While the Common Admission Test (CAT) remains the main entrance test for admission into top B-schools in India, there are a few other exams (full list shown below) that one needs to be keep on the radar when planning for applications/exam-preparation.
The Common Aptitude Test (CAT) is the entrance exam conducted for admission into the 19 IIMs across the country, besides a host of B-schools across the country. One of the most popular and competitive examinations, almost 2 lakh candidates take the common admission test every year.
Some B-Schools that accept CAT scores:- Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi
- S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
- Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
- KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
- NITIE, Mumbai
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
- Fore School of Management, New Delhi
- Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad
- SJSOM (IIT Mumbai)
- VGSOM (IIT Kharagpur)
- DMS (IIT Delhi)
Candidates need to apply separately to the institutes, besides applying for the test (CAT).
Exam Format:
CAT is a computer-based test. Unlike most aptitude tests this exam has multiple choice questions as well as a few non multiple choice questions.
Marking Scheme:
3 marks for correct answer & negative marking of 1 for every wrong answer (multiple choice questions only)
Normalization:
CAT 2016 will be conducted in two sessions (with different Test forms) and a process of normalization will be done in order to adjust for score differences by location & test forms. After further normalization across sections, the scaled scores are converted into percentiles that are used for short-listing of candidates.
Exam Details: Computer Based Test (CBT)| Test Area with Number of Questions | |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 34 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 34 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 32 |
- Holding Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognized University
- Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree and awaiting results can also apply.
The XAT has been conducted by XLRI for the past 60 years, and is used for admission into almost 100 management institutes across the country. It follows CAT in terms of popularity amongst management aspirants. Unlike most exams, the XAT has a multi-dimensional test framework and this needs to be kept in mind at the preparation stage.
Some B-Schools that accept XAT scores:- XLRI Jamshedpur
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
- Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa
- FORE School of Management, New Delhi
- Great Lakes of Management, Chennai
- Institute of Management & Technologu, Ghaziabad
- KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
- Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad
- S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
- TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
Candidates need to apply separately to the institutes, besides applying for the test (XAT).
Exam Format: Online
Duration: Three hours and thirty five minutes
Test Areas:
- Quantitative Ability
- English Language & Logical Reasoning
- Decision Making
- GK
- Essay
Note: Negative marking of 1/4th mark will be deducted for wrong answers.
Eligibility:
- Recognized Bachelor’s Degree of minimum three years duration or equivalent in any discipline. Those completing their final examination by June 10, 2018 may also apply.
- All Indian candidates must appear for XAT 2018. However, NRI and Foreign candidates may apply through GMAT score (except Dubai and Kathmandu wherein candidates also have an option of appearing for XAT 2018).
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade conducts a common entrance test for admission to their flagship MBA in International Business in the New Delhi and Kolkata campuses.
Exam Format: Pen and PaperScoring pattern: Negative marking of 1/3 marks for each wrong answer.
Duration: 2 hours
Test Areas:
- ENGLISH COMPREHENSION
- GENERAL KNOWLEDGE & AWARENESS
- LOGICAL REASONING
- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
Eligibility:
- Recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years’ duration in any discipline.
- Candidates appearing for a qualifying examination can also apply subject to submission of proof of requisite qualification by beginning of October of the year of start of the course.
- No age limit.
NMAT by GMAC™ is increasingly become one of the most important avenues towards pursuing a management course in India.
Some B-Schools that accept NMAT scores- NMIMS University, Mumbai, Bangalore & Hyderabad
- ICFAI University, IBS Business School, Hyderabad and other locations
- Amity University, Delhi NCR
- SRM University, Chennai
- Alliance University, Bangalore
- VIT University, Bangalore
- UPES, Dehradun
Candidates need to apply separately to the institutes, besides applying for the test (CAT).
Exam Format:
NMAT is a computer-based test and gives each candidate a randomly generated test from a pool of questions, delivered
one-at-a-time. The number of questions, difficulty levels, and the time limit for each of the sections is predetermined
and, under normal administration conditions, are the same regardless of when and where the test is administered.
Candidates have a choice of selecting the order/sequence of the test sections. There are no negative marks for
incorrect answers. The test is conducted over a 75-day window, and candidates can select a testing date and venue
of their choice.
A distinct advantage with the NMAT is the fact that a candidate is allowed to take the exam upto 3 times (with
a minimum of 15 days between the exam dates). In case of multiple attempts, the best score is considered for short-listing
purposes.
There are three sections in the NMAT that are individually timed. Candidates are allowed to answers questions and review them in the time allotted before moving on to another section of the exam. Once the candidate closes out of a section, all answers are final.
| Section | Number of Qs | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | 32 Questions | 22 mins |
| Quantitative Skills | 48 Questions | 60 mins |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 Questions | 38 mins |
| Total | 120 Questions | 120 mins |
Eligibility:
Candidates must check the eligibility requirements of all the universities and schools to which they are applying before registering for NMAT by GMAC™ exam.
The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test is a common test for admission into all the post graduate programs/institutes under the Symbiosis International University. While there is a common application for the SNAP, candidates need to apply individually to each of the institutes as well.
