Some of the institutes organise their own entrance exam for MBA programs. SNAP is one of the most famous institute-specific entrance exams organised for admission for admission to Symbiosis International University (SIU). These exams help colleges check the ability and skills of the students based on their unique admission criteria.

For those looking to study abroad or in select Indian business schools GMAT and GRE are widely accepted. ISB and some private Indian universities also accept these scores, providing international exposure and opportunities.

An MBA entrance exam is essential for getting admission into reputable business schools in India as it decides one's eligibility, scholarship opportunities and prospects. A good score opens the gates to some of the top institutes. Therefore, it turns out to be better career prospects and higher salary packages. Thus preparing well for the exams becomes the first and most important step toward building a successful career in management.

National-Level MBA Entrance Exams in India 

For admission to the best management institutes in India aspirants must appear for the popular national-level exams such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT and CUET-PG. These exams are given below in detail with all the relevant information that is crucial for the aspirants:

CAT Exam

The Indian Institute of Management organises a national-level exam called the Common Admission Test (CAT) for the candidates who want to take admission into the twenty-one IIMs. The IIMs offer admission to the MBA/PGDM programs. Recently, NITIE Mumbai joined the list of the 21 IIMs as IIM Mumbai.

The CAT exam sees the student's skills in quantitative ability section, reading comprehension section, verbal ability section, data interpretation and logical reasoning section. The level of difficulty can be moderate to high in the CAT Exam.

Eligibility Criteria for the CAT Exam 

The students who want to study at the top management institutes in India must appear in the CAT exam. To appear they must fulfil the eligibility criteria set by the organising committee of that entrance exam. For taking the CAT exam candidates must check and fulfil the eligibility criteria that are set by the organising committee. After that, the candidates can fill out their application form and start their preparation for the CAT exam. These criteria for eligibility are given below: 

1. Educational Qualification-

The candidates need to have a graduation degree from a reputed and recognised university with a minimum 50% score for the students who come from the general category and a minimum 45% marks for the students who belong to the SC, ST and PwD categories. The students who are appearing for their graduation final year exams can also sit for the CAT exam.

2. Registering with backlogs-

Even if the students have an academic backlog during their graduation degree they can still appear for the CAT exam if they receive a degree with a minimum score of 50% score (45% for the reserved category). 

3. Work Experience-

The candidates who wish to take the CAT Exam do not need any previous experience of work except for a few executive MBA programs and other special courses from IIMs and MBA colleges. Although of course IIMs might give work experience some weightage during their final selection processes. The actual weightage given differs from IIM to IIM and is never released to the public.

4. Age Limit for the CAT Exam-

The organising committee of the CAT exam has not set any age restriction for the students appearing for the CAT exam. 

Colleges Accepting CAT Scores

Most of India's premier institutes use CAT scores for MBA admissions. All 21 IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Mumbai shortlist candidates on the basis of CAT performance.

Along with IIMs, IITs such as Delhi, Bombay and Madras also use CAT for their management programs. A list of IITs that accept CAT exam scores for admission into their MBA program is given below: 

Other top B-schools including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai and IIFT and universities like Amity, KIIT and Woxsen also use CAT scores for admissions. A list of some of the notable mon-IIMs that accept CAT scores is given below: 

XAT Exam

The Xavier Aptitude Test is a national-level exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur to provide admission to various MBA/PGDM programs offered by the top B-schools. For seventy years XLRI has been organising this exam on behalf of the XAMI.

The Xavier exam syllabus is more vast as compared to the CAT exam. In comparison with the CAT exam, the XAT exam pattern includes extra areas such as GK, Essay Writing and Decision-Making which require a new set of skills.

Eligibility Criteria for the XAT Exam 

MBA aspirants must fulfil all the requirements set by the official exam body then only they become eligible and can appear for the XAT exam. Once they fulfil the criteria set for appearing in the exam then they can fill the application form and start their preparation for the exam. 

1. Academic Qualification-

Candidates must have a three year bachelor's degree or its equal in any area from a reputed & recognised university. The students who are appearing for their graduation final year exams can also sit for the XAT exam.  Candidates will be asked for the mark sheet and a degree certificate at the time of admission.

2. Age Limit-

Those students who want to be admitted to any program through the XAT exam do not have any upper-age restriction for being eligible. Moreover, there is no limit regarding the attempts of the XAT exam.

