To clarify, Master of Business Administration It is a management degree recognised by the University Grants Commission, whereas PGDM is a diploma in management offered by autonomous institutions and business schools. That said, in recent years, especially after the IIM Act 2017, many of the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) that historically offered PGDM are now awarding MBA degrees to blur the distinctions between the two and bring about a sense of uniformity in terms of accreditation and recognition.
However, whether you want to pursue an MBA or a PGDM, it is necessary to know crucial details about these competitive exams, including the eligibility criteria and the kind of opportunities they can offer, in order to make an informed decision. Here are the top 6 business management entrance exams that you can take to access new avenues of growth:
CAT
A national-level exam that is very popular among MBA aspirants is the Common Admission Test (CAT). Conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), it allows individuals to gain admission to numerous postgraduate degree programmes (PGP) in management.
This computer-based test is divided into three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). The duration of the exam is 180 minutes. Candidates are given a penalty of 1 mark for each wrong answer. Only those who have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent GPA are eligible to take this exam. However, SC, ST and PWD candidates need a total of 45%.
LETTER
Another national level computer-based exam is the XAT or Xavier’s Aptitude Test, designed to test a candidate’s readiness for business and management courses. Conducted by XLRI (Xavier Labour Relation Institute) Jamshedpur, the XAT score is considered by over 250 institutes across India. The exam is divided into three parts; the first part includes quantitative ability and data interpretation, verbal ability and logical reasoning, and decision making, the second part has a keyboard-based mock test, and the third part includes general knowledge and essay writing. The total duration is 210 minutes. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Students must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline to apply for this exam.CMAT
The Common Management Test or CMAT is a three-hour management test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This exam has four compulsory sections covering the areas of quantitative ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general knowledge, and an optional section on entrepreneurship. Considered moderately difficult, this exam also requires having a bachelor’s degree in any discipline to meet the eligibility criteria. BREAK
Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP is a computer-based test conducted by Symbiosis International University. It is designed to assess the applicant’s suitability for admission into various MBA and PGDM programs offered by around 17 universities under the administration of Symbiosis. It is a one-hour examination that can be taken thrice a year and covers General English, Analytical and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency.
NMAT
NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test) is a national level exam for gaining admission into MBA and PGDM programmes offered by NMIMS and other reputed business institutes in India and abroad. Conducted by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council), this two-hour long exam has three sections – Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. It allows candidates three attempts in a year. Also, the best score out of all the attempts is considered for admission. And there is no negative marking.
GMAT
The Graduate Management Aptitude Test or GMAT is a globally recognized test that assesses an individual’s skills and potential for business management programs, focusing on areas such as quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing. Like the NMAT, it is also administered by GMAC and is 3 hours and 7 minutes long. Once passed, candidates can apply to over 7000 programs at over 2300 business schools worldwide. Moreover, the scores are valid for five years, giving immense flexibility to candidates to build their career paths strategically. Candidates can take it 5 attempts in a year.
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