Registration process for both the MBA entrance exams KMAT 2016 and MAT May 2016 is open. While registration for MAT will be closing on April 19, the registration process for KMAT 2016 will close on May 10, 2016.
KMAT 2016 exam will be held in paper pencil pattern on May 29, 2016 but MAT May 2016 in paper pen mode will be over on May 1, 2016.
The biggest question now is whether you should appear in KMAT 2016 or should go for MAT May 2016 exam. The mentor and expert on MBA exam preparation Prof S K Agarwal shares key insights and pros & cons which would help and guide you to arrive at the decision which exam would lead you to your preferred B-school.
KMAT 2016 and MAT: Both National tests
In a significant development from the year 2016 Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT) has gone national like MAT. Now both the exams will be held across the country in different test cities.
KMAT 2016: Confirmed Score acceptability in Bangalore MBA
KPPGCA, the KMAT 2016 convening authority has confirmed that KMAT scores will be accepted by 170 management institutes situated in Bangalore and rest of Karnataka treating all the candidates from all over India equal. These B-schools have lower fee structure as compared to the fee structure in the B-schools in other parts of the country.
KMAT is Gateway to MBA in Karnataka and Bangalore, Silicon Valley of India and No 1 Destination for MBA/PGDM with very vibrant Job market. KMAT 2016 score accepting institutions include Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences (AIMS), Alliance University, IFIM Business School, MP Birla Institute, M S Ramaiah, Mount Carmel, PESIT and many more.
All the 170 B-schools will accept KMAT 2016 scores for admission to PGDM/MBA 2016-18 batch.
The B-schools may also accept MAT scores but whether they would prefer KMAT 2016 scores for admission to MBA 2016 or would treat both the scores at par is also a question. There is no doubt that all the 170 B-schools would award admission offers on the basis of KMAT 2016 scores but they have not declared what score of MAT they would accept. So there could be an uncertainty on the acceptable range of MAT 2016 score by these B-schools.
KMAT: No Regional Preference
KMAT 2016 is no more a regional exam. This is the biggest advantage to appear in KMAT 2016. The candidates from all parts of India will be considered at par for admission to Bangalore and Karnataka B-schools on the basis of their KMAT 2016 scores. This is the first time that KMAT has gone National and offers testing opportunity at any of the 10 preferred test cities across the country.
KMAT once a year; MAT 4 times a year
KMAT 2016 is conducted once a year for admission to MBA/MCA programmes in renowned colleges in Bangalore and rest of Karnataka. MAT is held 4 times a year. The scores of KMAT are to be invariably accepted by all the B-schools in Bangalore and rest of Karnataka since the exam is meant for admission to MBA/MCA in the same academic session when exam is held.
But it is not necessary that MAT May 2016 exam scores will be accepted by the B-schools in Bangalore for admission to MBA 2016 as one MAT exam has already been held in February 2016 and its scores are also out. It is also possible that MAT May 2016 score may be carried forward for admission to 2017. The candidates shall have to confirm about the acceptability of MAT May 2016 scores for admission in MBA 2016 from the individual B-school where he/she intends to apply.
High Placements in Bangalore B-schools
KMAT 2016 offers the opportunity to explore admission chances in highly ranked Bangalore based B-schools who also offer good placement in top rated companies. Since Bangalore is a hot MBA destination, KMAT 2016 offers more admission opportunities in these B-schools offering high return on investment.
MAT offers admission opportunity in various B-schools across the country and not necessarily in Bangalore and other Karnataka B-schools. The varying placement or negligible placement in the B-schools in many parts of India also creates confusion in arriving at the decision whether to take or not to take the exam.
KMAT 2016: Opportunity of fee waiver in B-school
High performers in KMAT 2016 have the unique opportunity of getting scholarship and Fee Waiver in their MBA/PGDM programme in a Bangalore B-school but MAT does not come with any such offer nor the B-schools have explicitly announced any such opportunity for MAT takers.
KMAT 2016: Low registration fee
You can appear in KMAT 2016 at a registration fee of Rs.700/-. However the registration fee for MAT May 2016 is Rs. 1200/-. Registration is open for both the exams. You have to decide which one you should prefer.
KMAT 2016: Last MBA opportunity in 2016
KMAT 2016, to be held on May 29, is the last common entrance exam for MBA/PGDM Admissions 2016 in Bangalore and rest of Karnataka B-schools. Emerging job market of Bangalore offers more opportunities and career prospects for MBA graduates. The B-schools in Bangalore have greater industry and corporate linkages than the B-schools in any other part of India.
Bangalore is the well known headquarters of leading IT companies like Wipro Technologies, and Infosys. Virtually every IT company including TCS, HCL, Dell and Cognizant have large set ups in Bangalore. Some of the leading companies in diverse areas that have large presence in Bangalore are Reliance, Tata Infocom, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd, SBI Life Insurance Ltd, ING Vysya Life Insurance Company Ltd, United Life Insurance Company Ltd, IDBI Bank, HSBC BANK, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Canara Bank Head Office, Manipal Hospital and Columbia Asia Hospital.
The city of Bangalore is also home to headquarters of countless public sector undertakings such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT).
KMAT 2016 is proposed to be a moderate exam and offers more admission and career opportunities after doing MBA. On the basis of KMAT 2016 scores you may get the best B-school in the category like IFIM, Acharya, Alliance University among others. Most of the B-schools accepting KMAT 2016 score have moderate fee structure as compared to IIMs and other B-schools. Since the test is open for all the candidates from India, the fear of getting considered for admission to MBA 2016 should not exist. Besides, KMAT 2016 is the last common entrance exam for MBA/PGDM Admissions 2016. Taking KMAT 2016 will also award with 1-year advantage.
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KMAT 2016: Registration opens today; introduces short 2 step process to complete in 10 minutes
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on KMAT 2016.
