- GMAT Focus Edition scores range from 205 to 805, with top MBA programmes requiring 700–740 for competitive admission at Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.
- The GRE exam duration is approximately 1 hour 58 minutes, testing Analytical Writing (30 minutes), Verbal Reasoning (41 minutes), and Quantitative Reasoning (47 minutes).
- Both GMAT and GRE scores remain valid for 5 years from the test date, allowing candidates flexibility in MBA application timelines.
Before applying for an MBA program, it is important to consider the factors that can lead students to join top business schools in the world. One of the important factors is MBA entrance exams, which pose challenges to aspirants. It requires skillsets such as critical thinking, analytical skills, and communication skills to ace them. They check whether the candidate is competent enough to take up opportunities to pursue an MBA or not, and that is the reason why it is a widely popular program around the world.
Below, we have briefly discussed the different types of MBA entrance exams, including their overview, pattern, syllabus, and more.
Why Prepare for MBA Entrance Exams?
MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is a highly reputable and recognised degree program across the world due to its value of providing abundant career opportunities, expertise in the field of business and management, large skill sets required for administering organisations, etc.
International universities have adopted certain criteria and eligibility to check the competency of the candidates before granting admission into an MBA program. It includes conducting MBA entrance exams, which judge the abilities, aptitude, knowledge, and potential of students.
Since these are highly competitive nowadays due to the increasing number of applicants and limited seats, it is important to know their basics and preparation strategy for good results.
Different Types of MBA Entrance Exams
In today’s time, MBA programs in various specialisations are available in about more than 1,300 universities and institutes all over the world. Each country and university might have its requirements for granting admission to an MBA program. Still, the standards on which the competency of applicants is checked remain the same throughout the academic ecosystem. Below, we have given the list of MBA entrance exams along with their detailed descriptions of format, total marks, fees, and more.
| Aptitude Tests | Language Proficiency Tests |
|---|---|
| GMAT | TOEFL |
| GRE | IELTS |
| - | PTE |
| - | Duolingo |
Standardised Management Admission Tests
Below are the some top MBA entrance exams which evaluate the management aptitude in candidates:
General Management Admission Test (GMAT)
The GMAT Exam is a computer-based assessment that measures verbal, mathematical, integrated reasoning, and analytical skills that candidates have developed and honed over the years through education and work. Last year, GMAC bought a new GMAT exam called the GMAT Focus Edition Test. It evaluates the academic aptitude of the candidate and checks the readiness for the program. It is conducted by The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in over 114 countries across the world.
Exam Format
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) implemented a revised GMAT Focus Edition format. The time duration of the GMAT exam is now 2 hours and 15 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 Minutes |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 Minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 Minutes |
Total Marks
The GMAT Focus Edition has a total score range of 205 (0 percentile) to 805 (100 percentile). The cut-off score of the GMAT depends on the university, specialisation, and demand of the course in the particular institute.
Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Strengthening arguments application questions, Inference questions, Logical structure, Pronoun, Modifiers, Idioms, Adjectives, Active-Passive voice, Nouns, Subject-verb agreement |
| Data Insights | Data Sufficiency, Table Analysis, Two-part Analyses, Graphics Interpretation, Data Sufficiency |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Inequalities, Probability, Triangles, Algebra, Quadratic Equations, Lines and Angles, Set Theory, Ratio and Proportion, Fractions, Decimals, Percentage, Power and roots, Mixture and allegations, Pipe and Cisterns |
Exam Fee
- USD 300 or INR 25,000 (Online)
- USD 275 or INR 22,900 (Test Centre)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Most business schools, particularly in the USA and Canada, prefer the GRE test as an alternative to GMAT to widen the pool of candidates for MBA programs. The GRE test comprehensively analyses the potential of the candidates for an MBA program, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, because it is designed to measure the traits required for qualifying graduate programs.
Exam Format
The GRE is conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS) all over the world, and its format is as described below:
| Section | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GRE Verbal Reasoning | Section 1: 12 Questions Section 2: 15 Questions | Section 1: 18 minutes Section 2: 23 minutes |
| GRE Quantitative Reasoning | Section 1:12 Questions Section 2: 15 Questions | Section 1: 21 minutes Section 2: 26 minutes |
| GRE Analytical Reasoning | 1 section | 30 minutes |
Total Marks
The GRE test has a total mark of 340, of which scoring 160-190 can land students in the best business schools.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| GRE Verbal Reasoning | Reading comprehension Text completion Sentence equivalence |
| GRE Quantitative Reasoning | Geometry Algebra Arithmetic Data Analysis |
| GRE Analytical Reasoning | Forming opinions and ideas on issues and allotted topics |
Exam Fee
- USD 270 or INR 22,000
Language Proficiency Tests
Apart from Standard management aptitude tests, language proficiency exams also play a key role for Indian students whose first language is not English but who want to get admission into foreign universities to pursue MBA programs. Following are some of the top English language proficiency tests that are most popular among Indian students and professionals.
TOEFL
TOEFL stands for Test of English as Foreign Language which aims to check the readiness of the Indian students to pursue MBA in foreign countries where the primary language is English. Several institutions around the world widely accept it. TOEFL academic is the most common type of exam conducted by ETS for aspiring Indian candidates for admission into an MBA program.
