Exam Pattern: CAT, XAT & SNAP Test 2019

Students and working professionals who are aspiring to pursue an MBA degree from top-tier business schools, it’s important that you know about the top MBA entrance exams in India. You can start preparing effectively only after you know all the details like exam pattern, exam duration, important dates etc for each of these exams.

While most MBA entrance exams share some common topics, the syllabus is different. For instance, most MBA exams have topics like Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability, some also include topics like Decision Making and Analytical Writing Assessment. This article will give you all the important information you require for some of the top MBA entrance exams in India.

1] Common Admission Test (CAT):
CAT is one of the top MBA entrance exam held in India. While the test is held for enrolling into one of the 20 Indian Institute Of Management campuses, more than 100 B-Schools also consider CAT scores during admissions.

In the year 2015, CAT brought in huge changes to its exam pattern. The exam will be conducted online and candidates will only have 1 hour per section. With a total of 3 sections, the total duration of the exam is 3 hours. Candidates cannot switch between sections.

CAT Exam Syllabus:

Quantitative Ability

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

CAT Selection Process:

All the IIMs will release a list of shortlisted candidates based on the cutoffs and other admission criteria. They will then send interview invites to each shortlisted candidate.

CAT Application Deadline: September 2019

CAT Exam Date:  November 2019

CAT Exam Fee: 1800/- for General, 900/- for Reserved

CAT Eligibility: 50% in Graduation for General and 45% for Reserved. Final year students can also apply.

CAT Official Website: www.iimcat.ac.in

2] Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT):
After CAT, this is the second most prefered entrance test across India. XAT has been conducted by Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur for more than 60 years. XAT is taken by approximately 1 lakh candidates every year.

XAT is another online test with a time duration of three and a half hours. The paper is divided into two parts and the first part is assigned a total of two hours and twenty minutes.

XAT Exam Syllabus:

Part I:

Quantitative Ability

English Language & Logical Reasoning

Decision Making

Part II:

GK

Essay Writing

XAT Selection Process:

XLRI and other institutes will release a list of shortlisted candidates based on XAT scores. The candidates will have to further crack the Group Discussion/ Essay Writing, and Personal Interview rounds.

XAT Application Deadline: November 2019

XAT Exam Date: January 2020

XAT Exam Fee: 1650/-

XAT Eligibility: candidates with any bachelor degree can apply. Final year students can also apply.

XAT Official Website: www.xatonline.net.in

3] Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP):
The SNAP test is conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University). SNAP is the gateway to 15 business schools under the university. SNAP is an online test with the time duration of 120 minutes (2 hours). You will earn 1 mark for each right answer for normal questions and 2 marks for answering every special question right. You will lose 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. The total number of questions you will need to attempt is 130. The total marks of SNAP exam 2019 a total of 150.

SNAP Exam Syllabus:

General English

Analytical and Logical Reasoning

Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency

General Awareness

SNAP Selection Process:

Based on the SNAP scores, a list of candidates will be shortlisted to appear in further rounds. There are a total of 3 rounds once you clear the entrance exam – group exercise (GE), personal interview (PI) and written aptitude test (WAT)

Application Deadline: November 2019

SNAP Exam Date: December 2019

SNAP Exam Fee: 1750/-

SNAP Eligibility: 50% in Graduation for General and 45% for Reserved. Final year students can also apply.

SNAP Official Website: https://www.snaptest.org

There you have it, all the information you need about the top three MBA entrance exams in India. Best of luck!