Common Management Admission Test

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to management programs, with results and cutoffs used by participating colleges for their selection process.

Stream: Management Level: PG Mode: Fully online Computer-Based Test (CBT) 31 sections with data

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Overview

CMAT 2026 Result and Answer Key Released

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the CMAT Results and CMAT Final Answer Key 2026 on 17 February 2026. The results are available on the official website, cmat.nta.nic.in.

Approximately 53,453 candidates took the test. Candidates can now download their CMAT 2026 scorecards using their application number and password.

Note: The NTA will not send a hard copy of the scorecard. You must download your CMAT 2026 scorecard using your User ID and Password.

Direct link to download the CMAT 2026 Results - (Out)
Direct link to download the CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key - (Out)

Source: cmat.nta.nic.in

CMAT 2026 Cutoffs

Now that the results are declared, each participating college will release its own cutoff. Cutoffs are based on factors like applicant numbers, seat availability, exam difficulty, and previous years’ trends.

Candidates who meet the cutoff criteria will be shortlisted for the next stages of selection. These stages include GD/PI and WAT.

As per discussions on Reddit among CMAT aspirants, in CMAT 2025, JBIMS and SIMSREE had cutoffs around the 99.9+ percentile. Tier-1 colleges closed at 95–99 percentile. CMAT 2026 cutoffs are expected to remain the same, with a possible 5–10 mark shift in raw scores.

Key Summary

CMAT is a national-level MBA/PGDM entrance exam conducted by NTA for 1,000+ AICTE-approved institutes.
Sections: Quantitative & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Percentiles, not raw scores, determine shortlisting for top B-schools; a score of 300+ generally gives 99+ percentile.
Result expected on 13 February 2026; valid for 1 academic year.
Top colleges like JBIMS/SIMSREE require 99.9+ percentile; other good B-schools accept 85–95 percentile.
Preparation focus: mock tests, past papers, section-wise strategy, and accuracy.

What is CMAT?

The CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam in India conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is designed for admission to management programs like MBA and PGDM offered by over 1,000 AICTE-approved institutes across India.

What is CMAT?

CMAT is a business aptitude test that lasts 3 hours. It tests candidates on quantitative ability, logical reasoning, language skills, general awareness, and entrepreneurial thinking.

The exam has a moderate difficulty level. It can be cleared with basic to structured preparation.

What CMAT is used for

MBA (Master of Business Administration)
PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management)
MMS and other AICTE-approved management programmes

Key highlights of the CMAT exam

Fully online Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Conducted once a year by NTA
3 hours (180 minutes) exam duration
100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
No sectional time limit

CMAT 2026 Important Dates

The CMAT 2026 exam was held on January 25, 2026. The result and final answer key have been released on 17 February 2026.

Official / Confirmed Date	Event
17 February 2026 (Out)	Final Answer Key
17 February 2026 (Out)	Result Declaration
25 January 2026 (Over)	CMAT 2026 Exam Date
31 January 2026 (Released)	Answer Key Release
31 January – 2 February 2026 (11:50 PM) (Closed)	Answer Key Challenge Window

Frequently asked questions about CMAT 2026 dates

Ques. What is the date of the CMAT exam in 2026?

Ans. The CMAT 2026 will be held on January 25, 2026.

Ques. How many times CMAT exam is held in a year?

Ans. The NTA conducts the CMAT exam once a year, usually in January. The registration window started from 14th November 2025.

Ques. When will the CMAT 2026 result be announced?

Ans. The CMAT 2026 result is expected to be declared in the second or third week of February 2026. In 2025, the CMAT result was released on 13 February 2025.

CMAT Answer Key 2026

The CMAT 2026 Answer Key is an official document released by NTA. It contains all the correct answers to all the questions asked in the CMAT exam.

The answer key was released on 17th February 2026 on the official website.

It helps candidates cross-check their responses and estimate their probable score.
Along with the Answer Key, the NTA also releases the Response sheet, which shows the answers marked by the candidates during the exam.

How to check the CMAT answer key

Candidates can check the CMAT Answer key by visiting the official website and logging in using their User ID and password.

The NTA releases the provisional answer key along with the candidate response sheet. This allows aspirants to verify their answers and estimate their scores before the final result.

CMAT Results

The NTA has released the CMAT 2026 Result on 17 February 2026 on the official website - exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.

Candidates can check and download their results by using their Registration Number and Date of Birth. The CMAT 2026 score will be valid for only 1 academic year, i.e., 2026.

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026

A score difference of just 8–12 marks can shift the percentile by 3–5 points. This is especially true in the 90+ percentile range, highlighting the importance of accuracy over attempts.

CMAT Score Range (Out of 400)	Expected Percentile
300 – 340	99.0 – 99.9
270 – 299	97 – 98.9
250 – 269	95 – 96.9
230 – 249	90 – 94.9
200 – 229	85 – 89.9
170 – 199	75 – 84.9
150 – 169	70 – 74.9
Below 150	Below 70

What does a specific score mean?

Ques. What is 150 marks in CMAT?

Ans. A raw score of 150 out of 400 is considered average. It can place you in the 60-70th percentile, providing an opportunity to get into Tier-3 or regional B-schools.

Ques. Is 250 a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Yes, 250 is considered a very good score, placing you in the 90-95th percentile. With this percentile, you have strong chances at mid-to-good tier colleges like KJ Somaiya, Welingkar, BIMTECH, Jaipuria, IFIM, IPE Hyderabad, and Alliance.

CMAT Previous Year Cutoffs

The table below shows approximate cutoff percentiles for CMAT at selected institutes. These are indicative figures from previous years.

Institute Name	Category	Approximate Cutoff Percentile
All India Management Association (AIMA)	General	85 – 90
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM), Delhi	General	90 – 95
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad	General	85 – 90
Jaipuria Institute of Management	General	80 – 85
Christ University, Bangalore	General	70 – 80
Shiv Nadar University	General	70 – 75
SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)	General	Usually requires CAT/XAT; CMAT not accepted

Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores

The following table lists colleges that accept CMAT scores. It includes the program offered, expected cutoff percentile, and average placement package.

College Name	Program	Expected CMAT Cutoff (Percentile)	Average Placement (₹ LPA)
JBIMS, Mumbai	MMS	99.9+	28
SIMSREE, Mumbai	MMS	99.9+	15–16
GIM, Goa	PGDM	95+	10–11
Great Lakes, Chennai	PGDM	95+	12–17
Great Lakes, Gurgaon	PGDM	96+	13-17
KJ Somaiya, Mumbai	MBA/PGDM	95–99	12–13
BIMTECH, Greater Noida	PGDM	90–95	10–11
NIBM, Pune	PGDM	95+	14
IMT Nagpur	PGDM	90–95	10–12
IMT Hyderabad	PGDM	91-94	11-12
IFMR, Krea University	MBA/PGDM	85–90	13

CMAT 2026 FAQs

Which are the best MBA colleges at the 97 percentile in CMAT?

A score around 265-280 in CMAT can place you at the 97 percentile. This score can get you into colleges like KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes, IMT, Welingkar and XIMR.

Which colleges should I apply to with an 86.1 percentile in CMAT?

An 86.1 percentile in CMAT places you in the mid Tier-2 category. This percentile corresponds to a score of around 215-225 out of 500 in CMAT.

Colleges to Apply at 86.1 Percentile in CMAT:

BIMTECH Greater Noida (Selected programs)
IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University
IMI Bhubaneswar
Welingkar (e-Biz / Retail / Healthcare Management)
XIME Bangalore / Kochi / Chennai
Jaipuria Institute of Management (Noida, Lucknow, Jaipur)

If someone gets a 73 to 74 percentile in the CMAT, then which college will be the best pick in India for that person?

A 73–74 percentile in CMAT falls in the lower tier-2 to tier-3 range. This translates to a score of around 180-190.

Best college options at this percentile are:

Indira Institute of Management, Pune
IES Management College & Research Centre, Mumbai
SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD), Mysuru (borderline cases)
PUMBA (University departments – category/home quota cases)
Regional AICTE-approved colleges with good placement records

I scored in the 52 percentile in the CMAT. Which college should I try now?

A 52 percentile in CMAT means you have scored around 140-150 marks in the exam. This score limits your options to lower tier colleges.

Who Should Consider CMAT

CMAT is suitable for candidates aiming for admission to specific types of management institutes. These include regional private MBA colleges that are approved by AICTE.

It is also a good option for those targeting new or emerging business schools that accept CMAT scores. State-level colleges that have vacant seats in later admission rounds also use this exam.

Additionally, institutes offering specialised MBA programs with low cutoffs consider CMAT scores for admission.

Eligibility Criteria

CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Highlights

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) eligibility criteria for 2026 define the nationality, age limit, and educational qualifications needed to apply. The National Testing Agency (NTA) announces the official eligibility criteria along with the notification on its website, cmat.nta.nic.in.

CMAT 2026 registration has ended. The final date to apply was November 24, 2025, and the fee payment deadline was November 25, 2025. The registration was extended from its initial November 17 date. The CMAT exam is scheduled for 25 January 2026 and will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.

Criteria	Description
Educational Qualification	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Students in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree program in any discipline can also apply.
Minimum Marks	No minimum aggregate marks are required.
Nationality	The candidate must be an Indian resident.
Age Limit	No upper age limit.

Who Can Apply for CMAT 2026

Applicants must hold a graduation degree in any discipline. Candidates appearing in their final year graduation exam can also apply, provided their results are released before the beginning of the 2026-27 academic session.

Academic Requirement: A graduation degree in any discipline is required.
Minimum Marks in Graduation: No minimum aggregate marks are required to fill the CMAT application form.
Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens and hold valid ID proofs.
Age Limit: There is no maximum age limit to appear for the exam.

Course-Wise CMAT Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for admission to PGDM/MBA, PGCM, and Executive PGDM programs depends on the requirements set by each university or institution. NTA does not conduct centralized CMAT counselling; each participating college conducts its own counselling and sets its own eligibility criteria.

Name of the Programme	Eligibility Details
MBA, PGDM, etc.	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an AICTE-recognized university/institution.
Executive PGDM	Bachelor’s degree from an AICTE-recognized university/institution. Minimum experience of 5 years of relevant managerial or supervisory experience.
Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM)	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an AICTE-recognized university/institution.

CMAT Reservation Policy

The reservation policy for CMAT covers categories such as Other Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and provisions for a scribe or reader. Candidates from these categories should check the specific rules announced by NTA or the participating institutions.

CMAT Eligibility Criteria: Direct Answer

Candidates who hold a Bachelor's degree, or are enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor's degree program, are eligible for CMAT. AICTE has not set any minimum marks criteria for the exam.

Who Can Apply

Any candidate with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline can appear for the CMAT exam. Candidates who are in the final year of their Bachelor's degree program are also eligible.

The university from which a candidate completed graduation must be recognized by AICTE. Candidates are eligible irrespective of the marks obtained by them.

Eligibility for Distance Learning Graduates

Yes, candidates who have completed their graduation through distance learning mode are eligible for CMAT. The university must be recognized by AICTE.

Minimum Marks Required

AICTE has not set any minimum marks criteria for CMAT. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree, or those enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor's degree program, are eligible regardless of the marks they have obtained.

CMAT Reservation Policy

For admission to CMAT score-accepting colleges, the candidate must check the reservation policy applicable to that particular institute. Private institutions have their own reservation policy.

The reservations mentioned below apply to colleges and institutes that fall under the dominion of the Central Government of India.

Category	Percentage
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)	27%
PwD (each category)	5%
GEN-EWS Category	10%

Apart from the above reservation criteria, candidates should note the following points:

Private entities may hold different rules and regulations for reserved candidates.
For colleges run or aided by State Governments, the reservation policy of the respective State Governments shall apply.

OBC Reservation Details

Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) are as per the Central list of Other Backward Classes available on the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Government of India website - ncbc.nic.in. Candidates falling in this list may mention OBC in the Category column.

State list OBC candidates who are not in the OBC-NCL (Central List) must choose the General category.

PwD Reservation Details

Candidates registering for CMAT under the PwD category must keep the following points in mind:

As per Section 2(t) of the RPwD Act, "Persons with Disability (PwD)" means any person with long-term mental, intellectual, physical, or sensory impairment which hinders full and effective participation in society equally with others.
As per Section 2(r) of the RPwD Act 2016, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities means a person with not less than forty percent (40%) of a specified disability, where a specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms, and includes a person with a disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority.

The "Specified Disabilities" mentioned in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016 are provided in the official notification.

CMAT Scribe Policy

PwD candidates who are visually impaired, dyslexic, have a disability in the upper limbs, or have lost fingers/hands that prevent them from properly operating the Computer Based Test platform can avail of the services of a scribe. Candidates must remember the following points:

Applicants who require such aids must opt for the same during CMAT Registration. No such arrangement shall be made after the completion of registration.
A scribe will be provided only by the NTA. Candidates will not be allowed to bring their own scribe.
Test-takers who fall under persons with benchmark disability, whether they avail of a scribe or not, will be allotted 60 minutes extra to complete their examination.

CMAT Documents Required

The list of documents required for CMAT registration is specified in the official information bulletin.

CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: FAQs

Frequently asked questions about CMAT eligibility are answered below.

CMAT Eligibility Criteria

Anyone with a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university can apply for the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). There is no restriction on the stream of graduation.

CMAT Exam Mode and Test Centers

CMAT is conducted in online Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only. The exam is held at more than 150 test centers.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will not conduct CMAT in home-based remote proctored Internet Based Test (IBT) mode.

PwD Category Eligibility

Candidates with a disability of not less than 40% are considered under the Persons with Disability (PwD) category. The disability must be certified by a medical authority.

The categories defined for PwD candidates are:

Visually impaired
Locomotor Disability
Hearing Impairment
Intellectual Disability
Mental Behaviour
Chronic Neurological conditions
Blood Disorder

CMAT Reservation Criteria

Reservation applies to colleges and institutions that fall under the domain of the Government of India. The reservation percentages are as follows:

Category	Percentage
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)	27%
PwD (each category)	5%
GEN-EWS Category	10%

Final-Year Students

Final-year students can apply for CMAT. Applicants appearing for their final year exams can apply if their results are released before the commencement of the academic year.

Age Limit for CMAT

NTA does not specify any upper age limit for CMAT. Candidates of all age groups can apply, provided they meet the academic eligibility criteria for graduation.

Application Process

CMAT 2026 Registration Status

CMAT 2026 registration is now over. Candidates who registered can correct their application form from 26th November to 28th November, 2025 on the official website, exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.

Form correction allows changes to the test city, photo, and signature. To make changes, log in using your application number and password. The registration fee is INR 2000 for General category male candidates and INR 1000 for female and reserved category candidates.

The registration process includes generating login credentials (unique application number and password), filling out the application form (personal, academic, and exam center choices), uploading scanned images of photo and signature, and paying application fees. Only candidates who have successfully completed registration will get their Admit Card. The admit cards are likely to be issued around a week before the exam date.

Every year, around 70,000 to 80,000 students register for the exam. Last year, there were a total of 76,745 registered candidates.

CMAT 2026 Registration Dates

NTA has announced the exam date on the official website. All updates and notices regarding the registration date and process are available on the official website.

Event	Dates / Details
Online Submission of Application Form	17 October 2025 to 24 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)
Last Date of Submission of Application Fees	25 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)
Correction in Particulars in Application Form	26 – 28 November 2025
Announcement of the City of Examination	To be announced later on website
Downloading of Admit Cards from NTA Website	To be announced later on website
Date of Examination	To be announced later on website
Duration	180 minutes (03:00 Hrs)
Timing of Examination	To be announced later on website
Language of the Paper	English Only
Website(s)	https://cmat.nta.nic.in/ https://nta.ac.in

CMAT 2026 Registration Link

The registration link is available on the revised NTA portal - exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT. Based on the latest changes in the official registration websites of NTA exams, the registration link will also be available at cmat.ntaonline.in.

CMAT Eligibility Criteria

The minimum eligibility for CMAT is a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. There is no minimum marks criteria to apply for the exam.

For admission purposes, most participating colleges require at least 50% in graduation. Reserved categories need 45%.

Final-year graduation students can also fill the application form. They must complete their degree before admission begins.

How to Register for CMAT

The application process has 5 steps. First, visit exams.nta.ac.in or cmat.ntaonline.in and click on New Registration.

Enter and verify the details asked to generate your unique login credentials. Then login using your application number and password to begin filling the form.

The application form asks for the following details:

Personal information – category, gender, PwD status, address, parents’ names, requirement for scribe, nationality, diabetic status
Academic information – work experience, graduation details, class 10 and 12 qualifying exam details (pass year, university, marks and percentage)
Exam city preferences – any 4 in order of priority from a list of 110+ options

Next, upload scanned images of photo and signature in the correct format and dimension. Both images should be in .jpg or .jpeg format.

The file size should be between 10-200 kb for the photograph and 4-30 kb for the signature.

After saving these details, pay the registration fees through any online mode. You can use a Credit card, Debit card, Net banking, or UPI.

After payment confirmation, download the application form confirmation page. Keep it for all future correspondence.

CMAT Application Form Correction Window

The CMAT application form correction window is a one-time facility. It allows changes to some particulars in the submitted form.

The correction window allows edits in the following:

Uploaded documents
Category
Academic details
Name and date of birth
Parent’s names
Exam center choices

Changes in the email ID and registered mobile number are not permitted under any circumstances.

If a change in category and gender leads to a change in the exam application fees, you must pay the difference to submit the corrections. No changes will be allowed after the last date and time of the correction window.

The application form will be taken as final. Based on the verification of eligibility and other details, NTA will issue the admit cards online.

CMAT Registration Statistics

The registration for CMAT 2026 is yet to begin. You will have to wait till the registration last date to know how many students registered for the exam.

Registration data is available for the year 2023. This gives an idea of the competition level each year.

Source: cmat.nta.ac.in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date for CMAT registration?

CMAT registration last date was April 23, 2024. The last time to submit the application form was 9:50 pm.

The application fee payment window was open till 11:50 pm.

Has CMAT application form correction 2024 started?

Yes, the CMAT form correction window is live from April 24 to April 26, 2024. Keep track of the latest news and updates at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.

CMAT Registration Last Date

The last date for CMAT registration was April 23, 2024. The final time to submit the application form was 9:50 pm.

The application fee payment window was open till 11:50 pm.

CMAT Application Form Correction 2024

Yes, the CMAT form correction window is live from April 24 to April 26, 2024. You must keep track of the latest news and updates at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.

Application Fee for SC Category

For SC applicants, the fee is INR 1000 irrespective of their gender and state of residence. The fee has to be paid online after filling the application form.

CMAT Exam Mode

No, CMAT cannot be taken from home. CMAT is conducted at the test centers in a computer-based test mode.

You will be assigned a computer system to take the test at the allotted exam center. The option to take CMAT in any other mode does not exist for any applicant.

How to Retrieve CMAT Login Password

You can reset the password using the ‘Forgot Password’ tab in the login window. You will be sent a verification code and password reset link via email or SMS on the registered contact details.

CMAT Paper Pattern

CMAT paper pattern comprises 5 sections carrying 20 MCQs each. The marks carried by each question are 4 and there is a negative marking of 1 mark.

The 5 sections that make up CMAT paper pattern are:

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
Language Comprehension
Logical Reasoning
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
General Awareness

Exam Pattern

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the CMAT exam pattern on its official website. The question paper has five sections: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovative and Entrepreneurial Skills.

The CMAT exam pattern for 2026 is expected to remain the same as the previous year. Each section carries 20 questions, making a total of 100 questions in the exam.

Total marks in CMAT are 400.
Maximum marks for each section are 80.
+4 marks are given for a correct answer.
-1 mark is deducted for a wrong answer.

Key Summary of CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CMAT 2026 exam pattern includes 5 sections: Quantitative technique and data interpretation, Logical reasoning, Language comprehension, General awareness, and Innovative and entrepreneurship.
The CMAT 2026 consists of 100 MCQ-type questions.
Each section of CMAT 2026 consists of 20 questions, each question worth 4 marks.
The correct answer will be awarded 4 marks, and in case of the wrong answer 1 mark will be deducted.
The arithmetic topic in quantitative technique and data interpretation has the highest weightage with 24%.
Reading comprehension gets the highest weightage in the language comprehension section with 60%.
Logical reasoning has equal importance across the topics, however verbal reasoning has slightly high weightage (16%) compared to other topics.
Static general awareness is the highest weighted average in general awareness with 90% weightage.

What is the CMAT Exam Pattern?

CMAT is a computer-based test conducted by the NTA. The CMAT exam pattern is released by NTA along with the registration information.

CMAT includes 100 MCQ-type questions.
The exam pattern includes 5 sections of CMAT syllabus: Quantitative technique and data interpretation, Logical reasoning, Language comprehension, General awareness, and Innovative and entrepreneurship.
The time duration given to the students to solve the paper is 3 hours. There is no individual sectional time limit.
Each section has 20 questions, and the total number of questions is 100.
Total marks of CMAT is 400, with each question carrying 4 marks.
The CMAT exam will be conducted only in English language.

CMAT Exam Pattern Details

CMAT Particulars	Details
Exam Mode	Online
Duration	3 Hours
Language	English
Total number of shift	2
Sections	Quantitative technique and data interpretation Logical reasoning Language comprehension General awareness Innovative and entrepreneurship
Sectional time limit	No sectional time limit
Number of questions	100
Total Marks	400

What is the CMAT Marking Scheme?

As per the CMAT marking scheme, +4 marks are awarded for a correct answer and -1 mark is deducted for a wrong answer. Each question carries 4 marks.

CMAT Exam Pattern: Sectional Weightage

Each of the five sections in CMAT has 20 questions. The maximum marks for each section are 80.

CMAT Previous Years' Question Papers

Previous years' CMAT question papers are available for download. Students can use these papers to understand the exam pattern and practice for the exam.

CMAT Exam Pattern: Changes in the Last 5 Years

The CMAT exam pattern for 2026 is expected to remain the same as the previous year. The exam has consistently had 100 questions across 5 sections.

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Chapter-wise Sectional Weightage

The arithmetic topic in quantitative technique and data interpretation has the highest weightage with 24%. Reading comprehension gets the highest weightage in the language comprehension section with 60%.

Logical reasoning has equal importance across the topics, however verbal reasoning has slightly high weightage (16%) compared to other topics. Static general awareness is the highest weighted average in general awareness with 90% weightage.

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips

Students should focus on the sections with higher weightage while preparing. Practicing previous years' question papers can help in understanding the exam pattern.

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

Ques. What is the format of CMAT?

Ans. CMAT is the computer-based test consisting of 100 MCQs divided into 5 sections. Such as Quantitative technique and data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, general awareness and innovation and entrepreneurship.

CMAT Exam Pattern: Key Facts

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a computer-based test. It is held in 2 shifts at pre-allocated test centers.

The exam is entirely MCQ-based and consists of 100 questions. The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes (3 hours).

Sectional Time Limit

There is no sectional time limit in CMAT. Candidates have the full 180 minutes to manage their time across all 5 sections.

CMAT Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for CMAT is set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The total marks for the exam are 400.

Each section carries a maximum of 80 marks.
A correct answer is awarded 4 marks.
1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
No marks are given for unanswered questions.

