Couldnt do well in CAT 2017 exam? Apply to XAT, CMAT, MAT; Exam Dates, Test Pattern, MBA colleges accepting exam score

If you appeared in CAT 2017 on November 26, 2017 and were not able to do well in all the sections and are now in a dilemma what to do next whether due to sectional dip in percentile, you would get a call from one of the top IIMs or other MBA colleges like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai or others, you dont need to worry as there are still better options open to improve your score and get the desired top B-school.

MBA options with registration and application process for XAT 2018, CMAT 2018, MAT 2017 December, MAHCET 2018 exam are open and a good score in the respective MBA entrance test will get you admission in XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, JBIMS, XIMB, TAPMI, BIMTECH and hundreds of other good MBA colleges.

Important links:

• CAT 2017 Analysis by IMS, TIME, CL, BE: Likely Scores, Cut offs for 99 & 95 percentile
• CAT 2017 Slot 2 Analysis: Easier than Slot-1; DILR difficulty level drops, Non-MCQs number same as Slot-1
• CAT 2017 Slot 1 Analysis: Easy CAT on predictable lines

Apart from this, the recently announced changes in MBA/MMS 2018-20 admission process in 400 B-schools of Maharashtra have clarified that apart from MAHCET 2018, only CMAT 2018 exam will be one of the other two acceptable exam scores in admission for All India category candidates.

Best MBA Exam options available
Number of top MBA colleges will accept the scores of XAT 2018, CMAT 2018, MAT 2017 and MAHCET 2018. The best part is that the registration and application for all the above exams are open except MAHCET 2018 which is proposed to open in the month of January 2018.

XAT 2018: Last date to apply Nov 30
XLRI Jamshedpur, one of the top B-schools in India will conduct Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2018 on January 7 as computer based online exam. XAT 2018 will lead to admission in flagship MBA/PGDM 2018-20 batch in XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, XIMB, TAPMI, XIME, BIMTECH, Great Lakes, LIBA and 140+ other top MBA colleges.
Key facts about XAT 2018

• Last date to apply: November 30, 2017
• Application fee: Rs.1650/-
• Last date to apply with late fee: December 15, 2017
• Application fee including late fee: Rs.2000/-
• Date to Download XAT Admit card: December 20, 2017 onwards
• XAT 2018 Exam date: January 7, 2018 from 10AM to 1.35PM
• Type of XAT Exam: Online computer based test

Important test components of XAT 2018: Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension & Reasoning; Decision Making; Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (Other 2 sections GK and Essay writing are qualifying) XAT-Difficulty level

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) has so far been conducted as paper based test during past 60 years by XLRI. This is the first time XAT will be conducted as a computer based test on January 7, 2018. Key points describing the difficulty level of XAT are:

• XAT has 72 questions as compared to 100 in CAT in its revamped format.
• The time limit to solve the questions is more.
• Decision Making in XAT is an important and different section which does not exist in CAT
• Candidates taking XAT have found the exam a bit more difficult than CAT. This is the reason that XAT awards higher percentile at low scores than CAT

Read all about XAT 2018 eligibility, Registration process, syllabus, exam pattern, top MBA colleges accepting XAT 2018

CMAT 2018: Last date to Apply-December 18
Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT) 2018 is online computer based exam, conducted by AICTE. CMAT 2018 is the official gateway for admissions to the University and AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes for 2018-20 batch across the country including 400 B-schools in Maharashtra.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) conducts CMAT every year for admission to AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes across the country. CMAT 2018 will be held on Saturday January 20, 2018 in a single session as online computer based test.
Key facts about CMAT 2018

• Last date to apply: December 18, 2017
• Application fee: Rs.1400/-
• Date to Download CMAT 2018 Admit card: January 10, 2018 onwards
• CMAT 2018 Exam date: January 20, 2018 from 9.30AM to 12.30PM
• Type of CMAT Exam: Online computer based test
• Important test components of CMAT 2018: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; Language Comprehension; and General Awareness
• CMAT: Difficulty level

CMAT is a computer based online exam with 100 questions divided in 4 sections of 25 qyestions each in MCQ format. Read all about the CMAT 2018 exam pattern
Important points describing the difficulty level of CMAT are:

• CMAT is considered a moderate LoD exam and does not have such a high difficulty level as CAT or XAT.
• AICTE does not disqualify any candidate who scores positive marks in CMAT and awards a merit position and percentile to him
• Scoring pattern in CMAT is easy as AICTE awards raw marks in CMAT and then converts it into percentile also
• It depends upon the B-school whether to shortlist the candidates on the basis of raw score or percentile score.

