PGDM is one of the most preferred management programs as it is more relevant to emerging business practices and industry trends. The general eligibility criteria for most institutes may vary but most colleges require a candidate to have completed a bachelor’s degree with atleast 45% marks. The PGDM admissions criteria for most institutes also include entrance exam scores.
Let’s look at a few entrance exams that you must appear to ace the PGDM Admissions.
PGDM CAT Entrance Exam 2023:
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMA). It is a national-level exam and is accepted by most top management colleges across India for PGDM admissions. The primary purpose of the Common Admission Test is to provide a merit list of candidates to all CAT-accepting institutes in India. These institutes release a cut-off list based on the scores and invite candidates to apply for PGDM admissions.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the CAT exam.
Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)Quantitative Ability (QA)Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 192-228 | +3 for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect answer | 180 minutes |
PGDM MAT Entrance Exam 2023
The MAT exam is short for Management Aptitude Test conducted by the All India Management Association and is considered by over 600+ B schools in India for PGDM Admissions. The exam is conducted four times a year – February, May, September, and December. Candidates can choose the month in which they wish to appear for the exam and apply to MAT accepting colleges.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university
- There are no age criteria for the MAT exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the MAT exam
Official Website: https://mat.aima.in/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test, Paper-Based Test, Internet-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Language ComprehensionMathematical skillsData Analysis and SufficiencyIntelligence and Critical ReasoningIndian and Global Environment | Maximum of 800 | +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer | 2 hours and 30 minutes |
PGDM ATMA Entrance Test 2023
The AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA) conducted by the Association of Management Schools (AIMS) is a national-level exam accepted by more than 750 B Schools across India for PGDM Admissions. The registration for ATMA 2023 started on 26th Dec 22 and will close on 18th Feb 2023. The exam is scheduled to take place on 25th Feb 2023
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the ATMA exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the ATMA exam
Official Website: https://atmaaims.com/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Verbal AbilityReading ComprehensionAnalytical ReasoningLogical ReasoningQuantitative AbilityData Interpretation | Maximum of 180 | +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer | 3 hours |
PGDM CMAT Entrance Exam:
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA) of the Indian government. The test offers admissions to both top private and government management colleges. The next CMAT exam is expected to be held in March 23.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the CMAT exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the CMAT exam provided the results will be declared before the commencement of the academic year
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen
Official Website: https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Duration: 180 minutes
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Language SkillsQuantitative SkillsLogical Reasoning | Maximum of 400 | .+4 for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect answer | 180 minutes |
PGDM MAH CET Entrance Test
The Maharastra Common Entrance Test or more commonly known as MBA CET is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell of the Maharastra State Government for admissions into various B Schools in Maharashtra. The MBA CET 2023 exam is scheduled to take place on March 18 & 19.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the CET exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the CET exam
Official Website: https://cetcell.mahacet.org/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Quantitative AptitudeLogical ReasoningVerbal Ability/Reading ComprehensionAbstract Reasoning | Maximum of 200 | +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer | 150 minutes |
PGDM SNAP Entrance Test 2023:
The Symbiosis International University (SIU) conducts a national-level entrance exam for admission to 24 MBA/PGDM courses offered by its 16 institutes. The exam is called SNAP which stands for Symbiosis National Aptitude Test. The registration process for SNAP 2023 is expected to begin in August 2023.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the SNAP exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the ATMA exam
Official Website: https://www.snaptest.org/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| General EnglishQuantitative AptitudeData Interpretation & SufficiencyAnalytical & Logical Reasoning | Maximum of 150 | +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each incorrect answer | 2 hours |
PGDM NMAT Entrance Exam:
NMAT also known as the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test is conducted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council for admissions to 74 leading B Schools in Inda. A few include NMIMS Mumbai, KJ Somaiya Institue of Management, SRM University, SPJIMR Mumbai, VIT university, etc.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university with an aggregate score of atleast 50% (45% for reserved category)
- There are no age criteria for the NMAT exam
- Students in their final year can also apply for the NMAT exam
- Students can only appear for NMAT only 3 times
Official Website: https://register.nmat.org/
Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
Syllabus:
| Sections | Total Marks | Marking Scheme | Exam Duration |
| Language SkillsQuantitative SkillsLogical Reasoning | 360 marks | 3 marks for the correct answer,-1 for incorrect answer | 120 minutes |
The unique selection process at Vivekanand Business School includes evaluation of the applicant’s academic performance, written test, group discussion, and personal interview. Below is the list of entrance exams and the cut-offs (in percentile) for the respective exams considered by us in the selection process.
| Name of Entrance Exams | Cut–off (in percentile) |
| CAT | 75 |
| XAT | 70 |
| CMAT | 75 |
| MAT | 85 |
| ATMA | 85 |
| MHCET | 85 |