Details	Marks
Correct answer	+4
Wrong answer	-1
No answer	0

CMAT Exam Pattern: Sectional Weightage

The CMAT exam is divided into 5 sections. Each section carries 20 MCQ-type questions.

The maximum marks that can be obtained is 80 marks per section. The difficulty level varies across question papers.

Section Name	Total Number of Question	Maximum Marks	Difficulty Level
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation	20	80	Easy to moderate
Logical Reasoning	20	80	Moderate
Language Comprehension	20	80	Moderate to Difficult
General Awareness	20	80	Moderate to difficult
Innovation and Entrepreneurship	20	80	Moderate

CMAT Previous Years' Question Papers

Solving previous year's question papers is important for improving time management and accuracy. Candidates can download the previous year's question papers below.

CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2021 Question Paper
CMAT 2024 Question Paper	CMAT 2020 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2022 Question Paper	CMAT 2018 Question Paper

CMAT Exam Pattern: Changes in the Last 5 Years

There have been no major changes in the CMAT exam pattern since 2022. Here are the most recent changes regarding the CMAT exam pattern.

CMAT 2021:

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was introduced as an optional section with 25 questions. It did not count for the calculation of percentile.
Each section consisted of 25 questions.
Candidates who attended the section were given 30 minutes extra.

CMAT 2022:

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was introduced as a permanent and mandatory section for all students.
The number of questions in each section was reduced to 20.
The exam duration was fixed at 3 hours.
All sections are counted for percentile calculations.

CMAT (2023 - 2026):

There are no significant changes in the CMAT exam pattern between 2023 - 2026.

Exam duration remains 3 hours, and 5 mandatory sections remain unchanged.
Each section consists of 20 questions.

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Key Details

The CMAT 2026 exam pattern is the same as CMAT 2025. There are no significant changes.

There are 100 MCQ-based questions, with 20 questions in each section.
The exam duration is 3 hours.
The total marks for the exam is 400.
You get +4 for a correct answer and -1 for an incorrect answer.

CMAT Exam Pattern: Year-wise Changes

The table below shows how the CMAT exam pattern has changed over the years.

Year	Questions	Sections	Exam Duration	Major Changes
2025, 2024, 2023	100	Quantitative and data interpretation Logical reasoning Language comprehension General awareness Innovation and Entrepreneurship	3 hours	No major changes
2022	100	Quantitative and data interpretation Logical reasoning Language comprehension General awareness Innovation and Entrepreneurship	3 hours	The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was made compulsory for all candidates. Exam duration was fixed at 3 hours for all. All sections are now counted for percentile calculations. The number of questions for each section was reduced to 20.
2021	100/125	Quantitative and data interpretation Logical reasoning Language comprehension General awareness Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Optional)	3 hours/ 3.5 hours	The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was introduced as an optional section. For students who attempted the 5th optional section, the exam duration was 3.5 hours; otherwise, it was 3 hours. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section did not count for percentile calculation.

Is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Section Compulsory?

Yes, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship section is compulsory. It is counted towards the percentile calculations.

This section has a weightage of 20 questions. Each question carries 4 marks, making it worth 80 marks.

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Chapter-wise Sectional Weightage

As per the official NTA, the CMAT exam pattern is divided into 5 sections. Each section covers questions from various topics.

Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation

Among all the topics in quantitative and data interpretation, arithmetic has the highest weightage with 6 questions. Geometry follows with 5 questions.

Algebra has a weightage of 3 questions out of 20 questions.

Topic Name	Total number of questions	Weightage in Percentage
Algebra	3	16%
Arithmetic	6	24%
Geometry	5	28%
Data Interpretation	2	8%
Modern Maths	2	16%
Miscellaneous	2	8%

Language Comprehension

The highest weightage of 60% comes from 4 passages for reading comprehension questions. Synonyms and antonyms will get approximately 2 questions.

Topic Name	Total number of questions	Weightage in percentage
Reading Comprehension - 4 passages	10	60%
Synonyms and Antonyms	2	8%
Fill in the blanks	1	4%
Error correction	1	4%
Idioms	1	4%
Para jumbles	1	4%
Word analogy	1	4%
Meaning of phrase	1	4%
Word meaning	1	4%
Correct the sentence	1	4%

Logical Reasoning

Verbal reasoning gets the highest weightage with 4 questions. Other topics get around 1 to 2 questions each.

CMAT Logical Reasoning Section

The Logical Reasoning section in CMAT has 20 questions. Each question carries 4 marks, so this section is worth 80 marks in total.

The section covers a wide range of topics. The table below shows the number of questions and weightage for each topic.

Topic Name	Number of questions	Weightage in percentage
Verbal reasoning - statement argument, statement conclusion, word relationship, Assertion reason	4	16%
Odd one out	2	12%
Coding - decoding	2	12%
Blood relations	2	12%
Series completion	1	8%
Visual reasoning	1	8%
Analogy	2	8%
Logic based	1	4%
Counting number of squares in a figure	1	4%
Ranking	1	4%
Square arrangement	1	4%
Directions	1	4%
Miscellaneous	1	4%

CMAT General Awareness Section

Static GK has the highest weightage in the General Awareness section with 18 questions. Current affairs get 2-3 questions.

Static GK covers topics such as history, geography, the Indian constitution, economics, and literature.

Topic Name	Number of questions	Weightage in percentage
Static GK	17-18	90%
Current affairs	2-3	10%

CMAT Section Weightage FAQs

Ques. How many marks are in the quant and DI sections in CMAT?

Ans. Quant and DI section has a weightage of 20 questions, with each carrying 4 marks. So the quant and DI section gets 80 marks in total.

Ques. Can I skip any section in the CMAT if I am weak in it?

Ans. It is technically possible to skip any section, but it is not advisable to skip completely, since every section carries 80 marks. You can minimize the preparation time, but please do prepare for important topics from the section to get at least partial marks.

Ques. Is the logical reasoning section more important than any other section in CMAT?

Ans. No, the logical reasoning section has equal weightage as other sections. Every section consists of 20 questions, and each worth 80 marks.

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips

CMAT 2026 preparation should be done as per the exam pattern and syllabus. Go through the entire syllabus and analyse the exam pattern to understand the structure of the exam.

Candidates must plan and allocate their time to studies and stick to the plan. Allot the time according to the difficulty level. Make sure every section is covered.
Gradual and regular revision helps in familiarizing with the topics, basics of the topics, types of questions and important questions.
Try to solve the previous year's CMAT question paper as much as possible.
Do practice sectional mock tests, and overall mock tests to analyse what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Work on speed and accuracy by learning shortcut methods and tricks to solve problems.

Ques. How to improve time management skills for the CMAT exam?

Ans. CMAT requires speed and accuracy to solve problems in CMAT since 100 questions need to be solved in 180 minutes. Solving mock tests and sample papers is the best way to practice time management. And learning shortcut methods, tricks and formulas will help you solve the problems so fast.

Ques. How many hours should I dedicate to CMAT preparation?

Ans. If you are a beginner who is just starting to understand the CMAT exam patterns, 7 - 8 hours of focused study is required. But if you already know about the CMAT exam pattern and concepts, then 3-4 hours of study would be enough.

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

Ques 1. Is CMAT difficult?

Ans. CMAT is considered moderately difficult, however difficulty level can vary section wise. CMAT tests the fundamentals and applications of each topic. It is easier compared to the CAT exam.

Ques 2. Can I use a calculator in the CMAT examination?

Ans. No, physical calculators are not allowed in the CMAT. An on screen calculator will be provided during the exam.

Ques 3. In what languages the CMAT is conducted?

Ans. CMAT is conducted in the English language only.

Ques 4. How many times can I attempt the CMAT?

Number of CMAT Attempts

There is no limit on the number of times you can attempt the CMAT. You can take the exam as many times as you want.

However, you must pay the application fee for each attempt.

CMAT Passing Marks

There are no official passing marks for CMAT. Colleges generally set their own cutoff based on the CMAT percentile.

Usually, 120 marks are considered qualifying marks. However, scoring a minimum of 250 marks is required to be considered for top B-schools.

Do IITs Accept CMAT Scores?

No, IITs do not accept the CMAT score for their management programmes.

For admission to IITs, you need to take one of these exams:

XAT
CAT
GMAT

Syllabus

CMAT 2026 Syllabus

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has not yet released the official CMAT 2026 syllabus PDF on its website, exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/. The exam structure is expected to remain the same as in previous years.

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is conducted by the NTA for admission to MBA and PGDM programs across India. The syllabus is designed to test quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, language proficiency, general awareness, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Exam Structure

The CMAT syllabus has five main sections. Each section carries equal weightage.

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
Logical Reasoning
Language Comprehension
General Awareness
Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Each section has 20 questions for 80 marks. The total exam has 100 questions and 400 marks.

Particular	Details
Total Sections	5
Questions per Section	20
Marks per Section	80
Total Questions	100
Total Marks	400
Exam Duration	3 hours (180 minutes)
Section Weightage	20% per section

Section-Wise Syllabus

The syllabus is divided into five sections. Each section tests a different skill set.

Section	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Key Focus Areas
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QA/DI)	20	80	Arithmetic, Algebra & Modern Maths, Geometry & Mensuration, Number System, Data Interpretation & Sufficiency
Logical Reasoning (LR)	20	80	Traditional Logic, Verbal / Critical Logic, Analytical Logic
Language Comprehension (VARC)	20	80	Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension & Verbal Ability
General Awareness (GA)	20	80	Current Affairs, Economy & Business, Static GK
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)	20	80	Entrepreneurship Basics, Innovation & Creativity, Business Models, Finance & Funding, Government Schemes & Ecosystem, Case Studies

Marking Scheme

CMAT 2026 follows a standard marking scheme. Correct answers earn positive marks, and incorrect answers lead to a penalty.

+4 marks for every correct answer
-1 mark for every wrong answer

Official Updates

Candidates planning to take CMAT 2026 should check the official NTA CMAT portal for updates and announcements. The official website is cmat.nta.nic.in.

CMAT 2026 Syllabus: Section-Wise Weightage

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 has five sections. Each section carries equal weightage in the exam.

Section	Weightage
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QA/DI)	20%
Logical Reasoning (LR)	20%
Language Comprehension (VARC)	20%
General Awareness (GA)	20%
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)	20%
Total	100%

CMAT Syllabus 2026: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

This section tests mathematical ability and data analysis skills. It covers five main topic areas with different weightages.

Topics	Subtopics	Approx. Weightage
Arithmetic	Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Partnership, Simple & Compound Interest, Problem on Ages, Time, Speed & Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures & Alligation	25-30%
Algebra & Modern Maths	Linear & Quadratic Equations, Permutation & Combination, Inequalities, Functions, Polynomials, Sequences & Series, Probability, Set Theory, Progression, Logarithms, Surds & Indices	20-25%
Geometry & Mensuration	Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Quadrilaterals, Mensuration, Trigonometry	10-15%
Number System	HCF & LCM, Divisibility, Remainders, Unit digits, Last two digits, Factors, Base conversions	5-10%
Data Interpretation & Sufficiency	Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Caselets, Data Sufficiency	25-30%

CMAT Syllabus 2026: Logical Reasoning

The Logical Reasoning section checks analytical and critical thinking. It is divided into three categories.

Topics	Subtopics	Approx. Weightage
Traditional Logic	Alphabet Test, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Directions, Odd One Out, Series, Ranking, Syllogisms, Inequality, Input-Output, Clock/Calendar, Cube and Dice	40-45%
Verbal / Critical Logic	Statement & Assumptions, Statement & Course of Action, Statement & Arguments, Statement & Conclusions, Cause & Effect, Inference	20-25%
Analytical Logic	Linear, Circular, Distribution, Selection	25-30%

CMAT Syllabus 2026: Language Comprehension

This section measures English reading and grammar skills. It has three main topic groups.

Topics	Subtopics	Approx. Weightage
Vocabulary	Synonyms & Antonyms, Analogies, Odd-one-out, Fill-up, Cloze Test, One-word Substitution, Spell Check	25-30%
Grammar	Error Detection, Sentence Correction, Sentence Improvement, Part of Speech, Direct-Indirect, Figure of Speech	20-25%
Comprehension & Verbal Ability	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Completion, Idioms & Phrases, Sentence Rearrangement	40-45%

CMAT Syllabus 2026: General Awareness

The General Awareness section covers current affairs and static knowledge. It is split into four areas.

Topics	Subtopics	Approx. Weightage
Current Affairs	National & International Events, Sports, Awards, Appointments, Summits, Books & Authors	35-40%
Economy & Business	Union Budget, Economic Survey, RBI Policies, Banking & Finance, Business Mergers, Corporate Affairs	25-30%
Static GK	Indian Constitution, Geography, History, Science & Technology, Polity, Environment	20-25%
Miscellaneous	Government Schemes, Important Days, International Organizations, Indian Culture & Heritage	10-15%

CMAT Syllabus 2026: Innovation & Entrepreneurship

This section focuses on business creation and startup knowledge. It includes five topic areas.

Topics	Subtopics	Approx. Weightage
Entrepreneurship Basics	Concept, Types of Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Business Plan Creation	20-25%
Innovation & Creativity	Design Thinking, Idea Generation, Product Development, Value Proposition, Business Models, Revenue Models	25-30%
Finance & Funding	Sources of Finance, Angel Investors, Venture Capital, Crowdfunding, Bootstrapping	15-20%
Government Schemes & Ecosystem	Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission, MSME Schemes, Incubators & Accelerators	10-15%
Case Studies	Real-world scenarios of startups & innovation management	10-15%

Key Topics in Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

The QA/DI section includes several core topics. Arithmetic and Data Interpretation carry the highest weightage.

Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Partnership, Simple & Compound Interest, Problem on Ages, Time, Speed & Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures & Alligation
Algebra & Modern Maths: Linear & Quadratic Equations, Permutation & Combination, Inequalities, Functions, Polynomials, Sequences & Series, Probability, Set Theory, Progression, Logarithms, Surds & Indices
Geometry & Mensuration: Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Quadrilaterals, Mensuration, Trigonometry
Number System: HCF & LCM, Divisibility, Remainders, Unit digits, Last two digits, Factors, Base conversions
Data Interpretation & Sufficiency: Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Caselets, Data Sufficiency

CMAT 2026 Syllabus: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation

The Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation (QA/DI) section covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, and Data Interpretation. The topics are from standard Class 10 and Class 12 mathematics.

Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest
Algebra: Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Inequalities
Geometry: Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Mensuration
Number System: Divisibility, LCM & HCF, Integers, Prime numbers
Data Interpretation (DI): Tables, Bar charts, Line graphs, Pie charts, Caselet-based sets

CMAT 2026 Syllabus: Other Sections

The other sections of the CMAT 2026 syllabus are Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Each section tests a different skill set.

Logical Reasoning (LR): Puzzles, Arrangements, Coding-Decoding, Blood relations, Analytical reasoning, Syllogisms
Language Comprehension (VARC): Reading comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Para-jumbles, Sentence completion
General Awareness (GA): Current affairs (last 6-12 months), Banking & Economy, Static GK, National & International events
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E): Business concepts, Entrepreneurship basics, Innovation, Funding, Caselets and short scenario-based questions

CMAT 2026: Innovation & Entrepreneurship Preparation

No, a business background is not required to score in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) section. Basic conceptual reading, following startup news, and practicing MCQs are sufficient to perform well.

CMAT 2026: Reading Comprehension Passages

Typically, the VARC section has 2-3 RC passages, each with 3-5 questions. The number may vary slightly each year, so focus on comprehension speed and accuracy.

CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme

The CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme is expected to follow the pattern prescribed by the NTA in previous years. In CMAT 2026, every correct answer will give you 4 marks, a wrong answer will cost -1 mark, and unattempted questions won’t affect your score.

The exam totals 400 marks for 100 questions.

Section	No. of Questions (Expected)	Marks per Question	Negative Marking	Total Marks (Expected)
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QA/DI)	20	4	-1	80
Logical Reasoning (LR)	20	4	-1	80
Language Comprehension (VARC)	20	4	-1	80
General Awareness (GA)	20	4	-1	80
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)	20	4	-1	80
Total	100			400

Source: exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT

CMAT Exam: Sectional Time Limit

No, CMAT does not have a fixed time limit for each section. Candidates have 180 minutes to complete all five sections and can allocate time to sections as per their strategy.

CMAT Difficulty Level Trends (2023-2025)

Based on past exam analyses, expert insights, and student feedback, the expected difficulty level for CMAT 2026 is estimated. The table below shows the difficulty trends for each section.

Section	CMAT 2023 Difficulty	CMAT 2024 Difficulty	CMAT 2025 Difficulty (as per analysis)	Expected Trend 2026	Remarks
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Moderate to Tough	Moderate	Moderate (Shift 2 slightly tougher)	Moderate	Usually considered the most time-consuming; Data Interpretation sets have increased.
Logical Reasoning	Easy to Moderate	Easy	Easy to Moderate	Easy to Moderate	Pattern remains steady; most questions from traditional reasoning.
Language Comprehension	Easy	Easy to Moderate	Easy	Easy to Moderate	Reading Comprehension remains simple; vocabulary-based questions common.
General Awareness	Moderate	Moderate to Tough	Moderate to Tough	Moderate	Static GK and business-related current affairs dominate; factual precision needed.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Easy to Moderate	Easy	Easy to Moderate	Easy	Conceptual and case-based; generally scoring.

CMAT Expected Difficulty Level for 2026

The expected difficulty level for CMAT 2026 is estimated based on past trends. The Quantitative Techniques section is expected to be Moderate, while Innovation & Entrepreneurship is expected to be Easy.

CMAT Difficulty Level

CMAT has maintained a Moderate difficulty level for the past three years. The overall pattern is expected to remain the same for 2026, with balanced difficulty across shifts.

Scoring Sections: Language Comprehension and Innovation & Entrepreneurship are consistently seen as high-scoring.
Tricky Areas: Quantitative Techniques & DI remains time-intensive and tricky for many aspirants.

CMAT Previous Year Question Papers

Practicing previous year question papers helps understand the exam pattern. Download links for past papers are given below.

CMAT 2024 Question Papers

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 1	Download PDF	Check Solutions
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 2	Download PDF	Check Solutions

CMAT 2023 Question Papers

Slot	Question Paper PDF
May 4 Slot 1 (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)	Check Here
May 4 Slot 2 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm)	Check Here

CMAT 2022 Question Paper

Question Paper	Download Link
Question Paper 2022	Check Here

CMAT 2021 Question Papers

Exam Slot	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 1	Check Here
Slot 2	Check Here

CMAT 2020 Question Paper

Exam	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Question Paper 2020	Check Here

CMAT 2019 Question Papers

Date/Slot	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Jan 28	Check Here
Jan 29	Check Here

CMAT 2018 Question Papers

Exam Slot and Subject	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 1 Quant	Check Here
Slot 1 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 1 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 1 GK	Check Here
Slot 2 Quant	Check Here
Slot 2 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 2 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 2 GK	Check Here

CMAT Preparation Tips

CMAT 2026 preparation requires a strategic approach focusing on accuracy and time management. Follow the points below to prepare effectively.

Understand the exam pattern and marking scheme thoroughly before starting preparation.
Focus on accuracy over attempting all questions due to negative marking.
Practice sectional time management to ensure you can complete all questions within 3 hours.
Strengthen fundamentals in Quant, LR, and VARC before moving to advanced topics.
Read daily current affairs for the GA section and maintain a short revision notebook.
Keep short notes, formula sheets, and flashcards for last-minute revision.
Students can also focus on an 8-week structured preparation plan.

CMAT 2026: 8-Week Preparation Strategy

Week	Focus Area	Daily / Weekly Tasks
Week 1-2	Foundation	Quant: Basic arithmetic & number system (45-60 min daily). VARC: 1 Reading Comprehension + vocabulary exercise daily. LR: 1 medium puzzle daily. GA: Compile last 6 months headlines. I&E: Read 2-3 entrepreneurship primer articles.
Week 3-4	Sectional Practice	Topic tests for QA, LR, VARC (alternate days). Start DI sets (mixed charts). Weekly GA full revision sheet.
Week 5-6	Mocks & Strategy	Take 2 full-length mocks per week. Review mistakes thoroughly. Time practice for DI sets & LR puzzles.
Week 7	Polish	3-4 mocks; focus on accuracy & negative marking control. Final GA short notes & one-line memory aids.
Week 8	Revision	Light mocks. Formula sheet & short flashcards for GA & vocab. Mental math warmups.

Use official NTA mock instructions to get comfortable with the CBT interface (NTA Test Practice Centre).

Recommended Books for CMAT 2026 Preparation

Using the right books can help you strengthen concepts, improve speed, and practice for each section of CMAT 2026. Below is a section-wise list of recommended books.

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QA/DI)

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations - R.S. Aggarwal
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT - Arun Sharma
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic - Rajesh Verma

Logical Reasoning (LR)

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. Aggarwal
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT - Nishit K. Sinha
Analytical Reasoning - M.K. Pandey

Language Comprehension (VARC)

Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis
High School English Grammar & Composition - Wren & Martin
Objective General English - S.P. Bakshi

General Awareness (GA)

Manorama Yearbook - Latest Edition
Pratiyogita Darpan - Current Affairs
Newspapers: The Hindu, Economic Times (Daily Current Affairs)

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)

Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Peter F. Drucker
Entrepreneurship Development - S.S. Khanka
Online resources: NITI Aayog / Startup India portal articles

CMAT Mock Test 2026

CMAT mock tests help candidates get used to the exam format and try questions from all five sections. They show which areas need more practice and help improve accuracy.

Regular practice also increases speed, builds confidence, and improves exam strategy.

Also Read: CMAT Mock Test 2025 (Free)

CMAT Syllabus 2026 FAQs

What are the key topics in the CMAT 2026 syllabus?

The key topics in the CMAT 2026 syllabus are:

QA/DI: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number system, data interpretation sets.
LR: Puzzles, arrangements, coding-decoding, analytical reasoning.
VARC: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, para-jumbles, sentence completion.
GA: Current affairs, banking, economy, static GK, national/international events.
I&E: Business concepts, entrepreneurship, innovation, funding, caselets.

Has the CMAT 2026 Information Bulletin been released?

No, the official 2026 Information Bulletin is not yet released. Aspirants can refer to the previous year's syllabus and pattern.

Official updates are available at the NTA CMAT portal.

What is the expected CMAT 2026 exam pattern?

The CMAT exam is expected to have five sections: Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. It will have a total of 100 questions and 400 marks.

Each correct answer carries +4 marks and wrong answers carry -1 mark.

Section	Questions	Marks	Weightage
QA/DI	20	80	20%
LR	20	80	20%
VARC	20	80	20%
GA	20	80	20%
I&E	20	80	20%
Total	100	400	100%

What is the marking scheme for CMAT 2026?

Each correct answer contains +4 marks, each incorrect answer has -1 mark, and unattempted questions have 0 marks. The marking scheme is uniform across all sections.

Section	Questions	Marks per Question	Negative Marking	Total Marks
QA/DI	20	4	-1	80
LR	20	4	-1	80
VARC	20	4	-1	80
GA	20	4	-1	80
I&E	20	4	-1	80
Total	100			400

What is the expected duration of CMAT 2026?

