CAT (Common Admission Test)

• Difficulty: Highest

• The gold standard for top B-schools. It's a two-hour test with three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The DILR section is often considered the toughest.

• Top Colleges: All IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

• Difficulty: High

• It's known for its unique Decision Making section, which assesses how you handle business and ethical dilemmas. The test also has a General Knowledge and an Essay section, making it different from other exams.

• Top Colleges: XLRI Jamshedpur, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, TAPMI.

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)

• Difficulty: Moderate

• A speed-based test that is only one hour long. It has a manageable difficulty level but requires you to be very quick and accurate. You can take the test up to three times.

• Top Colleges: SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune.

NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test)

• Difficulty: Moderate

• The exam is flexible, allowing you to choose the order of the three sections (Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning). It has no negative marking, and you can take it up to three times to improve your score.

• Top Colleges: NMIMS, K.J. Somaiya, SPJIMR (for specific programs).

MICAT (MICA Admission Test)

• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

• A specialized exam for students interested in strategic marketing and communication. Its difficulty comes from sections that test your creativity and personality, not just aptitude. You must also have a valid CAT, XAT, or GMAT score to be eligible.

• Top Colleges: MICA, Ahmedabad.

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

• It's a3 hrs. test with five sections, including General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. It's a straightforward test that checks your basic knowledge across multiple topics.

• Top Colleges: Great Lakes Institute of Management, K.J. Somaiya, GIM Goa.

MAH MBA CET (Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test)

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

• This is a state-level, speed-based test for colleges in Maharashtra. It has a high volume of questions (200 questions in 150 minutes), and the main challenge is time management. It has no negative marking.

• Top Colleges: Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Sydenham Institute of Management Studies (SIMSREE), Welingkar Institute of Management.