Besides the well-known exams, there are over 50 MBA entrance tests in India for admission to top B-schools. These exams are held at three levels. At the national level, the most popular exams are CAT, CMAT, and MAT. At the state level, exams like MAH-CET, TSICET, APICET, KMAT, and TANCET are widely accepted. At the university or college level, entrance tests like XAT, SNAP, and MICAT are commonly conducted. In 2022, NTA also launched CUET-PG, a national-level exam for admission to postgraduate courses, including MBA, in Central universities. CUET-PG is held every year in May, and candidates aiming for an MBA from a Central university must appear for it. 

Top MBA Entrance Exams 2025: Application and Exam Dates

Here is the list of top entrance exams for MBA in India with application and exam dates. 

CAT ( Common Admission Test) Entrance Exam

CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exam 2025 to get admission into leading IIMs. 20 IIMs and over 1200 other management institutes use CAT score for admission. There are more than 2 lakh students who appear for the CAT entrance exam every year.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) Entrance Exam

If a candidate is planning to pursue MBA outside India then they should consider giving GMAT. Many business schools worldwide accept the GMAT Score. However, there are few Indian B schools as well which accept GMAT Score. Here are the details of the GMAT MBA entrance exam mentioned in the table below.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) Entrance Exam

The third most popular entrance exam called XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT Score is accepted by over 800 colleges for admission in MBA. Around 1 lakh students appear for this exam every year. It is mainly held on the first Sunday of January. For more details, here is an overview table for the XAT entrance exam.

MAT (Management Aptitude Test) Entrance Exam

Aspirants who are aiming to get admission in Tier-2 private MBA College, then they should appear for MAT. It is conducted four times a year, normally in the months of February, May, September, and December, in both online, computer-based test (CBT) and Paper-based Test (PBT). 

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) Entrance Exam

The All India Council for Technical Education conducts a national-level MBA entrance examination called the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). The CMAT score will be accepted in all the AICTE-approved institutes, departments of universities, and colleges. It evaluates the General Awareness, the Language Comprehension Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative & Data Interpretation of a person.

ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions) Entrance Exam

The ATMA exam is a computer-based test, conducted several times a year for admission to over 750 MBA colleges across India. The full schedule for ATMA 2025 will be released online. You can check here for the exam dates, important events, and session details.

MBA Eligibility 2025

o apply for an MBA program in 2025, candidates must meet certain basic eligibility requirements. These criteria may vary slightly depending on the college or entrance exam, but the general rules are quite similar across most B-Schools. Here's a quick overview of the MBA eligibility:

MBA Entrance Exam 2025 Date Notification

In 2025, several important MBA entrance exams will be held, offering admission to top management programs across India. Here are some popular exams, their expected dates, and notifications:

• CAT 2025: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is likely to be held on November 23, 2025. The official notification is expected in July or August 2025.

• NMAT 2025: NMAT by GMAC is expected to be held from November 5 to December 20, 2025 (tentative dates).

• XAT 2025: The Xavier Aptitude Test is scheduled for January 5, 2026. Registrations are expected to close in November 2025.

• CMAT 2025: The Common Management Admission Test is likely to be conducted around April 23, 2025 (tentative).

• SNAP 2025: The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test is expected to be held on three different dates – December 7, 13, and 21, 2025.

• GMAT 2025: The GMAT exam is available throughout the year, and candidates can choose a date that suits them best in 2025.

Top MBA Colleges without Entrance Exam

Opting for direct admission into an MBA program can be a smart choice for students who are not aiming for Tier 1 B-Schools like the IIMs. Many reputed private colleges and universities in India offer MBA programs without requiring scores from entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, or CMAT. These colleges allow admission through management quota or merit-based criteria.

Direct MBA admission is suitable for students who wish to gain practical business knowledge and start their own ventures. Several recognized colleges across India provide offer admission in MBA without giving entrance. Here's a list of some top MBA colleges that offer direct admissions along with their average fee structure:

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This is all about the MBA entrance exams 2025 including the exams and top colleges. We hope this guide will be helpful for the candidates looking for this information. For more details, you can download the Testbook App and get study materials to prepare for and crack these entrance exams with ease.