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CMAT 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

India · 4 subjects · 44 topics · Updated 2026-04-06

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.

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Verified 2026-04-24
Year
2026
Subjects
4
Topics
44

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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 · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — CMAT

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

What is CMAT and which MBA colleges accept it?
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is India's national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes in AICTE-approved management institutes across India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Unlike CAT (which is primarily for IIMs), CMAT is accepted by over 1,000 AICTE-approved B-schools including SIMB (Symbiosis), MET (Manipal), JAIIB, and many state-supported institutions. It is typically held once a year (January/February) and is a more accessible alternative to CAT for students targeting tier-2 and tier-3 B-schools.
What is the CMAT exam pattern?
CMAT consists of 4 sections with 100 questions total to be answered in 3 hours (180 minutes): Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (25 questions), Logical Reasoning (25 questions), Language Comprehension (25 questions), and General Awareness (25 questions). Each correct answer carries 4 marks; 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no individual sectional time limit — candidates can switch between sections freely. The exam is conducted online (CBT) at designated centres across India. Since 2021, CMAT score is also accepted by some universities for M.Sc. and M.Tech programmes.
What is a good CMAT score and which colleges can I get into?
A CMAT score of 250+ out of 300 is generally considered excellent and can get you into top CMAT-accepting B-schools. The percentile mapping: 250+ is 95–99+ percentile, 200–250 is 80–95 percentile, and 150–200 is 60–80 percentile. Top B-schools accepting CMAT include: SIMSREE Mumbai (requires 98+ percentile), MET Mumbai (95+ percentile), PUMBA Pune (90+ percentile), and many others. Unlike CAT where the top 1% gets IIM calls, CMAT top scorers get calls from 50+ good B-schools. Since CMAT is a simpler exam than CAT, diligent preparation can yield high scores.

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Exam Name CMAT
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects VARC, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge
Total Topics 44
Official Source https://example.com
Last Updated 2026-04-06