MBA Entrance Exams 2026: Top national level MBA entrance exams like CAT 2025, XAT 2026 and CMAT 2026 are over. Now, six State-level MBA entrance exams will be held in February-May months. MAH MBA CET 2026 will be held on April 6,7,8. KMAT Kerala 2026 exam date is February 22, 2026. Other state MBA exams like Karnataka PGCET 2026, Tamil Nadu TANCET 2026, TG ICET 2026 and AP ICET 2026 will be held in April-May 2026. Together, more than 2.0 lakh candidates will be taking these exams. Alongside, MAT 2026 and ATMA 2026 are also being held in February-March 2026. Check updated schedule of MBA Entrance Exams 2026 with dates, fees, pattern, top accepting colleges in this article. Also download Top MBA Entrance Exam 2026 PDF from the link below.
MBA Entrance Exams in India can be divided into three categories: a) CAT for IIMs, b) Other National Management Entrance Tests (OMET) like XAT and NMAT, and c) State MBA entrance exams like MAH CET and Karnataka PGCET. Check list of top MBA Entrance Exams 2026 given below. MBA Entrance Exam Dates 2026 and MBA Entrance Exam Schedule 2026 are also given in the table.
| MBA Entrance Exams | MBA Entrance Exam Dates | Exam Registration Fees | Top MBA Colleges Accepting MBA Entrance Exam Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | November 30, 2025 | Rs. 2600 | 21 IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs, IIFT |
| XAT 2026 | January 4, 2026 | Rs. 2200 | XLRI, IMT, IMI, XIMB, TAPMI |
| NMAT 2025 | Nov 5 to Dec 19, 2025 | Rs. 3000 | NMIMS, XIMB, K J Somaiya, TAPMI, SDA Bocconi and IFMR GSB Krea University |
| SNAP 2025 | Dec 6, 14 & 20, 2025 | Rs. 2250 | SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIBM Bangalore |
| CMAT 2026 | Jan 25, 2026 | Rs. 2500 | K J Somaiya Mumbai, BIMTECH, Welingkar, IFMR GSB, IMI Bhubaneswar and WOXSEN Hyderabad |
| MAH MBA CET 2026 | April 6,7, 8; May 9 | Rs. 1000 | JBIMS, SIMSREE, Welingkar, PUMBA, SIES |
| KMAT Kerala 2026 | February 22, 2026 | Rs. 750 | Cochin University of Science and Technology, Rajagiri Cochin, and SCMS Cochin School of Business Cochin |
| Karnataka PGCET | May 14, 2026 | Rs. 650 | Christ University Bangalore, Jain University Bangalore, PES University Bangalore, Indus Business Academy (IBA) Bangalore, NSB Bangalore and Kristu Jayanti College |
| TANCET 2026 | March, 2026 | Rs. 1000 | Anna University, PSG Institute of Management Coimbatore, SSN School of Management Chennai and Thiagarajar School of Management Madurai |
| TG ICET 2026 | May 13-14, 2026 | Rs. 750 | Osmania University (OU), JNTU School of Management Studies, IPE Hyderabad, VJIM Hyderabad and Badruka College PG Centre |
| AP ICET 2026 | April 28, 2026 | Rs 650 | IFMR Graduate school of Business, KREA University, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, RVR and JC College of Engineering |
| MAT 2026 | March 1 (PBT) March 8 (CBT) | Rs. 1800 | Jaipuria, FIIB New Delhi, DSB Delhi, IPE Hyderabad |
| ATMA 2026 | February 22, 2026 | Rs. 2000 | Welingkar Mumbai, IBA Bangalore, SIES Mumbai, NDIM Delhi, IPE Hyderabad, IISWBM Kolkata |
Download MBA Entrance Exam Calendar 2026
Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025) was successfully conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025. Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. CAT 2025 exam analysis reveals that the difficulty level was higher than CAT 2024 paper. Check key highlights of CAT exam in the tables below.
