Deciding which MBA entrance exams to appear for in 2025 is a function of your dream career path, target B-Schools & how you plan to prepare for these exams. Even though CAT is the most sought-after and the most competitive one, exams such as XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT and IIFT also are gateways to good institutes. Competition is likely to get tougher and top management institutes will attract students from varied academic backgrounds. To assist you with your preparation here is a comprehensive guide on Top MBA Entrance Exams in India for 2025, their Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Preparation Tips.
Why MBA Entrance Exam is Important ?
Why These Tests are Crucial:
- Platform to B-Schools: Most of the top business schools in India (and all over the world) accept scores of some aptitude test.
- A Logical and Just Method of Level Playing Field Examination: Level playing field examination ensures fair selection from a large number of students of diverse academic backgrounds.
- Scholarship Opportunities: Top scorers may earn scholarships and be eligible for fee waivers.
- Attitude Test Assessment: Reasoning and quantitative apprehension that are tested in MBA entrance exams are some of the most important skills for any managers.
Top MBA Entrance Exam In 2025
MBA (Master of Business Administration) is the most popular postgraduate course in India beyond the world of leadership, management, consulting and startups from rural to firms. Lakhs of candidates appear in the exam every year to pursue admission in India’s premier B-Schools including the Indian Institutes of Management, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, and ISB, Hyderabad.
CAT 2025 – Common Admission Test
CAT is the premier MBA entrance exam in India. A high percentile can even land you in top IIMs and open the doors to corporate leadership roles.
- Held by: IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management)
- CAT 2025 Exam Date: November 30
- Mode of the Examination: Online (Computer Based Written Examination)
- Length: 2 hours (40 minutes for each section)
Exam Pattern:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) – 24 questions.
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) – 20 questions DILR of IPMAT is game changer in comparison to CAT!
- QA – 22 questions (Quantitative Ability – 22 Q)
- Total Marks: 198
Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree with not less than 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PWD).
- Final-year students can also apply.
2.XAT 2025 – Xavier Aptitude Test
XAT 2025 is the exam of choice for candidates aiming to make a career in a business school such as XLRI.
- Conducted by: XLRI Jamshedpur
- Exam Date: January 2025
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- Decision Making – 21 questions
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation – 28 questions
- Verbal & Logical Ability – 26 Qs In this section, there were sentences on word-level meaning, analogies & odd-man-out passages language usage verbal reasoning coding-decoding jumbled words.
- GK questions are just for additional information and not for calculation of percentile.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Accepted By:
- Top 150+ Institutes
3.NMAT 2025 (by GMAC)
NMAT is, one can attempt this exam thrice and the best score will be considered for admissions. It is a good one because it has only been of moderate difficulty.
- Run by: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- When You Can Take It: October – December 2025
- Mode: Online (multiple attempts allowed)
Exam Pattern:
- Language Skills – 36 questions (28 mins) Directions for questions 1 to 36: Identify the antonyms of the given word from the options provided.
- Quantitative Skills – 36 questions (52 minutes)
- Reasoning Ability – 36 questions (40 minutes) Pattern of IBPS PO Prelims Exam Logical Reasoning – 36 questions (40 minutes)
- Total Questions: 108 | Time: 120 minutes
Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks.
4. SNAP 2025 – Symbiosis National Aptitude Test
SNAP is short and fast, so speed and accuracy are key. Perfect if you are a student preparing for Symbiosis colleges.
- Conducted by: Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
- Exam Dates: December 2025 (3 possible attempts)
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- General English – 15 questions
- Quantitative, DI and DS – 20 questions
- Analytical & Logical Reasoning – 25 questions 3.
- Score total: 60 questions in 60 minutes
5.IIFT 2025- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Exam
Custom-made for candidates aspiring for International Business & Trade Management.
- Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the official notification for the Delhi Police Constable 2020 Exam.
- Exam Date: December 2025
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- Quantitative Ability
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
- Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
- General Awareness
Eligibility:
- Bachelor degree and no more than 35 years old.
Accepted By:
- IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada.
6.Management Aptitude Test (MAT) 2025
- Organizing Body: All India Management Association (AIMA)
- Dates of Exam: Multiple session (Feb, May, Sept, Dec)
- Mode: PBT and CBT (Remote Proctored Test), IBT (Home Based Test)
Exam Pattern:
- Language Comprehension
- Mathematical Skills
- Data Analysis & Sufficiency
- Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
- Indian & Global Environment
- Total: 200 questions | Time: 2.5 hours
Accepted by :
- 600+ B-Schools in India.
7.Common Management Admission Test 2025 – CMAT 2025
CMAT is recommended for students aiming for middle level MBA institutes.
- Conducted by: NTA
- Exam Date: April 2025
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Aggregate : 100 Questions | Time Limit : 3 hours
Accepted By:
- AICTE Approved Colleges
8.TISSNET2025 – Tata Institute of Social Science National Entrance Test
Perfect for the student of social sector management, HRM, or development studies program.
- Organized by : Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Exam Date: February 2025 (expected)
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- General Awareness – 40 questions
- English Proficiency – 30 questions
- Maths & Logical Reasoning – 30 questions
9.ATMA 2025 – AIMS Test for Management Admission
It is easy as compared to CAT and XAT.
- Conducted by: Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS)
- Exam Date: Multiple sessions in 2025
- Mode: Online
Exam Pattern:
- Analytical Reasoning Skills
- Quantitative Skills
- Verbal Skills
- Total: 180 questions | Duration: 3 hours
Accepted By:
- 500+ B-Schools
Comparison Between Top MBA Entrance Exams
There is not only one Exam, India offers wide range of Exams for MBA students. Here is a comparison chart where you can opt an exam according to your eligibility and your interest.
| Exam | Conducted By | Exam Month | Mode | Accepted By |
| CAT | IIMs | Nov-25 | Online | IIMs + Top B-Schools |
| XAT | XLRI | Jan-25 | Online | XLRI, 150+ colleges |
| NMAT | GMAC | Oct-Dec 2025 | Online | NMIMS, ISB (AMP), etc. |
| SNAP | Symbiosis | Dec-25 | Online | Symbiosis Institutes |
| IIFT | NTA | Dec-25 | Online | IIFT Campuses |
| MAT | AIMA | Feb, May, Sept, Dec | PBT/CBT/IBT | 600+ Colleges |
| CMAT | NTA | Apr-25 | Online | AICTE Colleges |
| TISSNET | TISS | Feb-25 | Online | TISS Campuses |
| ATMA | AIMS | Multiple | Online | 500+ Colleges |
Tips to Crack MBA Entrance Test 2025
- Know the Test Pattern – every exam has different sections, plan so approach accordingly.
- Time is the Key Point of your Preparation – In an exam like SNAP, time factor paces a major requirement.
- Frequent Mock tests – Test and look at your weakest section regularly.
- Work on GK & Current Affairs – Exams like XAT, IIFT, TISSNET, CMAT expects your GK preparation to be strong.
- Improve the Basics – Revisit the Principles of Quant, LR and DI.
- Consistency – RC Passages puzzles, calculations – the more you practice, better for you.
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