As we get ready for MBA entrance season for MBA Batch 2026-28 intake here is how the exam calendar might stack this year basis information already made public on these institutes website or tentative calendar basis last year dates.
- CAT 2025 (Common Admission Test)
- Notification Release: Last week of July 2025
- Registration Window: Early August 2025 to mid-/late September 2025
- Admit Card Release: First week of November 2025
- Exam Date: Sunday, November 23/30, 2025 (tentative)
- Result Declaration: Third/Fourth week of December 2025
Notes:
- CAT is typically held on the last Sunday of November; in 2025 this falls on November 30, 2025.
- Registration normally opens in the first week of August and closes by the third week of September, with a correction window soon after.
- Exact dates will be confirmed by IIM Kozhikode (conducting institute for CAT 2025) in the official notification around late July 2025.
- XAT 2026 (Xavier Aptitude Test)
- Notification & Registration Start: Mid-July 2025 (around July 15, 2025)
- Registration Last Date: Early/mid-December 2025 (around December 10, 2025)
- Admit Card Release: Late December 2025 (around December 20, 2025)
- Exam Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Notes:
- XAT is traditionally conducted on the first Sunday of January.
- Registration opens mid-July and typically runs until early December in the preceding year.
- Many B-schools (including XLRI) and associated institutes accept XAT scores for admission to PGDM/MBA programs.
- CMAT 2026 (Common Management Admission Test)
- Notification & Registration Start: November 14, 2025
- Registration Last Date: December 25, 2025
- Admit Card Release: Around January 20, 2026
- Exam Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026 (expected)
- Answer Key & Objection Window: Early February 2026
- Result Declaration: Mid-February 2026
Notes:
- Conducted by NTA, CMAT usually takes place on the third Sunday of January. For 2026, January 24 is the likely date.
- Many AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM institutes consider CMAT scores in their admission process.
- SNAP 2025 (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
- Notification Release: Early August 2025
- Registration Window: 1st week of August 2025 to late November 2025 (around November 22–30, 2025)
- Admit Card Release: Early December 2025
- Exam Dates (Multiple Slots): December 2025 (typically 3 slots; e.g., December 7, 14 & 20, 2025)
- Result Declaration: 2nd week of January 2026
Notes:
- SNAP is conducted by Symbiosis International University; candidates may choose up to two slots among the three offered in December.
- Registration normally opens in August and closes by late November.
- NMAT 2025 (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test by GMAC)
- Registration Window: Early August 2025 to mid-/late October 2025 (e.g., Aug 1 – Oct 20, 2025)
- Scheduling Window: Aug 1 – mid-October 2025
- Exam Window: November 5 – December 20, 2025
- Retake/Rescheduling Window: November 6 – December 17, 2025
- Scorecard Release: Within 48 hours of each test slot
Notes:
- NMAT offers a flexible window (over ~45 days) in Nov–Dec, allowing multiple attempts for a student.
- Registration generally begins in the first week of August and closes by mid-October.
- MAT 2025 (Management Aptitude Test by AIMA)
MAT is conducted four times a year (February, May, September, December). Although exact dates for later sessions are announced closer to time, past patterns help anticipate:
- September 2025 Session (tentative):
- Registration likely opens in August 2025; exam in late September 2025.
- December 2025 Session (tentative):
- Registration likely in November 2025; exam in early/mid-December 2025.
Notes:
- MAT windows are spread across the year; exact registration and exam dates for September and December sessions will be announced by AIMA around 1–2 months before each session.
- MAT scores are accepted by many private B-schools across India.
- MHCET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)
- Notification Release: Early January 2026
- Registration Window: 1st week of January 2026 to Late February 2026
- Admit Card Release: Early March 2026
- Exam Dates (Multiple Slots): March End 2026
- Result Declaration: May 2026
Notes:
- There are counselling round conducted by mhcet for final admissions in June /July
Summary Table of Tentative Key Dates
|
Exam |
Notification / Registration Start |
Registration End |
Exam Date(s) |
Result Timeline |
|
CAT 2025 |
Last week July 2025 |
~Sep 21, 2025 |
Nov 30, 2025 (Sun) |
Late Dec 2025 |
|
XAT 2026 |
~Jul 15, 2025 |
~Dec 10, 2025 |
Jan 4, 2026 (Sun) |
Jan 2026 |
|
CMAT 2026 |
Nov 14, 2025 |
Dec 25, 2025 |
Jan 24, 2026 (Sat) |
Feb 2026 |
|
SNAP 2025 |
Aug 2025 |
Late Nov 2025 |
Dec 2025 (3 slots, e.g., 7/14/20) |
Jan 2026 |
|
NMAT 2025 |
Aug 1, 2025 |
~Oct 20, 2025 |
Nov 5 – Dec 20, 2025 |
Within 48 hrs of each slot |
|
MAT 2025 |
(Feb/May/Sep/Dec sessions) |
1–2 months before each session |
Feb/May/Sep/Dec 2025 |
2–3 weeks after each session |
|
MHCET 2026 |
February |
March |
April |
July |
Disclaimer: All dates above are based on official announcements where available or past-year patterns extrapolated to 2025–26. Please verify on the official exam/admission websites when the formal notification is released, as dates may slightly change due to administrative decisions.