Many aspiring MBA students often wonder about an important question: Is the CAT exam compulsory for MBA? The simple answer is NO! Taking the CAT exam is not mandatory for enrolling in MBA programmes in India or abroad. However, it is important to note that the CAT is the most widely accepted and recognised entrance exam for MBA programs in India. You can certainly look at other alternatives to CAT like MAT, XAT, SNAP, or other entrance exams. That said, since the IIMs hold a coveted position, being considered the best for an MBA education within the country, it is given a good weightage.
Also Read: 100 Percentile in CAT 2025 Means How Many Attempts?
Is CAT Compulsory for Pursuing an MBA in 2025?
As mentioned above, all MBA programmes in India do not require CAT scores. CAT is one of the most widely used entrance exams in India and is accepted by the majority of elite business schools, including IIMs. However, passing the CAT exam does not guarantee admission to an MBA programme.
A few other entrance exams for business school admission are the XAT, SNAP, GMAT, GRE, etc. It is important to note that some universities offer direct undergraduate to graduate admission based on your undergraduate performance; in these situations, an entrance exam is not required. You must also have obtained a Bachelor's degree with 50% aggregate marks (for General category) and 45% aggregate marks (for SC, ST, and PwD category) to seek MBA admission to these institutes.
MBA Colleges with CAT Score Requirement
CAT scores are mandatory for seeking admission to some of the top management institutes in India, including both Government and Private colleges.Government Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
Name of College | Course Fees | Course Offered |
|---|---|---|
|
| |
INR 24,50,000 |
| |
INR 22,50,000 |
| |
INR 31,00,000 |
| |
INR 11,00,000 | MBA | |
INR 19,25,000 |
| |
INR 14,00,000 |
| |
|
| |
INR 8,30,000 | MBA/PGDM | |
INR 15,92,960 |
| |
| INR 19,22,000 |
| |
| INE 10,00,000 |
| |
| INR 10,08,000 |
| |
| INR 10,00,000 - INR 13,70,000 |
| |
| INR 4,45,000 |
| |
| INR 17,30,000 - INR 20,00,000 |
| |
| INR 14,50,000 |
| |
| INR 7,64,000 | MBA in Operations, Systems, Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing Management and Service Management | |
| INR 18,90,000 |
| |
| INR 53,150 |
|
Private Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
Name of the Institute | CAT 2025 Cutoff Percentile (Expected) | Course Fees (in INR) | Other Entrance Exams Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
94.93 | 13,41,000 - 24,16,800 | GMAT, XAT | |
85 | 23,50,000 | GMAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, NMAT | |
80 | 21,25,000 | XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT | |
85-95 | 18,31,000 | XAT, CMAT, NMAT, MAT, GMAT | |
87 - 90 | 7,62,000 - 20,04,000 | CAT, XAT, GMAT | |
80 | 21,00,000 | XAT, GMAT, MAT, MICAT | |
90 | 17,35,000 - 31,40,000 | CAT, XAT | |
85 | 16,50,000 | XAT, IPMAT, JIPMAT, NMAT, CMAT, CLAT, MET | |
83 | 19,95,000 | XAT, GMAT, CMAT, NMAT | |
72.5 | 11,00,000 - 13,00,000 | XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT |
MBA Colleges without CAT Score Requirement
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Here is a list of institutions where you can apply without taking the CAT exam:
MBA Colleges/ Institutes | Exam Scores Accepted |
|---|---|
| SNAP Exam | |
| XAT Exam | |
| XAT/ XGMT Exam | |
GMAT | |
XAT/GMAT/MAT/CAT/NMAT | |
GMAT | |
MAH-CET/MAT/GMAT | |
XAT and CAT | |
| NMAT exam | |
XAT/GMAT/CAT | |
TISSNET | |
XAT/CAT/GMAT | |
BITSAT/GMAT/CAT | |
KMAT | |
MAH-CET/ATMA/MAT | |
JMI Entrance Test | |
IRMASAT/XAT/CAT | |
TANCET | |
Loyola Institute of Business Administration | XAT/CAT |
MAT/KIITEE MANAGEMENT | |
CMAT Exam /CAT/XAT/GMAT | |
| University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun | UPES MET Exam |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar | KIITEE Exam / MAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ GMAT/ ATMA Exam Score |
Check the links below to learn more about MBA admissions and CAT 2025!
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FAQs
No, the CAT exam is not compulsory for MBA admissions in India. Though it happens to be one of the most popular and widely accepted entrance exams, there are still quite a number of alternatives. Some of the popular MBA entrance exams apart from the CAT in India are XAT, GMAT, GRE, IIFT and more.
India offers a variety of entrance exams for MBA aspirants aside from the popular CAT. These include:
- XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
- SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
- NMAT (National Management Aptitude Test)
- CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
- MAT (Management Aptitude Test), etc.
Yes, a few business schools in India do not require entrance exams for admission into MBA programs. They tend to use other credentials to qualify you, such as work experience, academic record while completing your undergraduate studies, personal essays, and interviews.
No, not all IIMs require the CAT. While the majority of IIMs only accept CAT scores, some also accept results from other national entrance tests, such as the XAT or GMAT. It's crucial to review the particular prerequisites of the IIM that interests you.
Yes, CAT exam plays a very important role in the MBA admission process in India. CAT is one of the leading entrance exams accepted by most of the top-tier B-schools in the country. A good score in CAT undoubtedly increases the chances of getting selected by colleges like IIMs, XLRI, FMS, etc.
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