Match each programme to its current exam route
Create one row per programme and campus. Record the award, admission year, accepted exam, official notice and any separate programme registration. IIM Ahmedabad lists CAT for its domestic PGP application route. XLRI publishes XAT guidance for its Business Management programme. Check each policy for the year you intend to enter and for your applicant category.
Use the programme name on the official notice when making a payment. Schools may offer multiple MBA or PGDM programmes with different work experience, subject or test requirements.
Work backwards from deadlines
Add reminders for the exam form, programme form, document upload, admit card, exam and interview. Include a status column for each step and save payment receipts and submission confirmations. Check when degree completion or provisional documents are due if you are in your final year.
Prepare for assessment beyond the exam
Use timed diagnostic papers to see which sections need practice. Track accuracy, question selection and time separately. As you revise, keep a record of errors and repeat representative questions rather than measuring progress only by the number of mocks.
Prepare examples of decisions you made in projects, work or volunteering. Be ready to explain the problem, evidence, alternatives and outcome. Review the institution’s published selection stages and prepare for those stages.
Compare offers before you pay
Use the same columns for every offer: tuition, living costs, deposit and refund terms, electives, internship support, commute or residence, and career services. Read the latest programme and campus placement report. Verify that you can meet any conditions attached to the offer.
Frequently asked questions
Does exam registration cover every college application?
Check each school’s current instructions. Some programmes require a separate form, payment or programme selection.
Can I use a published cutoff to predict an offer?
Use it to understand the published screening rules for that intake. Review the other stages and criteria before making application decisions.
Sources & further reading
Original MBAHub planning guidance. Official references support factual details; programme requirements can change.