MBA Exam Dates 2026
Are you an ambitious MBA aspirant gearing up for the 2027–29 admission cycle at top Indian B-schools like the IIMs, XLRI, FMS Delhi, and IIFT? The MBA Entrance Exams 2026 will serve as your gateway, including major exams such as CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, MAH MBA CET, and SRCC GBO. The MBA exam notifications are expected to start rolling out from July 2026. Application deadlines will follow between late 2026 and early 2027. Therefore, it is essential to establish a detailed preparation and application schedule, as this will play a crucial role in securing admission to your desired academic program.
The MBA Exam Dates 2026 blog provides comprehensive information about the upcoming exam schedule, based on trends from previous high-stakes examinations. The resource includes structured tables that offer quick access to key details about each exam, along with preparation strategies for aspirants targeting 99+ percentile in CAT, mastering XAT decision-making, and excelling in state-level CET examinations. It is crucial to closely monitor upcoming dates, as they directly impact your mock tests schedule, sectionals stratergy, and GDPI practice. Staying aligned with the exam timeline will help you effectively apply to over 1,000 institutes that accept these entrance exam scores
Your MBA journey begins here as you master the calendar and create a 10-12-month study plan and transform exam dates into critical admission milestones.
MBA Entrance Exams 2026
The exams maintain their yearly schedule because they only experience slight changes which result from tests conducted by organizations such as IIM colleges, XLRI and Symbiosis etc. For 2027-29 intakes, expect CAT in late November, XAT in early January, SNAP in December-January and CET in April-May. The notification system operates by sending out announcements three to four months before scheduled testing dates and it establishes application deadlines which occur one to two months prior to testing.
Key Dates Table:
| Exam | Notification Date (Expected) | MBA Exam Application Deadline 2026 | Exam Date (Tentative) | Result Date (Tentative) |
| CAT 2026 | July-August 2026 | September 2026 | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) | Early January 2027 |
| XAT 2027 | July 2026 | November-December 2026 | January 3, 2027 (Sunday) | Mid-January 2027 |
| NMAT 2026-27 | August 2026 | June 2026 - October 2026 | October 2026 - January 2027 (Window) | Instant + 48 hours |
| SNAP 2026 | August 2026 | November 2026 | December 2026 (3 dates) | January 2027 |
| CMAT 2027 | November 2026 | January 2027 | January 2027 | February-March 2027 |
| MAH MBA CET 2027 | December 2026 | February 2027 | April-May 2027 (Multiple dates) | May 2027 |
| SRCC GBO 2027 | December 2026 | January 2027 | February 2027 | March-April 2027 |
*Note: Dates are projected based on 2025-26 trends; for confirmations, check official websites like iimcat.ac.in or xatonline.in.
MBA Exam Notification Dates
The MBA Entrance Exams 2026 schedule helps aspirants plan their preparation effectively, as MBA exam notification dates are generally released three to four months prior to the actual test dates.
Expected Timeline:
Major exams follow predictable patterns based on prior years. Notifications for CAT 2026 are expected in July-August 2026 via iimcat.ac.in, while XAT 2027 opens around July 2026 on xatonline.in.
| Exam | Expected Notification Date | Conducting Body |
| CAT 2026 | July 2026 | IIMs |
| XAT 2027 | July 2026 | XLRI |
| NMAT 2026-27 | August 2026 | GMAC |
| SNAP 2026 | August 2026 | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) |
| CMAT 2027 | November 2026 | NTA |
| MAH MBA CET 2027 | December-January 2026 | Maharashtra CET Cell |
| SRCC GBO 2027 | December 2026 | SRCC Delhi |
Track official sites and platforms like Cracku for live updates, as dates can shift slightly.
MBA Exam Application Deadline 2026
MBA Exam Application Deadlines typically fall 1–2 months before the respective exam dates, in line with past year trends observed for MBA entrance exams.
