is the CMAT, conducted by the NTA. 1,300 MBA colleges across India accept CMAT scores. The third most popular MBA entrance exam is XAT, which is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. Over 800 MBA colleges in India accept XAT scores.
MBA 2024 Entrance Exams: Check Registration date and exam dates
As you all know, TISSNET and IIFT have been canceled. In the below table, the MBA 2024 Entrance exam has exam dates, type of exam, cost of exam, registration cost, and status
Month |
Exam |
Date |
Registration Status |
Type of Exam |
Cost |
Oct to Dec |
NMAT |
5th Nov to 20th Dec |
1st Aug till 10th Oct |
Time Management |
3000 + 2600 (NMIMS) (+ Taxes) |
Nov |
CAT |
24th Nov, 2024 |
1st Aug till 13th Sep, 5 pm |
Strategy / Concepts |
General | EWS | NC-OBS 2500/- SC / ST / PWS 1250 |
Dec |
SNAP |
SNAP 1 8th Dec Sunday SNAP 2 15th Dec Sunday SNAP 3 21st Dec Saturday |
5th Aug till 22nd Nov |
Time Management |
2250 SNAP each attempt + 1000 for each college) |
MICAT 1 (TBA) |
Based on 2023: 2nd Dec |
Based on 2023: 15th Sep till 21st Nov |
Subjective + Time Management |
2100/- |
|
Jan |
XAT |
5th Jan 2025 |
15th July till 30th Nov |
Strategy / Concepts |
2200 + 200/- for every programme of XLRI |
MICAT 2 (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 27th Jan |
Based on 2023-24: 23rd Nov till 17th Jan |
Subjective + Time Management |
2100/- |
|
Feb / Mar |
MAT (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 24th Feb–25th Aug |
Based on 2024: 20th Feb–18th Aug |
Time Management |
1650/- |
SRCC GBO (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 24th Feb |
Based on 2024: 11th Dec to 24th Jan |
Time Management |
2,500/- |
|
May to Aug |
CMAT (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 15th May |
Based on 2024: 29th Mar till 23rd April |
Concepts |
2000/- General Category 1000/- Reserved Category |
CET (MH) (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 9th-11th March |
Based on 2024: 11th Jan till 12th Feb |
Time Management |
1000/- for All India Students 800/- for Maharashtra Students |
|
CUET (TBA) |
Based on 2024: 11th March to 28th March |
Based on 2024: 26th Dec 2023 till 10th Feb 2024 |
Concepts |
General 1200 EWS / NC-OBC 1000 SC/ST/Third gender 900 PwD 800 |
4 Must-do MBA Entrance Exam
1. CAT
The full form of CAT is the Common Admission Test. CAT Exam is the most popular national-level management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) for admission of aspiring candidates to 20 IIMs and more than 100 B-schools across India. It is conducted and administered by one of the IIMs on a yearly rotational basis. The top 6 IIMs that conduct the exam are IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Ahmedabad. It is usually conducted on the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December.
Parameters |
CAT |
Exam Pattern |
QA 22; VARC 24; DILR 22 Total 66 Questions |
Time |
120 Mins |
Total Marks |
198 |
Marking Scheme |
3 Marks |
Negative Marking |
Yes 1/3rd of Not for TITA Questions |
No of attempts |
1 |
Expected Dates |
24th Nov 2024 |
Results |
1. December Answer Key 2. January Percentile 3. WATPI Collegewise |
Target Scores |
99%ile |
Syllabus Quants
|
1. Arithmetic 2. Numbers 3. Geometry 4. Algebra 5. Modern Maths |
Syllabus VARC |
1. Reading Comprehension 2. Para jumbles 3. Parasummary 4. Out of Context (Odd One Out) |
Syllabus LR |
1. Logical Reasoning 2. Data Interpretation 3. Caselets (LR + DI) |
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.
