Competitive papers for MBA to get into Top B Schools ? (Part 2 of MBA series)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as an entrance exam for admission to their Post-graduate and Fellow Programs in management courses. CAT is also used by several management institutes all over India including the IIMs. Each institute use CAT score separately along with other parameters i.e. academic performance, work experience, group discussion, written assessment and interview performance etc. to select candidates. The weightage assigned to CAT score may differ for each institute.

Eligibility Criteria: The candidate must be a graduate with 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% in case of SC/ST/DA/PWD) or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the ministry of HRD, Government of India. Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree / equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.

Test Duration & Pattern (CAT 2014)

Exam Format: CAT is a computer based test, conducted in multiple cities across India. You need to register yourself for the exam, which normally start in August and goes up till September/October.

Colleges under CAT: There is no doubt that CAT is one of the most popular entrance exams for MBA/PGPM programs in India. It’s the basic requirement for being considered for admission process at IIMs. Apart from the present 13 IIMs, the Government has decided to open six new IIMs, one each in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Apart for IIMs, there are other well reputed Institutes that accept CAT score for their respective admission process. Some of those are S.P. Jain Institute of Management Research, Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IMI Delhi, XIM-B, TAPMI, DMS (IIT-Delhi), VGSOM (IIT Kharagpur), SJMSOM (IIT-Bombay), MICA Ahmedabad, IMT Ghaziabad and NITIE.

For More details, you can visit CAT Official website, www.iimcat.ac.in

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

The Xavier Aptitude Test is an all-India test conducted by Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) as an entrance exam for admission to the post graduate programs in management courses of several management institutes all over India. XLRI conducts test on behalf of the XAMI. For more than 60 years XLRI is conducting test at all India level to select the most appropriate for management education. The test score is being used by more than 100 institutes for the admission.

Eligibility Criteria: The candidates must hold a Recognized bachelor’s degree of minimum three years duration in any discipline or complete their graduation by June 10, 2015. 

Test Duration & Pattern (XAT 2014)

Test Format: XAT is a paper based aptitude test, followed by a subjective test on essay writing & general awareness. There were 47 test cities in India and 2 International cities, namely Dubai and Kathmandu

Colleges under XAT: Over 100 B-School accepted XAT Score for their admission in year 2015. Some of the most prominent B-Schools that accept XAT scores are: XLRI, S.P. Jain Institute of Management Research, XIME, XIMB, Goa Institute of Management.

For More details, you can visit XAT Official website, www.xatonline.net.in

Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP)

Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) is a common written test for the admission to all the Post-Graduate Institutes of Symbiosis International (Deemed) University. While there is only one application for the SNAP written test, you need to apply separately to each institute within Symbiosis International University, as per the details given on the respective website of each institute.

Eligibility Criteria: Graduates in any discipline from any Statutory University with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates) for all the MBA Programs, except the ones which require graduates with specific subject specializations (mentioned on the respective institute websites). 

Test Duration & Pattern (SNAP 2014)

Exam Format: SNAP is a paper based aptitude test. Test is conducted in 30 cities all over India.

Colleges under SNAP: There are currently 14 Symbiosis Post Graduate Institutes that accept SNAP.

For More details, you can visit SNAP Official website, www.snaptest.org

NMAT ™ By GMAC  

In 2014-15, NMAT is the entrance exam for admission to all the MBA Full Time courses of NMIMS Mumbai and the PGDM courses of NMIMS Hyderabad and Bengaluru. A candidate can take NMAT up to a maximum of 3 times (first attempt plus 2 retake attempts) including no shows, if he / she wishes to. There has to be a gap of at least 15 days between two successive attempts. For candidates having multiple attempts, the best score (total and sectional) is considered for shortlisting purposes. The result for each attempt is declared separately, approximately 15 days after the test attempt.

In March 2015, The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC®) announced that it will assume ownership and management of the NMAT exam in India from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). The exam is retitled as NMAT by GMAC™. The NMAT by GMAC exam will be offered between October and December 2015, and registration will commence in July 2015. Eligibility Criteria: The candidate must be a graduate with 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in first attempt. Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply subject to clearing the final examination in first attempt with 50% aggregate marks.

Test Duration & Pattern (2015) 

Test Format:

NMAT™ will continue to be computer based test. GMAC will continue to work with Pearson VUE — GMAC‘s global partner for delivery of the GMAT® exam — to administer the NMAT™ by GMAC. Pearson VUE has been delivering the NMAT exam since 2009, in partnership with NMIMS.

Colleges under NMAT™ by GMAC

GMAC is also announced that, along with the graduate management programs of NMIMS, Alliance University, SRM University, BML Munjal University, VIT University, ICFAI Business School (IBS) and Ansal University will accept the NMAT by GMAC exam for admissions to their graduate management programs.

For More details, you can visit CAT Official website, www.nmat.org.in

We will come up with more MBA related parts to follow after this. So keep a check on the next parts where we will explain which MBA is best for graduate, experienced and highly experienced profiles and much more.

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