Key MBA Exams Overview

CAT Exam

• Held: Every year in November (last Sunday)
• Form Release: August
• Registration Fee:
  • General: ₹2300
  • Category: ₹1150
• Sections:
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20 questions
  • Quantitative Aptitude (Quant): 22 questions
• Total Questions: 66
• Time Allotment: 40 minutes per section, total 2 hours
• Scoring: +3 for correct, -1 for wrong, no penalty for unattempted
• Special Questions: TITA (Type In The Answer) with no negative marking
• Accepted by: All IIMs, FMS, and 1200+ B-Schools
• Eligibility: Min 50% in graduation (final year students can apply)

XAT Exam

• Held: Every year in January
• Form Release: August to December
• Registration Fee:
  • General: ₹2000 (₹200 extra per program)
• Sections:
  • Verbal and Logical Ability: 26 questions
  • Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation: 28 questions
  • Decision Making: 22 questions
  • General Knowledge: 25 questions
  • Essay Writing: 1 essay
• Total Questions: 102 (including essay)
• Time Allotment: 3 hours 30 minutes (no sectional limit)
• Scoring: +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, -0.1 for unattempted >8 questions
• Accepted by: XLRI and 160+ institutions
• Eligibility: No percentage criteria for graduation

NMAT

• Held: October to December (75-90 day window)
• Form Release: August to November (early closure possible)
• Registration Fee: ₹2800 (retest fee same)
• Sections:
  • Language Skills: 36 questions
  • Quantitative Skills: 36 questions
  • Logical Reasoning: 36 questions
• Total Questions: 108
• Time Allotment: Language: 28 mins, Quant: 52 mins, Logical: 40 mins, total 2 hours
• Scoring: No negative marking, adaptive test
• Accepted by: NMIMS and others
• Eligibility: Min 50% in graduation (final year students can apply)

SNAP

• Held: December (three dates)
• Form Release: August to November
• Registration Fee:
  • General: ₹1950
  • Category: ₹1000
• Sections:
  • General English: 15 questions
  • Analytical & Logical Reasoning: 25 questions
  • Quant, DI & DS: 20 questions
• Total Questions: 60
• Time Allotment: 60 minutes
• Scoring: +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong
• Accepted by: Symbiosis colleges (16 total)
• Eligibility: Min 50% in graduation (final year students can apply)

IIFT

• Held: December
• Form Release: September to November
• Registration Fee:
  • General: ₹2500
  • Category: ₹1250
• Sections:
  • Quantitative Analysis: 25 questions
  • Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation: 30 questions
  • Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability: 35 questions
  • General Awareness: 20 questions
• Total Questions: 110
• Time Allotment: 2 hours
• Scoring:
  • +3 for correct, -1 for wrong (first 3 sections)
  • +1.5 for correct, -0.5 for wrong (GA)
• Accepted by: IIFT campuses
• Eligibility: Min 50% in graduation (final year students can apply)

Resources and Coaching

• Studybuzz: Information on exam forms, guidance on form filling, coaching sessions starting 16th July. Demo classes available 16th-19th July.