Updated 23 October 2026
The next ten weeks are the busiest stretch of the MBA entrance season. Three major tests, CAT, SNAP and XAT, fall between late November and early January. Below is a single calendar built only from official sources, with a link to each so you can check for changes.
November 2026
- 4 November – 29 November: CAT 2026 admit card download window, on iimcat.ac.in (CAT 2026 advertisement)
- 25 November: SNAP 2026 registration and payment closes (snaptest.org Important Dates)
- 29 November: CAT 2026, computer-based, in three sessions, at centres in around 170 test cities (CAT 2026 advertisement)
December 2026
- 6 December: XAT 2027 registration closes (xatonline.in)
- 7 December: SNAP 01 admit card live
- 11 December: SNAP 02 admit card live
- 13 December (Sunday): SNAP 01
- 18 December: SNAP 03 admit card live
- 19 December (Saturday): SNAP 02
- 20 December: XAT 2027 admit card download begins (tentative) (xatonline.in)
- 26 December (Saturday): SNAP 03
January 2027
- First week of January: CAT 2026 result (tentative) (CAT 2026 advertisement)
- 3 January (Sunday): XAT 2027, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (xatonline.in)
- 12 January: SNAP 2026 result (snaptest.org)
- Last week of January: XAT 2027 result (XAT 2027 Bulletin)
- 31 January onwards: XAT 2027 score card download, open until 30 June 2027 (XAT 2027 Bulletin)
What about NMAT?
NMAT is run by GMAC. Its testing window, scheduling deadlines and retake rules are published on the official NMAT page at mba.com/exams/nmat. We could not read that page directly while preparing this calendar, so we have not listed NMAT dates here. Please check the official page for the current window.
How to use this calendar
- Count your weekends. SNAP falls on two Saturdays and one Sunday in December. XAT is on a Sunday in January. If you plan to take several SNAP attempts, block those dates now.
- Respect the registration deadlines. SNAP registration closes on 25 November, four days before CAT. XAT closes on 6 December. Register before the CAT week so the paperwork is out of the way.
- Plan the gap after CAT. Between 29 November and 3 January, your CAT preparation carries over to SNAP and XAT. XAT’s Decision Making section is the one area that needs new practice.
- Keep your registered email and phone active for every exam. That is where admit cards and results notices arrive.
One preparation, three tests
Reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude and data interpretation run through all three exams. Keep those skills sharp with CAT Gurukul’s free practice questions and our XAT, NMAT & SNAP preparation page.
Sources: CAT 2026 advertisement (the IIMs; final information on iimcat.ac.in), SNAP 2026 Important Dates, XAT 2027 registration page and Bulletin. Dates can change, so always confirm on the official site.