| CAT Exam Particulars | Key Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Exam Full Form to CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test, popularly known as ‘CAT’ |
| Who Conducts CAT Exam? | One of 6 old IIMs conducts CAT every year |
| Who is conducting CAT 2025? | IIM Kozhikode |
| What is the date of the CAT exam in 2025? | Sunday, November 30, 2025 |
| What is CAT exam timing? | Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM; Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM; Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| How many questions appeared in CAT 2025 paper? | 68 Questions (same as last year) |
| How many sections appeared in CAT 2025 paper? | Three Sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability |
| What is the Scoring Pattern for CAT 2025 exam? | CAT marking scheme is +3 for every correct and -1 for incorrect. There was no negative marking for TITA Questions. |
| What was the duration of CAT 2025 Exam? | CAT 2025 exam duration is 2 hours |
| What is the time limit for each section? | CAT 2025 Sectional Limit is 40 Minutes for each Section |
| Can I choose which section to attempt first? | No, candidates must answer the sections in pre-defined order from section 1 to 3. |
| What is the Testing Mode of CAT 2025? | CAT 2025 will be held as Computer based exam at test centres across the country. |
| What was CAT 2025 Notification Release date? | CAT 2025 Notification was released on Sunday, July 27, 2025 |
| Which are top MBA Colleges accepting CAT 2025? | Top MBA colleges accepting CAT 2025 are 21 IIMs, FMS, IIFT, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IMI |
| What is the age limit for CAT exam 2025? | There is no age limit for taking CAT exam 2025. |
| How to Apply for CAT 2025? | Candidates can apply for CAT online on CAT official website iimcat.ac.in. CAT 2025 application process is closed now. |
| What was CAT 2025 exam Fees? | CAT 2025 Exam Fees was Rs. 2600 for general candidates, and Rs. 1300 for reserved category candidates. |
| What is CAT Official Website for Form Filling? | CAT official website is iimcat.ac.in |
| How many candidates registered for CAT 2025 exam? | Only 2.95 lakhs candidates registered for CAT 2025 exam. |
| What is CAT 2025 result release date? | December 24, 2025 |
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is the mandatory exam for admission in XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi campuses. XAT 2026 exam was held on January 4, 2026. Read more details in table below.
| XAT EXAM PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| XAT Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) |
| Who conducts XAT Exam? | Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur |
| XAT Official Website | xatonline.in |
| XAT Exam Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| XAT Registration Last Date | December 11, 2025 (closed) |
| XAT Exam Fees | Rs. 2200 |
| Top MBA colleges accepting XAT scores | XLRI, XIMB, IMI, IMT, FORE, Great Lakes, GIM Goa |
| Total Questions | 95 MCQs |
| XAT Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Number of Sections | Four; Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge |
| Number of Answer Options | 5 |
| XAT Marking Scheme | +1 Mark for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Wrong Answer; 0 for Un-attempted Question |
NMAT (NMAT by GMAC) is an important national level MBA entrance test leading to admission in top MBA colleges including NMIMS Mumbai, VIT, TAPMI, XIMB among other institutes and universities in India. NMAT 2025 exam was held from November 5 to December 19, 2025.
Download MBA Entrance Exam Calendar 2026
XAT full form is Xavier Aptitude Test, and it is the mandatory exam for admission in XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi campuses. XAT 2026 exam was held on January 4, 2026. XAT exam analysis 2026 reveals that this year’s paper was of higher difficulty level. Read more details in table below.
IBSAT 2025: MBA Entrance Exam for ICFAI University MBA Colleges
IBSAT is MBA entrance test for admission in 9 ICFAI Business Schools (IBS) located across India. IBSAT Exam 2025 was held from December 27-28, 2025. Read IBSAT 2025 Exam Guide.
