Top MBA Entrance Exams in India: CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT + State CET Exams Explained

MBA Entrance Exams In India List

Several management‑domain entrance exams are conducted in India for MBA, PGDM, MMS and related programs, at both national and state levels.

Application Form Timeline

The application for all the major exams opens in August, and the whole process ends with the exam conducted in January to March every year. To appear for these exams, you should have a graduation degree in any stream.

Percentage To Appear For The Management Exam

CAT- For CAT, you need 50 per cent in graduation for general candidates, and for reserved category candidates, it is 45 per cent.

CMAT-The percentage requirement for CMAT is 50 per cent in graduation and 45 per cent for the reserved category

XAT: There is no percentage requirement to appear for the XAT test

MAT: Management Aptitude Test requires no percentage in graduation

SNAP: You need 50 per cent marks, and for the reserved category, it is 45 per cent

NMAT: There is need of 50 percent marks to appear for the exam

Applicability of the Management score

CAT (Common Admission Test)

Main applicability:

• Primarily for admission to IIMs (all 20+ IIMs consider CAT).
• Also accepted by top non‑IIM B‑schools like FMS‑Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IITs’ MBA, IMT, IMI, XIMB, TAPMI, GIM, etc.
• Course types: Mostly MBA/PGDM programs (2‑year full‑time).

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

Main applicability:

• Conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur; used mainly for XLRI’s HRM and BM programs.
• Also accepted by over 100+ other XL‑group and partner B‑schools (XIM‑Bhubaneswar, XIME, XISS, LIBA, GIM, Jaipuria, etc.).

Course types:

• Full‑time MBA/PGDM, HRM, BM, and some executive programs.

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test – by NTA)

Main applicability:

• National‑level test with wide acceptance across AICTE‑approved colleges in India.
• Accepted by many state‑university B‑schools, government colleges, and private institutes (e.g., JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSR, KJ Somaiya, WE School, etc.).

Course types:

• MBA/PGDM and some PGDM executive / part‑time programs.

NMAT by GMAC (NMAT)

Main applicability:

• Primarily used by NMIMS (Mumbai and other campuses) for MBA/PGDM, MBA‑Pharma, MBA‑HR, etc.
• Also accepted by select private B‑schools like SOIL, ITM, VIT, and some others that prefer NMAT.

Course types:

• Mainly MBA/PGDM and a few specialized MBA programs (e.g., Pharma, BFSI).

MAT (Management Aptitude Test – by AIMA)

Main applicability:

• Has very wide reach but lower selectivity; accepted by hundreds of mid‑tier and budget‑friendly MBA colleges across India.
• Often used by smaller private colleges, university‑affiliated institutes, and some distance‑learning MBAs.

Course types:

• Regular MBA, PGDM, distance/online MBA, and some executive programs.

Major National‑Level Management Exams

• CAT (Common Admission Test) – Conducted by IIMs for admission to IIMs and many top non‑IIM B‑schools; focuses on Quant, VARC, and DILR.
• XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) – Conducted by XLRI; accepted by XLRI, XIMs and several other private B‑schools; includes a separate Decision‑Making section.
• CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) – Conducted by NTA; accepted by AICTE‑approved MBA/PGDM institutes across India.
• MAT (Management Aptitude Test) – Conducted by AIMA four times a year; widely accepted by tier‑2 and tier‑3 private B‑schools.
• SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) – For Symbiosis institutes (SIBM, SCIT, SIMC etc.); separate written test and PI‑WAT process.
• NMAT by GMAC – Computer‑adaptive test accepted by NMIMS Mumbai and other private B‑schools.
• ATMA, IBSAT, GMAT‑India – ATMA and IBSAT are national tests for private / ICFAI‑group institutes; GMAT is global but accepted by several Indian MBA programs.

Key State‑Level Management Exams

• MAH MBA CET – For MBA admission in Maharashtra government and participating private colleges.
• TS ICET / AP ICET – For integrated MBA/MCA and MBA in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
• Karnataka PGCET / KMAT – For Post Graduate Common Entrance Test (state‑university MBA) and private colleges in Karnataka.
• TANCET (MBA track) – Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test for MBA in state universities and colleges.
• OJEE, JEMAT, HPU MAT, RMAT – State‑specific MBA entrance tests in Odisha, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Typical Eligibility and Pattern

Most national exams require:

• A bachelor’s degree (any discipline) with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
• Common sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal/Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness / Decision‑Making.

Major State-Level MBA Exams

State	Entrance Exam
Andhra Pradesh	AP ICET
Karnataka	Karnataka PGCET, KMAT
Kerala	KMAT Kerala
Maharashtra	MAH MBA CET
Odisha	OJEE MBA
Tamil Nadu	TANCET
Telangana	TS ICET
Uttar Pradesh	Uses national level score such CUET PG,CAT and CMAT

MBA Entrance Test Status

State / UT	MBA entrance test / admission basis
Rajasthan	No separate state MBA entrance test; accepts CAT, CMAT, CUET PG, MAT.
Haryana	No separate state MBA entrance test; accepts CAT, CMAT, CUET PG, MAT.
Madhya Pradesh	No MBA entrance test.
Chhattisgarh	No MBA entrance test.
Jammu & Kashmir	No specific entrance test; accepts CUET PG, CMAT, CAT, MAT.
Himachal Pradesh	HPU MAT; also accepts CAT, CMAT, MAT.
Punjab	PU MET for MBA in University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS).
Gujarat	No separate MBA exam; accepts CAT, CMAT, MAT and other national-level tests.
Goa	No separate MBA exam; accepts CAT, CMAT, MAT and other national-level tests.
Odisha	OJEE for MBA and integrated 5-year MBA courses, and MBA 2-year courses.
West Bengal	No separate state MBA test; uses CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, GATE and other relevant national/state-level tests.
Assam	No separate MBA test; admissions based on CAT, XAT, CMAT, CUET PG, ATMA, MAT cutoff.
Mizoram	Admission through CMAT and MAT score.
Meghalaya	No separate entrance test; accepts CUET PG or MAT.
Arunachal Pradesh	NERIST entrance; CAT and MAT candidates exempted, with CAT 100% applicability and MAT 80% applicability.
Nagaland	NU MAT MBA entrance test; exempts CAT, MAT, CMAT, and CUET PG score candidates.
Sikkim	No separate entrance test; accepts CAT, MAT, CMAT.
Manipur	No separate entrance test; accepts CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT.
Tripura	Tripura University conducts MBA admission test; CUET PG score is also accepted.

Summary About MBA Entrance Test

• States with their own MBA exam: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Nagaland, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• States without a separate MBA exam: Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Goa, West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Manipur.

MBA Management Test FAQs