Admissions guide, section 7
Other exams and the 2026–27 calendar
Register for at least one backup exam now: XAT, SNAP and NMAT registrations close between late November and mid-December, and several non-IIM applications close before CAT results arrive.
Do this month
- Register for XAT before 6 Dec 2026 as your backup, and for XLRI
- Decide on SNAP (closes 25 Nov) and book an NMAT slot (closes 17 Dec) if Symbiosis or NMIMS interest you
- Note the application deadlines for SPJIMR, MDI, the IIT B-schools, IIFT and FMS
- Download the 2027–29 admission policy of every IIM you are targeting
Exams and the schools they open
| Exam | Main schools it opens | 2026–27 window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2026 | IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IIFT, JBIMS and many more | Exam 29 Nov 2026; admit card expected from 4 Nov | Results usually arrive in late December or early January. |
| XAT 2027 | XLRI, XIM University, plus many schools that also take CAT | Applications until 6 Dec 2026 | The exam is usually held in early January; confirm on xatonline.in. |
| SNAP 2026 | SIBM Pune and other Symbiosis institutes | Applications 21 Aug – 25 Nov 2026 | Tests usually run in December. |
| NMAT 2026 | NMIMS and other NMAT-accepting schools | Slot booking 20 Aug – 17 Dec 2026 | You can book more than one attempt. |
| IBSAT 2026 | IBS (ICFAI) campuses | Applications 1 Jul – 1 Dec 2026 | |
| GMAT / GRE | ISB; GMAT routes at SPJIMR, MDI, XLRI and others | Year-round | ISB’s programme needs work experience. |
| MAH-CET | Maharashtra state-quota seats at JBIMS, SIMSREE and others | Usually March | JBIMS’s all-India seats go through CAT. |
| MICAT | MICA Ahmedabad | Usually two rounds, December and early in the new year | Taken alongside CAT, XAT or GMAT. |
CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT and IBSAT dates from Careers360. The other timings are typical patterns from past years, so confirm them on each official site.
What usually happens after CAT
- 1. Late November to JanuaryNon-IIM applications (SPJIMR, MDI, the IITs, IIFT, FMS) open and close; some close before results.
- 2. Late December to early JanuaryCAT results.
- 3. January to FebruaryIIM shortlists and interview calls, including the newer IIMs’ joint process.
- 4. February to AprilWAT, GD and interviews.
- 5. April to MayFinal offers and waitlist movement.
- 6. June to JulyProgrammes begin.
Sources
All figures are as of 6 October 2026. Cutoffs, fees and packages change every year, and coaching-site figures are estimates or compilations, so confirm on each institute’s official admission page before you apply.
- Cracku: CAT cutoff 2026, IIM-wise: practical call ranges, official general minimums, RTI lowest admits, non-IIM category ranges
- Cracku: IIM admission criteria 2026: final-selection weightage, eligibility, reservation
- Cracku: Top 10 MBA colleges in India 2026: fees, packages, IIM A/B/C category minimums
- Cracku: CAT percentile for non-IIM colleges 2026: non-IIM call ranges and seats
- iQuanta: NIRF ranking 2025, management: the top-50 list and scores
- Careers360: NIRF MBA ranking 2026 status: NIRF 2026 not yet released
- Cracku: CAT 2024 score vs percentile and IMS: CAT 2025 analysis: the percentile calculator data
- Careers360: CAT Quant five-year trend and Careers360: CAT 2026: exam dates and application windows
- iQuanta: IIM Kozhikode expected cutoff by profile: the engineer versus non-engineer estimate