CAT, XAT, SNAP: Which entrance exam should you take? Check top options here

As the MBA admission season begins, various major management entrance exams are opening registration windows. Candidates have multiple options to choose from, depending on their preferred B-school, specialisation and eligibility requirements. This article provides an overview of the top entrance exams: CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, MAT, CMAT and others.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most competitive exam, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. This year, CAT will be held by IIM Indore in November 2026. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) and there is no upper age limit. The registration fee is Rs 2,700 for the unreserved category and Rs 1,350 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. CAT scores are valid until December 2027.

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is held by XLRI Jamshedpur and accepted by over 250 premier business schools. The registration for XAT 2027 began on July 15 and will close on December 6. The exam is scheduled for January 3, 2027, with a registration fee of Rs 2,300 for Indian candidates and Rs 5,000 for NRI/Foreign/PIO/OCI candidates applying via GMAT. XAT includes 95 questions to be completed in 3 hours, with a negative marking of 25% for incorrect answers.

The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University) for its 17 institutes across six cities. SNAP 2026 will be held offline in computer-based mode, with a registration fee of Rs 2,500. The exam consists of 60 questions to be completed in 60 minutes, with 25% negative marking for incorrect answers. SNAP registration is open until November 25, 2026.