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CAT
CAT (Common Admission Test)
- Total questions
- 66 questions
- Duration
- 120 minutes duration
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MBA Entrance — Free Mock Tests & Syllabus 2026
Entrance tests for postgraduate management programmes at IIMs, XLRI, SPJIMR, NMIMS and other leading B-schools.
5 examsConducted under MBA
About MBA exams
CAT is the flagship MBA entrance in India, accepted by the 21 IIMs and hundreds of other B-schools. Alternative exams — XAT (XLRI and associates), SNAP (Symbiosis), NMAT (NMIMS) and CMAT (AICTE) — cater to specific B-school clusters. All tests assess a mix of Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, with some adding General Knowledge and Decision Making.
At a glance
Conducting body
MBA
Total exams
5
Typical duration
60–210 min
Questions
60–108
Languages
English
Exams in this category
Pick an exam to view syllabus, pattern and mock tests
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XAT
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
- Total questions
- 100 questions
- Duration
- 210 minutes duration
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SNAP
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
- Total questions
- 60 questions
- Duration
- 60 minutes duration
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NMAT
NMAT by GMAC
- Total questions
- 108 questions
- Duration
- 120 minutes duration
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CMAT
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
- Total questions
- 100 questions
- Duration
- 180 minutes duration
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Official Resources
Visit MBA official websiteHow to prepare for MBA
- 1
Solve 1 CAT-level Reading Comprehension passage daily — RC alone accounts for 16 of the 24 VARC questions, making it the single most scorable area.
- 2
For DILR, master data-sufficiency, logical arrangements and games; CAT DILR sets are 3-4 years old in style, so 2018-onwards papers are the best practice material.
- 3
For Quant, skip advanced Calculus; focus on Arithmetic (30% of quant), Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems and Modern Math (P&C, Probability).
- 4
Take a full 2-hour sectional mock every alternate day in the last 6 weeks — CAT's 40-minute sectional limit is the biggest pacing challenge.
- 5
Keep a separate attempt strategy for each section — e.g., in VARC attempt all 4 RC passages first, leave Para-jumbles for last.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for CAT?
There is no age limit for CAT. However, individual IIMs and B-schools may have their own criteria around work experience or minimum graduation percentage during the interview stage.
How many attempts are allowed for CAT?
Unlimited. You can appear for CAT as many times as you wish. Most aspirants take 1-3 attempts in the years immediately after graduation.
What is the difference between CAT and XAT?
CAT is accepted by the IIMs and 1000+ other B-schools; XAT is XLRI's own exam, also accepted by about 160 B-schools. XAT has an additional Decision Making section and a General Knowledge section not present in CAT.
Is there negative marking in CAT?
Yes for MCQs — 1 mark deducted per wrong answer against 3 marks for each correct answer. Non-MCQ (TITA / type-in-the-answer) questions carry no negative marking.
Do I need work experience for an IIM?
Not for admission — freshers can and do join the IIMs. However, work experience carries weightage in the final composite score at several IIMs, typically 3-5 marks on a 100-mark scale, with diminishing returns beyond 36 months.