MICAT - MICA Admission Test
MICAT 2026 is conducted by MICA Ahmedabad for all the applicants who apply for MICA admission. MICAT is the mandatory entrance exam for admission to PGDM-C and PGDM programs. MICA conducts two MICAT exams MICAT 1 and MICAT II. If you are planning for admission to MICA Ahmedabad PGDM-C or PGDM, you need to apply and appear in MICAT, apart from taking CAT 2025 or XAT 2026.
XGMT - XIM University MBA Admission Test
XGMT is conducted by XIM University for MBA admission in its constituent MBA colleges. If you have not taken CAT/XAT/NMAT or GMAT, the XGMT is the only option to become eligible for MBA admission in XIMB and other management institutes of XIM University Bhubaneswar. Read XGMT 2026 Exam Guide.
Download MBA Entrance Exam Calendar 2026
National Testing Agency (NTA) is held Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 on January 25, 2026. The total number of candidates who took CMAT 2026 exam has dropped by about 15% to 53,453 candidates. Read CMAT exam highlights in the table below.
| CMAT Exam Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| CMAT Exam Full Form | Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT) |
| Who conducts CMAT Exam? | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT 2025 | JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE Mumbai, Pune University PUMBA, NIA Pune, Welingkar Mumbai and BIMTECH Greater Noida |
| CMAT Exam Date | January 25, 2026 |
| CMAT Exam Shifts | Single Shifts from 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. |
| CMAT Exam Slots | Two Slot Exam of 3 Hrs Duration for each slot |
| Mode of CMAT exam | Online Computer Based Test at Exam Centres |
| CMAT Official Website | cmat.nta.nic.in |
| CMAT Exam Application Fees | Male Candidates - Rs. 2500; Female Candidates - Rs. 1250 |
| Number of Candidates Registered | 75,000 |
| Total Questions in the Exam | 100 |
| Number of Sections | 5 Sections with 20 Questions in Each Section |
Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national level MBA entrance exam that is conducted four times in a year by All Indian Management Association (AIMA). MAT Paper Based Test (PBT) 2026 will be held on March 1 and MAT Computer Based Test (CBT) 2026 will be held on March 8, 2026. Read complete details in the table below.
| MAT Exam Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| MAT Exam Full Form | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
| Who conducts MAT Exam? | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Number of MBA/PGDM colleges accepting MAT | More than 500 MBA Colleges |
| Number of MAT Exams | Held in February, May, September, December |
| MAT Exam Modes | Paper Based (PBT) and Computer Based (CBT) |
| MAT Exam Dates | MAT Paper Based Test (PBT) 2026 will be held on March 1 and MAT Computer Based Test (CBT) 2026 will be held on March 8, 2026. |
| MAT Official Website | www.mat.aima.in |
| MAT Exam Application Fees | Rs 2200 for Paper Based Test (PBT) or Computer Based Test (CBT). Rs 3800 for both PBT + CBT Exams. |
| Total Questions in the Exam | 150 questions |
| Total Exam Duration | 120 minutes |
| Number of Sections | 5 Sections with 30 Questions in Each Section |
| Name of MAT Sections | Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Economic & Business Environment |
| Scoring Pattern in MAT exam | +1 Mark for Each Correct Answer; -0.25 Mark for Each Wrong Answer; 0 Mark for Un-attempted Question |
State MBA entrance exams are conducted by various state governments or state universities for admission to MBA and PGDM programs in state-affiliated colleges. Key State level MBA entrance exams 2026 are MAH MBA CET, Karnataka PGCET, Tamil Nadu TANCET, Kerala KMAT, Telangana TG ICET and Andra Pradesh AP ICET. Check latest details for state level MBA entrance exams 2026 in the following section.