The exam duration is 180 minutes (3 hours). Candidates should manage time across sections to complete all 100 questions.

Is there a sectional cut-off in CMAT?

No, CMAT does not have official sectional cut-offs. Admissions may require an overall score or percentile.

Some colleges may set their own sectional minimums for shortlisting candidates.

Ans. Some of the books which are recommended for CMAT 2026 preparation are as follows:

Section	Recommended Books / Authors
QA/DI	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations - R.S. AggarwalHow to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT - Arun Sharma
LR	A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. AggarwalAnalytical Reasoning - M.K. Pandey
VARC	Word Power Made Easy - Norman LewisHigh School English Grammar & Composition - Wren & Martin
GA	Manorama Yearbook, Pratiyogita Darpan, Newspapers: The Hindu, Economic Times
I&E	Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Peter F. DruckerEntrepreneurship Development - S.S. Khanka

Ques. How should one approach CMAT 2026 preparation?

Ans.The approach for CMAT 2026 preparation could be as follows:

Focus on section-wise practice for QA, LR, VARC, GA, and I&E.
Take mock tests to familiarize with the CBT interface.
Revise using formula sheets, flashcards, and short notes.
Emphasize accuracy due to negative marking.

Ques. Where can I get official updates for CMAT 2026?

Ans. Students can check the NTA CMAT official portal regularly: https://cmat.nta.nic.in/ for exam dates, syllabus updates, and mock tests.

Cut-offs

What is the CMAT Cutoff?

The CMAT cutoff is the minimum score or percentile a candidate needs to be shortlisted for admission to MBA, PGDM, and other management courses in AICTE-approved colleges across India.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) does not declare any official CMAT cutoff. Each participating institute sets and releases its own cutoff.

There are two types of cutoffs:

Qualifying cutoff: A base eligibility percentile needed to be considered for admission.
College-specific cutoff: The percentile a particular institute expects to shortlist a candidate for selection rounds like GD and PI.

Each institute decides its own cutoff based on factors such as the number of applicants, seat intake, past admission trends, program reputation, and overall exam difficulty.

CMAT Cutoff Category-wise

CMAT cutoff varies by category. General category candidates need 95–99.99+ percentile, OBC candidates need 90–95, and SC/ST candidates need around 75–85 percentile.

PwD candidates require a cutoff in the lower range of 70–85 percentile.

Category	Expected Cutoff (Percentile)
General	95–99.99+
OBC	90–95
SC	75–85
ST	75–85
PWD	70–85

Expected CMAT Cutoff 2026 for Top Colleges

Expected CMAT cutoffs for the General category vary widely by college. The highest cutoffs are anticipated for JBIMS and SIMSREE, around 99.9 percentile, with strong competition and fewer seats.

As per @catguruji, Maharashtra All-India MBA seats are tough. A 99.99+ percentile with 320 marks out of 400 is needed for colleges like JBIMS and SIMSREE. It is slightly lower for local candidates, with an average package of ₹26 LPA.

Other B-Schools like Welingkar, IFMR GSB, and IMT Nagpur & Hyderabad will require a cutoff between 75–90 percentile, depending on the institute and programme.
For BIMTECH Greater Noida, XISS Ranchi, and Jaipuria Institute of Management (Noida, Lucknow, Jaipur), cutoffs usually fall in the 70–85 percentile range.

College	Expected Percentile	Expected Marks (out of 400)
JBIMS	99.99+	340–355
SIMSREE	99+	320–340
KJ Somaiya	95–99	280–310
Great Lakes / GIM	95+	270–300
Welingkar	85–90	240–270
BIMTECH	80–85	220–240
Christ / IFIM	70–80	180–210

CMAT Cutoff for Reserved Category

Reserved category cutoffs are lower than the General category cutoff.

OBC-NCL and EWS: 8–12% less than General.
SC, ST, and PwD: 40–50% less than General.

What is a Good Score in CMAT?

A score of 99+ percentile requires around 340+ marks. A 90 percentile requires around 250 marks.

Meeting the cutoff makes a candidate eligible for GD-PI rounds. Final admission is subject to the overall profile.

CMAT 2026 Cutoff Trends

It is expected that CMAT 2026 cutoffs can increase by 2–4 marks over 2025. This indicates higher participation and an average level of difficulty.

Colleges accepting CMAT scores show an inverse relationship between the CMAT percentile and return on investment (ROI).

CMAT Colleges by Percentile: Quick Overview

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) scores decide which MBA colleges you can target. Higher percentiles open doors to colleges with lower fees and better returns.

With 99.5+ percentile, colleges like JBIMS and SIMSREE charge very low fees of ₹1.3–6 lakh while providing top-tier average packages.
A percentile range of 95-99 offers a strong balance of brand value and good placements, charging a moderate fee of ₹2–17 lakh.
Colleges with 90-95 percentiles expand their accessibility and intake, but charge high fees around ₹12-14 lakh.
The 80-90 percentile range focuses on value-for-money MBA programs, offering mid-range fees of ₹8-10 lakh.
Colleges with 75 percentile and below have a wide fee variation and rely more on regional placements.

CMAT Colleges for 99.5 - 99.99 Percentile

Candidates scoring 99.5 percentile and above can aim for highly competitive flagship B-schools with excellent ROI and placements.

College Name	Expected CMAT Cut-off 2026	Approx. Total Fees (₹)
JBIMS Mumbai	99.98 – 100 percentile	₹6 lakh
KJ Somaiya	99 – 99.5 percentile	₹1.3 – 1.5 lakh
SIMSREE	99 – 99.7 percentile	₹18 – 20 lakh
Welingkar (WeSchool) Mumbai	99 – 99.3 percentile	₹12 – 14 lakh

CMAT Colleges for 95 - 99 Percentile

This percentile range offers access to strong mid-to-top tier MBA colleges known for balanced placements and industry exposure.

College Name	Expected CMAT 2026 Cut-off	Approx. Total Fees (₹)
PUMBA Pune	96-97 percentile	₹3 lakh
MET Institute of Management	96-98 percentile	₹2 – 4 lakh
XISS Ranchi	95-97 percentile	₹8 – 10 lakh
BIMTECH Greater Noida	95-96+ percentile	₹12 – 17 lakh
Welingkar Bangalore	95-96 percentile	₹10 – 12 lakh

CMAT Colleges for 90-95 Percentile

Aspirants in this percentile category can target reputed business schools with good placement opportunities and strong PGDM programs.

College Name	Expected CMAT 2026 Cut-off	Approx. Total Fees (₹)
IMT Nagpur	92 – 94 percentile	₹12 – 15 lakh
Jaipuria Institute of Management	90 – 94 percentile	₹10 – 14 lakh
Amity University	90 – 92 percentile	₹8 – 15 lakh
NIBM Pune	90 – 92 percentile	₹12 – 16 lakh

CMAT Colleges for 80-90 Percentile

This range includes numerous quality institutes offering value-for-money MBA programs and wide specialisations.

College Name	Expected CMAT 2026 Cut-off	Approx. Total Fees (₹)
IPE Hyderabad	85 – 88 percentile	₹8 – 10 lakh
SDMIMD Mysore	85 – 90 percentile	₹10 – 12 lakh
Indus Business Academy Bangalore	80 – 85 percentile	₹8 – 9 lakh
Delhi School of Business	80 – 85 percentile	₹8 – 10 lakh
FIIB Delhi	80 – 85 percentile	₹7 – 9 lakh

CMAT Colleges for 75 Percentile and Below

Colleges in this range have a wide fee variation and depend more on regional placements.

College Name	Expected CMAT Cut Off (%)	Approx. Total Fees (₹)
BIMTECH, Greater Noida	75	₹12 – 17 lakh
BIT Mesra	75	₹6 – 9 lakh
DY Patil School of Management, Pune	75	₹6 – 8 lakh
National Insurance Academy (NIA), Pune	75	₹11 – 12.5 lakh
Calcutta Business School	75	₹6 – 8 lakh
NDIM, New Delhi	75	₹8 – 10 lakh
XIME, Chennai	75	₹10 – 12 lakh
IES Management College & Research Centre, Mumbai	75	₹6 – 9 lakh
Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida	75	₹10 – 14 lakh
FIIB Delhi (Fortune Institute of International Business)	70	₹7 – 9 lakh
EDII Ahmedabad	70	₹10 – 11 lakh
VESIM, Mumbai	70	₹6 – 8 lakh
Durgadevi Saraf Institute of Management Studies	70	₹6 – 8 lakh
Delhi School of Business	70	₹8 – 10 lakh
EMPI Business School, New Delhi	65	₹6 – 8 lakh
Jaypee Business School (JBS), Noida	65	₹6 – 8 lakh
IIMS, Pune	65	₹6 – 8 lakh

Also Check:

JBIMS CMAT Cut off: Check Previous years CMAT Cut off Percentile
BIMTECH CMAT cut off: Check Seats Intake and Selection Criteria

Ques. Is 70 percentile a good score in CMAT?

Ans. A 70th percentile in CMAT 2026 is considered an average score, which can be achieved by around 180-190 marks out of 400.

Top B-schools: Colleges like JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya, and Great Lakes require higher scores (95-99+ percentile), so they are not options for a 70 percentile candidate.

Ques. Can I Get K J Somaiya at 70 Percentile?

Ans. Given that K J Somaiya Institute of Management has a cutoff around the 98th percentile, a 70 percentile is insufficient for admission.

Alternative Options: Candidates with a 70 percentile should consider other reputable institutes like BIMTECH Noida, with lower cutoff requirements.

Ques. Is 100 a Good Score in CMAT?

Ans. A score of 100 marks in CMAT is considered low and typically corresponds to a percentile below 50. While top B-schools are out of reach, some lesser-known private colleges like Mody University of Science & Technology in Lakshmangarh, MIT Pune, and Universal Business School in Mumbai may still accept this score, offering basic MBA programs.

MBA College at 60 to 99+ Percentile CMAT 2026

There are many colleges through CMAT which provides MBA at a 60 to 99+ percentile, as per MBA with Arshi by Studentkhabri.

At 99+ percentile, you can get top-tier colleges like JBIMS, which are highly dependent on the rank due to the limited seats, all-India.
Students with 90+ percentiles can target good institutes like BIMTECH, IMR Chennai, E-School Mumbai, and Great Lakes, with average packages around ₹7–9 LPA.
The 70–90 percentile range offers colleges like PIBM, JIMS, NDIM, ISBR, and Christ University.
Even 60–70 percentile candidates have admission opportunities, mainly in private and state-level colleges, making CMAT accessible across a broad score range.

CMAT Percentile and College Options

Your CMAT percentile decides which colleges you can target. The table below shows the general college categories for different percentile ranges.

Percentile Range	College	Average Package / Notes
99+	JBIMS, NIVM, NIA, LBSIM (non-core courses)	Top-tier institutes are very competitive
90+	IMR Chennai, E-School Mumbai, BIMTECH, Great Lakes	High competition, good placements
70-90	Lexicon, PIBM, JIMS, Rohini, FIB Delhi School of Business, IIMP, IISBM, NDIM, Balaji ISME Bangalore, IM University, ISBR, Christ University	Moderate competition, decent placements
40-70	Various state-level and private colleges	More accessible options

CMAT Government Colleges in India 2026

Several CMAT government colleges offer good returns on investment, but they require very high percentiles. This is based on data from MBA with Arshi by Studentkhabri.

SIMSREE and JBIMS require very low fees and provide exceptionally high average packages, but both require 99+ percentile and top ranks.
PUMBA Pune is a cost-effective option for high scorers around 99.6 percentile, especially Maharashtra candidates.
In the 90–95 percentile range, IBM Pune provides good placements of around 14 LPA with decent ROI.
Colleges like DMS DAVV Indore offer stable outcomes at low fees, but at 90+ percentiles.
The IIT Allahabad and NIT night programs are affordable but have lower average packages, making them suitable only for students prioritizing cost over placements.

College Name	Approx. Fees (₹)	CMAT Cutoff Percentile	Average Package (₹)	Key Insight / ROI
JBIMS, Mumbai	~6,00,000	99.5–99.9+	~27 LPA	Best ROI in India; very limited seats, rank-critical
SIMSREE (Mumbai)	~1,40,000	~99.8–99.9	~22 LPA	Extremely low fees; high packages, strong ROI
PUMBA, Pune	Low	~99.6	Moderate–High	Affordable govt option; easier for MH candidates
IBM Pune (RBI-run)	Moderate	90–95	~14 LPA	Strong banking focus; good ROI at mid-percentile
DMS DAVV Indore	Low	~90+ (varies)	Good	Popular MP govt college with steady outcomes
IIT Allahabad (Mgmt Program)	~4,45,000	85–90	~5 LPA (Avg), 35 LPA (Highest)	High upside potential, moderate average
NITs (Night Programs)	Low	Varies	~3–4 LPA	Low cost but limited roles and ROI

Colleges Accepting Both CMAT and MAH CET Scores

Most colleges accepting both CMAT and MAH CET are located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, giving students flexibility through either exam. This is as per @catking.

SIMSREE is the toughest to get into, needing a 99+ percentile.
Colleges like KJ Somaiya and Welingkar usually need around 90+ percentile, with Welingkar being slightly easier through CMAT.
SIES, MET, Lala Lajpatrai, and CIMR accept students in the 80–90 percentile range, making them good mid-range options.
VESIM is the easiest to access, with cutoffs around the 70–80th percentile, suitable for average scorers.

College	Location	Entrance Scores Accepted	Typical Cutoff Range (General)
SIMSREE (Sydenham Institute of Management Studies & Research)	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT, CAT	~99+ CET / ~99+ CMAT
K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT, CAT	~90+
Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool)	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT, CAT, XAT	~90+ CET/ ~85+ CMAT
SIES College of Management Studies	Navi Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT	~88–90
MET Institute of Management	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT	~80–85
Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT	~80+
VES Institute of Management Studies & Research (VESIM)	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT	~70–80
Chetana’s Institute of Management & Research (CIMR)	Mumbai	MAH CET, CMAT	~80

CMAT Cutoff 2026 for Top Colleges

The CMAT 2026 expected cutoff shows high competition among the institutes.

CMAT Cutoff 2026 for Top Colleges

CMAT cutoff 2026 is the minimum percentile required by colleges to offer admission. The cutoff varies by college, with top institutes demanding near-perfect scores.

Top colleges like JBIMS Mumbai (99.99+ percentile) and SIMSREE Mumbai (99+ percentile) require near-perfect scores.
High-tier colleges such as KJ Somaiya (95–99), GIM Goa (95+), and Great Lakes Chennai (95+) need strong percentiles.
Mid-tier colleges, including PUMBA Pune (90+), WeSchool (85–90), and IMT Nagpur (85–90) have relatively lower cutoffs.
Flexible options like BIMTECH (80–85) and Christ University (70–80) accept lower percentiles.

Institute	Expected Cutoff (Percentile)
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai	99.99+
SIMSREE (SIES College of Management Studies), Mumbai	99+
K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research (KJSIMSR), Mumbai	95–99
Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa	95+
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai	95+
Pune University Department of Management Studies (PUMBA), Pune	90+
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Nagpur	85–90
Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida	80–85
Christ University Institute of Management, Bangalore	70–80

What is a Good Score in CMAT?

A good CMAT score depends on percentile and target colleges. A score between 230-279 is considered good and places you in the 85-94 percentile.

This score range gives you the opportunity to take admission into NL Dalmia and IMT Hyderabad.

CMAT Score (Out of 400)	Expected Percentile	Category of Marks	Top Colleges & Courses
320+	99+ percentile	Excellent	JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya – MBA in Finance, MBA in Marketing
280–319	95–98 percentile	Very Good	PUMBA, Great Lakes, Welingkar – PGDM in Business Analytics, PGDM in Digital Marketing
230–279	85–94 percentile	Good	NL Dalmia, BIMTECH, IMT Hyderabad – PGDM in International Business, PGDM in Data Science
180–229	70–84 percentile	Average	IFIM Business School, ISBM Pune – PGDM in HR, PGDM in Marketing
Below 180	Below 70 percentile	Below Average	Mody University, MIT Pune – General MBA, Executive MBA

CMAT Cut Off 2025 Trending News:

Does GIM accepts CMAT Cut off 2026?
CMAT Cut Off 2026 for PUMBA: Expected Cut Off, Eligibility & Selection Process

CMAT 2026 Score vs Percentile

The CMAT score vs percentile 2026 shows a candidate's estimated percentile based on the scores obtained in the CMAT exam.

A score more than 310 will place you in 99.9+ percentile, and 290-310 marks can get you 99-99.9 percentile.
The scores in the range of 270–290 are considered strong which fall in the range of 95-99 percentile, while 250–270 translate to the 90-95 percentile.
Mid-range scores of 200–250 place candidates between the 70–90th percentile which is suitable for mid-tier colleges.
Scores below 150 will place under the 50th percentile, which limits to only regional colleges.

CMAT Score	Expected Percentile
310+	99.9+
290-310	99 - 99.9
270-290	95 - 99
250-270	90 - 95
220-250	80 - 90
200-220	70 - 80
150-200	50 - 70
Below 150	Below 50

Check:

Top MBA Colleges accepting CMAT 2025 Scores
Use CMAT College Predictor 2025 and Find the Best Colleges Based on Your CMAT Score

Ques. What is 80 Percentile in CMAT?

CMAT Score and Percentile: What Your Marks Mean

What Percentile is 220 Marks in CMAT?

An 80 percentile in CMAT can be achieved with a score of approximately 220 marks. This score can make you eligible for several colleges.

Colleges that may accept this score include XIME Bangalore, Christ University, BIMTECH, ISBM Pune, IFIM Business School, SIES College of Management Studies, Chetana Institute of Management, KIIT School of Management, and IMT Nagpur.

What Percentile is 270 Marks in CMAT?

A score of 270 marks in CMAT usually corresponds to the 95th percentile. A 95th percentile score is strong and increases your chances of getting into top MBA colleges.

With a 270+ score, you can target well-known institutes like Great Lakes Institute of Management (Chennai), Welingkar Institute of Management (Mumbai), and National Insurance Academy (NIA) Pune.

Can I Get a Good College with 71 Percentile?

A 71 percentile in CMAT can open up opportunities at several good colleges, although top-tier institutes may be out of reach. Christ University has a cutoff around 70 percentile.

Christ University offers programs such as MBA in Marketing, MBA in Finance, and MBA in Human Resources. WeSchool Bangalore, also with a cutoff around 70 percentile, provides courses like PGDM in Marketing, PGDM in Finance, and PGDM in Operations Management.

What Percentile is 240 Marks in CMAT?

A score of 240 marks in CMAT usually falls in the 95–98 percentile range. This is a strong score and good enough for shortlisting at many top private MBA colleges.

What is a 50 Percentile Score in CMAT?

The source does not provide specific information about a 50 percentile score in CMAT.

CMAT Cutoff 2025

The CMAT Cutoff 2025 shows that JBIMS and SIMSREE required a very high percentile of 99.9+; however, they have lower fees around 6 lakhs. K J Somaiya also has a high cutoff but much higher fees.

Great Lakes and Welingkar have lower cutoffs and are easier to get into, though their fees are still high.

College Name	Expected Cutoff Percentile	Total Fees (INR)
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)	99.99	6 Lakhs
K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai	98	21 Lakhs
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai	90	15.86 Lakhs
Sydenham Institute of Management Studies (SIMSREE)	99.96	1.5 Lakhs
Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai	85	13 Lakhs

CMAT Previous Year Cutoff (2024-2022)

As per the previous years, the CMAT cutoffs have gone down over the last three years from 2022 to 2024. The 99.5+ percentile cutoff dropped from 320 in 2022 and 2023 to 305 in 2024.

The 99 percentile cutoff fell from 315 in 2023 to 290 in 2024. The biggest drop was at the 95 percentile level, which went down from 300 in 2023 to 265 in 2024.

This shows that the exam may have been easier in 2024 or that fewer high-scoring students appeared, while top scorers still faced strong competition.

Year	99.5+ Percentile Score	99 Percentile Score	95 Percentile Score
2024	305	290	265
2023	320	315	300
2022	320	312	270

CMAT Cutoff FAQs

How are percentile cutoffs different from raw marks?

Raw marks are the actual score you get out of 400 in CMAT, while percentile shows how well you have performed as compared to the other candidates. Colleges use percentile, not raw marks for shortlisting.

Are cutoff trends changing over the years?

Yes. Due to shifting exam difficulty, number of candidates, and seats available, cutoffs have fluctuated. For example, a 99 percentile used to correspond to ~290–315 marks in earlier years; this trend continues to vary slightly each cycle.

Does NIBM really have a 94 percentile cutoff? I got 87.77 — should I still apply?

NIBM Pune accepts around 90-94 percentile for general category depending on the year and category. With the 87.77 percentile, getting into NIBM under the general category is unlikely.

Candidates from OBC/EWS/other reserved categories may have a better chance.

Did KJ Somaiya give calls to CMAT students? What was the cutoff — 95 or 98?

Yes, KJ Somaiya does accept CMAT scores with an official cutoff often around 95 percentile. Actual shortlist calls have gone closer to 97-98 percentile in recent years due to high competition and limited seats.

Scoring 97+ percentile is considered a safer benchmark for calls.

Can I get SOIL with 82 percentile in OBC-NCL? What other options do I have?

With an 82 percentile under OBC-NCL, you have a chance at SOIL, as its cutoff for reserved categories is usually lower than the general categories.

CMAT Score vs Percentile: What Your Marks Mean

A 50 percentile in CMAT corresponds to roughly 140–160 marks. This is an average score and is mainly suitable for colleges with lower cutoff requirements.

A score of 240 marks in CMAT usually falls in the 95–98 percentile range. This is a strong score and is good enough for shortlisting at many top private MBA colleges.

Raw Marks vs Percentile Cutoffs

Raw marks are the actual score you get out of 400 in CMAT. Percentile shows how well you have performed compared to other candidates.

Colleges use percentile, not raw marks, for shortlisting.

College-Specific Cutoff Trends

NIBM Pune

NIBM Pune accepts around 90–94 percentile for the general category, depending on the year and category. With an 87.77 percentile, getting into NIBM under the general category is unlikely, but candidates from OBC/EWS/other reserved categories have a chance.

KJ Somaiya

KJ Somaiya accepts CMAT scores, and its official cutoff is often around 95 percentile. Actual shortlist calls have gone closer to 97–98 percentile in recent years due to high competition and limited seats.

Scoring 97+ percentile is considered a safer benchmark for calls.

SOIL

With an 82 percentile under OBC-NCL, you have a chance at SOIL. Its cutoff for reserved categories is usually lower than the general categories.

Results

CMAT 2026 Result

The CMAT 2026 result was released on 17 February 2026 on the official website cmat.nta.nic.in. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has also released the CMAT Final Answer Key.

Around 53,453 candidates who took the test can download their CMAT 2026 scorecard. The direct link to download the CMAT Result 2026 is available and marked as 'Out'.

How to Download the CMAT 2026 Scorecard

To download the scorecard, candidates need to log in to the official portal. The login requires the application number, password or date of birth, and a security pin.

