VikasAn MBA is a pretty big milestone for many aspiring business leaders, and cracking the right entrance exam is one of the most important steps in that process.
In India, there are quite a few management entrance exams, but the three most popular ones are CAT 2025, MAT 2025, and XAT 2025.
This exam opens up the doors to the best B-schools in the country. Scores can secure an MBA from some of the best colleges and institutions.
CAT 2025 Exam: Common Admission Test
The CAT is the most selective and competitive of all MBA entrance exams in India.
Conducted by the IIMs, it presents the sole entry point for admission into all of the 20 IIMs as well as some of the top B schools in India.
Exam Pattern
The CAT tests candidates on three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
It is a two-hour exam, with each section conducted separately.
CAT 2025 Exam and Application Dates
For CAT 2025, one can refer to the following dates in order:
– Application Opens: August 2025
– Last Date to Apply: September 2025
– Admit Card Issued: October 2025
– Exam Taken: November 2025
– Result Announced: January 2026
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility: Candidates with 50% marks in any degree or equivalent with 45 % for the backward classes and minorities of recognized university are eligible.
Final year graduates can also apply for the exam.
Top Colleges Accepting MAT 2025 Scores
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Lucknow
- FMS Delhi
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
- Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi
MAT 2025: Management Aptitude Test
Another commonly known MBA entrance test is the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) that is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA).
Exam Pattern
The MAT tests its applicants in the following five sections:
- Language Comprehension
- Mathematical Skills
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
- Indian and Global Environment (General Awareness)
The time for the test is 2 hours and 30 minutes and candidates are provided with the options of taking the test either Paper-Based Test (PBT) , Computer-Based Test (CBT) , or Remote Proctored Internet-Based Test (IBT) .
MAT 2025 Exam and Registration Dates:
The following are the exam dates for MAT 2025:
– February MAT 2025 Registration
– January 2025
Exam Date: February 2025
– May MAT 2025 Registration
– April 2025
Exam Date: May 2025
– MAT September 2025 Registration: August 2025
Date of Examination: September 2025
– MAT December 2025 Registration: November 2025
Date of Examination: December 2025
Eligibility
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in any field from a reputed university.
Final year students are also eligible to apply.
Top Colleges that Accept MAT 2025 Scores:
- Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Amity Business School, Noida
- Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune
- Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow
- Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Ghaziabad
- ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai
XAT 2025: Xavier Aptitude Test
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) administered by Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur is one of the oldest management entrance exams in India.
It is known for its challenging nature and unique question patterns.
Exam Structure
XAT tests the candidates on four key sections:
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge
XAT exam is for a total time of 3 hours with extra 10 minutes for General Knowledge
XAT 2025 Exam and Registration Dates
For XAT 2025 , one may notice the following dates:
– Application Form to Open: August 2024
– Last Date of Form Submission: November 2024
– Admit Card to be Released: December 2024
– Exam Date: January 2025
– Declaration of Result: January 2025
Eligibility Criteria
It should be a bachelor’s degree passed by an applicant from a recognized university.
Best Colleges that Accept XAT 2025 Scores
- XLRI Jamshedpur
- Xavier Institute of Management (XIM), Bhubaneswar
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
- TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
- Goa Institute of Management (GIM)
Main Variations Among CAT, MAT, and XAT
While all three tests- CAT 2025 , MAT 2025 , and XAT 2025 -assesses managerial aptitude, there are many main differences about them:
- Difficulty Level:
– CAT and XAT have more challenging and complicated question paper sets, which are primarily focused on logical reasoning as well as data interpretation.
– MAT is comparatively easy and much more flexible since it does permit multiple attempts in a year.
- Frequency:
– CAT as well as XAT are one-time events in a year while MAT takes place four times in a year. Therefore, there is more scope for improvement in scores.
- Accepted by Different Institutions:
– CAT mainly accepted by IIMs and other top-class institutions.
– XAT is essential for XLRI and many other institutes of management education, particularly Jesuit campuses.
– MAT scores accepted by more than 600 B-schools in India
- Exam Pattern
– CAT focuses on three focus sections VARC, DILR and QA
– XAT comprises the following a separate Decision Making section to test practical judgment ability.
– MAT tests a more general set of aptitude spread over five sections comprising general awareness.
Top Colleges Covered by These Top Entrance Exams for MBA
All three tests provide entry into the crème of business schools across India. Some of the colleges accept multiple test scores are given below:
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) – CAT
- XLRI, Jamshedpur – XAT
- FMS Delhi – CAT
- SPJIMR, Mumbai – CAT, XAT
- MDI, Gurgaon: CAT
- XIM Bhubaneswar: CAT, XAT
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai: CAT, XAT, MAT
- Christ University, Bangalore: CAT, MAT
- TAPMI, Manipal: CAT, XAT, MAT
- ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai: CAT, MAT
Conclusion
There are three big exams for MBA available at present: CAT 2025, MAT 2025, and XAT 2025. Each of these exams has a temptation for different MBA aspirants.
CAT, by its very nature, remains the gold standard for elites like IIMs. XAT then becomes the alternative for XLRI and other institutes.
Proper choice of exams is important to fit the admission process of your dream B-school.
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