Hey, that's a fantastic question—and you're far from being alone in thinking this way. Many newbie MBA candidates are confused between the "CAT vs others" option, so let me share it with you as I would with a friend who's just beginning their prep.

To begin with, CAT is clearly India's largest and most popular MBA entrance exam. It gets you into the IIMs and a few of the top non-IIM B-schools such as FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMT, etc. Of course, it warrants a significant amount of your attention, particularly since it's one of the most challenging exams in terms of both competition and format. But this is where it gets weird—giving all your eggs to the CAT basket is not necessarily the best strategy unless you're absolutely certain that you'll crack it in the 99+ percentile range.

Now, let's discuss the other exams you've mentioned—XAT, NMAT, SNAP—and why they should be taken seriously:

XAT: It is perhaps the second most crucial MBA entrance exam after CAT, particularly since XLRI is a premier B-school at par with some of the older IIMs. What is intriguing about XAT is that it has a slightly different format—decision-making segment, essay (occasionally), and GK. If your CAT preparation is good, you only need to make slight adjustments for XAT. Also, it provides access to institutions like XLRI, XIMB, IMT, etc.

NMAT: This one stands out due to its adaptive nature and flexibility. You get to choose the exam date, take it up to 3 times, and the level is moderate. It's accepted by NMIMS and some international universities as well. If you're the person who tends to freeze up on "exam day," NMAT provides that psychological buffer.

SNAP: Another good choice if you're considering Symbiosis colleges such as SIBM Pune or SCMHRD. SNAP is time-based—simple to moderate level of difficulty but shorter time per question. If you're a person with good accuracy and quick decision-making, you can actually excel here.

So what's the intelligent thing to do?

When you're beginning, sure—go for it with CAT preparation. It provides you with a good platform for all the other tests since all of them test the same sections: Quant, Verbal, Reasoning, DI. After your basics are established (let's say, September), you can begin to modify your prep according to the format and level of each of the other tests. This approach, you're not spreading yourself too thin at the beginning, but you're not pinning all your hopes on a single exam either.

And from a strictly risk-reward standpoint, taking several exams is a good idea. Think of it: MBA admissions are tough and unpredictable. Even if you're qualified, things can go awry during the exam—nerves, sickness, poor time management, etc. Why load up all the pressure on a single piece of paper?

And besides, more calls equal more interview practice, and that alone increases your chances. I have friends who landed into fantastic B-schools not via CAT, but simply because they had the vision to throw the net wider.

If you're concerned about the expense of applying multiple times—yeah, that's reasonable—but look at it as an investment. In comparison to what you're going to put into an MBA, the fees to take the exam are c*ump change.

In short: Prioritize CAT for the time being to establish your groundwork, but 100% enroll and prepare for a minimum of XAT and another one or two exams (such as NMAT or SNAP) towards the later part of the year. It's merely good strategy. You will appreciate yourself later.

Hope that helps—and good luck with your prep!

It totally depends on your goals. If you are targeting only IIMs or top 5 B-schools, then CAT makes sense as a primary exam but if you are open to other great institutes, then you should definitely take XAT, SNAP and NMAT too.

Hey, I would say go for multiple exams unless you're 100% sure that only IIMs matter to you. CAT is obviously more popular but XLRI via XAT, NMIMS via NMAT, Symbiosis via SNAP are also really good.