SNAP 2026 has introduced a new Ethics and Social Responsibility section — the total marks remain 60, with Analytical and Logical Reasoning reduced from 25 to 20 questions to make room for the new 5-mark section.
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) released the updated SNAP 2026 exam pattern on October 15, 2026. The exam now has four sections instead of three, making Ethics and Social Responsibility a standalone tested area for the first time in SNAP history. Students targeting SIU MBA programmes must revise their preparation strategy to account for this structural change.
- SNAP 2026 has 4 sections — General English, Quantitative-DI and DS, Analytical and Logical Reasoning, and Ethics and Social Responsibility.
- Ethics section carries 5 marks out of an unchanged total of 60 marks.
- Analytical and Logical Reasoning is reduced from 25 to 20 questions — the 5 freed marks move to Ethics.
- Negative marking of -0.25 per wrong answer applies to all sections, including the new Ethics section.
- Total duration remains 60 minutes with no section-wise time limit.
| Direct Link to SNAP 2026 Official Notification (OUT) |
SNAP 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
SNAP 2026 is a 60-minute computer-based test with 60 questions for 60 marks. The updated pattern now spans four sections, with the Ethics and Social Responsibility section making its debut. Here is the complete overview:
| Parameter | SNAP 2026 |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 60 |
| Total Marks | 60 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Number of Sections | 4 (up from 3 in 2025) |
| Question Type | MCQ (4 options, 1 correct) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong |
| Medium | English |
| Section-Wise Time Limit | None |
New Ethics and Social Responsibility Section in SNAP 2026
The Ethics and Social Responsibility section is a first for SNAP — it carries 5 questions for 5 marks and tests your grasp of ethical reasoning in business contexts.
This section is expected to include the following question types:
- Business ethics scenarios — situation-based questions where you identify the most ethical response for a manager or organisation.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) — questions on CSR obligations, frameworks, and policy application under Indian law and global standards.
- Ethical decision-making — short cases on managerial dilemmas involving fairness, honesty, and accountability.
- Stakeholder responsibility — questions on balancing interests of employees, shareholders, society, and environment.
Since SNAP 2026 is the first year this section appears, no SNAP-specific previous year questions exist for Ethics. Students should prepare using standard MBA entrance ethics material and stay current with major CSR developments and business governance news.
SNAP 2026 vs SNAP 2025: Key Differences
The table below covers every change between SNAP 2025 and SNAP 2026:
| Feature | SNAP 2025 | SNAP 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Sections | 3 | 4 |
| General English | 15 Q / 15 Marks | 15 Q / 15 Marks (no change) |
| Quantitative, DI and DS | 20 Q / 20 Marks | 20 Q / 20 Marks (no change) |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 25 Q / 25 Marks | 20 Q / 20 Marks (reduced by 5) |
| Ethics and Social Responsibility | Not present | 5 Q / 5 Marks (new section) |
| Total | 60 Q / 60 Marks | 60 Q / 60 Marks (unchanged) |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes (unchanged) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 per wrong answer | -0.25 per wrong answer (unchanged) |
The total marks and exam duration are unchanged at 60 marks and 60 minutes. The change is structural: Analytical and Logical Reasoning loses 5 questions, and that weight moves entirely to the new Ethics section.
SNAP 2026 Section-Wise Breakdown
Here is the complete breakdown of all four sections in SNAP 2026 with weightage and key topics:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Weightage | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 15 | 15 | 25% | Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles |
| Quantitative, DI and DS | 20 | 20 | 33.3% | Arithmetic, Algebra, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 20 | 33.3% | Puzzles, Syllogisms, Critical Reasoning, Coding-Decoding |
| Ethics and Social Responsibility (New) | 5 | 5 | 8.3% | Business Ethics, CSR, Stakeholder Theory, Ethical Dilemmas |
| Total | 60 | 60 | 100% | — |
Marking Scheme and Time Strategy for SNAP 2026
Each correct answer earns +1 mark; each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry zero marks. This rule now applies to all four sections including Ethics.
With 60 questions in 60 minutes, the average time per question is 1 minute. The recommended time split across sections is:
| Section | Questions | Suggested Time |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 15 | 12–15 minutes |
| Quantitative, DI and DS | 20 | 20–22 minutes |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 18–20 minutes |
| Ethics and Social Responsibility | 5 | 5–6 minutes |
The Ethics section offers 5 relatively accessible marks for well-prepared students. Spending 5–6 minutes on these 5 questions is efficient and can separate closely scored students in a high-competition exam like SNAP. Avoid random guessing given the -0.25 penalty.
SNAP 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. What is the new section added in SNAP 2026?
Ans. SNAP 2026 has added an Ethics and Social Responsibility section with 5 questions for 5 marks. It covers business ethics, CSR, and ethical decision-making in management scenarios. This section did not exist in SNAP 2025.
Ques. Has the total marks of SNAP 2026 changed from SNAP 2025?
Ans. No. The total marks remain 60 in SNAP 2026. The new Ethics section (5 marks) was created by reducing Analytical and Logical Reasoning from 25 to 20 questions, keeping the overall total unchanged.
Ques. Which section has fewer questions in SNAP 2026 compared to SNAP 2025?
Ans. Analytical and Logical Reasoning has been reduced from 25 questions (25 marks) in SNAP 2025 to 20 questions (20 marks) in SNAP 2026, a reduction of 5 questions.
Ques. Is there negative marking in the new Ethics section of SNAP 2026?
Ans. Yes. The negative marking rule of -0.25 per wrong answer applies to all four sections in SNAP 2026, including the new Ethics and Social Responsibility section.
Ques. How should students prepare for the Ethics section in SNAP 2026?
Ans. Since SNAP 2026 is the first year with an Ethics section, no SNAP-specific previous year questions are available. Prepare using standard MBA ethics and CSR material, study stakeholder theory and corporate governance basics, and practice situation-based ethical reasoning. Following major business and governance news will also help.
Ques. How many sections does SNAP 2026 have?
Ans. SNAP 2026 has 4 sections: General English (15 marks), Quantitative-DI and DS (20 marks), Analytical and Logical Reasoning (20 marks), and the new Ethics and Social Responsibility (5 marks). SNAP 2025 had only 3 sections.








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