Colleges Accepting XAT Scores

Note: The new XAT Associates that will accept the XAT exam scores and provide management education are:

• IIB, Muthugadahalli, Bengaluru

• ILM University in UP

• ILM University in Haryana

CMAT Exam

The CMAT exam which stands for the Common Management Admission Test is a National-level exam that is organised by NTA. The exam checks the student's business capabilities and skills who want admission into the MBA/PGDM programs. The exam is taken in an online mode. All AICTE affiliated colleges take the CMAT scores for admission into their MBA courses. Total hundred questions will be there in the CMAT Exam on various topics. 

Eligibility Criteria for the CMAT Exam 

1. Academic Qualification-

The students need to have a graduation degree from a reputed and recognised university. No minimum percentage is required. The students who are appearing for their graduation final year exams can also sit for the XAT exam.  Only passing marks are needed. MBA schools that accept CMAT scores, may require a minimum of 45 per cent and 50 per cent in graduation.

2. Age Limit-

Those students who want to be admitted to any management program do not have any upper-age restrictions for being eligible.

3. Nationality-

Only Indian citizens can apply for the CMAT Exam.

Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores

CUET-PG Exam 

It is an Indian national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to the Central Universities along with other collaborating universities/colleges that provide postgraduate programmes. The online mode will be considered for filling in the CUET-PG MBA application.

Eligibility Criteria for the CUET-PG Exam 

Candidates will need to fulfill the eligibility criteria provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to take the CUET-PG exam. The eligibility criteria are given below:

1. Educational Qualification: Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent in any field from any recognised university/college. Students appearing for the final year of graduation (or its equivalent) are also eligible to take the CUET-PG MBA examination.

2. Age Limit: No age limit is there for those who want to give the CUET-PG MBA.

Colleges Accepting CUET-PG Scores

MAT Exam 

The Management Aptitude Test is the country's entrance exam for postgraduate management program admissions. It is organised by AIMA which stands for All India Management Association. 

The MAT exam is taken to assess the managerial aptitude and overall potential of the test-taker for management programs. More than 600 B-schools in India consider the MAT exam scores for their MBA programs making it one of the most preferred choices of the MBA aspirants. 

Eligibility Criteria for the MAT Exam 

The eligibility criteria for the MAT exam are given below: 

1. Graduation is the minimum qualification needed in any field from a recognised university.

2. The students who are appearing for their final year exams can also appear in the entrance exam.

3. The minimum graduation percentage requirement is there for being eligible for admission into the MBA programs. Different management institutes and colleges have different requirements for minimum graduation marks required for admission. 

Colleges Accepting MAT Scores

NMAT Exam 

Graduate Management Admission Council conducts a national MBA admission test for the candidates seeking admission to the NMIMS Mumbai and other prominent MBA colleges in India. The examination is called the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test abbreviated as the NMAT exam. A few years back the exam was conducted by NMIMS, Mumbai. 

A candidate can appear for the test thrice. This includes one attempt and 2 retakes. Candidates can reappear for tests with a break of 15 days between two attempts. Furthermore, the 70-day test window may be rescheduled that is its date and time can be changed according to their own wish. More than 50+ best B-schools in India use NMAT scores for preliminary screening of the applicants for the MBA program.

Eligibility Criteria for the NMAT Exam 

As eligible candidates for the NMAT entrance exam the test-taker must pass the eligibility norms for the NMAT exam and then can appear for NMAT entrance examination. The NMAT eligibility is given below :

1. Educational Qualification-

The candidate must have passed four years of study in any stream or 10+2+3. According to the eligibility criteria of NMAT MBA exam anyone who has acquired a minimum of 50% marks can seek an application. The aspirants who are going to appear for their graduation final year examinations can also attempt the NMAT exam. 

2. Work Experience- 

Candidates with two to three years of previous work experience are provided preference during the last selection process. However applicants with no previous experience are not disqualified from applying.

3. Age Limit-

 No age limitations are placed by the NMAT exam on students appearing in it.

4. Attempts-

The candidates can attempt the NMAT exam thrice in a year including the period of "no-shows".

Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores

Institute-Specific MBA Entrance Exams in India 

For admission to the best management institutes in India aspirants must appear for the popular entrance exams. Apart from the National-level exams some reputed institutes organise their own MBA entrance exam for admission to their MBA programs. One of the most popular Institute-specific entrance exams is SNAP organised by Symbiosis International University (SIU).

