For every MBA aspirant in India, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is usually the first and foremost significant milestone. Around 3 lakh CAT registrations in the year 2024 depict that the competition is serious and the pressure is immense. But here’s an important truth that often gets buried under the CAT hype: CAT is the only way to get admission into top MBA institutes. While IIMs accept CAT scores, many other elite B-schools in India conduct their own entrance exams for admissions, which include NMAT by GMAC, SNAP by Symbiosis, XAT by XLRI, CMAT by NTA, MAH-CET by Maharashtra State CET Cell, and more. Collectively, these entrance exams other than CAT are known as OMETs (Other Management Entrance Exams) and offer thousands of aspirants a chance to make it to prestigious MBA colleges.
Unfortunately, many candidates focus only on the CAT exam, ignoring the deadline of the OMETs, and later regret it when they do not perform so well in the CAT due to lack of preparation. This is why it’s crucial to not treat OMETs as backup options but as integral parts of your MBA preparation strategy, which should be planned well in advance, even before the CAT exam. Based on the insights given by Mrs. Shabana Shahab, a CAT VARC 99.56 percentiler with 14 years of experience, this blog will make you understand why aspirants should attempt Other Management Entrance Exams (OMETs) seriously and how to plan strategic preparation for these exams.
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What are OMETs and Why They Matter
OMETs (Other Management Entrance Exams) include all non-CAT MBA entrance exams that get you an admission to premier B-schools. Some of the top-tier B-schools that conduct their own MBA entrance exams are NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune, XLRI Jamshedpur, JBIMS Mumbai, and many more. While CAT is undoubtedly the biggest MBA exam in India, OMETs provide equally prestigious pathways to management education.
OMETs evaluate different skill sets of candidates, like decision-making in the XAT exam or speed in the SNAP exam, and may favor students who are struggling with the CAT exam pattern. Candidates should consider OMETs, as each exam you attempt multiplies your chances of securing a B-school management seat.
NMAT 2025: A Gateway to NMIMS and More
The NMAT exam window begins as early as October. iQuanta expert Mrs. Shabana Shahab advises candidates to appear for the NMAT after the CAT exam in the month of December when your Quant and DI are strong. You must still register early and choose your slot smartly, and prepare as per the NMAT structure. NMAT’s exam format and no negative marking make it unique and potentially a high-scoring exam.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) |
| Exam Window | October-December 2025 |
| Exam Format | 108 questions, 120 minutes, No negative marking |
| Attempts allowed | Up to 3 |
| Top Colleges Accept NMAT Scores | NMIMS Mumbai, XIMB, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, SDA Bocconi |
SNAP 2025: Speed Test for Symbiosis Colleges
The SNAP exam is fast-paced and speed-oriented. With just one minute per question, it’s all about speed and accuracy under pressure.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Symbiosis International University |
| Exam Window | December 2025 (multiple slots) |
| Exam Format | 60 questions, 60 minutes, 0.25 negative marking for one wrong answer |
| Attempts allowed | Up to 3 |
| Top Colleges Accept NMAT Scores | SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIIB, SITM, SIDTM |
The SNAP exam is less complex than the CAT exam, but the time pressure is very high. If you are preparing well for the CAT exam, you are already covering the SNAP syllabus. You just need to polish your speed and accuracy.
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XAT 2026: A CAT Clone
Though many students fear the XAT’s difficulty, it rewards logic-based thinking. There is relief for many aspirants as the decision-making section is highly scoring and there is no GK in percentile calculation anymore. While its RC can be tricky, other sections are pretty well-scoring sections if tackled smartly. Aspirants should start solving XAT-specific mocks post-CAT to set the pace and momentum high.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Exam Window | First Sunday of January 2026 |
| Exam Format | 3 Hours, includes Essay + Decision Making |
| Sections | Verbal, Quant, Decision Making, General Awareness |
| Top Colleges Accept NMAT Scores | XLRI, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, GIM |
Click Here to Enrol for XAT 2026 Course
CMAT 2026: Your Gateway to Tier-1 B-Schools
The CMAT exam is not just a backup; rather, it’s a low-risk and high-ROI exam. There is less cutthroat competition than in the CAT, and with the presence of All-India Quota seats in elite colleges like JBIMS, the CMAT is a must-attempt exam every MBA aspirant should go for.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | NTA |
| Exam Window | March/April 2026 |
| Exam Format | 100 Questions, 400 marks |
| Special Section | Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
| Top Colleges Accept NMAT Scores | JBIMS (All-India Quota), KJ Somaiya, GIM, Welingkar |
MAH MBA CET 2026: State-Level Exam with National Impact
Despite being a state-level entrance exam, MAH-CET can land you in JBIMS Mumbai, one of the best B-schools in terms of ROI. This exam examines speed over depth, and for aspirants who can handle volume and pressure, the MAH-CET can be your golden ticket.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Maharashtra CET Cell |
| Exam Window | March 2026 |
| Exam Format | 200 Questions, 150 Minutes |
| Top Colleges Accept NMAT Scores | JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA |
OMETs Planning Timeline: Highlights
Let’s break down the OMETs timeline and plan accordingly so that if in any way your CAT doesn’t go well, you have options of MBA exams other than CAT.
| Month | Exam Focus | Steps to be Taken |
| July-November 2025 | CAT | Concept Building, VARC focus, mocks, revisions |
| October 2025 | NMAT Window Opens | Slot booking of NMAT and begin little bit of NMAT preparation |
| November End 2025 | CAT Exam | Main milestone, peak performance |
| December 2025 | SNAP & NMAT | Slot-wise attempts and SNAP speed mocks |
| January 2026 | XAT | Decision-making practice |
| March-April 2026 | CMAT & MAH-CET | Current affairs and practice on speed |
Why You Should Plan These Exams Now, Not After CAT
This strategy of planning for OMETs now, not after CAT, is because of 3 things, which are
- The syllabus is similar but not identical. The CAT preparation covers Quant and LRDI well, but exams like XAT need you to prepare for decision-making, and CMAT has Innovation and Entrepreneurship; for this, you need extra time to prepare.
- Most OMET registration deadlines will fall between August and December 2025. If you wait to give the CAT exam first, you may miss the OMETs deadlines.
- Success is about volume; the more exams you take, the more chances you have of getting into a top-tier management institute. You might not lose anything by attempting them, but you might lose everything by relying only on the CAT exam.
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