Pursuing master’s degree is a dream of many students and working professionals. Working professionals who are stuck in mid-level careers pursue MBA to work in high-level positions. An MBA degree is beneficial for students who study engineering or do honors in any subject. It is good for working professionals who want to break the mid level employment shackles and become entrepreneurs or work in managerial posts.

Preparing for MBA entrance examination is not any child’s game. One needs hardwork and cent percent focus to get admission in a good b-school. Top b-schools consider scores of different mba entrance examinations and allow students study management courses. Let’s know some of the high rated mba entrance examinations:

1. CAT – Common Admission Test

To study in prestigious IIMs or in government college like National Institute of Industrial Engineering, one has to qualify CAT. Students belonging to general category who secure at least 50 percent marks in graduation are eligible to take CAT. Reserved category students need minimum 45 percent marks. CAT is the most common MBA entrance examination given by students. There are three sections in CAT question paper – Quantitative, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.  CAT is conducted on the last week of November or first week of December. For general category, the registration fee is INR 1800 and for reserved category students it is INR 900. Keep in mind – three marks for each correct answer and 1 negative mark for every wrong answer.

2. XAT – Xavier Aptitude Test

After CAT comes XAT. XAT is another tough entrance test and can be given by students from any branch. Final year students are also eligible to give XAT and study in XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR and IMT. Unlike CAT, XAT has two rounds and is conducted on a duration of three and a half hours. The first half of examination is conducted for two and a half hours which consists sections – Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and Logical Reasoning and Decision Making. The second half of examination is conducted for one hour in which students’ General Knowledge and Essay Writing skills are tested. The exam is generally conducted on first week of January. The fee for registration is INR 1650. A unique marking negative marking scheme in XAT – at most you can leave 8 questions unanswered and if count goes beyond 8, for every unanswered question 0.05 marks get deducted. For every wrong answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted.

3. GMAT – Graduate Management Aptitude Test

Good thing is - there is no age limit to give GMAT. GMAT paper is divided in 4 sections. To solve first two sections – Analytical Writing Assessment (one essay) and Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Reasoning you get 120 minutes. The registration fee for GMAT is INR 17000. Top colleges that consider GMAT score are Indian Business School and Institute of Management Technology. IIMs consider GMAT score for one year MBA program known as PGPEx (Post Graduate Programs for Executives).

4. CMAT – Common Management Admission Test

General category Students who score 50 percent in graduation are eligible to take CMAT. Reserved category students require minimum 45 percent to take GMAT. The examination is conducted by AICTE board on a duration of 3 hours. There are 100 multiple choice questions, 25 each from Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and General Awareness. There is no negative marking in CMAT, students are awarded four marks for every correct answer. The registration fee is INR 1400 for general students and INR 700 for female and reserved category students. Top institutes that consider CMAT score are Institute of Management Technology, IFIM Business School, BIMM Pune, Prestige Institute of Management and Research, SCMS Cochin and ISME.

5. MAT – Management Aptitude Test

Conducted by All India Management Association, MAT gives students the opportunity to take MAT online and offline. There are 40 questions each from 5 sections – Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment. Each section is allotted 30 minutes and for every wrong answer one-fourth mark is deducted. The registration fee for MAT is INR 1400. Some of the renowned colleges where students get a chance to study after qualifying MAT are T.A. Pai Management Institute, Department of Management Studies – IIM Madras, NIT Warangal and Institute of Public Enterprise.

Giving up is easy without a try, but pursuing study with sheer determination will help you to qualify successfully in any of these examinations. May luck be in your side.