CAT Exam Date Details:
CAT Exam Date is expected to be November 29, 2026 (Sunday), following the tradition of last Sunday of November, as confirmed across multiple preparatory sources. The conducting IIM (likely IIM Indore) releases the official notification in late July 2026, with registration opening early August.
| Event | Expected Date |
| Notification Release | July 28, 2026 |
| Registration Start | August 1, 2026 |
| Registration End | September 13-20, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | November 5-15, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | Early December 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Last week December 2026/ Early January 2027 |
The CAT exam is a two-hour computer-based test consisting of around 68 questions, structured across three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — and conducted in 3 slots nationwide.
The eligibility requirements state that candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and achieve 50% marks which is reduced to 45% for candidates from reserved categories. The timeline establishes admission procedures for the 2027-29 intake across IIMs and more than 1000 affiliated colleges.
XAT Exam Date
The XAT Exam will take place on January 3, 2027 which is Sunday that follows the XLRI tradition of scheduling this national MBA entrance exam on the first Sunday of the year. The XAT registration process will begin in mid-July 2026, while all operations will occur through xatonline.in. The 3-hour computer-based exam will take place in more than 100 cities and test candidates on Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge skills.
| Event | Expected Date |
| Notification & Registration Start | July 13, 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | December 10-11, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | December 18, 2026 |
| XAT Exam Date | January 3, 2027 (2-5 PM) |
| Answer Key & Result | Last week of January |
| Scorecard Validity | Till December 2027 |
Prep Tips for XAT Success:
- To master Decision Making, students should consistently study and solve all available past paper cases. They must focus on ethical dilemmas, managerial issues, and analytical problems, as these differ significantly from CAT’s emphasis on logical reasoning.
- To increase General Knowledge students should read front page of The Hindu while aiming to cover both static and current affairs from the previous six months.
- The student must complete two XAT-specific mock exams from Cracku every week while properly analysing their mistakes to achieve 97+ percentile results which will lead to XLRI interview shortlist.
- The student should spend around 30-40 minutes on Decision Making section. The student needs to achieve around 99 percentile results in the 2027-29 cycle for top institutes like XLRI, IMT and XIMB which require dual preparation starting from now.
NMAT Exam Date
The NMAT 2026-27 testing period starts in October 2026 and continues until December 2027 because it allows students to take upto three tests in order to achieve their maximum score. Students can start the registration process in August 2026 because the registration period includes multiple deadlines which make it suitable for students who plan to take the NMIMS exam.
The test includes three sections which assess Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning skills with each section adapting to your performance. The results will be delivered within 48 hours which enables applicants to complete their 2027 intake applications.
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Registration Starts | 1st August, 2026 |
| Registration Ends | Second week of October, 2026 |
| Scheduling Starts | 1st August, 2026 |
| Scheduling Ends | Second week of October, 2026 |
| Exam Window Starts | October, 2026 |
| Exam Window Ends | December, 2026 |
SNAP Exam Date
The 2026 SNAP exam takes place in three different slots in December 2026 which normally occurs one week apart for students aiming for Symbiosis institutes such as SIBM Pune. The application process starts with a notification release in August 2026 and ends in the last week of November.
The 60-minute test covers General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency with 60 MCQs.
Candidates are advised to register for multiple attempts, as doing so enhances their chances of securing a higher score, which eventually helps them in getting shortlisted for SIBM, SCMHRD.
| Event | Expected Date (2026) | Slot Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Start | August 2026 | via snaptest.org |
| Registration End | Last week November 2026 | ₹2250 per test |
| Admit Card Test 1 | Early December 2026 | Download 2 days prior |
| SNAP Test 1 | December 5 (Saturday) | 2:00-3:00 PM |
| Admit Card Test 2 | December 8-9 2026 | - |
| SNAP Test 2 | December 13 (Sunday) | 2:00-3:00 PM |
| Admit Card Test 3 | December 18, 2026 | - |
| SNAP Test 3 | December 20 (Saturday) | Afternoon/Evening slots |
| Result Declaration | Second week of January 2027 | Percentile is based on Best of three tests score. |
CMAT Exam Date
CMAT 2027 is scheduled for January 2027, conducted by NTA for over 1,000 AICTE-approved B-schools. Official notification releases in November 2026, with applications due by mid-January 2027.