Read all about AICTE-CMAT 2018 eligibility, Registration process, Syllabus, Exam pattern, top MBA colleges accepting CMAT 2018

MAT 2017 December exam: Last date to apply Dec 1

MAT December 2017 exam will be held as Paper pen based test on December 10, 2017 and as computer based online MAT exam from December 16, onwards. The experts and mentors on MAT and past MAT toppers suggest the candidates to opt for paper based MAT exam as candidates can view and prioritise their choice of sections in one go as compared to computer based exam.

All India Management Association (AIMA) conducts MAT at the National level 4 times in a year in February, May, September and December. MAT exam is conducted both as paper based test and online computer based test. Candidates have the choice of appearing in one of the two modes of exam.

The MAT December 2017 exam score will be valid for admission in academic session 2018-19.The best part of appearing in each MAT exam is that you can improve your score after every 3 months. Each MAT exam score is valid for 1 year. The best MAT exam score would be considered to get the merit position during admission process of the B-school.

• Key facts about MAT 2017
• Last date to apply: December 1, 2017
• Application fee: Rs.1500/- (Inclusive of GST)
• Date to Download MAT 2017 Dec Admit card: December 2, 2017 onwards
• MAT 2017 Dec Exam date: December 10 (Paper based test); Dec 16 online computer based test
• Type of MAT Exam: Choice of Paper based and Online computer based

Important test components of MAT 2017 Dec exam: Language Comprehension; Intelligence and Critical Reasoning; Data Analysis and Sufficiency; Mathematical Skills. One qualifying section is Indian and Global Environment. All the questions are of MCQ type.

• MAT: Easy exam with more admission chances
• MAT offers admission opportunity in hundreds of B-schools who accept MAT scores. The B-schools who will accept MAT December 2017 exam scores also offer the opportunity to MBA aspirants to improve their scores by appearing in February 2018 MAT exam.
• MAT is considered a moderate and easy exam.

Each of the 5 sections in MAT has 40 MCQ type questions while the merit position is calculated on the basis of score of 4 sections and the Indian and Global environment section is kept qualifying only.

Read all about AIMA-MAT Dec 2017 exam eligibility, Registration, Exam pattern, Syllabus top MBA colleges accepting MAT score

MAHCET 2018: Application to close in Feb 2018

MAHCET 2018 for admission to MBA/MMS courses beginning in 2018 is proposed to be held in the 1st week of March 2018. Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra who conducts MBA-CET exam for admission to MBA/MMS programmes in Maharashtra B-schools including JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya, PUMBA, Dy Patil, N L Dalmiya, IESMCRC and other 400 B-schools will conduct Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for the Maharashtra state candidates and All India candidates.

Exact dates for MAHCET 2018 exam are proposed to be announced in January 2018.All India Candidates seeking admission for 15% All India seats in MBA/MMS 2018-20 programmes in Maharashtra B-schools will now be considered for admission only on the basis of MAHCET 2018, CAT 2017 and CMAT 2018 entrance exam scores.

• Key facts about MAHCET 2018 Exam
• Last date to apply: February last week, 2018
• Application fee: Rs.1000/- (Under revision)
• Date to Download MAHCET 2018 Admit card: Feb last week to March 1st week, 2018
• MAH-CET 2018 Exam date: 1st or 2nd week in March 2018. Exam to be held in 2 days in multiple sessions
• Type of MAHCET Exam: Online computer based test of 2 hrs duration
• Important test components of MAHCET 2018: Logical Reasoning; Abstract Reasoning; Quantitative Aptitude; Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. Total questions are 200 with varying number in each section.

MAHCET: Less difficult but lengthy exam
MAHCET is not a difficult exam but it needs more time than is provided to complete the exam. Candidates find it difficult to solve 200 questions out of which 100 are on reasoning only in 150 minutes.
The biggest advantage in MAHCET written exam is that it has no negative marking. This is the reason that nearly 100 percentile is awarded in MAHCET exam at a score range between 155 to 165 every year depending upon the difficulty level across the multiple sessions.

Read all about MAHCET 2018 MBA entrance exam eligibility, Registration, key dates, Exam pattern, Syllabus, top MBA colleges accepting MAHCET 2018 score

Now you should forget how you performed in CAT 2017 as there is still time to apply and improve your score with XAT 2018, CMAT 2018, MAT 2017 December and MAHCET 2018 exams which offer admission chances in top MBA colleges also.
There is also no need to think that IIMs are only the best B-schools as the top B-schools who accept XAT scores are no less important and some of them are rated even better than many IIMs. If you are focused, can prepare well for these exam as there is still time you should immediately apply without losing time.

Accordingly there is no need to panic as number of MBA options are open through the other exams apart from CAT 2017. You must however take quick action as the registration last date is to close shortly for all these exams.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on MBA entrance exams and admission options