Download MBA Entrance Exam Calendar 2026
MAH CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) is conducted by Maharashtra State CET Cell for admission to various MBA/MMS courses offered by government recognized MBA colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and rest of Maharashtra. Candidates from Maharashtra and Outside Maharashtra State can apply for MAHCET exam. Last year, 1.57 lakhs candidates registered for MAH MBA CET 2025 exam. MAH MBA CET 2026 exam will be conducted from April 6 to April 8, 2026. A second MAH MBA/MMS CET 2026 exam will also be conducted on May 9, 2026. Read complete details in the table below.
| Particulars | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | State CET Cell - Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra |
| MAH CET Full Form | MAH MBA/MMS Common Entrance Test |
| MAH MBA/MMS Common Entrance Test | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| MBA/MMS Seats Available for Admission 2026 | 40,000+ |
| Mode of the Exam | Computer Based Test |
| MAH MBA/MMS CET 2026 1st Attempt Exam Dates | April 6, 7, 8, 2026 |
| MAH MBA/MMS CET 2026 2nd Attempt Exam Dates | May 9, 2026. |
| Test Duration | 150 Minutes (2½ Hours) |
| Testing Window | 2 days, 4 sessions |
| Total Questions | 200 (All MCQs) |
| Test Sections | 4 Sections: Logical Reasoning; Abstract Reasoning; Quantitative Aptitude; Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension |
| Top MBA Colleges accepting score | JBIMS, SIMSREE, Welingkar, PUMBA, SIES |
| MAH MBA CET Exam Fees 2026 | For Open Category from Maharashtra State, Outside Maharashtra State (OMS), J & K Migrant candidates, Fees is Rs 1500. For Candidates of Backward Class Categories or Person With Disability (PWD), belonging to Maharashtra State Only, Fees is Rs 1300. |
| MAH MBA CET 2026 Exam Centres | MAH-MBA/MMS CET 2026 will be conducted in Maharashtra state only. Outside Maharashtra cities and centres are cancelled. Check MAH MBA CET 2026 Exam Centres. |
| Admission Process through MAH CET 2026 | Through Centralized Admission Process (CAP) by DTE Maharashtra in May 2026 |
Karnataka PGCET exam is conducted by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) for admissions into MBA, MCA and ME/MTech/MArch courses offered by Government and Private colleges. Karnataka PGCET 2026 exam for MBA and MCA courses will be held on May 14, 2026. Check exam highlights below.
Exam Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
What is Karnataka PGCET Full Form? | Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test |
Who conducts PGCET exam? | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) conducts PGCET exam |
What is Karnataka PGCET exam date 2026? | May 14, 2026 (2.30 pm to 4.30 pm) |
| What is mode of PGCET exam? | PGCET will be conducted as Paper-based test through OMR. Question paper will be of Objective Multiple Choice (MCQ) type. |
What is Karnataka PGCET Eligibility Criteria? | Candidates should complete Graduation from a recognized university or college with 50% Marks |
How many questions appear in Karnataka PGCET MBA Exam? | 100 questions divided in 5 sections with 20 questions in each section |
What is total time duration of Karnataka PGCET MBA Exam? | 120 Mins (2 hours) |
Which are top MBA Colleges Accepting Karnataka PGCET Score? | Government and most Private MBA Colleges in Karnataka accept PGCET Scores. Check complete list below. |
What is Karnataka PGCET official website 2026? | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KMAT Kerala is a gateway for admissions to various management schools across the state of Kerala. The exam is conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Exams, Kerala (CEE Kerala). The Kerala KMAT exam is held twice a year. KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 1 exam date is February 22, 2026. Check complete exam details in table below
Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the exam | KMAT Kerala |
| Exam conducting body | Commissioner of Entrance Exams, Kerala (CEE Kerala) |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year (Jan & May) |
| Mode of examination | Computer-based test mode |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Syllabus | English Language and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Sufficiency and Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge and Business Scenario |
| Exam pattern | 180 multiple-choice questions with negative marking |
| Language | English |
| Application fee | INR 1000 (General/OBC category); INR 500 (SC); Nil for ST category |
| Exam purpose | Admission to MBA colleges in Kerala |
| Helpdesk contact details | 7th Floor, KSRTC Bus Terminal Complex, Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram-695 001. |
| Official website | cee.kerala.gov.in |
Tamil Nadu TANCET MBA 2026 exam is expected to be held in March, 2026. Total number of candidates who registered for TANCET MBA Exam 2026 were 22,806, while 20,992 candidates actually took the exam. Check TANCET 2026 exam highlights below.
