Top MBA Entrance Exam in India 2023-24: Check Exam Dates, Important Details , Admission Process, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility

By : Neeraj Mishra

Updated : Nov 15, 2023, 16:44

MBA Entrance Exams provides an opportunity to enter the top management colleges in India for various management courses. The candidates, interested in joining different MBA programs and PG diploma courses must be aware of the MBA Entrance Exam eligibility, syllabus, exam types and important topics to be studied. These days, MBA has become one of the most preferred degrees in and out of the country by graduates. It is a two year program and the candidates who clear the MBA Exam and join top colleges get a plethora of opportunities within the corporate world. There are both State-level and National-level MBA Entrance Exam in India, which include SNAP, CAT, MBA CET, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, and more.

IIM conducts CAT every year and it is the most popular MBA Entrance Exam, as IIM’s are always the first priority among the candidates. After CAT, the second most popular MBA Exam is XAT which is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. Candidates who are interested to join XLRI and other XAMI institutes can take part in the MBA exam. Apart from these two, the third most popular MBA Entrance Exam is NMAT , conducted by GMAC™ . You can choose other MBA Entrance Exams like CMAT,, MAT, MBA CET, SNAP and other state-level exams to study MBA in recognized colleges. Read on to know more about MBA Exams that you can appear for the upcoming years. This information will help you to know and to decide which is the most suitable MBA Entrance Exam for you.

What is MBA Entrance Exam?

Candidates are aware that MBA Exam is the getaway to Top MBA Colleges in India, including IIFT, IIMs, XLRI, IITs, FMS, Symbiosis and more. There is both national-level and state-level exam, which helps the candidates to get an opportunity to study MBA in the respective institutes. MBA is a terminal and a professional degree. It covers a wide range of business fields like accounting, marketing & management. Not limited to this, an MBA degree is also for those who are interested in pursuing a career in the private, government & public sectors.

Additionally, there are no such eligibility criteria to appear in MBA Entrance Exam. The only MBA Eligibility is that the candidates have to complete UG courses in any stream from a recognized university. In this article, BYJU'S Exam Prep experts have given all the details related to MBA Entrance Exam, including important timelines , syllabus, online coaching & test series, and preparation tips.

MBA Entrance Exam Date 2023-24

Given below is the list of some popular MBA Exams in India that can be taken up for admission to the MBA 2023-2024 academic session. You can check the MBA Entrance Exam 2023-24 dates notification below.

MBA Entrance Exam

MBA Exam Dates

CAT 2023

26th November 2023

SNAP 2023

10th December 2023,
17th December 2023 &
22nd December 2023

MAT 2023

MAT PBT Date: 03 September 2023

MAT CBT 1 Date: 17 September 2023

CMAT 2024

To be declared

IIFT 2024

To be Declared

XAT 2024

7th January 2024

TISSNET 2024

To be Declared

MAH MBA CET 2023

To be Declared

MICAT 2024

MICAT 1- 2nd December 2023
MICAT 2- 27th January 2024

NMAT by GMAC 2023

10th October -19th December 2023

Types of MBA Entrance Exams

There are three types of MBA exams, conducted in India. It includes the below categorizations:

  • State-Level MBA Entrance Exam: It includes MBA CET, OJEE MBA, KMAT, APICET, TSICET, TANCET, and more.
  • National-Level MBA Entrance Exam: It includes, CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, ATMA, and more.
  • Institute-Level MBA Exam: It includes  MICAT, IBSAT, HPU MAT, NBSAT, and more

State-Level MBA Entrance Exam

The state-level MBA Exam in India provides the opportunity to study MBA within the respective state boundary. Note the below-mentioned points to know about the state-level MBA Entrance Exam conducted in India.

Overview of MBA CET

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test MBA CET is a state-level MBA entrance exam. It is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Govt. of , Maharashtra annually, for admission to different management courses in various MBA colleges in Maharashtra. CET MBA is usually held in the month of March. Candidates have to answer 200 questions for a total duration of 150 minutes. The MBA CET Question Paper consists of three sections:

  • Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
  • Logical Reasoning (LR)
  • Abstract Reasoning (AR)

More About MBA CET

MBA CET Syllabus

MBA CET Eligibility

MBA CET Exam Pattern

MBA CET Registration

MBA CET Preparation

MBA CET Book

National-Level MBA Exam

It includes different exams including CAT, XAT, MAT, and more which provides the candidates to study in the top-most B-schools in India. Note the below section to get all the details about the national-level MBA Entrance Exam conducted in India.