SNAP Exam 

SIU organises the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP for students who want to study management courses at the top MBA colleges. It is a common entrance test for admission into MBA/PGDM programs offered by sixteen SIU constituent institutes.

There will be 60 multiple-choice questions. Also the SNAP exam is conducted in the Computer-Based (CBT) mode. A candidate can appear thrice for the SNAP Exam. The best of the three scores will be used for getting admission into SIU management courses.

Eligibility Criteria for the SNAP Exam 

The eligibility criteria for the students who wish to sit in the SNAP entrance exam is given below: 

1. Educational Qualification-

A bachelor's degree is required with minimum 50% score (for the general class) and 45% score for the SC, ST & PwD candidates. To appear for the SNAP entrance exam test takers must meet this requirement. 

2. Work Experience-

Some MBA programs at SIU insist that the student must have earlier years of work experience. It is a scale of 12 months to 2 years.

Colleges Accepting SNAP Scores

International MBA Entrance Exams

For admission to the best management institutes in India and abroad aspirants must appear for the popular entrance exams. Apart from the National-level exams candidates can sit for the international-level MBA entrance exams that will not only provide admission to the management colleges in India but also provide admission to the world's best B-Schools. 

GRE and GMAT are the two popular international MBA entrance exams. These are as follows: 

GMAT Exam 

Graduate Management Admission Council organises the GMAT Focus Edition exam for admission into more than 7000 business school programs offered by 2400 universities across the globe. The registration for this entrance exam started on August 29, 2023 and the exam is ready to begin from November 7, 2023.

The new format of the GMAT has been crafted carefully, efficiently and responsively to serve the needs of top business schools and the extensive variety of courses and programs around the world. Similar to the current GMAT exam, the focus edition of GMAT is a computer-based test that may be taken at a testing centre or from home.

Eligibility Criteria for the GMAT Exam 

The GMAT Focus Edition eligibility criteria place some specific conditions on the applicants. Applicants should be aware of their eligibility for the GMAT Focus Edition exam before they initiate the registration process. These are as follows in sequence:

1. Educational Qualification-

The GMAC does not state any qualification regarding the eligibility of education for the GMAT Focus Edition. Under the basic qualification it is written that the candidate must be a graduate of a renowned university. However, simultaneously the student must also satisfy the requirements specified by the university he is planning to apply for admission.

2. Work Experience-

No previous work experience is needed for admission. Although the participating institutes of the GMAT Exam may require work experience as it enhances the chances of candidate selection.

3. Age Limit-

The candidate must be at least eighteen years of age. There is no higher age limit for the Exam. Candidates between thirteen to seventeen years of age are required to produce a written approval of their parents or guardians.

4. Number of Attempts-

In a year the candidate can take the test 5 times. However in lifetime they can take the test only 8 times. Candidates can again sit for the test after an interval of 5 years or more if a candidate get an absolute score which is 800.

Colleges Accepting GMAT Scores

Difference Between GMAT and GMAT Focus Edition 

Note: To ensure that the candidates and the B-schools can easily distinguish the scores of both the editions of the GMAT exam i.e, GMAT (10th Edition) and GMAT Focus Edition, the total scale scores are presented in the following format: 

• GMAT (10th Edition): 200-800

• GMAT Focus Edition: 205-805

Percentiles of the GMAT Focus Edition

Given below is the score of the GMAT focus edition which comprises of all the three sections of the exam which are Data Insights, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.

GRE Exam 

The GRE or Graduate Record Examination is the standardised examination that is considered an admission requirement for the leading business schools across the world. The exam takes one hour and fifty-eight minutes and is computer-based.

The verbal and quantitative ability section allows the candidates to score between 130-170 while in the analytical writing part they can score between 0-6. Many universities accept this score for admission to MBA programs. Candidates can write the test as many times as they want and most of the universities choose the higher GRE score. 

Eligibility Criteria for the GRE Exam 

Before sitting for any entrance exam candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria of that exam. The criteria are made public by the organising committee so that the aspirants can see if they can take the exam or not. In the case of the GRE exam, no eligibility requirement is given by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and anyone can appear for the GRE Exam. 

It is quite obvious that for the Postgraduate program the candidates must have completed their undergraduate degree. Also there is no age limit restriction for the candidates taking the GRE Exam. 

Colleges Accepting GRE Scores