Exam Format: OnlineDuration: 120 minutes.
Marking Scheme: Wrong answers attract 25% negative marks.
Exam Details:
| Sections | Number of Qs | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General English: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | 40 | 40 |
| Current Affairs | 30 | 30 |
| Analytical & Logical Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Eligibility:
- Graduate from any recognized / statutory University with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST). Programmes which require specific discipline/ subject specialisation need to be checked for eligibility as given by the respective Institute.
- A candidate who has completed qualifying degree from any Foreign University must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). All foreign degrees/ qualifications need to be verified from AIU by the candidate before seeking admission to any programme of SIU.
Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra conducts its Common Entrance test for admission into MBA/MMS & PGDBM/PGDM courses in various institutes in Maharashtra.
Some B-Schools that accept MHCET scores:
- Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
- K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research
- Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research
- Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education
Exam Format:
This is an online computer-based test with multiple choice objective questions. Each question has five options, and there is no negative marking. The duration of the test is 2.5 hours.
Exam Details:
| Section | Total Marks |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | 75 |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 |
| Abstract Reasoning | 50 |
| Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension | 50 |
| Total | 200 |
Eligibility:
- The Candidate should be an Indian National
- Passed minimum three year duration Bachelor’s Degree awarded by any of the Universities recognized by University Grants Commission or Association of Indian Universities in any discipline with at least 50% marks in aggregate or equivalent (at least 45% in case of candidates of backward class categories and Persons With Disability belonging to Maharashtra State only) or its equivalent
- Obtained non zero score in CET conducted by the Competent Authority (MAH-MBA/MMS-CET 2018).
This exam is conducted by Mudra Institute of Communications for admission into the PGDM (C) program offered by them. MICAT is conducted twice in the year – once in December-January -and again in February-March.
Exam Format:
MICAT is a multidimensional computer based examination, which will assess candidates in the following six areas:
Eligibility:
- Admission to the PGDM (C) programme requires a Bachelor's degree (in keeping with the 10 + 2 + 3 system) or an equivalent qualification in any discipline recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Candidates appearing for final examinations towards a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) are also eligible to apply.
- Candidates who demonstrate aptitude for expressing, assessing, and /or conceiving ideas that move people to action and achieve business results tend to stand a better chance of being shortlisted.
This exam is conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences for admission into the full time degree courses offered in their Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, Guwahati & Chennai campuses.
Exam Format:
This is a Computer-based entrance test with multiple choice objective questions. There is no negative marking. The duration of the test is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Exam Details:
| Section | Total Marks |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 |
| English Proficiency | 30 |
| Maths & Logical Reasoning | 30 |
| Total | 180 |
Eligibility:
- Candidates having a bachelor's degree with minimum of 3 years duration or its equivalent ( under the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+2+2+1 year bridge course pattern of study or any other pattern fulfilling the mandatory requirements of 15 years formal education) from a recognized university are eligible to apply
- At the time of applying candidates studying in 3 year degree programme should have passed in all the subjects for the 1st to 4th semesters and candidates studying in 4 year degree programmes should have passed in all the subjects for 1st to 6th semester.
- Only those Candidates who will be able to complete all the requirements of their final year Bachelor's Degree examinations by Saturday, June 11, 2016 are eligible to apply to all the programmes.
Till the time the candidate submit results of the final year degree examination, admission to any of the Master's Degree Programmes of the Institute will be provisional. The results of the final examination have to be submitted before September 30, 2016. Those who fail to do so the provisional admission stands cancelled.
GMAT is a global examination conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) , a global non-profit
council of business schools. Recognized by leading B-schools, the GMAT score is your gateway to a host of B-Schools
in the US, Europe, Canada and Australia among many other countries as well.
In India, the acceptance of GMAT scores for admission is on the rise. Currently over 100 B-schools accept the GMAT
for admission to over 200 programs.
Some of the major colleges that accept GMAT scores are:
- Indian School of Business, Hyderabad & Mohali
- S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
- IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode
- School of Management, NMIMS
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
- Fore School of Management, New Delhi
- XLRI, Jamshedpur
- FMS, Delhi
- MDI, Gurgaon
- IMT, Ghaziabad
Exam Format:
This is a Computer-based adaptive test with multiple choice objective questions. The duration of the test is 3 hours and 7 minutes.
Exam Details:
| GMAT Test Section | Number of Questions | Question Types | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing Assessment | 1 Topic | Analysis of Argument | 30 minutes |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 Questions | Multi-Source Reasoning Graphics Interpretation Two-Part Analysis Table Analysis | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative | 31 Questions | Data Sufficiency Problem Solving | 62 minutes |
| Verbal | 36 Questions | Reading Comprehension Critical Reasoning Sentence Correction | 65 minutes |
| Total Exam Time | 3 hours and 7 minutes |
Important Information:
The GMAT exam is available all around the world throughout the year, hence there is great amount of flexibility in terms of preparation and choosing the day of the exam. However, do bear in mind that typically students from India applying to B-school in India and abroad tend to report their scores to the universities between the months of August & December. Hence, it is a good idea to plan ahead based on your application deadlines.