Top 10 MBA Entrance Exams You Can Take in 2026

When we think of MBA entrance exams in India, CAT is usually the first name that comes to mind. But CAT is not the only route to a top B-school.

Exams like XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT and MAH MBA CET open doors to several reputed management institutes. Most MBA aspirants take 2–3 exams to keep their options open.

Here are 10 MBA entrance exams you should know about for the 2026–27 admission cycle.

Exam	Key Institutes / Options	Exam Date / Window
CAT 2026	IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR and others	29 Nov 2026
NMAT 2026	NMIMS and other participating B-schools	2 Nov – 20 Dec 2026
SNAP 2026	SIBM Pune, SCMHRD and other Symbiosis institutes	13, 19 & 26 Dec 2026
XAT 2027	XLRI, XIMB, IMT, TAPMI and others	3 Jan 2027
CMAT 2027	1,000+ AICTE-approved institutes	Jan 2027*
IIFT 2027	IIFT Delhi, IIFT Kolkata and other IIFT campuses	Through CAT 2026
SRCC GBO 2027	SRCC – Global Business Operations	Feb 2027*
MAH MBA CET 2027	JBIMS, SIMSREE, Welingkar and others	Apr 2027*
MICAT 2026–27	MICA Ahmedabad	5 Dec 2026 / 12 Feb 2027
MAT 2026–27	600+ participating B-schools	Multiple sessions

*Dates marked with an asterisk are expected timelines and should be confirmed through the official exam website.

1. CAT – Common Admission Test

CAT is India's most widely known MBA entrance exam and is conducted by the IIMs. A CAT score is used for admission to the IIMs and is also accepted by several leading B-schools across India.

CAT 2026 will be conducted on 29 November 2026.

Sections:

• VARC

• DILR

• QA

  
  

2. NMAT by GMAC

NMAT is conducted by GMAC and is accepted by NMIMS and several other participating B-schools. The 2026 testing window runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026. Candidates also have the option of taking the exam multiple times.

Sections:

• Language Skills

• Quantitative Skills

• Logical Reasoning

3. SNAP – Symbiosis National Aptitude Test

SNAP is the entrance exam for MBA programmes offered by Symbiosis International. SNAP 2026 will be conducted on following dates. Candidates can appear for up to three tests.

• 13 December 2026

• 19 December 2026

• 26 December 2026

Sections:

• General English

• Analytical & Logical Reasoning

• Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency

• General Awareness

  
  

4. XAT – Xavier Aptitude Test

XAT is conducted by XLRI and is accepted by XLRI and several other management institutes across India. XAT 2027 will be conducted on 3 January 2027.

Sections:

• Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning

• Decision Making

• Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation

• General Knowledge

5. CMAT – Common Management Admission Test

CMAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency.

It is accepted by a large number of AICTE-approved management institutes. CMAT 2027 is expected in January 2027. Candidates should check the official NTA notification for the final date.

Sections:

• Quantitative Techniques

• Logical Reasoning

• Language Comprehension

• General Awareness

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship

  
  

6. IIFT – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

IIFT is one of India's well-known management institutes, with campuses including Delhi and Kolkata. Admission to the MBA (International Business) programme is now based on CAT scores rather than a separate IIFT entrance examination but candidates need to apply separately for IIFT when applications open.

7. SRCC GBO

SRCC's Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations is another management programme worth considering. The programme has its own admission test followed by the selection process. The examination and application timeline for the 2027 intake will be announced by SRCC.

8. MAH MBA CET

MAH MBA CET is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell.

It is particularly relevant for candidates targeting management institutes in Maharashtra.

Popular institutes accepting MAH MBA CET include JBIMS, SIMSREE, Welingkar and several other Maharashtra B-schools.

The 2027 examination schedule is yet to be announced officially.

9. MICAT

MICAT is the entrance test for MICA Ahmedabad's management programmes in strategic communication. For the 2027–29 batch, MICAT is scheduled to be conducted twice:

• MICAT I: 5 December 2026

• MICAT II: 12 February 2027

Candidates need a valid CAT, XAT or GMAT score as part of the application process.

10. MAT – Management Aptitude Test

MAT is conducted by AIMA and is held multiple times during the year. It is accepted by a large number of MBA and PGDM institutes across India. MAT gives aspirants another opportunity to pursue management education if they want to keep additional options open. Candidates should check the latest AIMA calendar for the upcoming test sessions.

Which MBA Entrance Exams Should You Take?

You don't need to take every MBA entrance exam. For most CAT aspirants, a practical combination is CAT + XAT + SNAP and few additional exam such as MICAT, NMAT or CMAT.

If you are targeting specific colleges, choose your exams based on the colleges you want rather than simply increasing the number of exams you take.

The important thing is to know your options early, plan your preparation accordingly and avoid missing application deadlines. Bookmark this blog and keep checking the official exam websites for the latest dates and notifications.