Which exams to take for MBA admission?
Every year, over two lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam, but only about 5500 seats are available at IIMs. Due to the ratio of candidates appearing to available seats being around 1:53, it is unavoidable for candidates to worry that they won’t pass the exam despite all of their efforts. Limited seats and tough competition make it difficult to get a seat. If not IIMs, what are our options? So let’s have a look…
CAT Dilemma: What if I don’t qualify for admission to one of the top colleges with CAT? Is it a good idea to drop a year in order to become better prepared for the CAT? The mock tests go well, but what if I don’t perform well on test day?
A choice is made every day by every one of us. It’s fairly easy to make the little decisions, but you can get stuck when making the big ones. Taking a competitive exam is a journey full of challenges and mostly full of confusion with every decision you make. Here, I can help you see your options more clearly.
Every student should take at least five to six more entrance exams just to be on the safe side. In fact, some of the colleges that accept their scores are ranked even higher than newer IIMs and offer better placement opportunities.
The alternative MBA exams could help you achieve your management career goals if you fail the CAT exam.
Here are some exams you should take:
An important milestone in pursuing a management career is passing the CAT exam. You have other options besides this exam, which is good news. XAT, IIFT, SNAP, NMAT, MAT, CMAT, TISSNET & MH-CET are other popular exams. The combination of these tests will depend on your interests and the colleges and programs you are applying to. In addition, many colleges accept scores from multiple exams. It is easier to score a 99 percentile in MH-CET than CAT, so if a college like JBIMS accepts both tests, MH-CET is the better option.
They are just as good as IIMs
XLRI conducts the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) on behalf of XAMI-affiliated institutions. XAT scores are accepted by about 150+ associated institutes in addition to the 11 XAMI institutes. Top XAT-accepting B-schools include XLRI Jamshedpur (equivalent to IIM A, B, and C), S.P. Jain, and XIMB .An autonomous entrance exam (IIFT) is used for admissions to IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade), one of the top B-schools in India. It is renowned for its excellent research and training programs. In its MBA programs, budding business managers will learn about international trade and business. In collaboration with global organizations like WTO and UNCTAD, IIFT has conducted a number of research studies.
The Symbiosis International (Deemed University) [SIU] conducts SNAP for admission to its 26 MBA programs at its 15 institutes. Compared to other popular entrance exams like CAT or XAT, SNAP is simpler. Time management and decision-making skills are assessed through this speed-based test. Candidates will have three chances to take the test this year, with the best of the three scores being considered for admission.
GMAC conducts the NMAT. In the NMAT, students can take the test three times. Every year, more than 50,000 candidates take the NMAT. In the past, NMAT scores were accepted only by Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (Mumbai, Bangalore, Navi Mumbai, and Hyderabad), but now scores are accepted by several top business schools across India, Morocco, South Africa, Philippines, and Nigeria. It is one of the few entrance exams in India, designed as per international standards.
The MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). The exam is held four times a year, and over 20,000 candidates participate each time. There are more than 600 B-schools and management colleges across India that accept MAT scores. In comparison to CAT, XAT, IIFT, and other management tests, MAT is easier.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CMAT tests. In India, CMAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams. Approximately 70,000 candidates take part in it each year. Some of the top B-schools in India accept CMAT scores, including Great Lakes Institute of Management, JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya Mumbai, Welingkar Mumbai, and PUMBA.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is one of the earliest institutes to offer courses in social sciences. There are 12 schools in all at the institute, the majority of them located on the Mumbai campus. Apart from the main campus in Mumbai, TISS has campuses at Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
TISSNET paves the way for M.A. programs at the institute. These are considered equivalent to management programs (MBA/PGDM) offered by the reputed B-schools of India.
MH-CET is the State Level entrance test for admission to MBA/MMS programs affiliated with Maharashtra State Universities. The Directorate for Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra conducts this test. In many ways, the MHCET exam is a gateway to esteemed top colleges like JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, K J Somaiya, N L Dalmiya, DSIMS, DY Patil & many others. This exam is not as challenging as the CAT, so it’s an excellent alternative for students looking to get into a B-school in Maharashtra.
