Entrance Exams for MBA in Top Colleges

DeepSaklani

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There seems to have been a slowing down in the number of students applying for MBA after their grads are over. Yet the conditions to sit for an entrance exam to pursue an MBA have never been more favourable. The number of seats open for MBA in top institutions has been increased, and after an initial slump the chances of getting a good placement after the course is brighter now. So, students considering the idea of pursuing an MBA better pull up their socks and read up on the major entrance exams conducted across the country. Here is provided, the details of every vital test that can land you a seat for an MBA degree in a prestigious institution.

AIMA-MAT (MANAGEMENT APTITUDE TEST)

The MAT or Management Aptitude Test is the entrance exam that you can take to enrol for an MBA. The exam is held by the All India Management Association (AIMA) and hence covers most of Indian Management schools under its ambit. The exam is held quarterly every year, i.e. four times in the months of February, May, September and December.

Eligibility to sit for the exam is a simple graduation degree on any subject from an affiliated Indian University, besides students in the final year of their graduation courses can also apply. Application forms for MAT can be obtained for Rs. 1200.

The MAT exam has two modules, the offline exam and the computerized test both of which last for a period of two and half hours. The exam comes divided into five sections, namely Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning and Indian & Global Environment Section. All of these sections contain 40 questions each thus making a total of 200 questions to be answered.

The MAT score is issued in the form of a comparative percentile in regard to the other examinees. So instead of a definite percentile a composite score is issued for individual applicants. Candidates furnish this score to institutes who accept MAT scores. The eminent colleges that accept MAT scores include Christ University, Bangalore, EMPI, New Delhi, NILM, Delhi, Amity, Noida, and EDI, Ahmedabad among others.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 3/5

Overall Exam Rating: 8/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 3 lakh candidates

CAT (COMMON ADMISSION TEST)

The CAT (Common Admission Test) remains the foremost entrance exam platform that candidates take to get into an MBA conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management. Sitting for the CAT enables you to apply to all the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and about hundred other esteemed management schools.

To sit for the CAT you should have a minimum of 50% or corresponding CGPA in graduation level. The exam is held annually around the month of November, when the CAT testing window remains open for 21 days. The application form and exam brochure costs Rs. 1600.

The CAT exam has become computerized from the year of 2009, and extends for a duration of two hours and twenty minutes. It is divided into two sections of Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, where you have to attempt multiple choice questions. Cut-offs are separate for each section, where each right answer awards 3 marks and for every wrong answer one-fourth mark is subtracted.

The CAT website declares the shortlisted applicants whom the IIMS would interview. The screening process varies with every IIM. Students can also take their CAT scores and apply to individual management schools and undergo their selection procedure. The test scores lets you try at the top IIMs in the country such as IIM, Ahmedabad, IIM, Bangalore, IIM, Kolkata, IIM, Lucknow and IIM, Kozhikode.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 5/5

Overall Exam Rating: 9/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 1.94 lakh candidates

IIFT (INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN TRADE)

Since 1963 the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has an illustrious history where the autonomous body holds its separate entrance test on a national level for MBA aspirants. The eligibility that the IIFT test requires is a Bachelor’s degree of at least a three-year period in any subject from an affiliated University. The application form is available for Rs. 1550.

The exam is held annually during the month of November, and covers the IIFT schools of Kolkata and Delhi where the candidates can enrol for an MBA. The test that lasts for two hours contains objective questions from the following fields: English Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Analysis and General Knowledge & Awareness. Scores are taken into account to shortlist candidates who are then summoned for Group Discussion, Interview and Essay Writing that secures their final selection.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 4/5

Overall Exam Rating: 9/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 60000 candidates

ATMA (AIMS TEST FOR MANAGEMENT ADMISSIONS)

The ATMA examination has the approval of the HRD Ministry of the Indian Government and is held by them. The test avails candidates to enter courses like MBA, PGDM or MCA. The Association of Indian Management Studies has about 140 MBA schools across the country that make admissions based on ATMA scores. The application form will come at a price of Rs. 1100.

The ATMA exam takes place five times a year in the months of February, May, July, August and December. The test format is spread across three hours and consists of 180 questions that deal with the areas of Analytical, Verbal and Logical Reasoning. After the declaration of the ATMA scores applicants have to further go through the assessment processes of institutes. The top colleges that admit students with ATMA scores are Prin. LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, Institute of Finance and International Management, Bangalore, School of Communication and Management Studies, Cochin, Flame School of Business, Pune, and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 4/5

Overall Exam Rating: 8/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 12,000 candidates

IBSAT (IBS APTITUDE TEST)

The IBSAT entrance exam is held by the Federation of Universities, and is aimed towards candidates who wish to seek admission in the management courses of the ICFAI Business Schools. Application forms for the test can be found for Rs. 1500 as it is held over 100 centres around the country.

A graduation degree with 50% or above in any subject in the English medium is required from candidates who wish to sit for this test. The IBSAT test is held in the winter month of December every year. The prime institutes that accept IBSAT scores are IBS Hyderabad, IBS Bangalore, IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Mumbai and IBS Gurgaon.

