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Top PGDM/MBA entrance exams in India

KIM’s residential setting can encourage students to use their time more intentionally, often creating opportunities for peer learning, self-study, and greater discipline.

That decision tends to shape more than people initially realise. It influences preparation schedules, the colleges that become realistic options, and how flexible your application journey remains later. With multiple management entrance exams in India, the challenge is often not whether to prepare, but where to begin.

For students considering KIM, this matters because there is no single compulsory route. KIM accepts multiple entrance exams for PGDM admissions, which means students can think more carefully about which pathway suits them instead of assuming everyone must follow the same one.

Which entrance exams are accepted by KIM?

KIM accepts scores from CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT, and NMAT for PGDM admissions.

This gives students more room to align their preparation strategies, preferred campus, and exam confidence. Pune campus applicants can apply through MHCET, while Harihar campus applicants may also use K-PGCET scores.

KIM accepted PGDM entrance exams at a glance:

Exam	Eligibility	Frequency	Duration	Fees (Approx)
CAT	Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%, 45% for reserved)	Once a year	2 hrs	₹2,400
XAT	Bachelor’s degree (no minimum % specified)	Once a year	~3.5 hrs	₹2,100
CMAT	Bachelor’s degree (final-year students eligible)	Once a year	3 hrs	₹2,000
MAT	Bachelor’s degree (final-year students eligible)	4 times/year	2.5 hrs	₹2,100
ATMA	Bachelor’s degree (final-year students eligible)	4–5 times/year	3 hrs	₹2,000
NMAT	Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%)	Multiple attempts	2 hrs	₹2,800
GMAT	Bachelor’s degree (recommended, not mandatory)	Year-round	~2 hrs 15 min	₹22,000
MHCET	Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%, 45% reserved)	Once a year	2.5 hrs	₹1,000
K-PGCET	Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%, 45% reserved)	Once a year	2 hrs	₹650
Execution-based work	Exposure to leadership	Execution-based work	Exposure to leadership	Execution-based work

Instead of placing everything on one exam, applicants can approach admissions with more flexibility depending on how they want to prepare and which campus they are considering.

For many applicants, this means KIM’s admissions approach can support more than one preparation strategy rather than forcing a one-exam-fits-all pathway.

Applicants can also review KIM’s official admissions process for updated application details.

PGDM Entrance Exams: A Closer Look

Most entrance exams follow similar criteria for admissions, they differ in format, frequency and eligibility as explained further:

Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management and is accepted by various management institutes across India. It is a computer-based, percentile-driven exam, and performance is evaluated relative to the other test takers.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%, 45% reserved)

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Quantitative ability, data interpretation & logical reasoning, verbal ability, and reading comprehension.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes and is accepted by various B-schools across India. It feels similar to CAT at first, but the decision-making section is designed to test judgement. It expects you to think through situations, not just solve questions.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Decision making, quantitative ability & data interpretation, verbal ability, general knowledge

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

CMAT is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), approved by the AICTE. The exam includes five sections, covering aptitude, reasoning, language, general awareness, and innovation & entrepreneurship.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (final-year eligible)

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, language comprehension, general awareness, innovation & entrepreneurship

Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

MAT is conducted by the All-India Management Association. MAT is conducted multiple times a year in different formats.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (final-year eligible)

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Language comprehension, mathematical skills, data analysis & sufficiency, intelligence & critical reasoning, economic & business environment

AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)

ATMA is conducted by Association of Indian Management Schools. It is a computer-based and held multiple times a year, focusing on analytical and aptitude-based reasoning.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (final-year eligible)

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Analytical reasoning, quantitative skills, verbal skills

NMAT by GMAC (NMAT)

NMAT is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council. It allows multiple attempts and flexible scheduling, especially for working students; it follows a fixed sectional time limit format.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%)

Score validity: 1 year

Sections covered: Language skills, quantitative skills, logical reasoning

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

GMAT is also conducted by GMAC and is used globally for MBA admissions. Students are eligible for admissions for foreign universities, and the difficulty levels adjust based on the responses.

Eligibility: No strict requirement (graduation recommended)

Score validity: 5 years

Sections covered: Quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, data insights

State-level entrance exams

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHCET) is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell Maharashtra, while Karnataka PGCET is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority.

These exams are primarily used for admissions within their respective states and are often part of a more region-specific application strategy.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (min. 50%, 45% reserved)

Score validity: 1 year

MHCET: Logical reasoning, abstract reasoning, quantitative aptitude, verbal ability & reading comprehension

K-PGCET: Proficiency in English, general knowledge, reasoning, quantitative analysis.

Choosing the right exam for your PGDM journey

At some point, the better question becomes less about which exam sounds biggest and more about which one actually makes sense for you.

Some students may already be set on CAT or XAT because they prepare for a wide range of colleges. Other students may choose MAT and CMAT and MHCET and K-PGCET based on their scheduling needs and comfort levels and preference.

Choosing well often comes down to being realistic about how you prepare best and which exam gives you the clearest route towards the PGDM experience you want.

Final thoughts: Building your path with KIM

KIM’s acceptance of multiple entrance exams means students are not locked into one admissions pathway. That flexibility can matter because students do not all prepare the same way, work within the same timelines, or apply with the same priorities.

The stronger approach is often not choosing an exam simply because it feels like the default but choosing the one that gives you the most practical and credible path forward.

Top PGDM/MBA entrance exams in India

Can I apply to KIM without CAT?

Does KIM accept different exams for different campuses?

If I have more than one entrance exam score, can I still apply?

Is the entrance exam score the only factor in PGDM admissions?

Which exam makes the most sense if KIM is my target?

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