Entrance Exam for MBA: Dates, Fees, Exam Pattern & More

If you are looking to pursue an MBA in India, overcoming the entrance exam for an MBA is the first and foremost thing to do. MBA entrance examinations allow the top B-schools like IIMs, XLRI, NMIMS, and Symbiosis to assess your skills in reasoning, English, and data interpretation.

There are many different types of MBA entrance exams for various universities, state institutions, and national institutions, conducted at various times during the year. In this blog, we will address the top MBA entrance examinations (the popular ones) in 2025, the date they will be conducted, the fees, the eligibility, the pattern of the exams, and the preparation tips.

What is an Entrance Exam for MBA?

An MBA entrance exam is a competitive examination that business schools utilize to shortlist candidates for MBA/PGDM programs. The exams allow the B-schools to measure your aptitude in:

• Quantitative ability (Maths)
  
• Logical Reasoning
  
• Verbal Ability (English)
  
• Data Interpretation
  
• General Awareness (in some exams)
  

Some of the top entrance exams for MBA in India include CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET.

Top MBA Entrance Exams in India 2025

Here is a list of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India:

Exam Name	Conducting Body	Exam Mode	Frequency
CAT	IIM (Indian Institutes of Management)	Computer-Based	Once a year
XAT	XLRI Jamshedpur	Computer-Based	Once a year
MAT	AIMA	CBT, PBT & IBT	Multiple times a year
CMAT	NTA (National Testing Agency)	Computer-Based	Once a year
SNAP	Symbiosis International University	Computer-Based	3 attempts per year
NMAT	GMAC	Computer-Based	Multiple attempts (max 3)
MAH MBA CET	State CET Cell, Maharashtra	Computer-Based	Once a year

MBA Entrance Exam Dates 2025 (Tentative)

Here is the list of top MBA Entrance Exam Dates ( Tentative ) for your better understanding:

Exam	Registration Start	Exam Date	Result Date
CAT 2025	August 2025	November 2025	December 2025
XAT 2025	July 2025	January 2025	January 2025
MAT 2025	Ongoing (Feb, May, Sept, Dec)	Multiple dates	After 2-3 weeks
CMAT 2025	March 2025	May 2025	May 2025
SNAP 2025	August 2025	Dec 2025 (3 slots)	January 2026
NMAT 2025	August 2025	Oct–Dec 2025	48 hours after the test
MAH MBA CET 2025	Jan 2025	March 2025	April 2025

Note: These exam dates are tentative and might vary. Therefore, it is advisable always to check the official website for the latest schedule.

MBA Entrance Exam Fees 2025

Here is the list of the top MBA Entrance Exam average fees for the candidates are listed below:

Exam	General Category	Reserved Category
CAT	INR 2400	INR 1200
XAT	INR 2100	–
MAT	INR 2100 (PBT or CBT), INR 3200 (both)	–
CMAT	INR 2000	INR 1000
SNAP	INR 2250 per attempt	–
NMAT	INR 2800	–
MAH MBA CET	INR 1000 (Maharashtra), INR 1000 (Other State)	INR 800

MBA Entrance Exam Pattern 2025

Here is the basic exam pattern of each exam held for the MBA program in India are listed below:

Exam	Total Questions	Duration	Sections
CAT	66	120 minutes	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude
XAT	100 + Essay	180 minutes	Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude, General Knowledge, Essay Writing (evaluated later)
MAT	200	150 minutes	Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Indian & Global Environment
CMAT	100	180 minutes	Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (optional)
SNAP	60	60 minutes	General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
NMAT	108	120 minutes	Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning
MAH MBA CET	200	150 minutes	Logical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Eligibility for MBA Entrance Exams

Here is the basic eligibility criteria for the various MBA entrance exams are listed below:

• An undergraduate degree from a recognized university.
  
• Minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST in some exams).
  
• Final year students are also eligible.
  

Note: For NMAT, SNAP, and a few others, you need to apply separately to universities after the examination.

How to Prepare for MBA Entrance Exams

Here is the list of the preparation tips for the top MBA Entrance Exam in India:

1. Understand the Syllabus

Focus on the topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, English Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and Data Interpretation.

2. Create a Timetable

Students are required to study 2-3 hours daily for at least 4–6 months.

3. Solve Mock Tests

Solve sectional and full mock tests to increase your speed/accuracy.

4. Use the Right Books

Here are some famous book recommendations:

• Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma
  
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability by Arun Sharma
  

5. Join Coaching or an Online Course (Optional)

However, Unacademy, Byju’s, Career Launcher, IMS, etc., do have online MBA coaching.

How to Choose the Right MBA Entrance Exam?’

• If you want to go to IIMs, you have to appear for the CAT.
  
• If you want to apply to XLRI, you have to go for XAT.
  
• For Symbiosis colleges, you have to appear for the SNAP entrance exam.
  
• NMAT allows you to select or apply to NMIMS and like B-schools.
  
• If you want to get admission into an AICTE-approved college, you can take the CMAT and MAH MBA CET exams.
  

What Happens After the Exam?

Here is the sequence of events for students to take once the results are out:

1. You will apply to MBA Colleges based on your exam score.

2. Students who those cleared the exam are called for:

• Group Discussion (GD)
  
• Written Ability Test (WAT)
  
• Personal Interview (PI)
  

3. Your results will be tabulated using your overall performance, after which, the final selection will be declared.

Conclusion

The MBA entrance exams are your gateway to Top Management institutes in India. If you want to go to IIMs, XLRI, or Symbiosis colleges, each exam will have its format, exam date, and fee. Start early, make a proper study plan, and practice. It is also advised to stay in touch with the respective official sites of every exam, so you do not miss any deadlines or important notifications.

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