Parameters |
NMAT |
Exam Pattern |
QA & DI 36; VA 36; LR 36 Total 108 Questions |
Time |
120 Mins |
Total Marks |
360 |
Marking Scheme |
Scaled Scores 12-120 |
Negative Marking |
Adaptive |
No of attempts |
3 |
Expected Dates |
Oct’24 to Dec’ 24 (Maybe Extra Window Jan) |
Results |
1. Immediately Score Card 2. January / February NMMS Cutoffs Releases 3. CDPI / WAT PI |
Target Scores |
240+ |
Syllabus Quants
|
|
Syllabus VARC |
|
Syllabus LR |
|
Unique Section |
No Unique Section Special Topics:
|
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.
Parameters |
SNAP |
Exam Pattern |
VA 15; LR 25; QA & DI 20 Total 60 Questions |
Time |
60 Mins |
Total Marks |
60 |
Marking Scheme |
1 Mark |
Negative Marking |
Yes 1/4th |
No of attempts |
2 |
Expected Dates |
17th Dec | Jan 7th to 14th 2024 |
Results |
1. January Percentile and scores 2. GD WAT PI Collegewise |
Target Scores |
99%ile-98%ile (SIBM, SCMHRD) |
Syllabus Quants
|
1. Arithmetic 2. Numbers 3. Geometry 4. Algebra 5. Modern Maths 6. Data Interpretation 7. Data Sufficiency |
Syllabus VARC |
1. Reading Comprehension 2. Vocabulary 3. Idioms phrases 4. Analogies 5. Grammar 6. Para jumbles, Parasummary 7. Verbal Reasoning |
Syllabus LR |
1. Analytical Puzzles 2. Logical Reasoning 3. Verbal Reasoning 4. Deduction Based Reasoning |
Unique Section |
No Unique Section Special Topics: 1. Vocab Based Ques 2. Clocks and Calendars 3.1-2 Data Interpretation 4.NO Reading Comprehension |
4. 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.
Parameters |
XAT |
Exam Pattern |
DM 22; V&LA 26; QA&DI 28; GK 25 |
Time |
210 Mins |
Total Marks |
101 |
Marking Scheme |
1 Mark for correct -0.25 for incorrect |
Negative Marking |
Yes 1/4th |
No of attempts |
1 |
Expected Dates |
2nd January 2025 |
Results |
1. January Percentile and scores 2. GD WAT PI Collegewise |
Target Scores |
96%ile+ (XLRI) |
Syllabus Quants
|
1. Arithmetic 2. Geometry & Mensuration 3. Percentage 4. Surds and Indices 5. Algebra 6. Bar Diagrams & Pie Charts 7. Tables & Data Interpretation |
Syllabus VARC |
1. Reading Comprehension, 2. Vocabulary, 3. Analogy, 4. Parajumble 5. Grammar 6. Critical Reasoning 7. Fill in the Blanks |
Unique Section |
Decision Making: 1. Data Arrangement 2. Caselets 3. Ethical Dilemma based |
Things that make CATKing different
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Daily Classes with Toppers: Learn directly from toppers through daily classes to get insights and strategies from those who’ve excelled.
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Non-CAT Weekend Bootcamps: Participate in focused weekend boot camps that cover essential skills and concepts outside the regular CAT prep.
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Mocks with Toppers Attempt to CAT: Experience mock tests designed to simulate the real CAT, with attempts and feedback from toppers.
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Mock Taking Strategy 90%ile and 95%ile Videos: Access videos that provide strategies and tips for achieving 90%ile and 95%ile scores in mock exams.
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Real CAT Live Mock Analysis Discussion Workshops: Engage in live workshops where real CAT mocks are analyzed to understand patterns and improve performance.
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Each Exam Specific Sectional and Full-Length Mocks: Take practice tests tailored to specific exams and sections to target your preparation effectively.
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College-Specific, Exam-Specific Mentors: Get guidance from mentors who specialize in the college or exam you’re targeting, offering personalized support.
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Exam-Specific eBooks: Utilize eBooks that focus on specific exams to reinforce your knowledge and practice effectively.
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Actual Exam Questions Video Solutions: Watch video solutions of actual exam questions to better understand problem-solving techniques and strategies.
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GK Zone: Complete Dashboard for GK: Access a comprehensive dashboard for General Knowledge to stay updated and prepared for related questions.