MBA Entrance Exams After CAT 2026: XAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT and IBSAT Dates
After CAT 2026 on 29 November, the main MBA entrance exams still ahead are XAT 2027 (3 January 2027), SNAP 2026 (13, 19 and 26 December 2026), NMAT 2026 (window open until 20 December 2026), IBSAT 2026 (eight weekend dates in December) and MAT December 2026. Two registration deadlines come soon: SNAP closes on 25 November 2026 and XAT on 6 December 2026. CMAT 2027 had not been notified on the official NTA CMAT website as of 3 November 2026.
Every date below was checked on the conducting body’s official website on 3 November 2026. Where an older report disagreed with the official site, the official date is used and the conflict is noted.
MBA Exam Dates and Deadlines After CAT 2026
| Exam | Conducting body | Exam date(s) | Registration deadline | Key colleges | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAT 2027 | XLRI Jamshedpur | 3 January 2027, 2:00–5:00 pm | 6 December 2026 | XLRI and other institutes accepting XAT scores | xatonline.in |
| SNAP 2026 | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) | 13, 19 and 26 December 2026 (up to three attempts) | 25 November 2026 (registration and payment) | 17 Symbiosis institutes across 6 cities | snaptest.org |
| NMAT 2026 | GMAC | Exam window 2 November to 20 December 2026 | First registration closed 31 October 2026; retake registration 3 November to 17 December 2026 | NMIMS and other schools listed by GMAC | mba.com/exams/nmat |
| IBSAT 2026 | ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education | 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 December 2026 (remote proctored) | 1, 8, 15 or 22 December 2026, depending on test date | 9 IBS campuses | ibsat.org |
| MAT December 2026 | AIMA | PBT 20 December 2026; CBT 27 December 2026 | PBT 14 December; CBT 21 December 2026 | AIMA lists 600+ B-schools accepting MAT | mat.aima.in |
| CMAT 2027 | National Testing Agency | Not notified as of 3 November 2026 | Not notified | AICTE-approved institutes | cmat.nta.nic.in |
XAT 2027: Exam on 3 January, Registration Till 6 December
The official XAT website lists the exam on 3 January 2027 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Registration closes on 6 December 2026, and the admit card date is shown as 20 December 2026 (tentative). An early report on our site gave the exam as 4 January. That was superseded, and the official date is 3 January 2027, as covered in our XAT 2027 registration update.
The XAT 2027 paper has 95 questions in 180 minutes:
- Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning: 26 questions
- Decision Making: 21 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation: 28 questions
- General Knowledge: 20 questions
Each question carries 1 mark and a wrong answer costs 0.25. You can leave up to 8 questions unanswered without penalty, and each skip after that costs 0.1 marks. GK has no negative marking and does not count toward the percentile, but XLRI uses it for its own programmes. The GK change is covered in XAT 2027 GK reduced to 20 questions.
Decision Making is the section CAT does not test, so build in time for it. Many aspirants also find XAT quant harder than CAT, as discussed in how XAT compares with CAT.
SNAP 2026: Three Test Dates, Best Score Counts
The SNAP 2026 important-dates page lists registration and payment closing on 25 November 2026. The computer-based tests are on 13 December (Sunday), 19 December (Saturday) and 26 December 2026 (Saturday). Admit cards go live on 7, 11 and 18 December for the three tests respectively, and results are scheduled for 12 January 2027. Some reports have described 7, 11 and 18 December as test dates. Those are admit card dates, not test dates.
Each SNAP test lasts 60 minutes. You can take up to three tests, and SNAP uses your highest score with no normalisation. The fee is ₹2,550 per test plus ₹1,000 per programme, plus taxes. The SNAP 2026 score is valid for the 2027-28 academic session at the participating Symbiosis institutes. See also SNAP 2026 registration by 25 November.
NMAT 2026: Window Until 20 December, Retakes Open
On mba.com, GMAC lists NMAT 2026 registration and scheduling from 20 August to 31 October 2026, so first-time registration has closed. The exam delivery window runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026. Retake registration and scheduling are open from 3 November to 17 December 2026, and rescheduling is allowed until 17 December.
Candidates can take NMAT up to three times in a testing cycle, including the first attempt. GMAC’s support pages give different minimum gaps between attempts, so check the required gap in your candidate dashboard before booking a retake. Details are in our reports on NMAT 2026 retake registration and how NMAT differs from CAT.
IBSAT 2026: Eight Weekend Test Dates
The IBSAT 2026 test-dates notice on ibsat.org, dated 22 September 2026, lists eight remote-proctored online tests: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 December 2026. Each date has two slots, 11 am–1 pm and 3–5 pm. Application deadlines are staggered:
- Tests 1 and 2 (5–6 December): apply by 1 December 2026
- Tests 3 and 4 (12–13 December): apply by 8 December 2026
- Tests 5 and 6 (19–20 December): apply by 15 December 2026
- Tests 7 and 8 (26–27 December): apply by 22 December 2026
The overall application period on the website runs from 1 July to 22 December 2026. Results and scholarship allotment are announced on the Monday after each test weekend. The 1 December deadline in our IBSAT 2026 report applies to the first two test dates. IBS also announces scholarships based on CAT, NMAT, XAT and GMAT scores in January 2027.
