CMAT Exam Pattern – CMAT 2026 Pattern and Marking Scheme here

CMAT 2026

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to all management programs in AICTE-approved institutions. CMAT 2026 is expected to be conducted in the last week of January 2026. In the last few years, NTA announced a few changes to the exam pattern of the CMAT.

For more details you can refer to exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.

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CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

CMAT is composed of 100 questions, and its time duration is three hours. It is an objective test that is designed to check the general aptitude and knowledge of the candidates. There are no individual sectional time limits in CMAT, which means it is up to the test-taker to maintain a balance among different sections.

The following table will give you an overview of CMAT paper pattern:

Mode	Computer-based
Number of Sections	5
Sections	Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Number of Questions	100 (20 questions per section)
Duration of the Test	180 minutes
Number of Shifts	Two
Marking Scheme	+4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Sectional Division

The following table shows the section-wise distribution of questions and marking scheme of CMAT 2026:

Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	20	80
Logical Reasoning	20	80
Language Comprehension	20	80
General Awareness	20	80
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	20	80
Total	100	400

CMAT Syllabus 2026

The CMAT syllabus covers key areas relevant to management education. The following table outlines the topics for each section, based on official NTA guidelines:

Section	Topics
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Mixtures, Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance), Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons), Algebra, Mensuration, Number Systems, Modern Math (Permutations, Combinations, Probability), Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Charts, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs)
Logical Reasoning	Analytical Reasoning, Linear Arrangements, Ranking & Time Sequence, Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Series Formation, Syllogism, Statement Assumptions, Conclusions, Arguments, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Seating Arrangements
Language Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms), Grammar (Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks), Analogies, Critical Reasoning
General Awareness	Current Affairs (National & International), Business & Economy, History, Geography, Politics, Sports, Science, Literature, Awards, Books & Authors, Static GK
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	New Business Ideas, Startups & Funding, Business Models, Innovation Concepts, Entrepreneurship Theories, Case Studies, Government Schemes for Startups

Important Dates for CMAT 2026

The official dates for CMAT 2026 have not been announced by NTA. The following are tentative dates based on the CMAT 2025 schedule. Candidates should check the official NTA website (exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT) for updates.

Event	Tentative Date
Online Registration and Application Submission	November 2025 (expected)
Last Date for Fee Payment	Mid-December 2025 (expected)
Correction Window	Mid-December 2025 (expected)
City Intimation Slip	Mid-January 2026 (expected)
Admit Card Download	Late January 2026 (expected)
Exam Date	Last week of January 2026 (expected)
Answer Key Release	February 2026 (expected)
Result Declaration	February 2026 (expected)

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CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Analysis

Based on the exam structure and format, students should prepare for CMAT 2026 and keep in mind the following points:

CMAT is a three-hour computer-delivered test where difficulty levels, number of questions and the time duration of each section are predetermined and the same regardless of when and where the test is administered.
The quantitative and data interpretation section usually contains questions having a difficulty level of moderate to difficult. The important topics covered in this section are: Geometry, Mensuration, Profit & Loss, Number System, Averages, Probability, Logarithms etc. To have an edge in this section, you must practice regularly and have thorough concept clarity.
Developing the habit of reading English newspapers regularly along with novels and magazines will help you in building your vocabulary and ace the verbal ability area of CMAT. It is a balanced section and covers all the broad topics ranging from Reading Comprehension, Idioms, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles, Fill in the Blanks, Critical Reasoning, Analogy, Sentence Rearrangement, FIJs and Para Jumbles.
The Logical and Analytical Reasoning Section constitutes questions on Analytical Reasoning, Blood Relations, Input/output, Alpha-Numeric Series, Visual Reasoning, True/False Statements, Deductive Logic, Data arrangement, Family relations, Linear arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Direction based questions, Syllogisms and Data Sufficiency. The level of difficulty of this section fluctuates every year; so you need to master all the concepts, tips and tricks to solve this area.

The General Awareness section is divided into two broad categories: Current GK and Static GK. The former has questions on the Constitution of India, Fiscal Policy, World affairs, Sports, Taxation and General Science etc., and the latter covers areas like Awards, Politics and Art and Culture.
From 2021, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a mandatory section of CMAT. This section requires a good knowledge of business-related current affairs, new developments and upcoming trends.

The key takeaway from CMAT pattern is that you need to brush up your basics of all the important topics and manage your time well during the exam.

FAQs about CMAT Exam Pattern 2026

1. What is the passing score for CMAT?

There is no qualifying score in CMAT. However, most reputed B-schools have a cut-off of 95+ percentile, which is equivalent to 280+ marks.

2. Is CMAT easier than CAT?

Yes, CMAT is quite easy as compared to CAT. So, if you have prepared for CAT, all you have to prepare are the general awareness and Innovation & entrepreneurship sections.

3. Who is eligible for CMAT?

A candidate in the final year of graduation or having completed their bachelor's degree is eligible for CMAT.

4. Is CMAT exam online or offline?

CMAT is a computer-based test. It is not conducted in paper-based mode.

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