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| TANCET Conducting Body | Anna University, Chennai |
| TANCET Full Form | Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) |
| TANCET Official Website | tancet.annauniv.edu/tancet |
| TANCET Exam Date | March, 2026 (Expected) |
| TANCET Exam Duration & Timing | 2 Hours Test. Typically from 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM. |
| Top MBA Colleges accepting TANCET 2026 Score | Anna University; PSG Institute of Management, SSN School of Management, Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM) |
| Application Process | Online |
| TANCET Fees | General Category: Rs.1000; Reserved Category: Rs.500 |
| TANCET Exam Mode | Centre based offline test (using OMR response system) |
| TANCET Exam Pattern | Five Sections. 1. Analysis of Business Situations; 2. Reading Comprehension; 3. Quantitative Aptitude; 4. Data Sufficiency and 5. General English |
| MBA Intake through TANCET | 18,000 Seats Appx Across Tamil Nadu MBA colleges |
| Number of candidates registered for TANCET MBA Exam | Total number of candidates registered: 22,806, Total number of candidates who took exam: 20,992 |
Telangana Integrated Common Entrance Test is the entrance exam for MBA and MCA Program of all Universities in Telangana State. TG ICET exam is conducted by Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, on behalf of Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE). TG ICET 2026 exam will be held on May 13 and 14, 2026.
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
TG ICET Full Form | Telangana Integrated Common Entrance Test (TG ICET) |
TG ICET Conducting Body | Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda |
Exam Level | State level for MBA and MCA Courses in Telangana |
TG ICET official website | https://icet.tgche.ac.in/ |
TG ICET Exam Date 2026 | May 13-14, 2026 |
TG ICET Exam Pattern | Three sections: Analytical Ability, Mathematical Ability, Communication Ability |
Total No of Questions | 200 |
Type of Questions | MCQs |
Test Duration | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) |
Expected number of candidates in TG ICET | 80,000 |
Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) will conduct AP ICET 2026 exam on April 28, 2026. Candidates seeking admission to MBA or MCA course in Andhra Pradesh of colleges should fill AP ICET application form 2026 online when released. AP ICET 2026 exam will be held in 25 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Check key exam highlights in the table below.
Features | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Name | Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test (AP ICET) |
Conducting Body | Conducted by Andhra University, Visakhapatnam on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) |
Exam Level | State level for MBA and MCA Courses in AP |
Exam Frequency | Once a year |
Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
Exam Syllabus | Analytical Ability, Mathematical Ability and Communication Ability |
Exam Pattern | 200 questions in MCQ format |
Language | English |
Exam Fees | INR 550 for online application |
Exam Website | https://cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/ICET/ICET/ICET_HomePage.aspx |
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a required exam for admission to international business schools in US and Europe. Many Indian B-schools also accepted GMAT Exam for MBA admissions in India. However, GMAT is an expensive exam. The GMAT registration fee in India is $275 for the in-person test and $300 for the online test. GRE Exam is another popular entrance exam for admission into international business schools in US and Europe.
Other Management Entrance Tests (OMET)
Apart from the above important OMETs, there are some other MBA entrance exams as well. They will be updated soon.
In summary, top national level MBA entrance exams 2026 are CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, MAT, CMAT 2026. Top state level MBA entrance exams 2026 are MAH MBA CET 2026, Karnataka PGCET 2026, Tamil Nadu TANCET 2026 among others. Check complete list of MBA entrance exams in India 2026 in the article above. Also check MBA entrance exam schedule 2026 and MBA exam important dates 2026 in the article.