The scorecard will include the overall score, sectional scores, percentile, and ranking.

CMAT 2026 Key Summary

The CMAT 2026 exam is scheduled on 25th January 2026.
Around 53,453 candidates appeared for CMAT 2026.
The result is announced 15-20 days after the completion of the exam.
Candidates get a chance to challenge the answer key before the actual release of the results.

What is the CMAT Result?

The CMAT result is the official score report of the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). It is released for candidates who appeared in the exam to determine their eligibility for admission to AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM and other management programmes in India.

The CMAT 2026 score includes the candidates' section-wise scores, overall score, and percentile. CMAT results are valid for only one academic year; the CMAT Result 2026 will be valid only for admissions to the 2026–28 academic session.

CMAT 2026 Result Date

The CMAT Exam is scheduled for 25th January 2026. The NTA is expected to release the results on 13th to 15th February 2026.

Before the release of the result, a provisional answer key is released around a week after the exam.

Selection Process After CMAT

Appearing in the CMAT exam alone does not guarantee admission to management colleges. Students must follow the selection process, including Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.

Related Information

CMAT Cut Off 2026: Check Good Score and Marks vs Percentile for Top MBA Colleges
Top MBA Colleges accepting CMAT 2026 Scores
CMAT Selection Procedure 2026: Dates, Merit List, Admission Criteria and Process

CMAT 2026 Result Date

The CMAT 2026 result is expected to be released between 13th and 15th February 2026. The official result date is yet to be announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The NTA has released the provisional answer key and result date for 17th February 2026. The exam is scheduled for 25th January 2026.

CMAT 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
CMAT Exam Date	January 25th, 2026
Release of Provisional Answer Key	17th Feb, 2026
Result Date	17th Feb, 2026

CMAT Result Date: Previous Years Trends

Based on previous years' data, CMAT results are usually declared within 7-27 days after the exam. Most years, the result is released within a 20-22 day window.

From 2022 to 2025, the NTA has followed a stable pattern, releasing results roughly 3 weeks after the exam. In 2024 and 2025, results were declared in 22 days.

It is expected that the CMAT 2026 results will be released within 20 days, around 13-15 February 2026.

CMAT Result Dates: Year-wise Comparison

CMAT Year	Exam Date	Result Date	Gap (Days)
2026	January 25, 2026	Expected: 13th Feb - 15th Feb, 2026	~18–20 days
2025	May 15, 2025	June 6, 2025	22 days
2024	May 15, 2024	June 6, 2024	22 days
2023	May 4, 2023	May 31, 2023	27 days
2022	April 9, 2022	April 29, 2022	20 days
2021	March 31, 2021	April 7, 2021	7 days
2020	January 28, 2020	February 7, 2020	10 days

CMAT 2026 Result: Common Questions

Is the CMAT 2026 result out?

No, the CMAT 2026 result has not been released yet. The NTA usually declares the CMAT result in 2-3 weeks after the exam, which is expected around 13-15 Feb 2026 on the official website.

At what time will CMAT results be declared?

NTA does not announce a fixed time for the CMAT result declaration. As per previous years' trends, the CMAT results were declared between 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM (IST).

Keep your application number and DOB/Password ready on the day of the CMAT result.

How to get CMAT result?

You can check and download your CMAT 2026 result and scorecard by visiting the official CMAT website - nta.ac.in/CMAT. Enter your application Number and DOB/Password to access the result.

Download and save your CMAT scorecard PDF for admission and counseling purposes.

CMAT Result 2026 Errors and Problems

In previous years, many candidates faced errors and problems while downloading their CMAT Scorecard. These issues were reported on various platforms.

An X user was unable to download the scorecard due to login issues, risking admission cancellation. The user said, "Dear @DG_NTA, I am unable to download my CMAT 2026 scorecard, and it is crucial for my admission."
One Reddit user said, "I could never download it, faced the same error multiple times."
On Quora, candidates gave general advice: "You just have to call the admission help centre after you get the call, communicate and clarify the error in your form."
Another Quora user said, "If this happens, then you're using the wrong browser, or there is a connection issue in your place. Also, there are high possibilities of servers."

Common CMAT Scorecard Errors and Solutions

Problem / Error	Possible Solution	Real User Statements & Sources
Invalid Credentials Error	Reset password, recheck details, change browser/device	Reddit: "It keeps saying invalid credentials even after changing the password."
Server Error / 502 Bad Gateway	Clear cache, use incognito, try later	Reddit: "It's showing a bad gateway!"
No Download Option Visible	Refresh page, re-login, contact NTA	Reddit: "I can log in but don't see any download option."
OTP / Session Timeout Issue	Resend OTP, use stable internet	Reddit: "OTP failed even after multiple retries."
Website Lag / Temporary Error	Try off-peak hours, wait and retry	X: "The website is laggy and shows a temporary error."
Forgot Credentials	Use recovery option or email cmat@nta.ac.in	Quora: "You cannot correct the form once the window is closed."

CMAT 2026 Cut-Off Score for Top B-Schools

CMAT 2026 Participating Colleges: Cut-Offs and Fees

The table below lists the approximate CMAT cut-offs and total fees for some participating colleges. Cut-offs are shown either as a percentile or a score, depending on the college.

College Name	CMAT Cut-Off (Approx.)	Approx. Fees (₹)
JBIMS	99–99.99 percentile	₹4–6 lakh (Total)
Goa Institute of Management	270–310 (score)	₹18–20 lakh
KJ Somaiya Institute	280–310 (score)	₹20–22 lakh
IFMR Graduate School of Business	80–90 percentile	₹16–18 lakh
BIMTECH	238–270 (score)	₹14–15 lakh
Welingkar Mumbai	80-85+ percentile	Not specified (large batch; mid-tier fees)
IMT Nagpur	258–271 (score)	₹12–14 lakh
XISS Ranchi	Not specified	₹8–10 lakh
IP Hyderabad	210–260 (score)	₹7–8 lakh
Christ University	Not specified	₹7–9 lakh

Source - MBA Pathshala

CMAT 2026 Participating Colleges: Programs, Fees and Seats

This table shows the programs, specialisations, seats, and average packages for CMAT participating colleges. The average package figures are as reported by the source.

College Name	Programs Offered	Domains / Specialisations	Total Seats	Average Package (₹ LPA)
JBIMS, Mumbai	MMS	Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR, Systems	156	₹26 LPA (college-claimed; may be inflated)
Goa Institute of Management (GIM)	PGDM (General)	Marketing, Finance, HR, Analytics, Consulting, BFSI	~40 (CMAT intake)	₹12–14.8 LPA
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management	MBA (General)	Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, Healthcare, Sports Mgmt	~600	₹13 LPA
IFMR Graduate School of Business	PGDM (Finance)	Finance, Banking, FinTech, Risk, Analytics	240	₹13 LPA
Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH)	PGDM, MMS	Retail Management, Marketing, Finance, HR	Not specified	₹11 LPA
VJIM (Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management)	PGDM, MMS	Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, Analytics	Large batch	₹6–7 LPA (implied Tier-2 level)
IMT Nagpur	PGDM, MBA (Specialised)	Marketing, Finance, Operations	~300	₹13–15 LPA (higher for work-ex)
Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi	MBA HR, MBA Rural Management	HRM, Rural Mgmt, Sustainability, Development	220–250	₹8–9 LPA (regional standard, not explicitly stated)
IPE Hyderabad	PGDM	IT, Banking, Finance, Marketing, HR	~450	₹6–7 LPA (implied)
Christ University	MBA, PGDM	General Mgmt, Finance, HR, Marketing, Analytics	900+ (All Mgmt)	₹10 LPA (claimed in video)

Source - MBA Pathshala

CMAT Scorecard Discrepancy

Candidates have reported several issues with the CMAT scorecard. The table below lists common problems and suggested steps to resolve them.

Issue	Solution (User Tip)	Real Users’ Statements
Personal details mismatch	Report to NTA helpdesk with proof	"Filled gender as male by mistake in CMAT form... Can I change it?" - Reddit User
Marks mismatch in response sheet	Challenge key; email NTA	As Reddit Thread- "More than 50% of ans marked by me not matching in response sheet..."
Wrong answers marked	Recheck & object	"Wrong answers marked but I didn't..." (Reddit patterns)
Percentile mismatch	Recalculate; contact helpdesk	"38 marks = 80 percentile? This exam is a scam" - faced by a Reddit User
Scorecard not matching attempts	Email screenshots to cmat@nta.ac.in	"Unable to download scorecard... admission risk" (Common X complaints)

CMAT Result 2026 Previous Years Trends (2025-2019)

CMAT results from 2025 to 2019 show a consistently moderate difficulty level. The success rate has been around 80-90%.

Registrations have stayed between 65,000 and 75,000 each year. About 10-15% of registered candidates do not appear for the exam.

CMAT 100 Percentilers Over the Years

The number of candidates scoring the 100th percentile in CMAT has stayed between 6 and 11 in recent years. This shows that the exam follows a strict normalization process.

For CMAT 2026, more candidates may score the 100th percentile. The exam was held in a single shift, so no normalization will be applied.

Year	Registered Candidates	Appeared Students	Difficulty Level	Candidates with 100 Percentile	Approximate Success Rate
CMAT 2026*	~72,000 (expected)	~53,000	Moderate	8–10	85–90%
CMAT 2025	74,012	63,145	Moderate	11	88–90%
CMAT 2024	76,745	65,127	Moderate	10	85–88%
CMAT 2023	75,209	58,035	Moderate to Difficult	9	80–85%
CMAT 2022	58,956	51,144	Easy to Moderate	10	90%+
CMAT 2021	71,490	52,327	Moderate	8	78–82%
CMAT 2020	74,486	~63,000	Moderate	7	85%
CMAT 2019	64,582	54,516	Moderate	6	85%

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026

Competition is strong at the top percentile in CMAT 2026. A small change in score can cause a large change in percentile, especially above 260 marks.

Scores between 240 and 260 can place you in the 90th–95th percentile, giving access to strong PGDM colleges.
Scores between 200 and 230 will get you around 80–88 percentile, which can still offer multiple MBA/PGDM options.
Below 190 marks, the percentile drops rapidly to 60–70, limiting options to lower-tier colleges.

CMAT Score Range	Expected Percentile Range	Program / Admission Scope
300+	99.90 – 99.99	Top MMS colleges (Top 4), elite institutes
285 – 300	99.5 – 99.9	Premium PGDM, some MMS options
275 – 285	~99	Top PGDM colleges
260 – 275	97 – 99	Tier-1 PGDM institutes
250 – 260	~95	Reputed PGDM colleges
240 – 250	90 – 94	Good private B-schools
230 – 240	88 – 90	PGDM / MBA programs
210 – 230	85 – 90	PGDM / MBA (multiple options)
200 – 210	80 – 85	Private universities
190 – 200	~80	Wide range of colleges
160 – 190	70 – 80	Emerging PGDM colleges
140 – 160	60 – 70	Regional institutes
Below 140	Below 60	Limited admission options

Common CMAT Result Errors Reported by Candidates

Based on previous CMAT cycles and student grievance trends, some errors are reported more often than others. The most frequent issues are listed below.

Type of Error	Approx. Share of Complaints*
Incorrect percentile calculation	~35%
Mismatch in sectional scores	~25%
Errors in personal details (name, category, DOB)	~20%
Scorecard download/access issues	~15%
Other technical discrepancies	~5%

NTA CMAT Helpdesk Contact Details

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has set up a separate helpdesk for CMAT candidates. You can contact them by email or phone for any issue related to the CMAT 2026 result, including discrepancies or support needs.

NTA resolves 60–70% of CMAT-related grievances within 5–7 working days. This is especially true for scorecard access and personal detail issues.

Mode	Details
Email	cmat@nta.ac.in
Helpline	011-40759000
Working Hours	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Mon–Fri)

CMAT 2026 Result: What to do Next?

The NTA is responsible only for registration, conducting the exam, releasing the answer key and recorded responses, and releasing the result. After that, each Business School handles admissions based on its own criteria.

To get admission into your desired college, you must take certain steps. The first step is to apply to the specific institution.

Colleges Accepting CMAT 2026 Score

After the CMAT 2026 scorecard is released, the next step is to apply to institutions that accept the CMAT score for admission. Your target institutions should depend on your career goals and your score.

Expected Cutoffs for Top-Tier Colleges

JBIMS Mumbai will accept a percentile around 99.9.
PUMBA Pune will have an expected cutoff of around 99.5 percentile.
KJ Somaiya Mumbai and Altera Gurgaon will have an expected cutoff of around 99 percentile.

Expected Cutoffs for Mid-Tier Colleges

Wlingkar will accept a percentile of around 90.
IMT Nagpur will accept a percentile of around 90-95.

Some newer business schools will accept a lower percentile of around 80-85.

Shortlisting for GD and PI

After the result, institutes shortlist candidates based on multiple factors. These factors include the CMAT percentile, academic background, work experience, and extracurricular activities.

After the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI), the institutions release their final selection list.
If you are selected for the program, you will receive a call letter with further instructions on fee payment, document verification, and other admission-related processes.
After receiving the call letter, you will be called for counselling and document verification. Your admission will be finalised only after clearing this stage.

FAQs on CMAT 2026

Is 250 marks a good score for CMAT 2026?

250 marks in CMAT 2026 will get you a percentile of around 95. This is a good score to get you into mid-tier management institutes like NIA, FLAME, and IMT.

How many marks will get you 99 percentile in CMAT 2026?

To get a score of around 99 percentile, you will need to secure around 280-285 raw marks.

Is there any other test after clearing CMAT 2026 for admission in MBA?

Qualifying CMAT alone does not guarantee admission in management institutes. The B-Schools may have their own admission criteria, which include GD and PI, after which you will get admission into the institution.

Can you challenge the answer key released by NTA after the exam?

Yes, candidates can challenge the answer key released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) with a fee payment of 200 INR. The decision based on the review of the expert panel by the NTA will be final.

Admit Card

The CMAT 2026 Admit card has been released by the NTA on 21 January 2026. The candidates can now download their admit card from the official website - cmat.nta.nic.in by using the Application No. and Date of Birth.

Note: NTA will not send the admit card by post or email. Candidates must download it online and carry at least 2 printed copies along with a valid ID proof to the CMAT 2026 exam centre.

Download the CMAT Admit Card 2026 - (Out)

Source – cmat.nta.nic.in

The CMAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on 25 January 2026 in a single shift from 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.М in CBT mode in over 120+ cities across India.
The admit card will have the details like your name, application number, photo, signature, exam center address, and other details related to the exam.

In case of any difficulty in downloading the Admit Card or discrepancy in the details contained in the Admit Card, candidates can contact the NTA Help Desk at 011-40759000 or write to NTA at cmat@nta.ac.in

Related Links:

Table of Contents

CMAT Admit Card 2026 Important Dates
CMAT Admit Card Previous Year Dates
How to Download the CMAT Admit Card 2026?
Details Mentioned in CMAT Admit Card 2026
Errors to Check in CMAT Admit Card 2026
Documents to carry with the CMAT Admit Card 2026
CMAT 2026 Admit Card Instructions during the Exam
CMAT 2026 Admit Card Helpdesk & Contact Details
CMAT Admit Card 2026 FAQs

CMAT Admit Card 2026 Important Dates

Tentative Date	Event
21 January 2026 (Released)	Admit Card Release Date
25 January 2026	CMAT 2026 Exam Date
16 January 2026	City Intimation Slip Release

Ques. Is the CMAT admit card released?

Ans. Yes, the NTA has not released the CMAT Admit card on 21 January 2026 on its official website.

Ques. How to check CMAT exam centres?

Ans. To check your CMAT exam centre details for CMAT 2026, follow these official steps:

Visit the NTA CMAT website: Go to exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Log in: Use your application number and password to sign into your account when the city intimation slip or admit card is available.

The details of your exam centre will be mentioned on your admit card, and on the city intimation slip, you will be informed about the city in which you will take the exam.

Ques. Is the CMAT date extended?

Ans. The CMAT 2026 exam date has not been extended; the test is scheduled to be held on 25 January 2026 as per the official notification from NTA.

However, the NTA extended the registration deadline for CMAT 2026 applications:

The last date to submit the online application was extended to 24 November 2025, and the final date to pay the exam fee was 25 November 2025.
A correction window for editing application details was open from 26 to 28 November 2025.

CMAT Admit Card Previous Year Dates

As per the previous years' 2018-2025 admit cards analysis, NTA releases the admit cards one week before CMAT Exam.

CMAT Previous Year Exam Date	Admit Card Release Date	Difference Between the Dates
January 25, 2025	January 20, 2025	5 Days
May 15, 2024	May 6, 2024	9 Days
April 4, 2023	April 1, 2023	3 Days
April 9, 2022	April 6, 2022	3 Days
March 31, 2021	March 24, 2021	7 Days
January 28, 2020	December 24, 2019	35 Days
January 28, 2019	January 7, 2019	21 Days
January 20, 2018	January 12, 2018	8 Days

How to Download the CMAT Admit Card 2026?

Details Mentioned in CMAT Admit Card 2026

The CMAT Admit Card is the main document for the candidate identification at the exam centre. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre without a clear printed copy of the admit card. Make sure that your admit card clearly shows all the required details.

Errors to Check in CMAT Admit Card 2026

Candidates should check the information mentioned on the CMAT Admit Card 2026 carefully for any errors. In case there are any errors, they must be corrected before the exam, as without the admit card, you will not be able to enter the exam center.

How to Correct Errors in the CMAT Admit Card?

In case of any error in the CMAT admit card, contact the exam helpline desk 0120-3946612 between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM or send an email to ntanationaltestingagency@gmail.com

Problem while Downloading the CMAT Admit Card

While downloading the CMAT admit card, sometimes candidates may face issues due to technical or login-related issues, especially during peak traffic.

Problem Faced	Possible Reason	What to Do (Solution)
Website not opening/server error	Heavy traffic on the NTA portal	Try again after some time; download during early morning or late night
Incorrect login credentials	Wrong application number, DOB, or password	Use the “Forgot Application Number/Password” option; check the registered email/SMS
Admit card not visible after login	Browser cache issue or an incompatible browser	Clear cache & cookies; switch browser or device
Slow download or PDF not opening	Poor internet connection or incomplete download	Re-download using stable internet; save file before opening
Blurred or unclear admit card	Low-quality download or printer issue	Download again and print on A4 paper with high resolution
Incorrect details on admit card	Data mismatch in application form	Contact NTA CMAT helpdesk with screenshots
Admit card not generated	Incomplete application or payment failure	Check application status; contact NTA if payment was successful

Ques. I can't download my admit card for the last two days, nor can I change my password. My application number is also showing invalid at times.

Ans. If you are unable to download your CMAT Admit card or are facing login issues like an invalid application number or password errors, then you can follow the instructions given below:

Check that you’re entering the correct application number and DOB.
Use the “Forgot Password/Application Number” option to recover credentials.
Try a different browser or device, and ensure a stable internet connection.
If the issue persists, contact the NTA help desk.
Most problems are due to login errors or high website traffic.

Ques. I'm getting an error while downloading my CMAT admit card... What should I do?

Ans. Errors occur due to server overload or browser issues.

You should clear your cache, try incognito mode, or switch browsers/devices.
Retry after a few hours. If it continues, contact the NTA support team.
Ensure your login details are correct before retrying.

Documents to carry with CMAT Admit Card 2026

For CMAT 2026 to ensure smooth entry and verification, it is mandatory to carry at least 2 clear copies of the CMAT Admit Card, showing all details and a photograph clearly, along with a valid Photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence is also compulsory.

Make sure there are physical documents, as photocopies or digital IDs will not be accepted at the CMAT Exam center.

Document	Mandatory / Optional	Details & Instructions
CMAT 2026 Admit Card (Printed Copy)	Mandatory	Carry 2 clear printouts; details and photographs must be clearly visible; follow the instructions printed on it
Valid Photo ID Proof (Original)	Mandatory	Aadhaar Card / PAN Card / Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence (photocopies or digital IDs not accepted)
Passport-Size Photograph	Mandatory	Carry 1–2 recent photographs, same as uploaded during application
PwD Certificate (if applicable)	Conditional	Original PwD certificate issued by the competent authority; scribe-related documents if applicable

Ques. Can I appear for CMAT at any test centre?

Ans. No, you cannot appear at any test centre, as at the time of registration, candidates are required to select their preferred test cities, and NTA assigns the final test centre based on availability and preferences.

The exact centre and address are mentioned on the CMAT admit card, which must be carried on exam day. Appearing at a centre other than the allotted one is strictly not allowed.

Ques. What are the important don'ts for the CMAT exam day?

Ans. To avoid disqualification or delays, candidates must not:

Carry electronic devices like mobiles, smartwatches, calculators, or Bluetooth devices.
Bring bags, books, notes, or personal stationery; only official rough sheets and pens are allowed.
Wear metallic accessories that trigger security alarms.
Consume food or beverages, except for medical reasons.
Attempt to use unfair means or carry sharp objects/paper slips.

CMAT 2026 Admit Card Instructions during the Exam

Print the CMAT 2026 Admit Card on A4-size paper, ensuring it is clear and legible. Paste the same passport-size colour photograph as uploaded during registration.
Carry a valid original photo ID to the exam hall. The name must exactly match the admit card, and the ID should be undamaged and readable.
Visit the test centre 60-90 minutes early, if possible, to avoid last-minute confusion or delays on the exam day.
A rough sheet and pen will be provided at the exam centre; candidates must return them after the exam.
The exam authorities will not take responsibility for personal belongings brought to the test centre.
Requests for a change of test centre will not be entertained under any circumstances.

What not to carry on the CMAT 2026 Exam Day?

On the CMAT 2026 exam day, the NTA has prohibited some items to maintain exam integrity and ensure a fair, distraction-free environment, such as electronic items, study material, and any food items.

Electronic Devices: Mobile phones (even switched off), smartwatches, digital watches, calculators, tablets, laptops, Bluetooth devices, earphones.
Study Material: Books, notebooks, loose sheets, notes, chits, printed or handwritten material.
Bags & Personal Belongings: Handbags, backpacks, pouches, wallets, purses, power banks, chargers
Food & Beverages: Packed food, snacks, chewing gum, water bottles (unless permitted)
Accessories & Wearables: Jewellery, rings, bracelets, chains, sunglasses, caps, hats, metal hair clips
Stationery Items: Pens, pencils, erasers, scales, geometry boxes

CMAT 2026 Admit Card Helpdesk & Contact Details

Category	Details
Conducting Authority	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Purpose of Helpdesk	Admit card download issues, incorrect details, missing admit card, login problems
Official Helpline Numbers	011-40759000011-69227700
Official Email ID	cmat@nta.ac.in
Official Website	cmat.nta.nic.in
Office Address	National Testing Agency (NTA)C-20 1A/8, Sector-62,IITK Outreach Centre,Noida – 201309, Uttar Pradesh
Best Time to Contact	10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (working days)
Peak Query Period	4–5 days before the CMAT exam (during admit card release)

CMAT Admit Card 2026 FAQs

Ques. If there is a mistake in an admit card, is there any chance of rejection?

Ans. Yes, any errors or mistakes in the CMAT admit card, like wrong name, DOB, or category, can lead to disqualification.

