- CAT is on 29 November 2026. SNAP registration closes on 25 November, before CAT, and tests run on 13, 19 and 26 December. XAT registration closes on 6 December and the exam is on 3 January 2027.
- NMAT registration is closed. Tests run to 20 December for those who booked. MAT is on 20 and 27 December. CMAT 2027 is tentatively on 7 February 2027.
- Several college deadlines fall before CAT results, from 25 to 28 November 2026. Check them first.
- For a general-category male candidate, CAT, XAT, SNAP (one test, one programme), MAT and CMAT cost about Rs 13,350 before taxes.
The MBA entrance exam calendar 2026-27 is busy between 25 November 2026 and 3 January 2027, and the dates do not clash. CAT is on 29 November, SNAP runs on three December dates, MAT on 20 and 27 December, and XAT on 3 January. The pressure is on preparation time and on deadlines that close before you see a CAT score.
Below are the dates as checked on 6 November 2026, the ones still tentative, and a plan for one aspirant sitting several exams. Re-check each date on the official site before you pay, because schedules can change.
The MBA entrance exam calendar 2026-27: verified dates in one table
| Exam | Registration | Exam date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2026 | Closed (22 September, payment to 24 September) | Sunday 29 November 2026, three sessions | Likely first week of January 2027 |
| IIFT MBA (uses CAT) | Application and fee close 25 November 2026 | Uses CAT 2026 | Not stated |
| SNAP 2026 | Closes 25 November 2026 | 13, 19 and 26 December 2026 | 12 January 2027 |
| NMAT by GMAC | Closed 10 October 2026 | Window 2 November to 20 December 2026 | Official score within 48 hours |
| MAT December | PBT closes 14 December, CBT 21 December | PBT 20 December, CBT 27 December | By first week of January 2027 |
| XAT 2027 | Closes 6 December 2026 | Sunday 3 January 2027, 2 pm to 5 pm | Last week of January 2027 |
GMAT Focus has no fixed window, so you book an appointment when you are ready.
Which dates are still tentative or conflicting
- CMAT 2027: 7 February 2027 is NTA's tentative date. Registration, fee and bulletin were not announced.
- MAH-CET 2027: nothing announced. The 2026 cycle took registrations from 10 January to 12 February 2026.
- XAT admit card: 20 December 2026 is marked tentative.
- SNAP: Symbiosis can change the schedule at its discretion.
- MAT: some pages list other December slots. AIMA's exam site gives 20 and 27 December, and the registration opening date is not stated there.
- CAT result: 'likely' in the first week of January, not fixed.
Which exams share preparation and which do not
Quant, reasoning and reading carry across all of them. The extra work is a short list per exam.
| Exam | Shared with CAT preparation | Extra to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| XAT | Verbal, logic, quant and data interpretation | Decision Making, and a General Knowledge part used only by XLRI. Wrong answers cost 0.25, and there is a skip rule |
| SNAP | English, reasoning, quant and data interpretation | Ethics, Morality and Values, 10 questions |
| NMAT | Language, quant and reasoning | Adaptive format, no negative marking, tight Language section |
| MAT | Language, maths and data | Economic and Business Environment, 150 questions in 120 minutes |
| CMAT | Quant, logic and language | General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 160 of 400 marks |
| MAH-CET | Reasoning, quant and verbal | Abstract Reasoning, 200 questions in 150 minutes, no negative marking |
A CAT-first plan: what to book and when
- Now to 25 November: pay the IIFT application if IIFT is on your list, and register for SNAP with your programme choices. Both close before CAT.
- 29 November: CAT. Take a final timed mock on the free CAT Compass in the week before.
- By 6 December: register for XAT if XLRI or XAMI colleges are on your list.
- 13, 19 and 26 December: SNAP tests. The highest score is used.
- 3 January 2027: XAT.
- First week of January and 12 January: CAT and SNAP results.
Some college forms also close around CAT. This is where a missed date costs you.
| Date | College application deadline |
|---|---|
| 25 November 2026 | IIFT (MBA) |
| 26 November 2026 | Great Lakes Chennai, cycle 1 |
| 27 November 2026 | IMT Ghaziabad and SPJIMR |
| 28 November 2026 | MDI Gurgaon |
| 6 December 2026 | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| 12 December 2026 | SIBM Pune |
| 15 December 2026 | XIM Bhubaneswar (MBA-BM) |
| 19 December 2026 | IMI New Delhi |
| 31 December 2026 | TAPMI Manipal |
These are application deadlines as listed for the 2027-29 intake, not test dates. Confirm each on the college page.
A fallback plan for after CAT
Choose backups by the colleges they open, not by how easy they sound. SNAP opens Symbiosis colleges only. XAT opens XLRI, XIM Bhubaneswar and others. NMAT opens the NMIMS campuses, TAPMI and others, but only if you are already registered. MAT opens mid-tier colleges. CMAT opens AICTE colleges, and its date is tentative.
If CAT went worse than you hoped, SNAP on 13 December is the nearest option, then XAT on 3 January. A second SNAP or MAT adds little unless you have a specific college in mind. Stack no more than the exams you can prepare properly, since each needs its own practice.
Fee budget across exams
- CAT: Rs 2,700.
- XAT: Rs 2,300.
- SNAP: Rs 2,550 + Rs 1,000 = Rs 3,550.
- MAT: Rs 2,300.
- CMAT: Rs 2,500 (the 2026 fee; 2027 is not announced).
- Total: 2,700 + 2,300 + 3,550 + 2,300 + 2,500 = Rs 13,350.
Answer: About Rs 13,350 before taxes. Extra SNAP tests, more programmes, an IIFT application at Rs 3,000 or extra XLRI programmes at Rs 200 each add to it.
Eligibility traps: final-year proof deadlines
- XAT: final exams must be completed by 11 June 2027.
- XIM Bhubaneswar: final-year candidates must complete requirements by 15 June 2027.
- IIFT: final-year proof of graduation is due by 31 October 2027.
- CMAT: final-year candidates qualify if their result is declared before admissions begin.
- CAT, SNAP and MAH-CET: the minimum is 50 percent, or 45 percent for the reserved categories as stated in each bulletin.
Do not assume one deadline covers all colleges. Write the proof date for each target next to its application date.
How to track it in our deadline tool
The MBA deadline tracker lists these dates in one place. Treat it as the source to check on the day you plan to pay, since the dates above are as of 6 November 2026. Set a reminder seven days before each registration closes, and another for each college form.