MAT December 2026 and CMAT 2027 Status
AIMA’s MAT website lists two December 2026 options. The paper-based test is on 20 December (registration closes 14 December), and the computer-based test is on 27 December (registration closes 21 December). Results are expected by the first week of January 2027. See MAT December 2026 registration.
For CMAT, the official NTA site (cmat.nta.nic.in) still shows the CMAT 2026 score card as its latest notice, and no CMAT 2027 dates had been announced on 3 November 2026. We have not given an expected date, because none has been officially notified. Check the site regularly. The last cycle’s timeline is in our CMAT 2026 results report.
Which Exams to Add Based on Your CAT Mocks
Many aspirants ask whether to register for more exams when CAT mocks are uncertain. Use your last 5–6 mock results as a rough guide, not a prediction:
- Mocks consistently strong in all three sections. Add XAT, since it has a separate exam day and a large set of schools. Add SNAP or NMAT only if you would actually join a Symbiosis or NMIMS programme.
- Mocks uneven, with one section well below the others. Exams with different section weightage or no sectional cut-off may suit you better. NMAT allows retakes within its window, and SNAP counts your best of up to three attempts.
- Mocks stuck at mid-range percentiles. Add at least two exams with multiple attempts or wide college coverage, such as SNAP, NMAT, MAT or IBSAT. Look also at institutes that do not depend on CAT. Our list of best MBA colleges in India without CAT is a starting point.
- Fee budget is tight. Register only for exams whose colleges you have shortlisted. SNAP charges per test and per programme. NMAT charges for each retake.
Before you add an exam, check how its colleges compare with your target list. Our tier-1 MBA colleges in India guide shows which entrance tests the leading schools accept. If you are worried about IIM calls with your profile, read our analysis of IIM call chances for general male engineers with average academics.
How to Schedule NMAT and SNAP Around CAT and XAT
Map the Clashes First
- 13 December: SNAP test 1 and IBSAT test 4 fall on the same day.
- 19 December: SNAP test 2 and IBSAT test 5.
- 20 December: IBSAT test 6, MAT PBT and the last day of the NMAT window.
- 26 December: SNAP test 3 and IBSAT test 7.
- 27 December: IBSAT test 8 and MAT CBT.
IBSAT timings are 11 am–1 pm or 3–5 pm. SNAP timings are given only on the admit card, so do not book an IBSAT slot on a SNAP day until you know your SNAP timing.
A Workable Sequence
- Until 29 November: CAT only. Register for SNAP before 25 November and for XAT before 6 December so you do not miss either deadline, but do not prepare for them yet. Download your CAT admit card from 4 November (see our CAT 2026 admit card update). For the final weeks, follow the CAT 2026 last 25 days plan.
- 30 November to 12 December: Take one or two SNAP and NMAT practice tests to adjust to their shorter, speed-focused formats. If you are taking NMAT, book a date in early or mid-December so a retake is still possible before 20 December.
- 13 to 26 December: Take SNAP on two or three dates. Fit IBSAT or MAT on days that do not clash. Keep two or three XAT practice papers per week going, with a focus on Decision Making.
- 27 December to 2 January: XAT only. Revise Decision Making and quant, and take one full-length paper at the actual 2–5 pm timing.
Keep the Load Realistic
Taking five exams in four weeks can tire you out. If your CAT feels good, cut back to XAT and one other exam. If it does not, keep SNAP and NMAT, which allow multiple attempts and give you a second chance in the same month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XAT 2027 on 3 January or 4 January?
The official XAT website lists 3 January 2027, 2:00–5:00 pm. An earlier report mentioned 4 January, but the official schedule is 3 January 2027.
What is the last date to register for SNAP 2026?
Registration and payment for SNAP 2026 close on 25 November 2026, according to snaptest.org. The tests are on 13, 19 and 26 December 2026.
Can I still register for NMAT 2026 after CAT?
First-time registration closed on 31 October 2026, according to mba.com. Candidates who have already taken NMAT can register for a retake between 3 November and 17 December 2026, with the exam window ending on 20 December.
Has CMAT 2027 been announced?
Not as of 3 November 2026. The official NTA CMAT website still showed the CMAT 2026 score card as its latest notice. Check cmat.nta.nic.in for the CMAT 2027 information bulletin.
What is the IBSAT 2026 last date?
It depends on the test date. You must apply by 1 December for the 5–6 December tests, 8 December for 12–13 December, 15 December for 19–20 December, and 22 December for 26–27 December 2026.
