Entrance Exam For MBA

28 March 2025
entrance exam for mba

MBA or Masters in Business Administration is the most popular postgraduation program preferred by students of all streams. The reasons for the popularity are many like career progression, level of knowledge, networking, salary package, development of management skills, and many more. Knowing about the benefits of doing an MBA, students tend to search for pathways to get admission into a prestigious institute. But how to enter a good institute, we will be guiding you on that.

Every year the students are actively taking exams for entrance to get admission in a good college. Sometimes, going to the prestigious B-school is not that simple. However, many exams and institutes can provide you with an MBA degree with lots of benefits. Let us first look at the entrance exam for MBA.

MBA Entrance Exams in India

1. CAT

The most common and well-known entrance exam for an MBA is CAT. The full form of CAT is the Common Admission Test which is a dream for many students. The exam is hosted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs). Entrance to most of the prestigious business schools in India can be done with the CAT scores. To appear for the exam, you would be required to complete your Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks.

2. XAT

Xavier Aptitude Test commonly known as XAT is conducted by XLRI. Students can get admission to 150 institutes. To appear for this exam, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject. The exam is conducted once a year and it is online.

3. MAT 

All India Management Association is the responsible body for conducting the MAT exam. The full form of MAT is the Management Aptitude Test. The scores of this exam are the main entrance exam for many of the top business schools. Similar to other exams, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject and you can appear in online or offline modes.

4. CMAT 

This exam is conducted by the National Testing Academy and is known as the Common Management Admission Test. The scores of this exam are accepted by AICTE-approved institutions. You would be required to complete a Bachelor’s degree before appearing for this exam.

5. SNAP 

This test is conducted by the well-known university Symbiosis International. You can get admission to this university by appearing for this exam. The exam pattern consists of General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical and logical reasoning. The exam is conducted once a year.

If you are willing to be admitted to an overseas university then, you can appear for the GMAT, Graduate Management Admission Test, and GRE, Graduate Record Examination.

How to Prepare for the MBA Entrance Exam 

As we know MBA is a dream for many graduates, so the competition would be high. If you are preparing for the entrance exam for an MBA, then you might need to dedicate some hours to the preparation, as the cutoff goes high for the top colleges. The exam is taken into sections that generally consist of English, Aptitude, and logical reasoning. Here are some tips that you can follow to appear in the exam.

  • Go through the exam pattern: The first step you can start with is to go to the exam’s official website and check the exam pattern. Examine what are the sections, how is the marking scheme, and the type of questions. You can even check the previous year’s exam papers to get a better understanding.
  • Make your study plan: Once you have researched the exam patterns, type of questions, and marking schemes, the next step is to make your plan. Remember, always plan your studies according to your capability. You can figure out which topics are your strengths and which are your weaknesses. It is important to cover all the subjects, as all the sections are mandatory in the exam.
  • Work on weak areas: Check your scores and identify where are you lagging, this is the time when you can improve your weaknesses and work to get better scores.
  • Stay updated: To solve the general awareness section, you need to stay updated. To do so, you can read newspapers and magazines, this would improve your reading skill and make you ready for the competition.
  • Stay Consistent and Motivated: Making study plans, and buying so many books, and subscriptions won’t work if you can’t be consistent throughout. Remember, competition is high in these exams. So, always follow a disciplined schedule and remain consistent.

You can join online study groups and forums for discussions. Always be positive and maintain your study routine.

Final Thoughts! 

Securing admission to a prestigious MBA program requires strategic preparation and dedication. By understanding the exam pattern, practicing consistently, and focusing on weak areas, you can increase your chances of achieving a high percentile. Stay disciplined, remain motivated, and work smart to achieve your MBA aspirations!