Top 4 entrance exams in India for MBA

Shivang Clypes Posted on November 9, 2022

MBA Entrance Exams, Top 4 MBA Entrance Exams, Top MBA Entrance Exams

Every year, India graduates about 10 million students from different streams of colleges. But only about 4 million get a job, which means that 6 million people are unemployed. It has been shown that for many such people, a crucial barrier to employment is the lack of proper preparation. In tier 2 cities, tier 3 cities, and rural areas, it can take a jobseeker 7-12 months on average to find a job. This is because they do not have the right tools and knowledge on which exam to prepare for. However, the education system in India is transforming continuously by educating people about exams to be taken for courses or fields. Talking about entrance exams, most students prefer pursuing an MBA degree, and there are many entrance exams offered across India for students who wish to pursue their MBA degree.

This blog lays out the Top 4 entrance exams in India for MBA

CAT (Common Admission Test)

CAT is the most important of all four exams, as it is the entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The IIMs are the top business schools in India. A good score in CAT is required for admission to the IIMs. The IIMs are known for their world-class faculty, excellent facilities, and top placement records. Admission to the IIMs is highly competitive, and a good score in CAT is essential for getting in.

It is a computer-based test with three sections:

1. Verbal ability and reading comprehension
2. Data interpretation and logical reasoning
3. Quantitative ability

It consists of 66 questions, divided into two sections. The first section is non-MCQ, where no negative marks are given for incorrect answers. The second section is MCQ, where each incorrect answer is given a negative mark of -1.

Time Duration: The test is conducted for two hours, and candidates are given a total of 40 minutes to complete each section.

The exam is designed to test the candidate’s ability to think critically and solve problems. The questions are of varying difficulty levels, and the candidate is expected to attempt all the questions.

NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test)

NMAT is one of the top 4 entrance exams in India for an MBA. It is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and is a computer-based test. It is a national-level management entrance exam for admission to NMIMS and other top B-schools in India. It is meant for assessing the aptitude of candidates for management programmes.

The test is conducted in two slots – morning and evening. The test consists of 108 multiple-choice questions and is for 2 hours duration.

It is divided into 3 sections,
1. Quantitative Aptitude
2. Verbal Ability
3. Logical Reasoning

The NMAT is held every year in October, November, and December. To be eligible for the NMAT, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)

SNAP, or the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, is one of the most popular entrance exams in India for MBA programs. Over 2 lakh students take the SNAP exam every year, competing for a spot at one of the top Symbiosis International University affiliated institutes.

The SNAP exam is a multiple-choice exam that tests students’ aptitude in quantitative, verbal, and logical reasoning, as well as general awareness. A strong performance on the SNAP exam can help students secure a spot at their dream business school.

The exam pattern for the SNAP is as follows:

The exam is divided into three sections:
1. The General section comprises questions on verbal ability, verbal reasoning and reading comprehension
2. Quantitative, Data interpretation and sufficiency
3. Analytical & Logical Reasoning

The duration of the exam is 60 minutes.
The exam is conducted online.
There is ¼ th negative marking for wrong answers.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is one of the top 4 exams considered for MBA programs in India. XAT is a paper-based test with multiple-choice questions. The test is divided into three sections: Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation. The total time allotted for the test is 3 hours and 10 minutes.

More than 150 B-schools consider XAT scores for their MBA programs. XAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI (Xavier Association of Management Institutes).

It is computer-based with a duration of 2 hours 40 minutes.

XAT is a highly competitive exam, and the cut-off score is usually very high. The average XAT score required for admission to top B-schools is in the range of 95-99 percentile.

The XAT exam is conducted every year in January.

To get into one of the best MBA colleges in India, take one of the top MBA entrance exams. These exams are competitive, and a good score in any of these exams can give you an edge over your competitors. We hope this blog has helped you choose the best entrance exam to consider for admission to the best MBA colleges or business schools in India.

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