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India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30
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CMAT 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to management programmes (MBA/PGDM) in AICTE-approved institutions across India. CMAT is one of the few exams that provides admission to a wide network of over 1,000 B-schools and is conducted in an online computer-based format. It evaluates candidates across four key areas: verbal ability, quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and general awareness, reflecting the skills required for modern business management education.

Year
2026
Subjects
4
Topics
44
Cost
Free

Tracked daily from https://cmat.nta.nic.in/. See 2026 calendar →

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📋 Exam Pattern

CMAT consists of 100 multiple-choice questions divided into four sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (25 questions), Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation (25 questions), Logical Reasoning (25 questions), and General Awareness (25 questions). Each question carries 4 marks, with a total of 400 marks. The duration is 3 hours (180 minutes) with no sectional time limit. There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. The exam is conducted online (CBT) in a single shift.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates holding a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university are eligible to appear for CMAT. Candidates in their final year of graduation may also apply provisionally. There is no age limit for CMAT. Foreign nationals holding valid GMAT scores may also be considered for admission to some institutions under their respective policies.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 44 topics across 4 subjects

VARC

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12 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

Quantitative Ability

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12 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

Logical Reasoning

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12 topics · Analytical Reasoning· Blood Relations· Direction Sense + more

General Knowledge

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8 topics · Ancient Indian History· Medieval & Modern Indian History· Indian Geography & Environment + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — CMAT

Everything you need to know about CMAT. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

How many sections does CMAT 2026 have, and what is the total question count plus marking weight used by NTA?
CMAT 2026 will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode with five mandatory sections: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Each section typically carries 20 questions, taking the paper to 100 questions for 400 marks. The standard marking scheme used by NTA awards +4 marks for every correct answer and applies no negative marking for un-attempted or wrong responses, so attempt decisions should be accuracy-led rather than elimination-led. Source: cmat.nta.nic.in
When is CMAT 2026 expected to be announced, and what registration fee should General, OBC-NCL, and SC/ST candidates budget?
NTA usually activates the CMAT 2026 information bulletin on cmat.nta.nic.in between March and April, with the application window open for roughly three to four weeks and the CBT held in May. The General (Unreserved) and OBC-NCL male fee has been ₹2,000 in recent cycles, while female candidates of all categories and SC/ST/PwD/Transgender candidates pay ₹1,000 — keep a debit card, net-banking login, and a scanned photograph and signature ready before the window opens to avoid last-minute server rush. Source: cmat.nta.nic.in
What is the official eligibility condition for CMAT 2026, and are final-year graduation students allowed to apply?
A candidate must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum three years' duration from a recognised university, or be in the final year of such a programme, with at least 50% marks for the General category and 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates. There is no upper age limit prescribed by NTA, and Indian citizenship is not a written bar; foreign nationals are eligible on a No-Objection Certificate basis. Confirm category-wise relaxation details from the live information bulletin before submitting the form. Source: nta.ac.in
How should an aspirant distribute the CMAT 2026 syllabus across a realistic 90-day study plan?
A practical 90-day split allocates six weeks to Quantitative Techniques (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation) and Logical Reasoning (series, coding, arrangements, analytical reasoning), with a daily Reading Comprehension plus vocabulary block for Language Comprehension. Weeks seven and eight should cover the static General Awareness syllabus — economics, polity, current affairs, business GK — using monthly magazines. Reserve the final two weeks for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship section (startup terminology, business plans, IPR basics) and six full-length CBT mock tests with sectional timing. Source: cmat.nta.nic.in
Does NTA release official CMAT 2026 mock tests or previous-year papers, and where should candidates download them from?
Yes, NTA publishes a computer-based mock test on cmat.nta.nic.in roughly seven to ten days before the exam window, simulating the actual 180-minute, five-section interface. Candidates should also download the official Information Bulletin PDF and refer to AICTE-recognised MBA/PGDM institute cutoffs from previous cycles for percentile benchmarking, because NTA does not declare a qualifying cutoff. Treat any third-party "expected cutoff" page as unofficial — your percentile depends on the slot you appear for. Source: nta.ac.in

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Exam Name CMAT
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects VARC, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge
Total Topics 44
Official Source https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
Last Updated 2026-05-30