Covid-19 pandemic impact has loomed large on most of the top entrance exams for MBA admission 2021. The notifications with exam dates and schedule for XLRI-XAT 2021, IIFT MBA 2021 admission test, NMAT by GMAC 2020, Symbiosis SNAP 2020 have not yet been released, although the month of August 2020 has come to end. In previous years, the notification with complete exam schedule for all the above entrance tests was released in the month of July/August. The exam registration also used to begin in a few days from the date of release of notification.
No Change in CAT 2020 Time Lines
Surprisingly, the notification for largest MBA entrance exam – IIMs’ Common Admission Test (CAT) 2020 was released on July 29, 2020 with complete exam schedule as per previous year time lines. Neither the exam pattern, testing mode nor the exam date for CAT 2020 has been changed. During last 3-4 years, CAT is being conducted on the last Sunday of November and so is the case for CAT 2020 which is conducted by IIM Indore. This year too, CAT exam date is Sunday November 29, 2020 and the registration process for the exam has already started on August 5, 2020.
CAT 2020 Exam Date & Time Lines
With more than 2.40 lakh candidates expected to apply for CAT 2020, it is the largest MBA entrance exam in India for MBA admission 2021. While comparatively smaller MBA entrance exams have not been able to announce the time lines and exam date, CAT 2020 came out of bag as early as in July 2020. See the CAT exam 2020 schedule below:
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CAT Exam 2020 Activity
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Time Line
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CAT 2020 Notification Release and Official Website Launch Date
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July 29, 2020
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CAT 2020 Registration Start Date
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August 5, 2020
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Last Date to Apply for CAT 2020
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September 16, 2020
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CAT 2020 Registration & Application Fee
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Rs.2000/-
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CAT 2020 Admit card Download Start date
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October 28, 2020
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Last Date for CAT 2020 Admit Card Download
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November 29, 2020
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CAT 2020 Exam date
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November 29, 2020
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5 Top MBA Entrance Exam Notification Release: Last Year V/s This Year
XLRI XAT, IIFT, NMAT by GMAC, Symbiosis SNAP used to release their notifications as early as in July/August in previous years. NMAT has always stood as the front runner in releasing its notification in the last week of June/first week of July much before IIM CAT, but this year the column on important dates on its website nmat.org simply says coming soon.
So far, except CAT 2020, there is no information on these entrance exam websites regarding the prospective entrance exam 2020-21 time lines, exam pattern, testing mode for MBA admission 2021. A quick analysis of trends in release of top MBA Exam Notification timelines will bring home the facts:
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MBA Entrance Exam
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Notification & Exam Schedule 2019 Release date
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Notification & Exam Schedule 2020 Release Date (As on Aug 26, 2020)
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IIM CAT
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July 28, 2019
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July 29, 2020
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XLRI XAT
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August 23, 2019
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Not Released
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IIFT
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August 21, 2019
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Not Released
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NMAT by GMAC
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June 28, 2019
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Exam Schedule Not Released
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Symbiosis-SNAP
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August 2, 2020
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Not Released
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MBA Entrance Exams: Expected Dates
While date for CAT 2020 exam was announced on July 29, 2020, the expected dates for other top MBA entrance exams for admission 2021 are:
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MBA Entrance Exam
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Expected Date of Exam
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Testing Mode
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IIM CAT
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November 29, 2020
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Computer based test
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XLRI XAT
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January 3, 2021
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Online Computer Based Test
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IIFT
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December 6, 2020
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Computer Based Test conducted by NTA
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NMAT by GMAC
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October 6 to December 19, 2020
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Computer Based Test conducted by GMAC
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Symbiosis-SNAP
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December 13, 2020
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Computer Based online test conducted by SIU
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Note: Except CAT 2020, all dates are tentative as per past trends
Impact of Delay in MBA Entrance Exam Notification Release
MBA aspirants seeking MBA admission 2021 in top B-schools, always apply and appear in more number of admission tests, the scores of which are accepted by the best MBA colleges. For example 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon will accept only CAT 2020 score; XLRI will accept only XAT 2021 score; IIFT only its own MBA entrance exam score; 16 Symbiosis institutes will accept only SNAP 2020 score and NMIMS Mumbai will accept only NMAT by GMAC 2020 score. As such grave implications of delay as under, in release of exam notifications may surface, if the notifications are not released shortly.
- Except CAT 2020, the candidates are not able to register and apply for any of the other exams.
- The late release may result in clash of exam dates as is happening in BBA entrance exam of Delhi University DU JAT 2020 and IIM Indore IPMAT 2020. Both exams are on September 7, 2020
- Candidates remain in dark about the changes in entrance exam for example test pattern and testing mode
- Late notification implies late exam and late result declaration which will lead to delay in MBA admission process 2021
- Academic session 2021-22 will get delayed. The curriculum of MBA programme is rated as strenuous and now due to delay in class commencement 2021, it will add to the woes of the students.
Please note that if you appear in all the above MBA entrance exams, the cost of MBA entrance tests is around Rs.10,000/-. To avoid a high MBA entrance exam fee, you may choose the preferred MBA entrance exams the scores of which are accepted by more MBA colleges. For example, CAT, XAT, are the larger national level MBA entrance exams and cover more than 1000 MBA colleges accepting their exam score. This way you could reduce the burden of the MBA entrance exam cost.
Important: Read More on CAT 2023
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