Ques. Should the photo pasted on the CMAT admit card be similar to that of an application form?

Ans. Yes, the admit card photo must match the one uploaded at the time of registration. Any kind of mismatch can cause verification issues at the exam centre, so ensure it is clear, recent, and correctly sized.

Ques. What are the common problems faced while downloading the CMAT admit card?

Ans. The candidate faces many problems while downloading the CMAT admit card, but some common problems are faced by the majority of the candidates.

Technical Issues: Slow internet, server overload (e.g., HTTP 500 errors, bad gateway), browser incompatibility, try Chrome/Firefox in incognito mode or clear cache.
Login Problems: Forgotten credentials (application number/DOB), use the "Forgot Password" option.
Partial Loading: Admit card not fully displaying, download on a laptop or retry later.
Other: High traffic on release day, invalid credentials due to registration errors.

Answer Key

The NTA has released the CMAT 2026 Final Answer key on its official website – cmat.nta.nic.in on 17^th February 2026, the candidates can now download the final answer key pdf.

The NTA has also opened the window to challenge the CMAT 2026 Answer Key till 2^nd Feb 2026.

Direct link to download the CMAT 2026 Answer Key Pdf- (Out).

Source – cmat.nta.nic.in

The Final answer key is released by NTA after the resolution of the objections made by the candidates.
The Final result will be based on the final answer key.

Related Articles,

Table of Contents

CMAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet
CMAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet Release Date
How to Download The CMAT 2026 Answer Key
Procedure for Challenge of Answer Key
4.1 NTA Guidelines for Challenging the Provisional Answer Key
Calculation of the CMAT 2026 Raw Score
CMAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank
CMAT Previous Year Answer Keys
FAQs

CMAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet

The CMAT 2026 Answer Key is the official document released by NTA indicating the correct answers for all questions. It helps the students to calculate their raw scores by comparing the answer key to their responses.

The Provisional answer key is released first and is open to challenge by the students if they feel that the answers in the key are incorrect.
The Final Answer Key is released after the resolution of all objections made on the provisional answer key. This answer key is final and is used for calculating the marks for final result.

The Response Sheet is also released by NTA along with the provisional answer key. This document contains the responses recorded by each student at the time of examination.

CMAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet Release Date

The table below provides information about important dates regarding the CMAT 2026 Answer Key and Result.

Events	Dates
Final Answer Key (Released)	17 February 2026
CMAT 2026 Result Date	17 February 2026
CMAT 2026 Exam	25th January, 2026
Objection on Provisional answer key (Over)	31st Jan 2026
Provisional Answer Key and Response Sheet (Released)	31 Jan 2026 – 2^nd Feb 2026

CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key

Students can download the CMAT 2026 Answer key after its release from the Official NTA-CMAT 2026 Website.

Source – cmat.nta.nic.in/

Procedure for Challenge of Answer Key

Students can file their objections of the Answer Key on the Official NTA-CMAT 2026 website. The following steps are required to be followed:

Visit the official website- https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
Use your application number and date of birth (password) and enter the security pin to login.
Click “View/Challenge Answer Key” button.
In the answer key, the correct answer is indicated against the question ID, if you wish to challenge it, click on the check box provided.
If you have any supporting documents, upload it in a single pdf file by clicking “choose file” button.
After selecting your desired answer, scroll down and click on “Submit and Review Claims”.
You will see a display of all the questions you have challenged.
To modify your selections, click “Modify Claim” button.
After confirming your claims, click “Save Claim and Pay Fee” button.
No modifications will be allowed after the fee payment.
Select the mode of payment and pay a non-refundable fee of INR 200 per question.

The Final answer key of CMAT 2025 contained 7 questions with multiple answers, students with any of the mentioned correct answers were awarded full marks for those questions.

NTA Guidelines for Challenging the Provisional Answer Key

The NTA has released certain guidelines to be followed by the students to raise objections on the provisional answer key.

Candidates have to pay a non-refundable processing charge of INR 200 per question.
Only paid challenges will be entertained by NTA, made within the time limit and only through the official challenge link.
Challenges made without justification or evidence will not be entertained.
The objections will be examined by the subject matter experts.
The decision of NTA on the challenges will be final, and no further communication will be entertained.
The result will be declared based on the final answer key released by the NTA.

Calculation of the CMAT 2026 Raw Score

To calculate your raw score based on the response sheet and answer key comparison, you have to follow the CMAT marking scheme mentioned in the official information brochure.

There are 5 sections of 20 questions each, with each question carrying 4 marks, and a negative of 1 mark for every wrong answer.

For every correct answer, add 4 marks
For every incorrect answer, subtract 1 mark
Unattempted questions award no marks.
Follow this scheme to get your total raw marks.

For the questions with multiple correct answers in the answer key, only those candidates will get 4 marks who have selected any of the correct answers.

Full marks will be awarded to every candidate for dropped questions.

Ques.Is 250 marks a good score in CMAT 2026?

Ans. Yes, 250 marks is considered a good score in CMAT 2026. It will get you around 95 percentile and can get you ranked approximately between 3250-3500 AIR.

CMAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank

The CMAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile will help you estimate your relative performance in the exam and have an idea about the expected percentile based on your raw marks.

It will also help in getting an idea about the expected rank based on your marks and percentile range.

Raw Marks	Percentile (Expected)	Rank (Expected)
345-350	99.9	Top 100
310-315	99.5	325-350
280-285	99	650-700
250-260	95	3250-3500
225-230	90	6500-7000
200-210	80	13000-14000

Ques. What does 80 percentile mean?

Ans. Percentile indicates the relative performance of the candidates. 80 percentile means you have done better than 80 percent of the candidates. At 80 percentile you will get a rank between 13000-14000 expectedly.

CMAT Previous Year Answer Keys

CMAT Answer Key 2024 PDF	Click here
CMAT Answer Key 2023 PDF	Click here
CMAT Answer Key 2022 with solution	Click here
CMAT 2021 shift 1 Answer Key with solution	Click here
CMAT 2020 Answer Key with solution	Click here
CMAT 2019 Answer key with solution	Click here

FAQs

Ques. Mismatch in the final answer key-response sheet comparison score and actual result? What to do?

Ans. If there is any mismatch between your calculated score and actual result, or any other discrepancy regarding your personal information, contact NTA at the earliest.

The helpline for NTA is-

Email ID- cmat@nta.ac.in
Contact Number- 011-40759000/ 011-69227700

Ques.Do you have to pay 200 for each objection or for all the objections?

Ans. The processing fee for raising an objection is set by NTA, and it is 200 rupees per question.

Ques. How many colleges are taking admission through CMAT 2026?

Ans. Approximately 1300+ colleges are accepting the CMAT 2026 score for admissions to management programmes throughout the country.

Ques. Can you challenge the final answer key for any question?

Ans. No, the final answer key is not open to objection. You can only challenge the provisional answer key. The final answer key is used for preparation of the result.

Books

CMAT Preparation Books are an indispensable part of exam preparation. CMAT Books are essential for aspirants to stay updated with the latest CMAT Syllabus, learn complex concepts and short tricks, and solve questions of different types and difficulty levels. Candidates are advised to pick only those books for preparation that are as per the latest CMAT Exam Pattern and syllabus. With hundreds of books available in the market for CMAT preparation, candidates are bound to get confused about which book to select. Hence, they must refer to the most recommended books for CMAT preparation by renowned authors like Arun Sharma, N K Sinha, Norman Lewis, and others.

Table of Contents

How to Choose Best Books for CMAT Preparation?
Section-wise CMAT Books for Preparation
2.1 CMAT Books for Logical Reasoning Preparation
2.2 Best CMAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude Preparation
2.3 Best CMAT Books for Language Comprehension Preparation
2.4 CMAT Books for General Awareness Section
2.5 CMAT Books for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Other Important Books for CMAT Preparation
Online Resources for CMAT Preparation
CMAT Preparation Tips
CMAT Sample Papers
Frequently Asked Questions

Best Books for CMAT Preparation

How to Choose Best Books for CMAT Preparation?

While choosing the books, candidates must keep the below-mentioned points in mind.

Uncomplicated Language: The language used in the books should be simple and understandable. This will help you in grasping complex concepts quickly.
Syllabus Oriented: Pick those Books that cover all the topics which are part of CMAT Syllabus. This will ensure that you refer to the best book for each section.
By Renowned Authors: There are plenty of books available for CMAT preparation but candidates are advised to go for books written by renowned authors as they are highly recommended by toppers and experts alike.
Latest edition books: Candidates must select books of the latest edition to prepare in order to get updated content for CMAT exam.

Quick Links:

CMAT Cut Off	CMAT Participating Colleges	CMAT Exam Analysis

Section-wise CMAT Books

Section-wise CMAT Books for Preparation

Choosing the section-wise best books for CMAT preparation is crucial as it saves time and effort in collecting information from multiple sources. Hence, to score well in CMAT exam, candidates must shortlist those books that cover all the topics prescribed in the Syllabus for CMAT exam. Not only should one select book for the 4 sections, but also the comprehensive books that contain mock tests, and CMAT Previous Year Question Papers, which are equally important for CMAT preparation.

CMAT Books for Logical Reasoning Preparation

Name of the Book	Author
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT	Arun Sharma
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning	R S Aggarwal
Analytical Reasoning	M K Pandey
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT	N K Sinha

Best CMAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude Preparation

Name of the Book	Author
Quantum CAT	S K Verma
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT	Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	R S Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT	Nishit K Sinha
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT	Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude	Abhijit Guha

Best CMAT Books for Language Comprehension Preparation

Name of the Book	Author
How to Prepare for VARC for CAT	Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT	Nishit K Sinha
Trishna’s Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT and Other MBA Examinations	T.I.M.E
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis
High School English Grammar	Wren and Martin
30 Days to a more Powerful Vocabulary	Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Ajay Singh

CMAT Books for General Awareness Section

The General Awareness section in CMAT exam is the most dynamic and the syllabus can be broadly divided into 2 sub-parts:

Static GK: Questions based on general knowledge, facts, and figures on traditional topics like history, business, geography, economics, etc.
Current Affairs: Questions based on current happenings in India and the world.

Preparation for this section should be devised very carefully and should not compensate for your time for other sections. Given below are the best books to prepare for the general awareness section of CMAT:

CMAT Best Books for Static GK
Name of the Book	Author/ Publisher
Objective General Knowledge	Lucents
General Knowledge 2022	Manohar Pandey
General Knowledge	Disha Experts
Manorama Year Book	Mammen Mathew
CMAT Magazines/ Newspapers for Current Affairs
The Hindu	The Indian Express
India Today	Business Line
Economic Times	Business Today
Financial Express	Yojana

CMAT Books for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

CMAT Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a new section added by NTA in 2021. Some of the best books for Innovation & Entrepreneurship preparation are mentioned below for your reference to clear the concepts and prepare as per the latest syllabus:

Name of the Book	Author
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Peter F. Drucker
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management	R. Gopal
Entrepreneurship	Robert D. Hisrich
Manorama Year Book	Mammen Mathew

Apart from the books mentioned above, candidates must also refer to the below-mentioned resources for current affairs preparation:

Economic Survey & Budget Notes
Government Schemes related to Startups, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Skill development
Business news magazines like India Today, The Business Line
Monthly magazines like Yojana, and Pratiyogita Darpan

Other Important Books for CMAT

Other Important Books for CMAT Preparation

Name of the Book	Author
50+ Solved Papers MBA	Arihant Publications
MBA Solved Papers	Gautam Puri
Complete Reference Manual for CMAT	SK Sinha
CMAT Entrance Guide	Disha Experts
CMAT Exam Guide	RPH Editorial Board

CMAT Online Resources

Online Resources for CMAT Preparation

Online preparation for CMAT provides enormous benefits:

Time-Saving
Reduced expenditures due to minimal travel
The comfort of studying from home.

Candidates must refer to youtube videos and online study groups on social media platforms for interactive preparation apart from the books for preparation. Candidates looking to join a course at a coaching institute must refer to the list of top online sources for CMAT preparation tabulated below:

Top Online Coaching Institutes for CMAT Preparation
IMS India	Gradeup
mba.hitbullseye	Career Launcher
Catking	T.I.M.E 4 Education
Endeavor Careers	MBAguru

CMAT Preparation Tips

The basic CMAT Preparation Tips that can followed by students have been listed below for your reference,

Focus on finishing the syllabus for CMAT exam at least a month before the exam to save time for revision
Solve CMAT Previous year question papers as solving these papers will reflect on your level of preparation for CMAT exam.
Work on your weak areas and try to devote at least 3-4 hours to such topics and concepts.
Take notes of important formulas and tricks for the quantitative aptitude section.
Refer to the books mentioned above for CMAT exam preparation to clear basic concepts and doubts.
Also, do not forget to attempt the official CMAT mock test released by the exam conducting authorities.

CMAT Sample Papers

CMAT Sample Papers and Mock Tests

After the completion of the complete syllabus from the above-mentioned books, one must start solving 2-3 sample papers and mock tests every day to check your level of preparation and to identify the topics that need more practice and revision. The benefits of solving CMAT Sample papers and mock tests include:

Revision of the concepts and identification of weak and strong areas.
Practicing different types of questions with varying levels of difficulty.
Improving time management skills and developing essential test-taking skills.

CMAT Sample Paper	PDF Link
Sample Paper 1	Download
Sample Paper 2	Download
Sample Paper 3	Download

Download more CMAT Sample Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

CMAT Books: FAQs

Ques. Which books are best for CMAT Preparation?

Ans. Books by renowned authors like Arun Sharma, S K Verma, and N K Sinha are considered best for Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude preparation. For CMAT Language Comprehension, books by Norman Lewis, Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay are considered beneficial for starting with CMAT exam preparation..

Ques. How many books are sufficient for CMAT Preparation?

Ans. Referring to at least 1-2 books for each section of CMAT syllabus is mandatory to clear all concepts and prepare well.

Ques. Are CMAT preparation books the same as those for other MBA exams like CAT and XAT?

Ans. Yes, the syllabus for most of the MBA entrance exams is similar with only minute differences, hence, you can refer to the same books and resources for similar sections of other management exams for CMAT preparation.

Ques. Is it possible to crack CMAT exam without coaching?

Ans. Yes, it is possible to crack any exam including CMAT through self-study, you just need to focus on the below mentioned:

Refer to 2-3 good CMAT books for preparation
Prepare a timetable and follow it.
Practice as many practice papers and mock tests as possible.

Ques. What are the best books for Logical Reasoning preparation for CMAT exam?

Ans. Best Books for CMAT Logical Reasoning are:

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT by N K Sinha
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal

Ques. Is it essential to take Mock Tests for CMAT preparation?

Ans. Yes, candidates must solve as many CMAT mock tests and sample papers as possible to prepare well for the exam and clear the cut off.

Ques. Which are the best books for CMAT Quantitative Aptitude section?

Ans.Best Books for CMAT QA section preparation are:

Quantum CAT by S K Verma
How to Prepare for QA for CAT by Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude by Abhijit Guha

Ques. What is the weightage of the Language Comprehension section in CMAT exam?

Ans. CMAT Language Comprehension section has a 20% weightage of 80 marks with 20 questions carrying 4 marks each. Also, each section in CMAT exam has equal weightage.

Counselling

CMAT 2026 Counselling is a decentralised, institute-driven admission process — there is no single centralised counselling authority for CMAT. NTA declared the CMAT 2026 result on February 17, 2026, and as of late May 2026, over 1,300 AICTE-approved MBA and PGDM colleges are at various stages of their independent admission processes, with many actively conducting GD-PI rounds and issuing provisional admission offers.

CMAT 2026 was held on January 25, 2026; the result published on February 17, 2026 is available at cmat.nta.nic.in.
No centralised CMAT counselling portal exists — you must apply and track deadlines for each institute individually.
The typical selection sequence is: Application Shortlisting → WAT / GD → Personal Interview → Merit List → Seat Confirmation.
Maharashtra students: JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, and other government-aided Maharashtra colleges use the separate MAH MBA CAP process run by DTE Maharashtra — not the general institute-specific route.
Some state bodies (DTE Madhya Pradesh and others) also use CMAT scores for state-level counselling with their own independent schedules.
Applying to 8–12 carefully chosen institutes across aspirational, realistic, and safe tiers is the recommended strategy to maximise your chances across all rounds and merit lists.

Table of Contents

What is CMAT Counselling 2026?
1.1 CMAT 2026 Counselling Schedule
CMAT Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026
Reservation of Quotas for CMAT Counselling 2026
How to Apply for CMAT Counselling 2026?
4.1 Step 1: Download Your CMAT 2026 Scorecard
4.2 Step 2: Research and Shortlist Target Institutes
4.3 Step 3: Apply Online to Individual Institutes
4.4 Step 4: Appear for GD-PI Rounds
4.5 Step 5: Confirm Your Seat
How to Strategically Apply Across CMAT-Accepting Institutes
CMAT Counselling Documents Required 2026
How Much Money is Needed for CMAT Counselling 2026?
7.1 Non-Refundable Fees
7.2 Refundable Security Deposit
GD-PI Round Details at Top CMAT-Accepting Institutes
Accepting, Holding, or Declining an Admission Offer
FAQs

What is CMAT Counselling 2026?

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Unlike JEE (JoSAA) or NEET (MCC), CMAT has no centralised counselling authority. Each AICTE-approved college that accepts CMAT scores independently manages its own admission process — from application deadlines and shortlisting criteria to GD-PI scheduling and final merit lists.

Registering on each institute’s portal separately and meeting their individual deadlines is mandatory — your CMAT rank alone does not guarantee a seat. With over 1,300 AICTE-approved B-schools accepting CMAT scores across India, the process requires active tracking of multiple institutions simultaneously.

Two notable exceptions exist within the broader CMAT ecosystem that follow a more structured, centralised flow:

Maharashtra (MAH MBA CAP): Government-aided MBA / MMS colleges in Maharashtra — including JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA — conduct admissions through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) run by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra. CMAT scores are accepted alongside MAH CET scores at select institutes within this process. The CAP follows its own schedule and rounds, distinct from individual institute admissions.
State-Level Counselling (DTE Madhya Pradesh and others): A few state technical education bodies use CMAT scores to allocate seats in state government and government-aided management institutes through their own state counselling schedules. Check the relevant state DTE for current-year announcements.

For the majority of CMAT-accepting private institutes, you must apply directly, appear for their GD-PI, and wait for their individual merit list — all on each institute’s own timeline and portal.

CMAT 2026 Counselling Schedule

Since there is no single centralised CMAT counselling calendar, the dates below represent an indicative composite timeline across participating institutes. The table is ordered with upcoming events first (on or after May 30, 2026), followed by past events in chronological order. Confirm exact dates on each institute’s official website.

Event	Indicative Dates	Status
GD-PI Rounds — Major Institutes (ongoing batch)	May–June 2026	Ongoing
MAH MBA CAP 2026 — Registration & Counselling Rounds	May–June 2026	Ongoing
Provisional Admission Offers — Round 1 Merit Lists	May–June 2026	Ongoing
Second / Waitlist Merit Lists at Most Institutes	June–July 2026	Expected
Document Verification & Admission Confirmation	June–July 2026	Expected
Academic Session Commencement (MBA / PGDM 2026–28 Batch)	July–August 2026	Expected
CMAT 2026 Registration Window	October–November 2025	Over
CMAT 2026 Admit Card Released	January 2026	Over
CMAT 2026 Exam	January 25, 2026	Over
Provisional Answer Key & Objection Window	February 10–14, 2026	Over
CMAT 2026 Result Declared	February 17, 2026	Over
Application Period at Most Top Private Institutes	February–March 2026	Over
Shortlisting Announcements for GD-PI	March–May 2026	Over
GD-PI Rounds — Early-Timeline Institutes (GIM, BIMTECH, NIBM, etc.)	February–April 2026	Over

Note: The above dates are indicative and compiled from publicly available institute-level schedules and past-year patterns. Always verify current deadlines on each institute’s official website and on the NTA CMAT portal at cmat.nta.nic.in before making any financial commitment.

CMAT Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026

To be eligible to apply for admission at CMAT-accepting institutes, students must satisfy the following baseline criteria set by NTA and AICTE. Individual institutes may impose additional conditions — always verify the specific institute’s prospectus or admissions brochure.

Valid CMAT 2026 Scorecard: You must have appeared in CMAT 2026 and hold an official scorecard downloaded from cmat.nta.nic.in.
- Most top institutes use CMAT score combined with your academic profile and work experience for shortlisting.
Graduation Qualification: A recognised Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a UGC-approved university — or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Minimum graduation percentage thresholds vary by institute — typically 50% aggregate for General / OBC category and 45% for SC / ST students.
- Some premier institutes (GIM, BIMTECH) may require a higher minimum academic record as part of their merit formula.
Final Year Students: Students appearing in their final year graduation examination are provisionally eligible to apply. Their admission is confirmed only upon successful completion of graduation with the required percentage, to be submitted before the date specified by the institute.
No Age Bar: NTA and AICTE prescribe no upper age limit for CMAT 2026. However, some state bodies or individual institutes may impose their own age eligibility criteria — check the relevant admissions brochure.
Work Experience: Not mandatory for most institutes, but preferred and given additional merit weightage by some (GIM, BIMTECH, NIBM, IFMR / Krea University). Even six months of internship or part-time work can contribute to your composite score at such institutes.
Maharashtra CAP (Additional Conditions): For MAH MBA CAP — applicable to JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, and other Maharashtra government-aided colleges — students must hold a Maharashtra domicile certificate or proof of 15-year continuous residence in Maharashtra (for home-state quota seats). Non-Maharashtra domicile students compete in the All-India quota seats.

Reservation of Quotas for CMAT Counselling 2026

AICTE-approved institutions accepting CMAT scores follow the reservation norms prescribed by the Government of India for centrally funded and government-aided institutions. State government-aided institutions additionally follow their respective state reservation policies. The table below reflects central government norms; the actual seat distribution at any specific institute depends on its funding status, state of location, and approved seat matrix.

Category	Reservation Percentage	Applicability
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%	All AICTE-approved central / government-aided institutes
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%	All AICTE-approved central / government-aided institutes
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)	27%	Central government and centrally funded institutes
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)	10%	Central government and centrally funded institutes
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwD)	5% horizontal across all categories	All AICTE-approved institutes
NRI / Management Quota	Up to 15% (institute-specific)	Private unaided institutes; institute-determined percentage

Most private unaided CMAT-accepting B-schools are not bound by central government reservation norms and may instead offer diversity or management quota seats. Maharashtra CAP colleges follow Maharashtra government reservation norms, which differ from the central framework above — the state follows separate SC, ST, OBC, NT, SBC, and VJNT category percentages as defined by DTE Maharashtra.

Always check the official admissions brochure of your target institute for its exact category-wise seat matrix and any domicile-based sub-quotas before applying. Category certificates must be issued by the competent authority in your state and must be valid as of the academic year of admission.

How to Apply for CMAT Counselling 2026?

Since CMAT does not have a single centralised admission portal, you must follow the individual application process for each institute you wish to apply to. The broad process at most AICTE-approved private CMAT-accepting institutes follows these five steps.

