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CAT, XAT, SNAP and More: Choosing India’s MBA Entrance Exam
MBA students in India can choose from several entrance exams.
CAT is mainly used for admission to the 22 IIMs.
XAT is accepted by more than 250 business schools, including XLRI programmes.
SNAP is for postgraduate management courses at Symbiosis institutes and allows up to three attempts.
NMAT is accepted by more than 58 institutions in India.
MAT is held four times a year and is accepted by more than 600 business schools.
CMAT is a national exam whose scores are accepted by AICTE-affiliated and approved institutes.
Students should compare the schools, dates, fees and exam rules before choosing an exam.
They may take more than one exam if they want to apply to different groups of business schools.
CAT 2026 registration is open for admission to India’s 22 IIMs, with the exam scheduled for November 26, 2026.
XAT 2027 registrations are open through December 6, 2026, and the exam is scheduled for January 3, 2027.
SNAP 2026 offers up to three attempts for admission to postgraduate management programmes at 17 Symbiosis institutes.
NMAT 2026 will be held at physical test centres from November 2 to December 20, while MAT is conducted four times annually.
CMAT 2027 registration is expected in October 2026, and its scores are accepted by AICTE-affiliated and approved institutes.
- Who
- MBA aspirants seeking admission to management programmes in India.
- What
- A guide compares CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT and MAT, including their schedules, eligibility, formats and participating institutes.
- Where
- Across India, with exams conducted at designated computer-based test centres and cities.
- When
- The exams and registration windows discussed are for the 2026 testing cycle and the 2027–28 academic session.
- Why
- To help candidates select suitable entrance exams and plan their MBA applications and preparation.
Key facts
- CAT 2026 exam
- November 26, 2026; registration runs from August 3 to September 15, 2026.
- XAT 2027 exam
- January 3, 2027, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; registration closes December 6, 2026.
- SNAP 2026
- Three attempts are available, with the best score used for percentile calculation.
- NMAT 2026
- The exam has 108 questions to be completed in 120 minutes.
- MAT frequency
- MAT is conducted four times a year, generally in February, May, September and December.
- CMAT 2027
- Registration is expected to begin in October 2026; the previous cycle had 100 questions and 400 marks.
- Eligibility
- CAT requires a bachelor’s degree with 50% marks, or 45% for reserved categories.
Sources
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