The test is patterned to last for two hours and works towards assessing the candidate’s aptitude in the domains of data interpretation, data adequacy, quantitative techniques, analytical reasoning, vocabulary and reading comprehension. The score of the test can be seen on its website of Ibsat and candidates are informed of their scores which come in percentiles.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 4/5

Overall Exam Rating: 8/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 1 lakh candidates

ICET (INTEGRATED COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)

The Integrated Common Entrance Test or the ICET is a regional entrance exam held by the universities of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana to admit students for management studies. The ICET lets a student seek admission to any college affiliated under universities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

To sit for the ICET, which is held annually, a student needs a Bachelor’s Degree with a three-year course with any subject, besides having Mathematics in their 10+2 stage. The application forms are to be procured at a price of Rs. 250.

The exam is conducted over two and half hours, and is formed of 200 questions that carry 1 mark individually. The topics that the students are questioned on are Analytical, Mathematical & Communication Ability. Students have to secure at least 25% to clear the test. The prominent colleges that admit students with ICET scores are Abdul Kalam Institute of Technological Sciences (AKITS), Khammam, Adarsh College of Engineering (ACEE), Kakinada, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management (AITAM), Srikakulam, Alluri Institute of Management Sciences (AIMS), Warangal and Ambedkar Institute of Management Studies (AIMS), Visakhapatnam among others.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 3/5

Overall Exam Rating: 7/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 25,000 candidates

MAH – MBA/MMS CET (MAHARASHTRA MBA COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)

The MAH-CET, or Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, is held for accepting students to business schools across Maharashtra. Students qualifying the MAH-CET are granted entry to the Government-aided, University affiliated and even Unaided institutes in the state of Maharashtra. The exam is held around the months of February or March.

To sit for the exam students need to be graduates with at least 50% marks in a three-year course. The application forms are sold at Rs. 1000. The exam lasts for 150 minutes and contains 200 objective questions that are devoted to the issues of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical or Abstract Reasoning. There is no provision for negative marking. The scores are released in percentiles. The top colleges taking admissions through the MAH-CET scores are Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai, Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE), Mumbai, MET’s Institute of Management, Mumbai, Xavier Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai, and S.I.E.S. College of Management Studies, Mumbai.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 3/5

Overall Exam Rating: 7/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 53,000 candidates

NMAT (NARSEE MONJEE MAT)

NMIMS, or Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, was founded in 1983 and received its ‘deemed university’ status in 2003. Here, the NMAT is organized by them to grant students to the MBA degree course in NMIMS.

The basic eligibility necessary to appear for the test is the (10+2+3) graduation degree with at least 50% aggregate. The cost of application forms is between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 depending on the number of courses. The exam that is held in December is computerized and takes two hours to complete. The questions follow the multiple-choice format where candidates have to find the right answer. The separate sections on which examinees are tested are Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency, and Logical Reasoning. Merit lists are drawn according to NMAT scores that later include Written Test grades, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Presentation and work experience. The reputed colleges that take in NMAT examinees are SVKMs NMIMS Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, NMIMS, Bangalore, NMIMS Hyderabad and Institute of Business Management & Research, Pune.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 3/5

Overall Exam Rating: 8/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 58,000 candidates

SNAP (SYMBIOSIS NATIONAL APTITUDE TEST)

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) is an entrance exam conducted for entry into Post-Graduate courses on management in Business schools under the Symbiosis International University. This test is held around the month of December every year.

SNAP can be only availed by students with a graduation degree with 50% grades in any discipline. Application forms cost Rs. 2000. The exam is designed for two hours with multiple-choice questions and negative marking of 25% for every wrong attempt. The divided segments of the test are General English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Logical & Analytical Reasoning. Considering the SNAP grades applicants will be further considered for group discussions and personal interviews leading to admission. Esteem institutions that enrol SNAP examinees are Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bangalore, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune and Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Nashik.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 3/5

Overall Exam Rating: 8/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: over 50,000 candidates

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

Over the last six decades XLRI has been arranging admission tests on a national level to pick the most suited applicants for management studies. It is no wonder that more than seventy Management schools refer to XAT scores to choose candidates, among them XLRI Jamshedpur, Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar. Besides them other reputed organizations who employ the XAT system are Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, and Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai.

To take the XAT candidates require a three-year graduate degree with 50% marks in any subject from an affiliated University and the tests are held annually around the month of January. The application forms are to be bought for Rs. 950. The first four sections of the XAT test are ‘Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA)’, ‘Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA)’, ‘Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making Ability (AR)’ and ‘General Awareness’. Additionally there is an essay to be finished within twenty minutes after completing the first four sections. XAT issues a common merit list from where applicants may opt for multiple courses where they might have to sit for multiple interviews. The selection procedure changes across the different course programs.

Level of Toughness in Exam: 4/5

Overall Exam Rating: 9/10

Average number of applicant taking the exam: 89,400 candidates
 
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