This 3-hour exam includes Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship sections. It can be considered as a strong backup for option for B-schools like JBIMS or SIMSREE.
MAH MBA CET Exam Date
MAH MBA CET 2027 occurs across multiple days in April 2027, targeting Maharashtra colleges like JBIMS and SIMSREE. Registration generally opens in December 2026, often extending to mid February due to high volume.
Speed-based exam with 200 MCQs in 2.5 hours on Logical Reasoning (75), Abstract Reasoning (25), Quantitative Aptitude (50), and Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension (50). State quota emphasis suits domicile aspirants eyeing Welingkar or PUMBA.
| Event | Expected Date (2027) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Start | January 10, 2027 | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Registration End | February 15-20, 2027 (Extended) | Pay per attempt; high volume expected |
| Admit Card Release | March 25, 2027 | Slot-wise download |
| Exam: 1st Attempt | April 6-8, 2027 | Multiple sessions, 2.5 hrs Computer Based Test |
| Answer Key (1st Attempt) | Second week April 2027 | Provisional + final objections |
| Exam: 2nd Attempt | May 9, 2027 | Single day |
| Answer Key (2nd Attempt) | Mid May 2027 | - |
| Result Declaration | June 1, 2027 | Percentile-based; valid for CAP |
| CAP Registration | Mid-June 2027 | Centralized seats (40,000+) |
SRCC GBO Exam Date
SRCC GBO 2027 is set for February 2027, a niche test for Delhi University's Global Business Operations program. Applications start December 2026, closing mid-January via srccgbo.edu.in/ .
The exam tests English Comprehension & Language Ability, Quantitative Ability, Logical Ability, and Data Interpretation followed by GDPI. High ROI at SRCC makes it perfect for commerce graduates seeking specialized MBA paths.
MBA Application Strategy for 2027-29
Craft a tailored MBA application strategy for 2027-29 intake by prioritizing 8-12 colleges across IIMs, XLRI, FMS Delhi, and backups, using a personal tracker for deadlines, documents, and offers.
Monthly Timeline:
Align with exam results: December 2026 for CAT, January 2027 for XAT. Submit forms immediately post-results; IIMs often announce shortlists by February.
| Phase | Timeline (2026-27) | Actions |
| Pre-Exam Prep | Jul-Nov 2026 | Register for 4-5 exams, apply for colleges with deadline before exam. |
| Post-Exam | Dec 2026-Mar 2027 | Apply to other colleges; track via spreadsheet. |
| Interviews | Feb-May 2027 | Practice GDPI; prepare SOPs/WAT |
| Final Decisions | May-Jun 2027 | Accept best offers; defer if needed |
| Joining | Jul-Aug 2027 | Documents, fees for PGP cohorts |
Key Tips:
- Diversify Exams: The IIMs accept CAT exams while XLRI requires XAT exams and NMIMS uses NMAT so its advisable to apply for multiple exams and have back-up options.
- Profile Matters: Update resume with internships, extracurriculars with getting a good percentile in exam being the top priority.
- Trackers & Alerts: Use Google Sheets for institute status and also check cracku.in weekly for updates.
MBA Exam Dates 2026: Conclusion
The complete mastery of all MBA exam dates for 2026 together with their corresponding timeline will lead you to succeed during the IIM, XLRI, FMS Delhi, IIFT and all other admission cycles for 2027-29. The strategic planning process will succeed because our tables deliver complete examination schedule which include CAT Exam Date for late November 2026, XAT Exam Date for January 3 2027, NMAT Exam Date, SNAP Exam Date, CMAT Exam Date, MAH MBA CET Exam Date and SRCC GBO Exam Date.
The MBA Entrance Exams 2026 acts as your foundational platform which will lead you toward significant career transformations. Maintain good study habits while monitoring your progress with Cracku because this will help you turn these dates into admission offers. Your MBA dream awaits, you should begin your journey from this very moment.
