Are you planning to take MBA entrance exam? The first step to get into a top B-School is to know which are the must take MBA entrance exams in India. After knowing all about the exams such as important dates, eligibility and exam pattern, you can move forward to preparation. Check out India’s most reputed MBA entrance exams.
AIMA-MAT (MANAGEMENT APTITUDE TEST)
Management Aptitude Test or MAT as it is popularly known is conducted 4 times a year (in February, May, September & December) by the Centre for Management Services (CMS) division of All India Management Association (AIMA). It is as a credible, comprehensive and single window test for admissions to different postgraduate management programmes. Graduate in any discipline from a recognized university. Final year degree course students can also apply.
Test Pattern & Selection: MAT has two formats: Offline test or Computer based test both of 2 ½ hours. Candidates can opt for either one of these based on their convenience. There are five papers in MAT: Paper 1: Language Comprehension, Paper 2: Mathematical Skills, Paper 3: Data Analysis, Paper 4: Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Paper 5: Indian & Global Environment Section, each comprising of 40 questions for a total of 200 Questions.
ATMA – AIMS TEST FOR MANAGEMENT ADMISSIONS
ATMA has been approved by the Ministry of HRD of the Government of India for admission on All India basis to the MBA/PGDM and other postgraduate programmes like MCA. Around 140 MBA institutes accept ATMA scores for admission to various management programs. Candidate must have completed their graduation from a recognized and authorized university.
Test Pattern & Selection: ATMA 2014 test contains 180 Questions spread over six sections comprising Analytical, Verbal and Logical Reasoning. Each section is timed separately. Total time of the test is 3 hours. A candidate has to undergo the selection process of the institute to qualify for the admission to the PG programmes of the institute after declaration of the result of ATMA.
CAT (COMMON ADMISSION TEST)
Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular MBA entrance test and is held annually for admission to postgraduate management courses in all the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and various other management institutes. IIMs offer around 3,335 seats in various management programmes & other than the IIMs, 165-odd institutes admit students based on CAT scores. Every year more than two lakh students appear for CAT.
Eligibility: A candidate should have at least 50% or equivalent CGPA in Graduation.
Test Pattern & Selection: Since 2009 CAT is a computer based test of 2 hours and 20 minutes. CAT has multiple choice questions from the following sections: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. Candidates are expected to perform well in both the sections as there are separate cut-offs for individual sections as well. Each correct answer will be awarded 3 marks & for each wrong answer, 1/4th mark will be deducted. In the year 2014, IIMs introduced major change in the exam pattern, which increased the duration by 30 minutes and the number of questions from 60 to 100. Know the preparation strategy for the next 3 month and about the scaling & equating process and other changes involved in the test related to application process, slot booking, test date etc.
IBSAT (IBS APTITUDE TEST)
IBSAT is an aptitude test conducted by the Federation of Universities (FedUni), for students seeking admission into the management programmes.
Eligibility: Graduates (any discipline) in English medium with 50% and above aggregate marks.
Test Pattern & Selection: IBSAT is for 2 hours duration and is aimed to test the applicants’ ability in quantitative techniques, data interpretation, data adequacy, vocabulary, analytical reasoning and reading comprehension. The results of the IBSAT are hosted online on www.ibsat.org. The details of the score (in terms of percentiles) obtained in the test is intimated to all applicants.
ICET (INTEGRATED COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)
ICET is the common entrance examination for admissions to Master of Business Administration (MBA) by Universities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. ICET is conducted by any one University in Andhra Pradesh.
Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree Examination of not less than 3 years duration in any discipline with Mathematics at 10+2 level.
Test Pattern & Selection: The test is of 2 ½ hours duration and consists of 200 questions of 1 mark each in the following topics: Analytical, Mathematical & Communication Ability. The qualifying percentage of marks in the Entrance Test is 25% (i.e. 50 marks out of total 200 marks)
IIFT (INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN TRADE)
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was set up in 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous organization to help professionalize the country’s foreign trade management.
Eligibility: Recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years duration in any discipline.
Test Pattern & Selection: The entrance examination is of 2 hours having objective questions from the following sections: 1. English Comprehension, 2. Logical Reasoning, 3. Quantitative Analysis, 4. General Knowledge & Awareness. The candidates will be short listed on the basis of their scores in the entrance examination similar to the NMAT result scores. The short listed candidates will be called for Group Discussion, Interview and Essay Writing for final selection.