Step 1: Download Your CMAT 2026 Scorecard

Log in to the official NTA CMAT portal at cmat.nta.nic.in using your application number and password. Download your official CMAT 2026 scorecard, which includes your total score (out of 400), percentile, section-wise scores, and All India Rank. This scorecard is the primary document required for all institute applications — keep multiple printed and digital copies ready before your first application. The scorecard declared on February 17, 2026 carries the authority of NTA and is the only valid document accepted at all AICTE-approved institutes.

Step 2: Research and Shortlist Target Institutes

Using your CMAT score and percentile, identify institutes whose historical cutoffs align with your profile. Consider the following factors when shortlisting:

Institute’s historical CMAT cutoff score / percentile for your category
Programme offered (MBA, PGDM, MBA-IB, MBA-HM, MBA-Agribusiness, etc.)
NAAC grade, NBA accreditation, and NIRF ranking
Campus location, infrastructure, and average placement salary
Additional criteria such as work experience preference or GD-PI weightage in the merit formula
Whether the institute’s GD-PI timeline fits your schedule and travel constraints

Shortlist at least 8–12 institutes across a realistic range — aspirational, probable, and safe — to maximise your chances and ensure you always have a confirmed seat as a fallback while awaiting results from your preferred institutes.

Step 3: Apply Online to Individual Institutes

Visit each shortlisted institute’s official website and register on its admission portal. The typical application sequence is:

Create an account and fill in personal, academic, and work experience details
Enter your CMAT 2026 registration number and upload your scorecard
Upload supporting documents as specified in the institute’s checklist (mark sheets, ID proof, category certificate)
Pay the non-refundable application fee online (amount varies by institute; typically Rs 1,000–Rs 2,500)
Submit the application and download the acknowledgement slip for your records

Note: Application deadlines vary greatly by institute — some closed within weeks of the February 17 result declaration while others accept applications through May or June 2026. Check each institute’s website regularly and do not assume deadlines have passed without verifying directly.

Step 4: Appear for GD-PI Rounds

Institutes shortlist students based on CMAT score, academic record, and work experience, then invite shortlisted students for the GD-PI process. You must track shortlist announcements and GD-PI call letters for each institute separately — typically via the institute’s portal or by email. The GD-PI process at most CMAT-accepting institutes comprises one or more of:

Written Ability Test (WAT): A 15–20 minute timed essay on a current affairs, business, or abstract topic — assesses written communication and structured thinking.
Group Discussion (GD): A 10–15 minute group session on a given topic, evaluated on communication clarity, listening, leadership, and analytical content quality.
Personal Interview (PI): A 15–30 minute one-on-one or panel interview covering your academic background, career goals, domain knowledge, and situational responses.

You are responsible for coordinating your GD-PI schedule independently across all institutes — if two institutes have overlapping GD-PI windows, you must prioritise and request rescheduling where the institute permits it.

Step 5: Confirm Your Seat

After GD-PI rounds, each institute publishes its merit list (Round 1, followed by waitlist rounds if seats remain). If you receive a provisional admission offer:

Review the offer letter carefully for the programme name, campus, batch size, and fee structure
Pay the seat-confirmation fee within the deadline stipulated in the offer letter to secure your place
Complete document verification as directed by the institute (online upload or physical visit)
Report to the institute on the joining date specified in your admission letter

Failure to pay the confirmation fee by the deadline results in automatic forfeiture of your seat, which is then offered to the next student on the merit / waitlist.

How to Strategically Apply Across CMAT-Accepting Institutes

Unlike centralised counselling processes (JoSAA, MCC), CMAT students must manage their own multi-institute admission strategy. The steps below help you apply strategically so you do not miss opportunities or overextend financially across application fees and confirmation deposits.

Step 1: Categorise Institutes by Aspiration Level

Aspirational institutes: Cutoff 5–15 percentile points above your CMAT score; worth applying to but not to rely on solely.
Realistic institutes: Cutoff aligns with your CMAT score range for your category and academic profile.
Safe institutes: Cutoff comfortably below your score; serve as your fallback seat.

Step 2: Apply to 8–12 Institutes Across All Three Tiers

Recommended distribution: 2–3 aspirational, 4–5 realistic, 3–4 safe.
Avoid applying to more than 15 institutes — managing GD-PI preparation simultaneously for that many institutions reduces quality in each round.
For Maharashtra CAP institutes, apply to the MAH MBA CAP portal separately and in parallel with your direct institute applications.

Step 3: Map GD-PI Timelines Before Paying Application Fees

Check each institute’s GD-PI window before applying; published timelines are available in their admissions brochure.
Avoid applying to two institutes with overlapping GD-PI windows if rescheduling is unlikely to be permitted.
Budget for travel and accommodation if any GD-PI is on-campus and requires travel to another city.

Step 4: Prepare a Consistent Profile Narrative for WAT / GD / PI

Your "why MBA", career goals, and academic and work history narrative should be coherent across all institutes’ GD-PI rounds.
Research each institute’s specialisations, pedagogy, and placement sectors and tailor one specific element of your PI answer to that institute’s identity.

Step 5: Track Offer Deadlines in a Single Master Sheet

Once merit lists begin releasing, maintain a spreadsheet with each institute’s offer, confirmation deadline, fee amount, and deposit refundability terms.
Never let a confirmed-offer deadline lapse while waiting for a more aspirational institute’s result — always secure the available seat first.

Strategy Parameter	Recommended Approach
Number of institutes to apply	8–12 (2–3 aspirational, 4–5 realistic, 3–4 safe)
Application documents to prepare	CMAT scorecard, mark sheets, ID, category certificate — 10 physical copies each
GD-PI preparation focus	Current affairs, WAT essay practice, resume analysis, industry and sector knowledge
Offer comparison criteria	Programme ranking, annual fees, average placement salary, specialisation fit, accreditations, location
Optimal offer acceptance timing	Accept the best available offer before its deadline; upgrade to a preferred offer if received before the preferred institute’s deadline
Financial risk of upgrading	Non-refundable confirmation fee at the first institute is forfeited on upgrade — treat it as the cost of keeping your options open

CMAT Counselling Documents Required 2026

While each institute may have a slightly different checklist, the documents below are universally required across AICTE-approved CMAT-accepting colleges. Prepare digital (scanned PDF / JPG) copies and a minimum of five physical photocopies of each document before your first application — document shortages are a common cause of avoidable delays at GD-PI and reporting stages.

CMAT 2026 Scorecard (downloaded from cmat.nta.nic.in)
CMAT 2026 Admit Card / Hall Ticket
Class 10 (Matriculation) Mark Sheet and Certificate — for date of birth verification and board name
Class 12 (Intermediate / Higher Secondary) Mark Sheet and Certificate
All Semester / Year Mark Sheets of Graduation
Graduation Degree Certificate or Provisional Degree Certificate (provisional accepted for students who have appeared in their final year examination)
Photo Identity Proof — Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, or Voter ID (any one government-issued document)
Category Certificate — SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS issued by the competent authority of your state (if applying under reserved category)
PwD Certificate issued by a competent medical authority as specified by the Government of India (if applicable)
Domicile / Residence Certificate (required for Maharashtra CAP home-state quota and some state-level counselling processes)
Work Experience Certificate(s) — on official company letterhead, signed by HR, if you are claiming work-experience weightage in the merit formula
Migration Certificate from the last attended institution (required at the time of final enrolment by most affiliated universities)
Recent Passport-Size Photographs — at least 10 copies in the format prescribed by each institute (white background, recent, as per specification)
Income Certificate — for EWS certificate applications and scholarship applications, issued by the Tehsildar or Sub-Divisional Officer of your district

Note: Carry originals of all documents to GD-PI and at the time of reporting — institutes verify originals on the spot before issuing the final admission letter or enrolment confirmation.

How Much Money is Needed for CMAT Counselling 2026?

Unlike centralised counselling where you pay a single registration fee, CMAT students pay separately at every stage — application fees, GD-PI processing fees, seat-confirmation fees, and finally the first-term tuition. Planning your finances across the full application-to-joining timeline is essential, particularly if you apply to multiple institutes.

Non-Refundable Fees

These fees are paid during the application, GD-PI, and seat-acceptance stages and are not returned regardless of whether you ultimately join the institute or withdraw after confirmation.

Fee Head	Typical Range	When Paid
Institute Application Fee	Rs 1,000 – Rs 2,500 per institute	At the time of online application submission
GD-PI Registration / Processing Fee	Rs 500 – Rs 2,000 (many institutes bundle this into the application fee)	After shortlisting announcement, before GD-PI slot booking
Seat Acceptance / Confirmation Deposit	Rs 10,000 – Rs 50,000	Within 7–10 days of merit list release (deadline in offer letter)
First-Term Tuition Fee (partial or full)	Rs 50,000 – Rs 3,00,000+ (varies widely by institute tier)	At reporting / commencement of the academic session

If you apply to 10 institutes, your combined application and GD-PI fees alone may total Rs 15,000–Rs 40,000 — budget this as a fixed, unavoidable cost of the CMAT admission process, irrespective of outcome.

Refundable Security Deposit

Many institutes collect a security deposit or caution money at the time of admission or enrolment. This amount is refunded in full at the end of the programme, subject to a no-dues clearance and return of institute-issued items (library books, access cards, hostel keys, etc.).

Fee Head	Typical Amount	Refund Condition
Caution / Security Deposit	Rs 5,000 – Rs 20,000	Refunded at programme completion with no-dues clearance
Library Deposit	Rs 2,000 – Rs 5,000	Refunded upon return of all borrowed books and materials

Note: If you withdraw after accepting a seat and paying the confirmation deposit, the seat-confirmation fee is typically not refunded. Only the separately collected security deposit may be partially or fully refundable, subject to the institute’s withdrawal and refund policy and the stage at which you withdraw relative to the commencement of classes.

GD-PI Round Details at Top CMAT-Accepting Institutes

Each CMAT-accepting institute independently defines its GD-PI process, timeline, and merit weightage. As of late May 2026, institutes with May–June GD-PI schedules — including Maharashtra MAH MBA CAP colleges — are in active rounds, while institutes with earlier GD-PI windows are transitioning to merit-list releases and waitlist processing. The table below captures the typical selection structure and indicative 2026 timeline for major CMAT-accepting B-schools; verify the current schedule on each institute’s official website.

Institute	Selection Components	Indicative GD-PI Timeline (2026)
JBIMS Mumbai	CMAT / MAH CET Score + GD + PI (via MAH MBA CAP)	May–June 2026 (active)
SIMSREE Mumbai	CMAT / MAH CET Score + GD + PI (via MAH MBA CAP)	May–June 2026 (active)
PUMBA Pune	CMAT / MAH CET Score + GD + PI (via MAH MBA CAP)	May–June 2026 (active)
K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai	CMAT Score + GD + PI + WAT	March–May 2026
Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai	CMAT Score + GD + PI + WAT	March–April 2026
BIMTECH Greater Noida	CMAT Score + PI (no GD)	March–April 2026
Goa Institute of Management (GIM)	CMAT Score + WAT + GD + PI	February–March 2026
NIBM Pune	CMAT Score + Written Test + PI	March–April 2026
IFMR / Krea University, Sri City	CMAT Score + PI + Essay	March–April 2026
Woxsen University, Hyderabad	CMAT Score + PI	March–May 2026
XIME Bangalore / Chennai	CMAT Score + GD + PI	March–May 2026
IPE Hyderabad	CMAT Score + GD + PI	April–May 2026

Institutes conducting GD-PI in May–June 2026 — particularly Maharashtra MAH MBA CAP colleges — represent the last active window for new CMAT 2026 admissions. For institutes whose GD-PI concluded in earlier months, watch their official websites for second merit lists and waitlist movement in June–July 2026: students who accepted seats at more competitive programmes (IIMs, XLRI, NMIMS via CAT / NMAT) often release CMAT-institute seats during this window, creating additional openings for waitlisted students.

Accepting, Holding, or Declining an Admission Offer

When an institute releases its merit list and extends a provisional admission offer, you face a time-sensitive decision — especially if you hold or are still expecting offers from multiple institutes. Unlike JoSAA or MCC, there is no automated slide / float / freeze mechanism in CMAT admissions; you must manage this manually and financially across each institute’s separate deadline.

If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat-confirmation fee is not refunded — plan your decision carefully before paying any confirmation deposit to any institute.

Situation	Recommended Action	Financial Impact
You receive an offer from your top-choice institute	Accept immediately and pay the confirmation fee before the deadline	Non-refundable confirmation fee committed; other applications can be dropped
You hold a safe-institute offer and are awaiting a preferred institute’s result	Accept the safe offer to secure a seat; upgrade if the preferred offer arrives before its own acceptance deadline	You will forfeit the safe institute’s confirmation fee if you upgrade — treat this as the insurance cost of keeping your options open
You receive a preferred institute’s offer after already paying at a safe institute	Accept the preferred offer and formally withdraw from the safe institute in writing before its cancellation deadline	Safe institute’s confirmation fee is forfeited; security deposit may be partially refundable depending on the institute’s refund policy
You are on the waitlist and have not yet received any offer	If any other institute has offered you a seat, accept it immediately; contact the waitlist institute to inquire about waitlist movement	No financial commitment on the waitlist; zero cost to remain on it while securing another offer
You wish to decline all offers and re-appear next year	Formally write to all institutes declining the offer before their stated deadlines to free the seats for other students	Application and GD-PI fees already spent are not recoverable; confirmation fee is avoided if not yet paid

When deciding between two comparable offers, go beyond the average placement salary: consider sector-specific placement strength relevant to your career goals, batch size and diversity, education loan availability and institute tie-ups with banks, alumni network accessibility, and whether the programme holds NBA or AACSB accreditation. These factors often predict long-term career trajectory more reliably than a single aggregate placement figure.

Fill applications at a minimum of 8 institutes to ensure you always have an offer on the table and are never forced into a rushed decision under deadline pressure without alternatives.

FAQs

Ques: Is there a centralised CMAT 2026 counselling portal managed by NTA or AICTE?

Ans: No. NTA’s role ends with conducting the exam and declaring results — it plays no part in admissions. There is no centralised CMAT counselling portal. Each AICTE-approved institute runs its own admission process independently. You must visit each institute’s official website separately to apply, track shortlists, book GD-PI slots, and confirm your seat.

Ques: The CMAT 2026 result was declared in February — am I too late to apply for admissions in May 2026?

Ans: Not necessarily. While most premier private institutes’ application windows closed in February–March 2026, institutes with May–June GD-PI schedules — including Maharashtra MAH MBA CAP colleges like JBIMS and SIMSREE — may still be in active GD-PI and merit-list stages right now. Additionally, waitlist movement at institutes that conducted earlier GD-PI rounds creates additional openings through June–July. Check each target institute’s official admissions page immediately for their current status.

Ques: Which CMAT-accepting institutes are conducting GD-PI in May–June 2026?

Ans: Institutes following the MAH MBA CAP process — including JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA — typically conduct their GD-PI and counselling rounds in May–June under DTE Maharashtra’s schedule. Several other AICTE-approved private institutes with rolling admissions or later intake windows also conduct GD-PI during this period. Confirm current open schedules directly on each institute’s official website, as timelines shift year to year.

Ques: What documents do I need to carry for a CMAT 2026 GD-PI round?

Ans: For GD-PI, carry originals and at least two photocopies of:

CMAT 2026 Scorecard and Admit Card
Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport)
Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
All graduation semester / year mark sheets
Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS / PwD, if applicable)
Work experience certificate(s) on company letterhead (if applicable)
Recent passport-size photographs (at least 4 copies)

Many institutes verify originals at the registration desk before allowing entry to the GD or PI room — carry originals without fail.

Ques: How many CMAT-accepting institutes should I apply to?

Ans: Apply to 8–12 institutes — a mix of 2–3 aspirational, 4–5 realistic, and 3–4 safe choices calibrated to your CMAT score and percentile. Applying to fewer than five institutes is risky: GD-PI shortlisting is not guaranteed even with a strong CMAT score, and individual institute decisions are not predictable. Applying to at least 8 institutes ensures you have a confirmed seat to fall back on at every stage of the process.

Ques: Is the seat-confirmation fee refunded if I get a better offer from another institute later?

Ans: No. The seat-confirmation (seat-acceptance) fee is almost universally non-refundable once paid. If you withdraw after confirming a seat in order to join a preferred institute, you forfeit this fee in full. Only the separately collected security deposit or caution money may be partially or fully refundable, depending on the institute’s withdrawal and refund policy and the timing of your withdrawal relative to the start of classes. Review the refund policy in your offer letter before paying any amount.

Ques: Can I use my CMAT 2026 score for Maharashtra government college admissions?

Ans: Yes, but with an important distinction. Government-aided MBA / MMS colleges in Maharashtra — JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, and others — primarily admit through the MAH MBA CAP process run by DTE Maharashtra. MAH CET is the primary qualifying exam for CAP. CMAT scores are accepted in the CMAT merit at select institutes within CAP, but the exact weightage of CMAT vs MAH CET scores and the specific institutes within CAP that accept CMAT vary year to year. Check DTE Maharashtra’s official notifications for the 2026 rules before assuming CMAT alone qualifies you for all CAP institutions.

Ques: What is the difference between WAT, GD, and PI — and which institutes use which?

Ans: These are the three components used in different combinations across CMAT-accepting institutes:

WAT (Written Ability Test): A 15–20 minute timed essay on a given topic. Used by GIM Goa, Welingkar, and K J Somaiya to assess written communication and structured analytical thinking.
GD (Group Discussion): A 10–15 minute group session on a business, social, or current affairs topic. Evaluates listening, communication clarity, leadership, and content quality. Used by most mid-tier and above CMAT-accepting institutes.
PI (Personal Interview): A 15–30 minute one-on-one or panel interview. Nearly universal — every institute with a selection process beyond pure merit conducts a PI.

Some institutes (BIMTECH, some campuses of NIBM) skip the GD and rely on a written test plus PI. The institute’s admissions brochure always specifies the exact components and their weightage in the final merit formula.

Ques: What weightage does the CMAT score carry in an institute’s final merit list?

Ans: Weightage varies significantly by institute. A common composite merit formula at many CMAT-accepting B-schools is:

CMAT Score: 40–60%
GD Performance: 10–20%
PI Performance: 20–30%
Academic Record (10th, 12th, Graduation marks): 10–20%
Work Experience: 5–10% (at institutes that factor it in)

Your CMAT score gets you shortlisted, but GD and PI together often carry as much weight in the final merit rank — strong GD-PI performance can more than compensate for a moderately lower CMAT score at many institutes. Always read the specific institute’s merit computation formula in its admissions brochure.

Ques: I am on the waitlist at my preferred institute — should I accept another offer in the meantime?

Ans: Yes — always secure a confirmed seat before its deadline, even if it is not your first choice. Accept the available offer, pay the confirmation fee, and treat it as your insurance policy. If your preferred institute’s waitlist moves in your favour before their own acceptance deadline, accept that offer and formally withdraw from the first institute — you lose that confirmation fee, but gain admission to your preferred programme. Leaving yourself with no confirmed seat while waiting for a waitlist outcome is the highest-risk approach in CMAT admissions.

Note: Waitlist movement at many CMAT-accepting institutes tends to accelerate in June–July as students who received offers from IIMs, XLRI, NMIMS, or other programmes via CAT / NMAT / XAT release their CMAT-institute seats — keep monitoring your preferred institute’s portal actively during this window.

Disclaimer: The information above is compiled from publicly available official sources and institute admissions brochures current as of May 2026. Dates, fee structures, selection components, and reservation norms are indicative and subject to change at the discretion of individual institutes, NTA, AICTE, and state governments. Always verify with the official website of each institute and the National Testing Agency (NTA) at cmat.nta.nic.in before making any financial or academic commitment.

Exam Centers

The CMAT 2026 Exam City Intimation Slip has been released on 16^th January 2026. The candidates can download their Advanced city intimation slip using their Application No. and Date of Birth on the official website – cmat.nta.nic.in. This slip consists of a candidate’s exam center details. This is advance information for the allotment of the City where the Exam Centre will be located.

Direct link to Download the CMAT 2026 Advanced City Intimation Slip – (Out)

CMAT Advanced City Intimation Slip Login Page

Source – cmat.nta.nic.in

CMAT examination is scheduled to take place at over 200 exam centers situated across 110 prominent test cities nationwide. The National Testing Agency (NTA) strives to assign the examination center based on the four city preferences selected by candidates during CMAT Registration. Nonetheless, in situations involving logistical constraints, an alternative test center might be designated.

Table of Content

CMAT Exam Centers
1.1 Test Centers Added for CMAT
Exam Centers Scrapped for CMAT
How to Choose CMAT Exam Centers?
3.1 CMAT Address for Correspondence
How to Check CMAT Exam Center?
Guidelines for CMAT Exam Centers
5.1 Documents Required at CMAT exam centers
Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates with no test center in their city can choose the one nearest to them. For e.g. NCR residents could choose New Delhi as their primary test center preference.

