Which MBA Entrance Exam Should You Take?
Choosing the right MBA entrance exam—CAT, GMAT, or GRE—can make or break your MBA application. With the new GMAT and GRE formats, test selection has become even more strategic.
To simplify your decision, here's a MBA entrance exam Selection Framework, helping you choose the best exam based on:
1?? Your Target B-Schools
2?? Your Strengths & Weaknesses
3?? Your Career Goals
Let’s break it down! ??
Step 1: Who Accepts What?
? CAT – Accepted by IIMs and top Indian B-schools (ISB doesn’t accept CAT ).
for PGP, Only accepts CAT for ISB PGP YL)
? GMAT – Accepted by ISB, IIM 1-Year MBA programs, and global B-schools.
? GRE – Increasingly accepted for MBAs, MS programs, and dual-degree options.
?? Key Change: The new GMAT Focus Edition and GRE General Test have revised their syllabus—so if you last checked in 2023, things are different now!
Step 2: Understanding the MBA Entrance Exam Changes
?? The New GMAT Focus Edition (No More Sentence Correction & Essays!)
?? The New GRE General Test
?? The CAT Exam (No Major Changes)
Step 3: Which MBA Entrance Exam is Right for You?
?? “I want to apply to IIMs and top Indian B-schools”
?? Take CAT – Best for IIMs, SPJIMR, MDI, FMS, ISB PGP YL etc.
?? Consider GMAT/GRE – If applying to ISB PGP, IIM 1-Year MBA, or global programs.
?? “I want to apply to ISB, IIM 1-Year MBA, or a global B-school”
?? Take GMAT – The best test for MBA admissions globally.
?? Consider GRE – If applying to schools that accept both GMAT & GRE.
?? “I’m good at math but weak in verbal”
?? Take CAT or GRE – CAT & GRE are more quant-heavy.
?? Avoid GMAT – The new GMAT Focus Edition removes Sentence Correction, but still has Critical Reasoning & Reading Comprehension.
?? “I want the most flexible exam for MBA & MS”
?? Take GRE – GRE works for both MBA & MS applications, giving you more options.
?? “I struggle with time pressure & need a shorter exam”
?? Take GRE or GMAT Focus – Both are under 2 hours 15 minutes.
?? Avoid CAT – CAT is high-pressure with sectional time limits.
?? “I want an exam where I can pick my best-performing sections”
?? Take GMAT Focus – Lets you select the order of sections and improve your score based on strengths.
?? Avoid CAT – CAT has a fixed structure and doesn’t allow section selection.
Step 4: Final Test Decision Using the Decision Framework
?? Use this simple decision guide:
? Choose CAT if:
?? You’re targeting IIMs or Indian MBA programs.
?? You are strong in Quant & Logical Reasoning.
?? You can handle speed-based problem-solving under pressure.
? Choose GMAT Focus if:
?? You’re applying to ISB, IIM 1-Year MBA, or global B-schools.
?? You want global career options.
?? You prefer a balanced test with Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights.
? Choose GRE if:
?? You’re considering both MBA & MS programs.
?? You are strong in Quant but want an easier Verbal section.
?? You prefer a shorter exam with essay writing.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right MBA Entrance Exam is Strategic!
The right exam can open doors to your dream MBA program, while the wrong choice can waste months of preparation. Use the Test Selection Framework to decide wisely!
?? Need expert advice? Drop a comment or DM me—I’ll help you pick the best test for your MBA journey!
#GMAT #GRE #CAT #MBAAdmissions #HigherEducation #GOALisB
University of Southampton | Author | Soft Skills Trainer | Cricketer | Mentor | Marketing Strategy | Avid Reader | Detesting Wokeism
3 周Valuable information for MBA aspirants