Exam Format
We have tabulated the exam format consisting of test sections, number of questions and their respective time duration.
| Sections | Questions/Task | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 20 questions | 35 minutes |
| Listening | 28 questions | 36 minutes |
| Speaking | 4 tasks | 16 minutes |
| Writing | 2 tasks | 29 minutes |
Total Marks
The total marks in the TOEFL exam range between 0-120, where 0 corresponds to no proficiency, and 120 corresponds to expert proficiency in the English Language. A score in between 90-100 is considered as good score to get admission into the top business schools in the world.
Syllabus
| Sections | Questions/Task |
|---|---|
| Reading | Factual Information & Negative Factual Information Inference & Rhetorical Purpose Vocabulary Sentence Simplification Inert Text Question Prose Summary |
| Listening | Gist Content and Gist Purpose Detail Function Attitude Organisation Connecting Content Inference |
| Speaking | Speaking Tasks on allotted topics |
| Writing | Writing tasks on allotted topics |
Exam Fee
INR 18,000
IELTS
The International English Language Test System or IELTS is another English language proficiency test that helps to achieve the dream of studying, working, and living abroad, where English is used as a primary language, or its proficiency is required. It is jointly administered by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge English.
Exam Format
Following is the IELTS format, which comprises sections, number of questions, time duration, etc.
| Sections | Questions/Task | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40 questions | 30 minutes |
| Academic Reading | 40 questions | 60 minutes |
| Academic Writing | 2 tasks | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | 3 parts | 11-14 minutes |
Total Marks
The IELTS band score corresponds to the level of proficiency in the English language. It ranges from 0-9. An IELTS band score of 7-8.5 can be considered a good score.
Syllabus
| Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
| Reading | True and False Identifying the writer’s claim/view Matching Information Short answer questions Diagram labelling Summary/note/flowchart Sentence Completion Matching sentence ending |
| Listening | Match the Following Diagram labelling/plan/map based Form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion Sentence completion Short answer questions |
| Speaking | Face-to-face interview between the test taker and the examiner |
| Writing | Discussion on Chart, diagram, picture, object’s photo, etc Discussion on relevant issues related to general awareness |
Exam Fee
INR 18,000
PTE
Pearson Test of English is another type of English language proficiency test that evaluates the understanding and knowledge of the academic English language in students desiring to pursue MBA programs in English-speaking countries.
Exam Format
Following is the PTE format, which comprises sections, number of questions, time duration, etc.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking & Writing | 28-36 | 54-67 minutes |
| Reading | 13-18 | 32-41 minutes |
| Listening | 12-20 | 30-43 minutes |
Total Marks
The PTE Score ranges from 10-90, which corresponds to the level of proficiency in English. A score ranging from 65-80 is a good score.
Exam Fee
INR 18,000
Duolingo
The Duolingo English Test is a standardised test of the English language that was developed by Duolingo to assess the language skills of foreign aspirants. The test is relatively cheaper as compared to IELTS & TOEFL.
Exam Format
Following is the Duolingo Exam format, which comprises sections, number of questions, time duration, etc.
| Introduction | Duration |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Test | 45 mins |
| Video Interaction | 10 mins |
| Introduction | 5 mins |
Before applying for an MBA program, it is important to consider the factors that can lead students to join top business schools in the world. One of the important factors is MBA entrance exams, which pose challenges to aspirants. It requires skillsets such as critical thinking, analytical skills, and communication skills to ace them. They check whether the candidate is competent enough to take up opportunities to pursue an MBA or not, and that is the reason why it is a widely popular program around the world.
Below, we have briefly discussed the different types of MBA entrance exams, including their overview, pattern, syllabus, and more.
Total Marks
The Duolingo Score ranges from 10-160, which corresponds to the level of proficiency in English. A score above 110 is a good score.
Exam Fee
- INR 6,200
Key Takeaways
MBA entrance exams determine admission to over 2,400 business schools accepting GMAT and 1,300 accepting GRE worldwide. The GMAT Focus Edition features 64 questions across three sections (Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights, Quantitative Reasoning) completed in 2 hours 15 minutes, with scores ranging from 205 to 805. Top business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton expect GMAT scores between 700 and 740 for competitive admission. The GRE, restructured in 2026, takes under 2 hours and includes Analytical Writing (1 task), Verbal Reasoning (27 questions), and Quantitative Reasoning (27 questions), scoring up to 340. English proficiency tests cost between USD 70 (Duolingo) and USD 220 (PTE), with TOEFL at USD 205 and IELTS at USD 215 for Indian test-takers.
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FAQs
Is a CAT score valid in foreign universities for an MBA program?
Some business schools accept CAT scores for alternative types of management programs such as M.Sc in Management. However, CAT scores are valid for getting admission into some of the business schools.
Can I apply for an MBA program without having any work experience?
Top business schools around the world often require students to have significant work experience of at least 3-4 years before applying for an MBA program. However, some institutes do not require any work experience, provided that candidates have extraordinary academic backgrounds.
What are the basic requirements for studying an MBA abroad?
The basic requirement for studying an MBA abroad is to have a bachelor’s degree. Also, candidates must have qualified MBA entrance exams such as GMAT/GRE and English language proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, etc.
Is it compulsory to appear for the GMAT exam for an MBA?
While most of the top world-class business schools accept GMAT as the standardised entrance exam for MBA abroad, some institutes require students to clear the GRE test for the same. However, private universities do not often ask for GMAT or GRE scores as they have their eligibility criteria.
Which are the best business schools abroad?
Following are the top 5 business schools abroad, popular among Indian students: Stanford Graduate School of Business, The Wharton School, Harvard Business School, London Business School, and the University of Chicago.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