CMAT 2023 Exam Centers

CMAT Test Cities

State	City Name	City Code
Andaman And Nicobar	Port Blair	AN01
Andhra Pradesh	Guntur	AP07
	Kurnool	AP10
	Nellore	AP11
	Rajahmundry	AP13
	Tirupathi	AP16
	Vijayawada	AP17
	Visakhapatnam	AP18
Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar/Naharlagun	AL01
Assam	Dibrugarh	AM01
Assam	Guwahati	AM02
Bihar	Bhagalpur	BR02
	Darbhanga	BR04
	Gaya	BR05
	Muzaffarpur	BR06
	Patna	BR07
Chandigarh/Mohali	Chandigarh/Mohali	CH01
Chhattisgarh	Bhilai Nagar/Durg	CG01
Chhattisgarh	Raipur	CG03
Delhi	Delhi	DL01
Goa	Panaji	GO01
Gujarat	Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar	GJ01
	Anand	GJ02
	Bhavnagar	GJ03
	Bhuj	GJ17
	Himatnagar	GJ14
	Jamnagar	GJ06
	Mehsana	GJ08
	Rajkot	GJ10
	Surat	GJ11
	Vadodara	GJ12
	Valsad/Vapi	GJ13
Haryana	Ambala	HR01
	Faridabad	HR03
	Gurugram	HR04
	Hissar	HR05
Himachal Pradesh	Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh)	HP01
	Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh)	HP03
	Shimla	HP06
	Solan	HP07
Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu	JK02
Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar	JK04
Jharkhand	Dhanbad	JH02
	Jamshedpur	JH03
	Ranchi	JH04
Karnataka	Belagavi(Belgaum)	KK02
	Bengaluru	KK04
	Dharwad (Hubli)	KK10
	Gulbarga	KK08
	Mangaluru(Mangalore)	KK12
	Mysuru(Mysore)	KK14
	Udupi/Manipal	KK17
Kerala	Ernakulam	KL04
	Kottayam	KL11
	Kozhikode	KL12
	Thiruvananthapuram	KL17
	Thrissur	KL18
Ladakh	Leh	LL01
Lakshwadeep	Kavaratti	LD01
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	MP03
	Gwalior	MP06
	Indore	MP07
	Jabalpur	MP08
	Sagar	MP12
Maharashtra	Ahmednagar	MR01
	Amravati	MR03
	Aurangabad (Maharashtra)	MR04
	Dhule	MR10
	Kolhapur	MR14
	Mumbai/Navi Mumbai	MR16
	Nagpur	MR17
	Nanded	MR18
	Nashik	MR19
	Pune	MR22
	Solapur	MR27
	Thane	MR28
Manipur	Imphal	MN01
Meghalaya	Shillong	MG01
Mizoram	Aizawl	MZ01
Nagaland	Dimapur	NL01
Nagaland	Kohima	NL02
Odisha	Balasore (Baleswar)	OR02
	Berhampur-Ganjam	OR03
	Bhawanipatna / Kalahandi	OR18
	Bhubaneswar	OR04
	Jeypore / Koraput	OR19
	Sambalpur	OR09
Puducherry	Puducherry	PO01
Punjab	Amritsar	PB01
	Bhatinda	PB02
	Ludhiana	PB05
	Patiala/ Fatehgarh Sahib	PB08
Rajasthan	Jaipur	RJ06
	Jodhpur	RJ07
	Kota	RJ08
	Sikar	RJ09
	Udaipur	RJ11
Tamil Nadu	Chennai	TN01
	Coimbatore	TN02
	Madurai	TN08
	Tiruchirappalli	TN14
	Tirunelveli	TN15
Telangana	Hyderabad	TL01
	Karimnagar	TL02
	Warangal	TL07
Tripura	Agartala	TA01
Uttar Pradesh	Agra	UP01
	Aligarh	UP02
	Allahabad/ Prayagraj	UP03
	Ambedkar Nagar	UP25
	Azamgarh	UP19
	Ballia	UP20
	Banda	UP26
	Barabanki	UP27
	Bareilly	UP04
	Basti	UP28
	Bijnor	UP21
	Bulandshahr	UP29
	Chandauli	UP41
	Deoria	UP30
	Etawah	UP31
	Faizabad	UP06
	Firozabad	UP22
	Ghaziabad	UP07
	Ghazipur	UP23
	Gorakhpur	UP08
	Jalaun	UP32
	Jaunpur	UP24
	Jhansi	UP10
	Kanpur	UP11
	Kushinagar	UP33
	Lakhinpur Kheri	UP34
	Lucknow	UP12
	Mathura	UP13
	Mau	UP35
	Meerut	UP14
	Mirzapur	UP36
	Moradabad	UP15
	Muzaffarnagar	UP16
	Noida/g Noida	UP09
	Pratapgarh	UP43
	Raebareili	UP37
	Saharanpur	UP38
	Shahjanpur	UP39
	Sitapur	UP17
	Sonbhadra	UP42
	Sultanpur	UP40
	Varanasi	UP18
Uttarakhand	Dehradun	UK01
	Haldwani	UK02
	Roorkee	UK06
West Bengal	Kolkata	WB10
West Bengal	Siliguri	WB11

New CMAT Exam Centers

List of Test Centers Added for CMAT

States/ Union Territories	City	City Codes
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR	PORT BLAIR	AN01
ARUNACHAL PRADESH	ITANAGAR/NAHARLAGUN	AL01
ASSAM	DIBRUGARH	AM01
BIHAR	MUZAFFARPUR	BR06
CHANDIGARH	CHANDIGARH/MOHALI	CH01
HARYANA	AMBALA	HR01
HIMACHAL PRADESH	BILASPUR(HIMACHAL PRADESH)	HP01
	SOLAN	HP07
KARNATAKA	DHARWAD/HUBBALLI(HUBLI)	KK10
	UDUPI/MANIPAL	KK17
KERALA	ERNAKULAM/ANGAMALY/MOOVATT UPUZHA	KL04
	KOTTAYAM	KL11
	THRISSUR	KL18
LADAKH	LEH	LL01
LAKSHADWEEP	KAVARATTI	LD01
MADHYA PRADESH	SAGAR	MP12
MANIPUR	IMPHAL	MN01
MEGHALAYA	SHILLONG	MG01
MIZORAM	AIZAWL	MZ01
NAGALAND	DIMAPUR	NL01
	KOHIMA	NL02
ODISHA	BERHAMPUR-GANJAM	OR03
PUDUCHERRY	PUDUCHERRY	PO01
RAJASTHAN	KOTA	RJ08
	SIKAR	RJ09
TAMIL NADU	TIRUCHIRAPPALLI	TN14
TELANGANA	KARIMNAGAR	TL02
UTTAR PRADESH	AGRA	UP01
	GORAKHPUR	UP08
UTTARAKHAND	ROORKEE	UK06
WEST BENGAL	SILIGURI	WB11

How to choose CMAT Exam Centers?

How to Choose CMAT Exam Centers?

Candidates must ensure that they choose the exam city and center carefully as per their convenience as no changes will be permitted after the final submission of the application. Candidates can follow the steps given below during the application process to select the preferred exam centers:

Visit the official website of CMAT.
While filling CMAT Application Form, choose up to four cities of your choice in the order of preference.
Pay the requisite fee to complete the registration.
No change will be possible in the selected city after the payment of the fee.

No geographical restriction is imposed on the candidates for CMAT test center selection.

CMAT Address for Correspondence

In case of queries and support candidates can contact the authorities at the following:

Call Center: 011-69227700, 011-40759000
Website: cmat.nta.nic.in or nta.ac.in

Quick Links:

CMAT Preparation Tips	CMAT Previous Year Papers

How to Check CMAT Exam Center?

How to Download CMAT Advance City Intimation Slip?

To download CMAT Exam City Intimation Slip online from the official website, candidates need to follow some simple steps:

Visit the official NTA website of CMAT - cmat.nta.nic.in
Click on the ‘Advance City Intimation Slip for CMAT link under the ‘Candidate Activity’ section.
Enter your CMAT application number, date of birth/ password and the security pin
View and Download your CMAT city intimation slip.

How to Check CMAT Exam Center?

Candidates must know that all the details regarding the allotted exam center like exam center location, name, exam time, etc. will be mentioned on their CMAT Admit Card. Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to check exam centers:

Visit the official website i.e., cmat.nta.nic.in.
Click on the "Download Admit Card" tab.
Enter your CMAT Application Number and Date of Birth.
Click on the ‘Download CMAT Admit Card’ link.
Admit Card will be visible on your screen. Make sure to check all the details regarding exam center carefully.
Download CMAT Admit Card and save it for any future correspondence

CMAT Exam Center Instructions

CMAT Exam Center Guidelines

Candidates appearing for CMAT should follow the given set of instructions-

Candidates must report to the CMAT test center at least 1 hour before the test time.
Along with CMAT Admit Card, carry an original valid Photo ID proof.
The candidate will be given a sheet of paper for the calculation work. On completion of the test, they must return the sheets to the invigilator.
Any personal items such as wristwatches, mobile, and calculators are not allowed inside the exam hall.
Candidates will not be allowed to leave the examination hall before the scheduled end time.
In case of any query, a candidate can contact Held Desk at Telephone Number: 022-66258304
Visually Impaired or Cerebral Palsy candidates will be allowed the services of a scribe/ reader and given 1 hour extra to complete the exam.

CMAT Exam Centers: FAQs

CMAT Exam Centers FAQs

Ques. What are the acceptable testing devices that I can bring to the exam center?

Ans. Given below is the testing assistance that candidates may bring to the exam centers on the prior request:

Testing Assistance	Applicable for	Arranged by
Screen/Font Magnification	For Visually Impaired Candidates	Test Center
Abacus (without a calculator)	For Visually Impaired Candidates	Candidate
Hearing Aid	For Hearing Impairment Candidates	Candidate
Wheel Chair	For Locomotors Disability/ Cerebral Palsy Candidates	Candidate
Scribe/Reader	For Visually Impaired / Cerebral Palsy Candidates	Candidate / Test Center

Note: For Visually Impaired / Cerebral Palsy Candidates, the scribe/reader will be arranged by the CMAT test center only on prior request.

Ques. At what time should I reach for the exam?

Ans. Candidates are required to be at the exam center 1-2 hours prior to the examination for all security procedures. Since the test begins at 9.00 am, candidates must reach the test center no later than 8:00-7:00 AM.

Ques. I am a PWD candidate with low vision/ blindness/ cerebral palsy. What special accommodation will I be getting at CMAT Exam Center?

Ans. Cerebral Palsy and Visually Impaired candidates are allowed to bring a Reader/ Scribe as per the scribe form mentioned on the CMAT website. NTA can also provide a scribe facility if the candidate requests the same.

Candidates will be given an opportunity to interact with the scribe provided before the day of the examination. After meeting with the identified scribe, the candidate will be required to submit an undertaking. Such candidates will also be provided with a time extension of 1 hour for the Computer Based Test.

Ques. What are the documents that are required to be carried to CMAT test center on the exam day?

Ans. Candidates appearing for CMAT need to bring any of the following identification documents on the test day:

Attested Copy of CMAT Application Form
Admit Card with the recent passport-size photograph pasted on it.
At least 1 valid original (not photocopied/scanned copy) photo identification.

The name on your photo ID must match your name as entered in the CMAT application. Acceptable forms of photo identification types are limited to Driver's license, UID card, Passport, Voter ID, PAN Card, or a notarized Affidavit (in English) with Signature, Date of Birth, Photo, and Residential Address.
Photocopies of the original documents will not be accepted. Candidates will not be permitted to take the test if photo identification is not presented.
Candidates belonging to SC/ST categories are required to bring their valid caste certificate in Original and an attested photocopy.
Physically Disabled candidates are required to bring a valid Disability certificate in Original and an attested photocopy. Attestation of the document can be done by the institute’s head also.

Ques. Should the name on CMAT Admit Card match the name appearing on the identification documents?

Ans. Yes. Your name needs to be exactly identical to the name on your ID proof for candidates appearing for CMAT.

Note: If the name has been changed due to events such as marriage, you must show the relevant documents such as Legal Name Change Document, Divorce Decree, and Marriage Certificate, and submit its photocopy at the time of the examination and interview and at the time of joining a Programme at Institutes.

Ques. What are the permitted materials that I can bring with me to CMAT test center?

Ans. None. You will not be permitted to bring any personal items such as cell phones, calculators, or wristwatches to the CMAT test center.

Ques. Will I get any breaks during the conduct of the test?

Ans. No, there will not be given any break during the test.

Ques. If I complete my exam before 3 hours, can I leave early from the test center?

Ans. No. Whether you have completed the exam on time or not, you will not be allowed to leave the examination hall. You are allowed to leave the exam hall only after the scheduled time.

Ques. Will I be provided any sheet of paper for rough work and calculations during CMAT exam?

Ans. At the CMAT exam center, each candidate will be provided with a scratch paper for calculation work. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the center. On completion of the test, candidates will have to hand back all the scratch papers to the Invigilator.

Exam Dates

The CMAT 2026 exam date has been released on its official website - nta.ac.in/CMAT. The NTA will conduct the CMAT exam on 25 January 2026 in CBT mode in over 120 cities across India in two sessions.

Check - Schedule of Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026

The NTA will release the City Intimation Slip in the 1^st week of January 2026 and The Admit Card will be released in the third week of January 2026 till 25 january 2026.
The CMAT 2026 Result is expected to be released in the second week of February 2026.

The CMAT 2026 Registration Process started from 17th October 2025 till 24th November 2025.

Related Links:

Table of Contents

CMAT 2026 Important Dates
CMAT 2026 Exam Timings (Shift-wise)
CMAT Previous Years Timeline (2025-2020)
3.1 CMAT Previous Year Exam Timings
CMAT 2026 Registration Dates
CMAT 2026 Admit Card Dates
CMAT 2026 Exam Day Schedule
6.1 Shift 1 (Morning Slot)

6.2 Shift 2 (Afternoon Slot)
CMAT 2026 Result Dates

CMAT 2026 Important Dates

Date / Time	Event	Details / Insights
Expected around 20 January 2026	Admit Card Release	Usually released 7–10 days before the exam; download only from CMAT portal.
25 January 2026	Exam Date (CBT)	CMAT 2026 to be held in computer-based mode.
Early–Mid February 2026	Result Date	Scorecards were released on the CMAT official portal.
17 October 2025	Registration Start	NTA opened the CMAT 2026 online application window.
24 November 2025	Registration Last Date	Applications accepted up to late-Nov; payment allowed till 25 Nov in many notices.
After registration close	Correction Window	Short window announced by NTA for editing application details.

CMAT 2026 Exam Timings (Shift-wise)

Shift	Timing	Duration
Shift 1	9:00 AM – 12:00 PM	3 hours (180 minutes)
Shift 2	3:00 PM – 6:00 PM	3 hours (180 minutes)

CMAT Previous Years Timeline (2025-2020)

The CMAT is conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA). CMAT is also to take place on a single day for more than 50,000 candidates.

CMAT Exam Year	CMAT Exam Dates
2025	January 25, 2025
2024	May 15, 2024
2023	May 4, 2023
2022	April 9, 2022
2021	March 31, 2021
2020	January 28, 2020

CMAT Previous Year Exam Timings

The detailed schedule for the previous year's CMAT exam is provided below for your reference:

Exam Day Activity	Shift 1 Timings	Shift 2 Timings
Entry to the Examination Hall	8:15 - 8:30 am	1:45 – 2:00 pm
Last Entry to the Exam Hall	8:30 am	2:00 pm
Instructions by Invigilator	8:45 to 8:55 am	2:15 to 2:25 pm
Commencement of CMAT Exam	9 am	2:30 pm
CMAT Exam Concludes	12 am	5:30 pm

CMAT 2026 Registration Dates

Activity	Date(s) / Deadline
Registration (Online application started)	17 October 2025
Original Application Last Date (initial schedule)	17 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)
Extended Application Last Date (revised)	24 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)
Last Date for Fee Payment (final transaction)	25 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM)
Correction Window (edit application details, if needed)	26 November – 28 November 2025 (revised)

CMAT 2026 Admit Card Dates

The CMAT 2026 Admit card is expected to be released around 20 January 2026. Candidates are advised to download the Admit Card as soon as it is released, download and print it. Do not wait until the last day.

Check All Details: Verify your name, date of birth, exam centre, shift/slot, and reporting time. Any error should be reported to NTA immediately.

Carry Valid ID: Along with the admit card, carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Voter ID, or Driving Licence).

Aspect	Details / Insights
Expected Release	Around 20 January 2026 (a few days before the exam on 25 January 2026)
Historical Reference	CMAT 2025: Released on 20 January 2025 for 25 January exam
Gap Between Admit Card & Exam	Approximately 5–10 days; short window to check details or plan travel

CMAT 2026 Exam Day Schedule

The CMAT 2026 exam on 25 January is held in two shifts, and the timings are very strict. Each shift has a fixed reporting window, and after the gate closes, no one is allowed to enter. This helps NTA manage crowds and complete checking smoothly.

Shift 1 (Morning Slot)

Activity	Time
Reporting Time	7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Entry Closure	8:30 AM
Instructions	8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Exam Time	9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Exit Time	Post 12:00 PM after instructions

Shift 2 (Afternoon Slot)

Activity	Time
Reporting Time	1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Entry Closure	2:30 PM
Instructions	2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Exam Time	3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Exit Time	After 6:00 PM

CMAT 2026 Result Dates

As in the previous years, the CMAT 2026 Result is expected to be declared within ~2–3 weeks after the exam.

Event / Stage	Tentative Date / Timeframe	Details / Notes
Answer Key Release (Provisional)	Likely first week of February 2026	Enables candidates to check responses before final result.
Objection Window for Answer Key	Around late January → early February 2026 (as per timeline pattern)	Candidates can challenge any discrepancies in answer key.
Final Result Date (Scorecard + Percentile)	Around 13 February 2026 (most‑cited expectation)	Some sources tie this specifically to 13 Feb 2026.
Result Release Time	Expected in evening (after ~6 PM), though official time not confirmed	Past patterns show evening releases; keep checking official website after 6 PM on result date.

Good Score in CMAT

CMAT 2026 was conducted on January 25, 2026, and NTA declared the result on February 17, 2026, at cmat.nta.nic.in. The exam tests you across 5 sections — Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship — carrying a maximum of 400 marks. This page maps your raw CMAT 2026 score to an expected percentile and All India Rank, and tells you which score band opens which tier of MBA college.

A score of 295–310 marks places you at approximately the 99th percentile in CMAT 2026.
360+ marks out of 400 fetches 100 percentile — only 4–5 students reach this band each year.
CMAT 2026 uses a +4 / –1 marking scheme across 100 questions with no sectional time limit.
A score of 250 marks translates to roughly the 88–93 percentile — competitive for KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes, and Welingkar.
41,872 students appeared for CMAT 2026 on January 25, 2026; NTA declared the result on February 17, 2026.
JBIMS Mumbai closes at 99.99+ percentile — the highest CMAT cutoff in the country.
Scoring 200 marks (around 80th percentile) opens realistic options at mid-tier CMAT-accepting institutes.

Download CMAT 2026 Official Scorecard — cmat.nta.nic.in

Key Summary: CMAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile

CMAT 2026 exam date: January 25, 2026; result declared: February 17, 2026.
Total marks: 400 (5 sections × 20 questions × 4 marks each; –1 for every wrong answer).
41,872 students appeared; 99 percentile requires approximately 295–310 marks.
JBIMS Mumbai closes at 99.99+ percentile; most reputed colleges accept 90+ percentile (248+ marks).
CMAT runs in a single shift — NTA applies no normalisation; raw score equals obtained score.
Maharashtra state CAP counselling and several other state rounds are ongoing as of July 2026.

Table of Contents

What is CMAT Marks vs Percentile?
CMAT 2026: Important Dates
Factors Affecting CMAT Marks vs Percentile
CMAT Marks vs Percentile 2026 Table
CMAT Marks vs Percentile: Shift-Wise Analysis
CMAT Marks vs Percentile: Category Wise Analysis
CMAT Previous Year Marks vs Percentile Trends
What is a Good Score in CMAT 2026?
How CMAT Percentile is Calculated
How to Use CMAT Marks vs Percentile for College Prediction
CMAT Marks vs Percentile FAQs

What is CMAT Marks vs Percentile?

CMAT marks vs percentile tells you where your raw score sits relative to every other student who appeared for the exam. NTA publishes your scorecard with three values: your total marks (out of 400), your percentile score (between 0 and 100), and your All India Rank (AIR). These three values together decide your college options.

Your percentile is not the same as your percentage. A 99 percentile does not mean you scored 99% marks — it means you scored higher than 99% of all students who appeared. The raw score that fetches 99 percentile in CMAT 2026 is roughly 295–310 marks out of 400, which is 74–78%.

CMAT differs from exams like JEE Main and CUET in one important way: it runs in a single shift. Because every student sits the same paper on the same day, NTA does not apply inter-session normalisation. Your obtained marks and your scored marks are the same figure. This makes the marks-to-percentile mapping more predictable than multi-session exams.

Colleges use your percentile — not your raw marks — for shortlisting. JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA publish their cutoffs in percentile terms. Individual states like Maharashtra run a Centralised Admission Process (CAP) that ranks you by percentile within your category and generates a state merit list. Understanding your marks vs percentile conversion is therefore the first step in building a realistic MBA college shortlist.

CMAT 2026: Important Dates

Upcoming events appear first, followed by events that have already passed. Use this to track where counselling stands today.

Event	Date	Status
Maharashtra CAP Round 3 / Stray Vacancy Round	August–September 2026 (approx)	Upcoming
Other State Counselling Final Rounds (Goa, Delhi, etc.)	August–September 2026 (approx)	Upcoming
CMAT 2026 Notification & Registration Opens	November 2025	Over
CMAT 2026 Registration Closes	December 2025	Over
Admit Card Release	January 2026	Over
CMAT 2026 Exam Date	January 25, 2026	Over
Provisional Answer Key Release	January 31, 2026	Over
Answer Key Challenge Window	February 1–5, 2026 (approx)	Over
Final Answer Key + Result Declared	February 17, 2026	Over
Scorecard Download Opens	February 17, 2026 onwards	Over
Maharashtra CAP Round 1 (CMAT + MAH-MBA CET)	April–May 2026 (approx)	Over
Maharashtra CAP Round 2	June–July 2026 (approx)	Over

Source: - cmat.nta.nic.in — NTA CMAT Official Portal

Factors Affecting CMAT Marks vs Percentile

Your raw score does not map to a fixed percentile every year. Several variables shift that relationship — understanding them helps you read score predictions more critically.

1. Total number of students who appeared
41,872 students appeared for CMAT 2026 — down about 15% from the previous year. Fewer students means the percentile ranks are more sensitive. A one-rank difference near the top can span a larger marks gap because the pool is thinner.

2. Overall exam difficulty
In a harder paper, average scores fall across the board. A raw score of 260 might fetch 95 percentile in a standard year but reach 97 percentile in a tough year, because most students score less. CMAT 2025 was considered harder than average — the marks needed for 99 percentile dropped to around 270–285 that year.

3. Single-shift format and no normalisation
CMAT is a single-day, single-shift exam. NTA does not apply any inter-session normalisation formula. Your marks are exactly what you scored. This makes CMAT’s marks-to-percentile relationship more stable and transparent than multi-shift exams like JEE Main or CUET.

4. Marking scheme and net accuracy
CMAT awards +4 for a correct answer and deducts –1 for a wrong one. A student who attempts 85 questions with 80 correct gets 315 marks. A student who attempts all 100 with 85 correct but 15 wrong gets 325 marks. Your net accuracy — not raw attempt count — is the deciding variable.

5. Section-wise score distribution
NTA publishes section-wise marks on your scorecard. Colleges in specific states sometimes weight certain sections — for example, Language Comprehension carries more weight in Maharashtra merit list screening for some institutes. A strong General Awareness section can push your total above a key cutoff band.

6. Category of the student
NTA calculates a single all-category percentile for the scorecard. But colleges and state CAP processes generate separate category-wise merit lists. Your OBC/SC/ST/EWS category can lower the effective cutoff you need to clear at the admission stage, not at the NTA scorecard stage.

7. Year-to-year variation in top scorers
The score needed for 100 percentile has ranged from 345 to 385 over five years — reflecting year-specific difficulty and the randomness of who tops the exam. A score of 360–365 achieves 100 percentile in CMAT 2026 vs 345–350 in the easier 2024 cycle.

CMAT Marks vs Percentile 2026 Table

The table below is built from CMAT 2026 scorecard data released by NTA on February 17, 2026. The AIR ranges are computed on a base of 41,872 students who appeared. Use the Competitive Outlook column to read which college tier your score band unlocks.

Marks (out of 400)	Expected Percentile	Expected AIR	Competitive Outlook
360–400	100	1–5	Top rank; JBIMS open merit
340–359	99.9–99.99	5–50	JBIMS (open/EWS), SIMSREE Mumbai
310–339	99.5–99.9	50–220	SIMSREE, PUMBA Pune, KJ Somaiya (General)
295–309	99–99.5	220–450	PUMBA, KJ Somaiya, Welingkar (General Open)
265–294	95–99	450–2,100	KJ Somaiya (reserved categories), Great Lakes, XIME Bengaluru
248–264	90–95	2,100–4,200	Welingkar, IFMR, reputed state colleges
220–247	83–90	4,200–7,100	Decent CMAT-accepting private institutes
200–219	78–83	7,100–9,200	Mid-tier colleges; state quota options
160–199	60–78	9,200–16,700	Lower-tier CMAT-accepting institutes
120–159	40–60	16,700–25,100	Few competitive options; consider a retake
Below 120	Below 40	25,100+	Limited options; reappearing strongly advised

NTA does not publish an official marks-to-percentile mapping. These figures are derived from CMAT 2026 result data and expert analysis from leading MBA coaching institutes. A 5-mark shift near the 99th percentile boundary can move your AIR by 50–80 positions.