Common Admission Test - CAT

It is the most popular national-level MBA Exam in India. It is conducted every year by one of the IIMs in November (Last Sunday). The candidates who will clear the sectional CAT Cut Off set by various institutes will get an opportunity to study MBA at over 200+ institutes in India. A total of 66 questions (MCQ + TITA) are asked in this exam from the below-mentioned three sections:

  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Quantitative Ability (QA)

More About CAT

CAT Syllabus

CAT Registration

CAT Question Paper

CAT Preparation Tips

CAT Exam Pattern

CAT Books

Common Management Admission Test - CMAT

It is one of the most popular MBA Entrance Exams after the CAT. It is conducted by NTA every year for MBA admission into different AICTE-approved colleges. CMAT is an online CBT exam and questions are asked from the below-mentioned sections:

  • Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Language Comprehension
  • General Awareness
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship

More About CMAT

CMAT Syllabus

CMAT Registration

CMAT Exam Pattern

CMAT Question Paper

Management Aptitude Test MAT

It is one of the most popular national-level MBA Entrance Exam. The candidate who will appear for this MBA Exam will get an opportunity to study at 600+ Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting MAT. It is held 4 times in a year: February, May, September, and December. MAT is held in three exam modes including CBT, PBT, and IBT, and a total of 200 questions are asked from the below chapters.

  • Indian and Global Environment
  • Mathematical Skills
  • Language Comprehension
  • Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
  • Data Analysis and Sufficiency

More About MAT

MAT Syllabus

MAT Registration

MAT Cut Off

MAT Exam Pattern

Xavier Aptitude Test - XAT

It is one of the top and toughest MBA Exams in India. XAT is an online CBT-based exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. As per the trends, this exam is usually held on the first Sunday of January. XAT Exam consists of two-part including:

  • Part 1: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
  • Part 2: GK and Essay Writing

More About XAT

XAT Syllabus

XAT Exam Pattern

XAT Preparation

XAT Registration

XAT Eligibility

XAT Books

Symbiosis National Aptitude Test - SNAP

It is conducted by SIU every year for admission into SIU-affiliated colleges. The candidates who are interested to appear for this MBA Entrance Exam must prepare the below-mentioned section well in advance.

  • General English
  • Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
  • Analytical & Logical Reasoning

More About SNAP

SNAP Syllabus

SNAP Eligibility

SNAP Exam Pattern

SNAP Question Paper

SNAP Books

SNAP Preparation

Highlights of NMAT

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test NMAT is a popular MBA Entrance Exam conducted by GMAC every year. It is an online CBT-based test, held over a 75-day test window, between October and December. A total of 108 MCQs are in this exam, which is needed to solve within 120 minutes. Candidates need to attempt 108 MCQs in 120 minutes. The NMAT has 3 main sections:

  • Language Skills
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative Skills

More About NMAT

NMAT Syllabus

NMAT Exam Pattern

NMAT Registration

NMAT Question Paper

NMAT Preparation

NMAT Books

Institute Level MBA Entrance Exam

These are the institute-specific MBA exams conducted in India. Note the section below to get all the details about the institute-wise MBA Entrance Exam in India.

Highlights of MICAT MBA Entrance Exam

MICAT is an online entrance test conducted by MICA Ahmedabad for 2 two-year PGDM courses in Communication. The candidates who are interested to appear in this test, first need to clear other MBA Entrance Exam like CAT, GMAT, and XAT. This exam consists of 3 parts:

  • Part A: Psychometric Test
  • Part B: Descriptive TestPart C : Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data Intrepretation, General Awareness, Divergent- Convergent Thinking

More About MICAT

MICAT Syllabus

MICAT Exam Pattern

MICAT Registration

MICAT Eligibility

MICAT Books

MICAT Selection Process

MBA Entrance Exam Eligibility

In order to appear in the MBA Exam, the candidates must fulfill the basic eligibility status. The MBA Entrance Exam eligibility is as follows:

  • One of the basic eligibility criteria is a bachelor's degree in any discipline or equivalent from a recognized university.
  • The degree won't work alone but needs a minimum score of overall 50% marks in graduation. However, for the reserved category, it is 45% in aggregate.
  • Students appearing in the final year of graduation can also appear in MBA Entrance Exam only on the condition to provide proof of completion of a Graduation degree at the time of admission.

MBA Syllabus

The 2-year Full-time MBA program is divided into 4 semesters. Below you can find the MBA Syllabus for the same divided into semesters:

Semesters

MBA Syllabus

Semester-I

Organizational Behaviour

Marketing Management

Quantitative Methods

Human Resource Management

Managerial Economics

Business Communication

Financial Accounting

Information Technology Management

Semester-II

Organization Effectiveness and Change

Management Accounting

Management Science

Operation Management

Economic Environment of Business

Marketing Research

Financial Management

Management of Information System

Semester-III

Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility

Strategic Analysis

Legal Environment of Business

Elective Course

Semester-IV

Project Study

International Business Environment

Strategic Management

Elective Course

MBA Entrance Exam: Jobs & Career Opportunities

The various sectors among which an MBA graduate can find employment include the following:

  • Banking & Finance
  • Information System Management
  • Investment Banking
  • Management Consulting
  • Private Equity
  • Data Analytics
  • Entrepreneurship

MBA Entrance Exam Pattern

The pattern of MBA Exams is almost similar for all types of exams. Candidates can check below as there is only a slight variation in total marks, questions, duration etc.

