NMAT/SNAP: Compare cutoffs for top MBA colleges by 21 October 2026

MBA aspirants in India considering entrance exams for top B-schools are evaluating the NMAT by GMAC and the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) ahead of upcoming exam windows. Both computer-based tests offer pathways to reputed private institutes, but they differ significantly in their structure, difficulty, scoring patterns, and institutional acceptance.

The NMAT by GMAC is accepted by over 50 institutions, including more than 20 top B-Schools in India, and also by institutions in South Africa and the Philippines. In contrast, the SNAP exam serves as the primary entry point for campuses of Symbiosis International University (SIU), with successful qualifiers eligible for admission into 23 MBA programs across 15 affiliated institutions, competing for 2,257 seats. Approximately 50,000 candidates appear for SNAP annually, while NMAT attracted over 88,000 applicants in 2017, witnessing a 7% increase in registration last year.

Exam Structure and Difficulty Levels

The NMAT exam comprises 108 questions to be completed in 120 minutes, featuring individual sectional time limits ranging from 28 to 52 minutes. It has no negative marking for incorrect answers, with each question carrying 3 marks and five answer options. The overall difficulty level for NMAT is described as Moderate to High, allowing approximately 90 seconds per question.

Conversely, the SNAP exam is a 60-minute test with 60 questions. It imposes a 25% penalty for wrong answers, awards 1 mark per question, and has four answer options. SNAP does not have individual sectional time limits, allowing candidates to navigate freely between sections. Its difficulty level is rated Moderate, with candidates having approximately 55 seconds per question. Both exams permit three attempts, with the best of the three scores considered for admission.

Syllabus and Scoring

Both NMAT and SNAP exams have three sections. NMAT’s Language Skills section includes 36 MCQs covering topics such as contextual usage, syllogism, antonyms, synonyms, grammatical errors, fill in the blanks, tenses, parts of speech, vocabulary, jumbled sentences, phrasal verbs, and sentence correction. The Quantitative Skills section also has 36 MCQs, covering trigonometry, algebra, probability, mensuration, coordinate geometry, line graph, mixture and allegations, permutations and combinations, 2D and 3D geometry, statistics, number system, percentage, time and work, profit and loss, average, and interest. The Logical Reasoning section features 36 MCQs on course of action, critical reasoning, coding and decoding, puzzles, family tree, and syllogisms.

SNAP’s General English (Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability) section has 15 MCQs, covering comprehension, verbal reasoning, verbal ability, vocabulary, grammar, idioms, synonyms, antonyms, and fill in the blanks. The Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency section has 20 MCQs. The Analytical & Logical Reasoning section has 25 MCQs. Notably, SNAP includes a dedicated General Knowledge (GK) section with 25 questions, which NMAT lacks. NMAT scores range from 36 to 360, while SNAP scores range up to 60.

Cutoffs for Top Colleges

For NMAT, the score acceptance by colleges varies, with some accepting scores from the first attempt only, while others accept the best of three scores. Expected NMAT cutoffs for top institutions like NMIMS Mumbai, BSE Institute Limited, and Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, are generally above 200 out of 360. NMIMS Bangalore and Hyderabad typically require 180+ scores.

For SNAP, the total expected cutoff for SIU-accepting universities is around 68 to 70 out of 150. Top institutes like SIBM Pune have an expected SNAP 2022 cutoff percentile of 98.50%, followed by SCMHRD Pune at 96% and SIIB Pune at 93%. SIBM Bangalore is expected to have a cutoff around 90%.

Testing Window and Key Differences

The NMAT exam is conducted by the Graduate Management Aptitude Council (GMAC) over a testing window ranging from 45 to 90 days, typically spanning several months (October to December). It is administered across 58 centers in 44 cities in India. Results are usually available within 48 hours of taking the test. This flexibility in scheduling and the absence of negative marking are considered unique features of NMAT.

The SNAP exam, conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed) University (SIU), is held on three specific dates in December. For SNAP, the best of three scores will be considered for admission. Its short duration and speed-focused nature, coupled with negative marking, make it a distinct challenge. Registration for NMAT typically commences in August and extends to October, while SNAP registration runs from August to November. SNAP admit cards are released in December, with results expected in the third week of January.

Further reading

• SNAP 2025 question paper with solutions PDF available for download
• SNAP 2026 registration open for Symbiosis MBA courses, apply by November 25
• CAT: Apply by November. CMAT: Apply by January/February for 2026 MBA
• MAT registration for December 2026 session opens: apply on AIMA website
• CAT application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• SNAP: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →