MBA Entrance Exams 2025-2026: Complete Guide to Dates and Top Colleges

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Pursuing an MBA is one of the most important ways for anyone aiming for a career in management. A good MBA program not only equips you with business knowledge but also improves your leadership, communication, and decision- making skills. Choosing the right council and program is pivotal as it determines your career opportunities after graduation. This will help you understand the MBA entrance examinations, college selection, admission process, and final selection criteria for 2025- 26.

Important MBA Entrance Exam Dates

It's very important to remember the dates of entrance examinations if you want to do an MBA. The main examinations for 2025- 26 are

CAT 2025: August 1 – September 20, 2025
SNAP 2025: August 1 – November 20, 2025
NMAT 2025: August 1 – October 10, 2025
MAT 2025: October 23 – December 15, 2025
XAT 2026: July 10 – December 5, 2025
CMAT 2026: October 17 – November 18, 2025

Knowing these dates will help you plan your preparation and apply on time

How to Choose the Right MBA Program and College

When choosing an MBA, start by considering your career goals. Different MBA courses lead to different jobs.

MBA in Finance Jobs in banking, investments, and commercial finance
MBA in Marketing Jobs in deals, brand management, and advertising
After deciding on your course, concentrate on picking the right college. Check these Things

Eligibility Check the qualifications demanded to apply.

Fees: Compare fees with your budget and consider the value you'll get.
Faculty: Good faculty and practical learning matter.
Placements: See once placement records and average hires.

Once you have a list of colleges, understand their admission process. Some only look at entrance test scores, while others also consider graduation marks and interviews.

Top MBA Colleges in India and Exams They Accept

College	Accepted Exams	Application Status
IMI Kolkata	CAT, XAT, GMAT	To open soon
IMI Bhubaneswar	CAT, XAT, GMAT	To open soon
IMT Ghaziabad	CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT	Open
Amity Business School	MAT, CMAT, GMAT, NMAT, CAT, XAT	To open soon
FMS Delhi	CAT	Open
SPJIMR Mumbai	CAT, GMAT	Open
IIFT Delhi	CAT	Open
XLRI Jamshedpur	XAT, GMAT	Open
Great Lakes	CAT, XAT, CMAT	To open soon
Symbiosis International	SNAP	Open
MDI Gurgaon	CAT, GMAT	Open
KIIT SOM	CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT, KIITEE MBA	Open

IIM Admissions: How It Works

IIMs are India’s top MBA institutes, with 21 campuses; the top five are Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode.

Over 2 lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam each year for IIM admission.
Shortlisting is first done based on CAT scores and academic records.
Shortlisted candidates undergo a Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD).
Personal Interview (PI) assesses personality, communication, and leadership skills.
Final selection is based on CAT score, academics, WAT/GD-PI, and work experience.
Admissions consider CAT score, Class 10 & 12 marks, graduation marks, work experience and gender

Popular MBA Entrance Exams for 2026

CAT – For IIMs and top colleges
XAT – XLRI and other management colleges
CMAT – AICTE-approved colleges
SNAP – Symbiosis International
MAT – Widely accepted by private colleges
ATMA – Association of Indian Management Schools
KMAT – Karnataka-based management colleges
IBSAT – ICFAI Business Schools
NMAT – NMIMS and partner colleges

Admission Process of Non-IIM Top MBA Colleges

Many private and government colleges follow a similar process:

Fill out the college application online.
Appear for the entrance exam at the college
Attend Group Discussion (GD) or Personal Interview (PI).
Receive final admission based on combined scores.

Top Colleges and Admission Details

College	Entrance Exam	GD/PI
MDI Gurgaon	CAT/GMAT	Yes
FMS Delhi	CAT	Yes
IIFT Delhi	CAT/GMAT	Yes
SP Jain Mumbai	CAT/XAT/GMAT	Yes
Symbiosis	SNAP	Yes
Welingkar	CAT/XAT/ATMA/CMAT/GMAT	Yes
IRMA Anand	CAT/XAT/IRMASAT	Yes
MICA Ahmedabad	CAT/XAT/CMAT/MICAT	Yes

Understanding GD/PI and WAT

Group Discussion (GD): Candidates talk about a topic in a group. The examiners check how well they speak, work with others, and think clearly.
Personal Interview (PI): Candidates meet a panel for a one-on-one talk. The panel sees how confident, smart, and good at leading the candidate is.
Written Ability Test (WAT): Candidates write an essay to show their writing and thinking skills.

Conclusion

Getting admission into a top MBA college requires careful planning, meditation, and exploration. Start by relating the course that aligns with your career goals, and also shortlist colleges based on fees, recognition, placements, and structure. Prepare for entrance examinations, clear GD/ PI rounds, and keep track of important dates. With the right strategy, you can secure a seat in a reputed MBA college in India and make a successful career.

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