  • The total duration for the MBA Entrance Exam usually ranges from 120-140 minutes.
  • The total number of questions asked in the exam ranges from 40 – 100 questions.
  • The MBA entrance exam like CAT is conducted in 3 slots. But many exams have one slot also.
  • The exam pattern and test structure could seem more flexible in the time to be allocated to each section which could vary from 40-45 min.
  • Negative marking is also included in the MBA Exams so students should be cautious while answering the questions.

MBA Salary

Before pursuing any course, a student is more curious to know its outcome. Well, it is so obvious and appropriate for an MBA degree holder to know the salary being received for various job profiles. However, it will all be dependent on a manager's skills based on planning, strategizing, execution, coordination, delegation of work and responsibilities, etc.

MBA Jobs

Approx. Avg. salary per annum (in lakhs)

Retail Manager

4.5 - 5

Digital Marketing Manager

4.5 - 5

Human Resources Manager

4 – 4.5

Healthcare & Hospital Manager

4 – 4.5

NGO Manager

4.5 - 5

Transport & Logistics Manager

6 - 6.5

Materials Manager

6 - 6.5

Import & Export Manager

6 - 6.5

IT & Systems Manager

7 – 7.5

Telecom Manager

7 – 7.5

Operations Manager

6.5 - 7

Finance Manager

8 - 9

Marketing Manager

10 - 11

Sales Manager

10 – 10.5

Advertising Sales Manager

8 – 8.5

International Business Manager

9

Risk Manager

9.5 - 10

Infrastructure Manager

10 - 11

Project Manager

13

Data Analytics Manager

14

Product Manager

15

MBA Entrance Exam Test Series

Test Series is the best way to check your actual preparation level for the exam. BYJU'S Exam Prep brings you a wide range of MBA Entrance Exam Test Series to prepare for MBA entrance exams and beat the competition with ease.

Practising MBA Mock Tests will enable you to work on your weak areas and prepare for the exam deliberately. Hence, it always suggested practising more and more questions in order to ace the exam.

MBA Entrance Exam Online Coaching

At this point in time, when there is a mad rush of coaching centres claiming success and other reasons to join them, we would suggest you join MBA Entrance Exam Online Coaching.

The reason behind joining the online live coaching for MBA Entrance Exam is to save time and get a personal touch with expert mentors to guide you for better exam preparation. Not only this, but you also have several other benefits which cannot be found in an offline coaching centre, these are:

  • Live Doubt Sessions
  • Ample Resources
  • Repeat Class option
  • Save Travel Time
  • Flexible Schedule
  • Lower Cost

Click on the link below and join exam-wise online classes to prepare for the upcoming MBA Entrance Exam.

MBA Entrance Exam Preparation Tips

To crack the MBA Entrance Exam, it is important to follow some common yet inspirational preparation tips as listed below:

  • Knowledge of the syllabus & pattern: A deep-rooted understanding of the paper pattern and syllabus is actually crucial to crack the MBA Entrance Exam.
  • Effective time management: A perfect schedule covering all the topics along with revision time is considered as effective time management for better preparation. Along with this, it should be followed with complete dedication and diligence.
  • Enrol for coaching: An online coaching class can be considered as a bonus to help you work on your weaker zones and will aid you with better practice and shortcuts for comprehension of topics.
  • Practice makes perfect: Solving numerous mock tests is the only secret to gain speed and accuracy in the MBA Entrance Exam.
Nov 15CAT & MBA

FAQs on MBA Entrance Exam

  • The full form of MBA is Masters in Business Administration. The main purpose of getting an MBA degree is opening up a plethora of job opportunities in the corporate world with a great salary package.

  • As per the trends, CAT is the top MBA Entrance Exam in India. As per the latest CAT 2023 Notification, the CAT exam will be held on 26th November 2023.

  • If you consider the difficulty level, then CMAT and MAT are the easiest MBA Exam in India. But do not take any exams so lightly. Study with dedication and crack the exam in the first attempt.

  • It is seen that MBA Entrance Exam Syllabus consists of chapters from Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and General Awareness. In CAT, there is no General Awareness sections

  • CAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT, NMAT, MAT and GMAT are the popular MBA Exam for MBA. You can appear in any of them to get a chance to study in top institutes

  • It can not be said which MBA Entrance Exam will give you more scope. The thing is that, if you have an MBA degree, you will get more career opportunities.

  • All the top MBA Entrance Exams are conducted online but a few state-level and university entrances such as Karnataka PGCET and VMOU MET are conducted in pen-and-paper mode. MAT is conducted in both online and offline modes.

  • You have to study Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation, English Language and Comprehension, and in some cases General Awareness in order to get through an MBA Entrance Exam 2023.

  • There is no age limit to appear for an MBA Exams 2023. Many candidates pursue an MBA Degree after having 5 to 6 years of work experience.

  • MBA is a post-graduation level degree. To appear in MBA Entrance Exam you must pass graduation from a recognized university in any stream.

  • The basic difference between CAT vs GMAT is that the CAT is accepted nationally and is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). On the other hand, GMAT Scores are accepted globally for admission in top world-class universities as well as by a few Indian Universities and is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Moreover, GMAT has a subjective writing paper as well.