MBA Admission 2021-22: CAT, MAT, XAT, NMAT, IBSAT; Which entrance exam should you apply for

NEW DELHI: Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree is becoming nothing less than a necessity for graduates in today's world. An MBA degree gives you an edge over others in terms of money, skills, managerial position in the corporate world, professional network, and much more. Lakhs of management aspirants take top MBA entrance exams every year to seek admission to IIMs, XLRI, FMS, MDI, IBS, JBIMS, IIFT, SPJIMR, NMIMS, IITs, etc. Registration for CAT, MAT, IBSAT, NMAT, etc. has opened for MBA admission 2021-22, and here are the details on their eligibility, application process, fee, exam dates, and more.

Earlier admissions to MBA colleges were accepted based on merit scores. However, with an increase in the number of people interested in pursuing an MBA and limited seats at B-schools, the MBA admission criteria have changed. Nowadays, MBA admissions are granted based on scores in management entrance exams and personal interviews (PI)

MBA Admission 2021: Key details of entrance exams

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most MBA entrance exams are being conducted as internet-based tests (IBT) this year. Here are some key details of some of the top MBA entrance tests that can be helpful for the aspirants.

MBA entrance exam 2021: Overview

Common Admission Test (CAT)

The Common Admission Test (CAT 2021) is a computer-based test for admission to postgraduate management programmes such as MBA, PGDM, PGDM, Fellow programmes in management, Executive MBA, and distance MBA.

Know the CAT reservation criteria

CAT eligibility criteria

• Academic qualification: Graduation/ Bachelor’s degree with 50% of marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD).

• Age limit: There is no age restriction to apply for IIM CAT 2021.

• Work experience: Not mandatory

• Reservation: Based on category

• For the last two years graduate students (2020-21): Candidates with “promotion/ pass” instead of “award of marks” certificates in any of the last two years of the bachelor’s program can enter the “promotion/ pass” option in the CAT application form.

Click here to fill the CAT 2021 registration form

Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

Management Aptitude Test (MAT 2021) is another popular national-level entrance exam for admissions to MBA/ PGDM courses. MAT is conducted four to five times a year - February, May, July, September, and December.

MAT eligibility criteria

• Academic qualification: Graduation/ Bachelor’s degree with 50% of marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD). Final-year students are also eligible to apply.

• Age limit: There is no age restriction to apply for MAT 2021.

• Work experience: Not mandatory

Click here to fill the MAT 2021 application form

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT 2022) is a national-level management entrance examination conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur for admission to MBA/ PGDM programmes. Apart from XLRI and 10 other XAMI members, more than 700 B-schools accept XAT scores for admission to their postgraduate management programmes.

XAT eligibility criteria

• Academic qualification: Three-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline. Final-year students are also eligible to apply.

• Age limit: There is no age limit to apply for XAT 2022.

• NRIs: They can apply through their valid GMAT scores.

Click here to fill the XAT 2022 application form

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT)

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT 2021) is a national-level computer-based entrance test leading to MBA admission in top b-schools like NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, VIT Vellore, XIM Bhubaneswar, and many other MBA colleges in India.

NMAT eligibility criteria

• Academic qualification: Graduation under 10+2+3 or four years of education pattern from any stream with 50% of aggregate marks. Final-year students are also eligible to apply for the NMAT exam.

• Age limit: There is no age bar to attempt the NMAT by GMAC 2021 exam.

• Work experience: Having prior work experience of two to three years is preferred.

• Maximum attempts: Three times which includes the ‘no shows’.

Click here to fill the NMAT 2021 application form

ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)

IBS Aptitude Test (IBSAT 2021) is an important online computer-based management entrance test for MBA admission 2022 in all the ICFAI Business Schools (IBS) located across India. IBSAT entrance exam is conducted by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (a deemed to be University).

IBSAT eligibility criteria

• Academic qualification: Students must have completed their 15 years of education i.e. 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 with 50% of aggregate marks. Final-year students are also eligible to apply for the IBSAT exam. Final-year students are also eligible to apply for the IBSAT exam.

• Medium of instruction: English medium of graduation.

Click here to fill the IBSAT 2021 application form

MBA entrance exam application fees

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