Symbiosis International University (SIU) has revised the SNAP 2026 exam pattern with the addition of a new Ethics and Decision Making section, raising the total marks from 60 to 65 while keeping the exam duration at 60 minutes.
- SNAP 2026 now has 4 sections instead of 3, with the new Ethics and Decision Making section carrying 10 questions and 10 marks.
- Total exam marks increased from 60 to 65; the time limit stays at 60 minutes.
- The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section is reduced from 25 to 20 questions to make room for the new section.
- Negative marking of -0.25 marks per wrong answer applies to all sections, including Ethics.
- Candidates who prepared for SNAP 2025 must now account for the additional section and revised time distribution.
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SNAP 2026 Exam Pattern: Section-wise Breakdown
The SNAP 2026 exam pattern now covers 65 questions across 4 sections, all within 60 minutes. The newly added Ethics and Decision Making section tests ethical reasoning and managerial judgment, skills SIU considers essential for MBA aspirants.
- The exam is conducted in online mode (Computer Based Test) as before.
- Each correct answer awards +1 mark; each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
- Unattempted questions carry zero marks with no penalty.
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 15 | 15 | Unchanged |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Reduced by 5 questions |
| Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | 20 | 20 | Unchanged |
| Ethics and Decision Making (New) | 10 | 10 | New section added in 2026 |
| Total | 65 | 65 | Increased from 60 |
SNAP 2026 vs SNAP 2025: Key Differences in Exam Pattern
The table below gives a direct comparison of the SNAP 2026 and SNAP 2025 exam patterns, highlighting every change at the section level:
| Parameter | SNAP 2025 | SNAP 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Sections | 3 | 4 | +1 new section |
| Total Questions | 60 | 65 | +5 questions |
| Total Marks | 60 | 65 | +5 marks |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes | No change |
| General English | 15 Qs, 15 marks | 15 Qs, 15 marks | No change |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 25 Qs, 25 marks | 20 Qs, 20 marks | Reduced by 5 questions |
| Quantitative, DI and DS | 20 Qs, 20 marks | 20 Qs, 20 marks | No change |
| Ethics and Decision Making | Not present | 10 Qs, 10 marks | Newly introduced |
| Marks per Correct Answer | +1 | +1 | No change |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 | -0.25 | No change |
| Exam Mode | Online (CBT) | Online (CBT) | No change |
****Ques. Why was the Ethics section added to SNAP 2026?****
****Ans.**** SIU introduced the Ethics and Decision Making section to assess candidates on ethical reasoning and managerial judgment. These are skills considered essential for MBA students entering leadership and corporate roles, and the change aligns SNAP with global business school admission standards.
****Ques. Does the increase in total marks affect SNAP 2026 percentile calculation?****
****Ans.**** Yes. Since total marks have gone up from 60 to 65, the percentile for SNAP 2026 will be calculated on the new scale. Candidates should not compare raw scores from SNAP 2025 directly when estimating their 2026 percentile.
SNAP 2026 Ethics and Decision Making Section: What to Expect
The Ethics and Decision Making section is the biggest change in SNAP 2026. It carries 10 questions and 10 marks and is expected to test the following areas:
- Ethical dilemmas in business and workplace scenarios
- Decision-making in situations with conflicting interests or moral complexity
- Corporate governance and social responsibility through case-based questions
- Professional conduct questions testing values and managerial ethics
- Stakeholder analysis and the ethical impact of business decisions
Since this is a brand new section with no previous year papers, candidates should build their preparation around case-based reasoning and ethical frameworks used in management education.
SNAP 2026 Marking Scheme
The SNAP 2026 marking scheme is unchanged from 2025, except that it now applies across 4 sections. Every correct answer earns +1 mark and every wrong answer carries a penalty of -0.25 marks.
| Answer Type | Marks Awarded | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 mark | All 4 sections |
| Wrong Answer | -0.25 marks | All 4 sections |
| Unattempted Question | 0 marks | All 4 sections |
How the SNAP 2026 Pattern Change Affects Preparation
Candidates who have been preparing for SNAP 2026 on the old 3-section pattern need to make targeted adjustments:
- Allocate 8 to 10 minutes from the total 60 minutes specifically for the Ethics section.
- The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section is now shorter by 5 questions, so that section demands slightly less time.
- Do not skip Ethics questions: even 8 to 10 marks correctly answered can move the percentile meaningfully in a competitive exam.
- Practice ethical case studies from MBA preparatory resources, newspaper editorials, and business ethics textbooks.
- Since negative marking applies to Ethics, avoid blind guessing on ambiguous dilemma-based questions.
| Section | Suggested Time (SNAP 2026) | Suggested Time (SNAP 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 12 to 14 minutes | 12 to 15 minutes |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 18 to 20 minutes | 20 to 22 minutes |
| Quantitative, DI and DS | 18 to 20 minutes | 18 to 20 minutes |
| Ethics and Decision Making | 8 to 10 minutes | Not applicable |
SNAP Official Notifications and Documents: Last 3 Years
Candidates can access official SNAP exam pattern notifications and information brochures from Symbiosis International University through the links below:
| Year | Document | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | SNAP 2026 Official Information Brochure | View on Official Site |
| 2025 | SNAP 2025 Official Information Brochure | View on Official Site |
| 2024 | SNAP 2024 Official Information Brochure | View on Official Site |
Note: Official documents are published by Symbiosis International University. Links are updated as notifications are released on snaptest.org.
****Ques. What is the total marks in SNAP 2026?****
****Ans.**** The total marks in SNAP 2026 is 65 marks, up from 60 marks in SNAP 2025. The extra 5 marks come from the new Ethics and Decision Making section, which has 10 questions each worth 1 mark.
****Ques. How many sections are there in SNAP 2026?****
****Ans.**** SNAP 2026 has 4 sections: General English (15 marks), Analytical and Logical Reasoning (20 marks), Quantitative Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency (20 marks), and the new Ethics and Decision Making section (10 marks).
****Ques. Is the SNAP 2026 exam duration still 60 minutes?****
****Ans.**** Yes, SNAP 2026 duration remains 60 minutes. Candidates now need to manage 4 sections in the same time, making time distribution more important than in previous years.
****Ques. Does negative marking apply to the Ethics section in SNAP 2026?****
****Ans.**** Yes, the negative marking rule of -0.25 marks per wrong answer applies to the Ethics and Decision Making section, exactly as it does for all other sections. Candidates should avoid guessing randomly on ethics questions.
****Ques. Which section was reduced in SNAP 2026 to add the Ethics section?****
****Ans.**** The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section was reduced from 25 to 20 questions (from 25 to 20 marks) to accommodate the new Ethics and Decision Making section. General English and Quantitative sections remain unchanged.
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