Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is grappling with a lot of changes in every aspect of life. The corona virus pandemic has affected every field, especially the academic sessions and exam calendar. Keeping in mind the safety of students and COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, strict social distancing guidelines and countrywide lockdown has been implemented. The exam authorities have decided to postpone almost all MBA entrance exams. Some of the top MBA entrance exams have made several changes in the exam pattern and assessing mode.
While ATMA and MAT had conducted their exam through the Internet-Based Test (IBT) mode, the most popular CAT exam was held in three slots. NMAT and KMAT have also entered into the IBT mode. Besides these changes, most of the entrance exams which were scheduled to be conducted in the months during June or July have been extended due to the pandemic and strict social distancing.
Read here : Entrance exam that is best for MBA/PGDM in India
Current Status of Top MBA Entrance Exams:
The table below will give you a brief idea about the status of some top MBA entrance exams in India along with the revised schedule.
Exam name | Date | Status |
---|---|---|
CAT | 2nd week of January 2021 | The CAT 2020 result will be announced in January 2021. |
XAT | 03-Jan-2020 | The exam will be conducted at various test centers |
IIFT | 30-Dec-2020 | The registrations last date has been extended for 10 days from 20thDecember 2020 |
ATMA | 07-Feb-2020 | Candidates can pay the application fee in online mode |
KMAT (IBT mode) | 13-Nov-2020 | KMAT results 2020 for the IBT mode exam have been announced online |
KMAT (PBT mode) | Releasing soon | KMAT results are likely to be announced anytime soon |
IBSAT | 1st week of January 2021 | The results of the online exam will be announced soon |
MAT (IBT mode) | 24-Dec-2020 | The last IBT mode exam for 2020 was conducted on 24th December |
MAT (PBT mode) | 06-Dec-2020 | The exam was conducted in paper-based test mode in various cities |
MAT (CBT mode) | 28-Dec-2020 | The exam was conducted in CBT mode at various centers |
SNAP | 06-Jan-2020 | The 2nd attempt of SNAP will be conducted across the country |
TSICET | 29-Dec-2020 | The counseling process is underway and will end today |
NMAT | 30-Jan-2021 | Candidates can take the exam online |
TISSNET | 15-Jan-2021 | Registrations have been postponed from November 20 and will end on this date |
Karnataka PGCET | 06-Dec-2020 | The final answer key and results have been declared online |
Changes in CAT Exam:
- As per the revised pattern of the CAT exam, the test duration has been reduced from 180 minutes to 120 minutes. Each section of the CAT exam has a time limit of 40 minutes.
- There are three slots at the exam center where the CAT exam was conducted. The examination center was in 156 cities to ensure the safety of test-takers.
- The exam timing:
- Slot 1- 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM
- slot 2 - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- slot 3 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
- Last year the test city selection option limit was four but this year candidates can select up to six cities for their preferred CAT test center. The limit was increased to allow the candidates to have more options and for which the gathering of students in a single-center will be less.
- In the CAT correction process, the candidate can change the preferred test city.
- The number of questions in the CAT examination has been reduced to 76 from 100.
Changes in SNAP Exam:
- Symbiosis International University completely changed the SNAP exam pattern this year as it was conducted for only one hour.
- There are a total of 60 questions in the SNAP exam and Special Questions that means the non- MCQ type subjective questions have been scrapped totally.
- Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency has 20 questions, General English section has 15 questions, and Quantitative, Analytical & Logical Reasoning has 25 questions.
- This year the SNAP 2020 exam has been conducted thrice. The first exam was conducted on 20th December 2020, the second exam will be conducted on 6th January 2021 and the third one is going to be conducted on 9th January 2021.
- Candidates can attempt the exam maximum twice and the best score among the two attempts will be considered for admission.
Changes in NMAT Exam:
- The conducting authority of NMAT announced some changes in the exam pattern. Among all the changes the major change was the total number of questions and the sectional-time limit was revised for NMAT 2020.
- The last date to take NMAT 2020 is 30th January 2021.
- According to the new pattern, each section of the exam paper will have a total of 36 questions.
- The time limit for the Language Skills section has been increased from 22 minutes to 28 minutes. In the Logical Reasoning section, the sectional time limit has been increased from 38 minutes to 40 minutes and for the Quantitative Skills section, the time limit has been reduced from 60 to 52 minutes.
- As we know the result window of NMAT was 15 days but it has changed now. Candidates can get their result within 48 hours of each attempt in NMAT 2020 which will help them make a quick decision on another attempt.
Changes in MAT:
- All India Management Association (AIMA) introduced the PBT mode exam in May and since then, it is conducting MAT in IBT mode in multiple slots in multiple test-day windows.
- MAT PBT has been reintroduced in September but the conduction of the exam will depend upon the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
- No change has been introduced in the marking scheme or exam pattern of the MAT 2020 exam.
Changes in ATMA:
- The conducting body of ATMA 2020, the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), has decided to organizethe ATMA exam in online-proctored mode with the help of human proctoring and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Changes in CMAT:
- CMAT 2021 is going to be held on 22nd February 2021 and 27th February 2021.
- Each examination center will have two shifts on both days to avoid gathering and to maintain social distancing among students.
- The exam timing:
- First slot - 9 AM to 12 PM
- Second slot - 3 PM to 6 PM.
- There is a hike in the examination fees of CMAT as it has been increased to Rs 2000 which was Rs 1500 previously. For Women and Reserved category students, the CMAT application fee isRs 1,000.
Changes in KMAT:
- The conducting body of KMAT, Karnataka Private Post Graduate College Association (KPPGCA) will conduct the examination in online-proctored mode.