Source: - NTA CMAT 2026 Official Result — cmat.nta.nic.in

Most-asked question about this table: What score is needed for 99 percentile in CMAT 2026? — Based on CMAT 2026 result data, a score between 295 and 310 marks out of 400 is needed for the 99th percentile. Scoring at this level places you in the top 419 students out of 41,872 who appeared, making you competitive for PUMBA, KJ Somaiya General, and Welingkar.

CMAT Marks vs Percentile: Shift-Wise Analysis

CMAT 2026 was conducted in a single shift on January 25, 2026. Every student who appeared sat the same paper in the same window on the same day. This is a key structural fact that directly affects how your percentile is calculated.

Because there is only one shift, NTA does not apply any normalisation formula to CMAT scores. Normalisation is a statistical process NTA uses for multi-session exams — like JEE Main or CUET — to adjust for differences in paper difficulty across shifts. When there is only one shift, no such adjustment is needed. Every student’s raw score is their final score.

What this means for your percentile:

The marks on your CMAT 2026 scorecard are exactly what you obtained in the exam — not a normalised or adjusted figure.
The percentile calculation is straightforward: NTA ranks all 41,872 students by raw score and applies the standard percentile formula.
There is no "shift advantage" or "shift disadvantage" to factor in, unlike in JEE Main.
You can cross-check your percentile yourself using the formula: (Students who scored less than you ÷ 41,872) × 100.

In the years 2020 and 2021, CMAT ran across two days and NTA did apply normalisation between days. From 2022 onwards, CMAT has returned to a single-day, single-shift format and no normalisation has been applied since. Students comparing their 2020–21 results with newer cycles should keep this in mind.

The single-shift structure also explains why CMAT’s marks-to-percentile data is more consistent year over year than JEE Main. A score around 295 marks has placed students at roughly the 99th percentile in both 2023 and 2026 (with 2025 being an outlier due to a harder paper).

CMAT Marks vs Percentile: Category Wise Analysis

NTA calculates a single unified percentile for all students who appear for CMAT — there is no separate category-wise percentile on your NTA scorecard. However, colleges and state CAP processes apply reservation rules when generating their merit lists. Your category determines the effective cutoff you need to clear at the admission stage.

The table below shows approximate percentile cutoffs across categories for the top CMAT-accepting colleges, based on CMAT 2026 state CAP round data and individual college admission data. These are college-level cutoffs — they apply after NTA releases your scorecard, not at the NTA level.

College	General / Open	OBC	SC	ST
JBIMS Mumbai	99.99+	99.95+	99.5+	98+
SIMSREE Mumbai	99.5+	99+	98.5+	97+
PUMBA Pune	99–99.5	98.5–99	97–98	95–97
KJ Somaiya Mumbai	95–99	92–96	88–92	82–88
Welingkar Mumbai	90–95	87–92	82–87	75–82
Great Lakes Chennai	85–90	82–87	78–83	70–78
XIME Bengaluru	80–85	77–82	72–77	65–72

Note: JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA cutoffs are part of Maharashtra’s CAP process run by CET Cell. Cutoffs for Great Lakes and XIME are indicative based on their own admission processes from previous years. Official 2026 round-wise closing data will be published at cetcell.mahacet.org.

Key category insights from CMAT 2026 counselling rounds so far:

SC students with 99.5+ percentile (approximately 310+ marks) are competitive for JBIMS through the Maharashtra CAP process.
OBC candidates at 92+ percentile (approximately 265+ marks) find KJ Somaiya accessible for PGDM seats.
EWS category cutoffs broadly track General/Open cutoffs with a marginal relaxation at most Maharashtra institutes.
For colleges outside Maharashtra that accept CMAT, category reservations vary by state government rules and individual institute policies — check each college’s admission notification directly.

CMAT Previous Year Marks vs Percentile Trends

Tracking the marks-to-percentile shift over four years shows how exam difficulty and student participation interact. 2025 was an outlier — a harder paper dropped the marks needed for 99 percentile by roughly 15–20 marks compared to 2023 and 2026. The 2026 cycle shows a return to standard difficulty.

Percentile	CMAT 2023	CMAT 2024	CMAT 2025	CMAT 2026
100	365	345–350	~340	360–365
99.99+	340–360	330–345	320–335	340–358
99	310–315	285–290	270–285	295–310
95	290–300	260–265	255–265	265–280
90	268–278	242–252	236–248	248–265
80	238–250	212–225	207–218	200–240
50	120–140	112–130	106–122	120–140

Source: - NTA CMAT Official Results 2023–2026

Reading the four-year trend:

2025 difficulty spike: The 99 percentile mark dropped to 270–285 in 2025 from 310–315 in 2023 — a 30-mark swing driven by a harder paper, not by any drop in standards.
2026 rebound: The 99 percentile mark returned to 295–310 in 2026, confirming the 2025 dip was an exam-difficulty anomaly rather than a structural shift.
100 percentile variability: The top score has ranged from 340 to 365 over this four-year window. Near-perfect execution — not just a high score — is needed to reach 100 percentile.
Stable lower bands: The 80th percentile band has stayed broadly in the 200–250 range across all four years, meaning mid-tier competition has not intensified significantly.

What is a Good Score in CMAT 2026?

A good score in CMAT depends on which college tier you are targeting. Based on post-counselling admission data from CMAT 2026 state rounds — including Maharashtra CAP Round 1 and Round 2 closing figures — the score bands below reflect what was actually required for admission, not just initial shortlisting.

Score Band (out of 400)	Percentile Range	College Tier	Verdict
340+ marks	99.9+	Elite: JBIMS, SIMSREE	*Outstanding*
280–339 marks	95–99.9	Excellent: KJ Somaiya, PUMBA, Great Lakes	Excellent
248–279 marks	88–95	Good: Welingkar, XIME, reputed state B-schools	Good
200–247 marks	78–88	Average: Mid-tier private institutes	Average
160–199 marks	60–78	Below average: Lower-tier colleges	Below Average
Below 160 marks	Below 60	Very limited options	Weak

What CMAT 2026 state counselling data confirms about each band:

Top-tier band (340+ marks / 99.9+ percentile): JBIMS closed at 99.99+ percentile in the General Open category in Maharashtra CAP Round 1. Only students with 340+ marks were in contention for a JBIMS seat.
Mid-tier band (265–310 marks / 95–99 percentile): KJ Somaiya’s General category closed between 95–99 percentile across PGDM programmes. Great Lakes Chennai shortlisted candidates above 85 percentile for GD-PI. Students in this band had multiple strong options across both CAP and individual college processes.
Lower-tier band (200–248 marks / 78–90 percentile): A wide range of AICTE-approved CMAT-accepting institutes, including Maharashtra state government and private colleges outside the top 10, offered seats to students in this band. Maharashtra state quota colleges had closing percentiles broadly in the 80–90 range in Rounds 1 and 2.
Below 200 marks: Options narrow sharply. Most colleges with strong placement records require at least 80 percentile (roughly 200 marks). Scoring below 160 marks leaves very few competitive CMAT-accepting options.

The practical floor for a meaningful MBA admission through CMAT is around 200–220 marks (78–83 percentile). Below this range, seriously consider retaking the exam or exploring other management entrance tests.

How CMAT Percentile is Calculated

NTA uses a straightforward formula for CMAT percentile because the exam runs in a single shift. There is no normalisation step involved.

The NTA percentile formula for CMAT:

Percentile Score = (Number of students who scored less than you ÷ Total students who appeared) × 100

Example: If 41,872 students appeared for CMAT 2026 and 41,453 of them scored less than a student with 295 marks, that student’s percentile is (41,453 ÷ 41,872) × 100 = 99.0 percentile.

Key points about CMAT percentile calculation:

NTA rounds percentile to two decimal places on the scorecard (e.g., 98.73).
Because CMAT has no normalisation, your percentile shifts only based on how everyone else performs — not on which shift you sat.
All India Rank (AIR) is assigned based on total marks. Tie-breaking rules apply when two students score the same total.
Your CMAT scorecard also shows a section-wise percentile alongside the overall percentile. Some institutes use section-wise percentile as a secondary screening criterion during shortlisting.

Tie-breaking order in CMAT 2026: When two students score the same total marks, NTA assigns the higher rank using this hierarchy — (1) higher marks in Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, (2) higher marks in Logical Reasoning, (3) higher marks in Language Comprehension, (4) higher marks in General Awareness, then (5) older student ranks higher.

How to Use CMAT Marks vs Percentile for College Prediction

Your CMAT 2026 percentile is the starting point, not the finish line. Here is a 4-step process to translate your score into a realistic college shortlist.

Step 1 — Fix your percentile band
Use the core conversion table above to find where your marks land. Be conservative: if your score sits at the edge of a band (e.g., 295 marks at the 99 percentile boundary), assume the lower end of the college tier applies to you rather than the upper end.

Step 2 — Identify your category
Your category (General / EWS / OBC / SC / ST) determines the effective cutoff you need at each college. An OBC student with 92 percentile is competitive at KJ Somaiya; a General student with the same score falls short. Use the category-wise analysis table above to map your percentile to the right colleges for your category.

Step 3 — Build a three-tier shortlist
Aim for 8–12 colleges spread across three tiers — Reach (your score is within 2–3 percentile points of the cutoff), Match (your score is clearly above the cutoff), and Safe (the cutoff is well below your percentile). For example, a student at 95 percentile (General) might target KJ Somaiya (Reach), Welingkar Mumbai (Match), and XIME Bengaluru (Safe).

Step 4 — Register for Maharashtra CAP if eligible
Maharashtra’s CAP process covers 300+ institutes through a centralised choice-filling round. If you hold Maharashtra domicile, registering for CAP significantly expands your options — even an 85 percentile score opens access to good state quota seats. Check the official Maharashtra CET Cell website for the current round’s schedule and eligibility rules. The final stray vacancy round typically runs in August–September.

Colleges that run their own admission processes — Great Lakes Chennai, XIME Bengaluru, IFMR Chennai — use your CMAT percentile for initial shortlisting but then conduct a GD-PI round. Your final admission depends on both your CMAT percentile and your GD-PI performance, so prepare for the personal interview stage in parallel with monitoring counselling rounds.

CMAT Marks vs Percentile FAQs

Ques. What is a good score in CMAT 2026?

Ans. A score of 250+ marks (88–93 percentile) is considered a good score in CMAT 2026. It keeps you competitive for colleges like KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes Chennai, and Welingkar Mumbai. For JBIMS or SIMSREE, you need 340+ marks (99.9+ percentile). The practical floor for a meaningful MBA admission through CMAT is around 200–220 marks (78–83 percentile).

Ques. How many marks are needed for 99 percentile in CMAT 2026?

Ans. You need approximately 295–310 marks out of 400 to reach the 99th percentile in CMAT 2026. This places you in the top 419 students out of 41,872 who appeared. The exact boundary can shift by 5–10 marks based on overall paper difficulty, which changes every year.

Ques. Does CMAT use normalisation like JEE Main?

Ans. No. CMAT 2026 was a single-shift exam, so NTA did not apply any normalisation. Your raw score equals your obtained score. Normalisation is only used by NTA when an exam runs across multiple sessions with different question papers. CMAT has been single-day and single-shift since 2022.

Ques. What percentile is needed for JBIMS Mumbai in CMAT 2026?

Ans. JBIMS Mumbai requires 99.99+ percentile for General/Open category candidates — consistently the toughest CMAT cutoff in the country. This corresponds to roughly 340–355 marks out of 400. Reserved category cutoffs are lower: approximately 99.5+ for SC and 98+ for ST, applied through Maharashtra’s CAP process.

Ques. Is 250 marks in CMAT 2026 enough for a top MBA college?

Ans. 250 marks (88–93 percentile) is a good score but falls short of the very top colleges. At this level, you are competitive for KJ Somaiya reserved-category seats, Great Lakes Chennai (after clearing the GD-PI), XIME Bengaluru, and Welingkar General. JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA General category are out of range at 250 marks.

Ques. What is the total marks in CMAT 2026?

Ans. CMAT 2026 carries a total of 400 marks across 5 sections — Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Each section has 20 questions worth 4 marks each. There is a –1 penalty for every wrong answer and no penalty for unattempted questions.

Ques. How many students appeared for CMAT 2026?

Ans. 41,872 students appeared for CMAT 2026 on January 25, 2026, out of 53,453 who registered — an appearance rate of about 78%. This was approximately 15% lower than the previous year. The smaller pool makes percentile boundaries near the top more sensitive: a narrow marks gap can mean a significant AIR difference.

Ques. What colleges can I get with 90 percentile in CMAT 2026?

Ans. At 90 percentile (approximately 248–265 marks), your options include Welingkar Mumbai, XIME Bengaluru, IFMR Chennai, and several well-regarded Maharashtra state colleges accessible through CAP. You are on the borderline for KJ Somaiya reserved-category seats. JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA General category are not reachable at this percentile.

Ques. Does CMAT have category-wise cutoffs from NTA?

Ans. No. NTA releases one unified percentile for all students regardless of category — there is no category-wise NTA percentile. Category reservations are applied at the college level and through state CAP processes. Maharashtra’s CET Cell generates separate category merit lists (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) using your NTA percentile along with your category certificate.

Ques. How is CMAT All India Rank assigned?

Ans. NTA assigns AIR by ranking all 41,872 students from highest to lowest total marks. When two students score identically, the tie is broken in this order: (1) higher marks in Quantitative Techniques & DI, (2) higher marks in Logical Reasoning, (3) higher marks in Language Comprehension, (4) higher marks in General Awareness, and (5) the older student ranks higher. Your AIR appears directly on your CMAT 2026 scorecard.

Ques. Is the CMAT 2026 score valid for more than one year?

Ans. CMAT scores are valid for one academic year only. Your CMAT 2026 score (January 25, 2026 exam) is valid for MBA/PGDM admissions in the 2026–28 batch only. It cannot be carried forward to the 2027–29 batch. Students aiming for the next intake must appear for CMAT 2027.

Ques. What is the difference between CMAT percentile and CMAT rank?

Ans. Your CMAT percentile tells you the share of students who scored below you — a 99 percentile means you outscored 99% of the 41,872 students who appeared. Your CMAT rank (AIR) gives your exact position — AIR 1 is the topper, AIR 419 is roughly the 99 percentile boundary. Both appear on your scorecard. Colleges specify cutoffs in percentile terms, while AIR is useful for understanding exactly how many students are ahead of you.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

Merit List

The CMAT 2026 All India Rank (AIR) list and scorecard were released by NTA on February 17, 2026, at cmat.nta.nic.in, for 41,872 students who appeared in the exam on January 25, 2026. As of July 15, 2026, state-level merit lists for MBA admissions are actively being published — MP DTE’s Round 1 CMAT-based merit list is confirmed released, and Maharashtra’s CAP Final Merit List is scheduled for July 20, 2026. Your position on any state merit list depends on your total CMAT 2026 score (out of 400), your category, and your state domicile.

NTA released the CMAT 2026 central merit list (AIR & scorecard) on February 17, 2026 for all 41,872 students who sat the exam on January 25, 2026.
Your CMAT 2026 scorecard shows your total score out of 400, NTA percentile, and All India Rank — all three values are used by state counselling authorities to prepare state-level merit lists.
MP DTE’s Round 1 CMAT-based MBA merit list is confirmed released (first week of July 2026); MP DTE Round 2 merit list is scheduled for July 23, 2026.
Maharashtra’s MAH MBA CET CAP, which accepts CMAT 2026 scores under the All India category, is ongoing — the Final Merit List is expected on July 20, 2026; CAP registration closes July 16, 2026.
State merit lists combine your CMAT score with category reservation and domicile criteria — your state rank may differ significantly from your All India Rank depending on the pool of students registered in that state.
Students targeting Goa (GCPA), Gujarat (ACPC), Andhra Pradesh (APSCHE), or other states must check those portals separately; those lists are expected through July–August 2026.
The CMAT merit list is not the same as the CMAT result — the result shows your raw score; the merit list ranks you within a specific state or institutional applicant pool.

Once your name appears in a state merit list, complete document verification and choice filling within the published counselling window — missing the deadline removes you from the allotment process, and you may lose your MBA seat even with a strong CMAT 2026 score.

Download CMAT 2026 Merit List & Scorecard (All India Rank) @ cmat.nta.nic.in

Key Summary — CMAT 2026 Merit List: central AIR released February 17, 2026; state-level lists in progress as of July 15, 2026. Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA) Exam Date: January 25, 2026 Result & AIR (Central Merit List) Released: February 17, 2026 Total Students Appeared: 41,872 Total Marks: 400 (4 per correct answer; –1 per wrong answer) MP DTE MBA Round 1 Merit List: Released — First week of July 2026 MP DTE MBA Round 2 Merit List: Expected July 23, 2026 Maharashtra CAP Final Merit List: Expected July 20, 2026 Official Portal: cmat.nta.nic.in State Counselling Bodies: MP DTE, MAH CET Cell, ACPC Gujarat, GCPA Goa, and others

Table of Contents

What is CMAT Merit List 2026?
1.1 Types of CMAT Merit List 2026
CMAT Merit List Dates 2026
State-wise CMAT Merit List 2026 PDF Download
CMAT Cutoff 2026
4.1 How Many Marks Are Required in CMAT 2026?
CMAT Merit List 2025
CMAT Previous Year Merit Lists (2023–2025)
6.1 CMAT 2025 Merit List

6.2 CMAT 2024 Merit List

6.3 CMAT 2023 Merit List
CMAT Good Score 2026
Is Your CMAT 2026 Score a Good Score?
8.1 Admission Possibilities Based on CMAT 2026 Score
CMAT Marks vs Rank 2026
FAQs

What is CMAT Merit List 2026?

The CMAT merit list is a rank-ordered list of students based on their performance in the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). NTA publishes the central merit list as the All India Rank (AIR) on the official scorecard — released on February 17, 2026, for 41,872 students via cmat.nta.nic.in. Each state counselling authority then prepares a separate state merit list using CMAT 2026 scores combined with category reservation and domicile eligibility for that state’s MBA admissions.

The state merit list is what directly determines which MBA or PGDM college you can be allotted a seat in through centralized counselling. Students who did not register with a state counselling portal are not included in that state’s merit list, even if they hold a valid CMAT 2026 scorecard with a strong All India Rank. The NTA AIR and the state merit list rank are two distinct ranks that serve different purposes in the CMAT admissions cycle.

Types of CMAT Merit List 2026

Type of Merit List	Issued By	Basis	Purpose
All India Rank (AIR) / Central Merit List	NTA	Total score out of 400 & percentile (released Feb 17, 2026)	National benchmark; used by individual colleges for their own shortlisting process
State Merit List	State DTE / CET Cell (e.g., MP DTE, MAH CET Cell)	CMAT score + state domicile + category + state-specific tie-breaking rules	Centralised counselling and seat allotment within a state for MBA admissions
Category-wise Merit List	State DTE / Individual Institute	CMAT score ranked within each reservation category (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD)	Ensures proportional seat allocation as per constitutional reservation norms
Institute-Level Merit List	Individual B-school	CMAT score + GD/WAT/PI performance + academic profile	Final admission shortlist for a specific institute outside state counselling

CMAT Merit List Dates 2026

The events table below covers the full CMAT 2026 merit list cycle. Upcoming events are listed first, nearest date at the top; completed events appear in chronological order below with an (Over) tag.

Event	Date 2026
MAH MBA CET CAP — Provisional Seat Allotment	July 15, 2026
MAH MBA CET CAP — Registration Last Date	July 16, 2026
MAH MBA CET CAP — Final Merit List	July 20, 2026
MP DTE MBA Round 2 Merit List (CMAT-based)	July 23, 2026
Gujarat (ACPC), Goa (GCPA) & Other State Merit Lists	July–August 2026 (Expected)
CMAT 2026 Exam (Over)	January 25, 2026
NTA CMAT 2026 Result & All India Rank (Central Merit List) Released (Over)	February 17, 2026
MAH MBA CET CAP Registration Opens (Over)	July 2, 2026
MP DTE MBA Round 1 Merit List (CMAT-based) Released (Over)	First week of July 2026

All dates are subject to revision by NTA or the respective state counselling authority. Check cmat.nta.nic.in and your state counselling portal regularly for any schedule updates.

State-wise CMAT Merit List 2026 PDF Download

State-level CMAT 2026 merit lists are prepared by state authorities who conduct their own centralised counselling for MBA seats. You must register separately on each state counselling portal to appear in that state’s merit list — holding an NTA CMAT 2026 scorecard alone is not sufficient for state merit list inclusion. The table below reflects merit list status as of July 15, 2026.

State	Counselling Authority	Merit List Status (July 15, 2026)	Official Portal
Madhya Pradesh	MP DTE	Round 1 Released (first week of July 2026); Round 2 Expected July 23, 2026	dte.mponline.gov.in
Maharashtra	MAH CET Cell (CAP)	CAP in progress; Provisional Seat Allotment: July 15, 2026; Final Merit List Expected: July 20, 2026	cetcell.mahacet.org
Goa	GCPA (Goa Common Pool Authority)	Expected July–August 2026	To Be Announced
Gujarat	ACPC Gujarat	Expected July–August 2026	acpc.ac.in
Andhra Pradesh	APSCHE	Expected July–August 2026	To Be Announced
Telangana	TSCHE / ICET Cell	Expected July–August 2026	To Be Announced
Rajasthan	State DTE / RKCL	Expected July–August 2026	To Be Announced

Beyond these state-counselling bodies, over 500 MBA/PGDM institutes across India accept CMAT 2026 scores and publish their own institute-level merit lists on their individual admission portals. For the most current official list of participating states and portals, refer to cmat.nta.nic.in.

CMAT Cutoff 2026

NTA does not declare a single national qualifying cutoff for CMAT 2026. Each state authority and individual institute sets its own CMAT 2026 cutoff based on applicant numbers, seat availability, and category reservation norms. The table below shows the typical category-wise minimum qualifying percentile bands observed at state-counselling level for CMAT 2026.

Category	Typical Qualifying Percentile (State Counselling)	Approximate Score out of 400
General (UR)	50th percentile and above	140+ marks
OBC-NCL	40th percentile and above	120+ marks
EWS	40th percentile and above	120+ marks
SC	30th percentile and above	90+ marks
ST	25th percentile and above	70+ marks
PwD	20th percentile and above	50+ marks

The percentile bands above represent minimum eligibility for state counselling participation — not admission guarantees into a specific college. For premium CMAT-accepting colleges like JBIMS Mumbai and SIMSREE, General category students typically need 99th percentile or above. State-level participation cutoffs and individual college admission cutoffs are two separate thresholds in the CMAT 2026 admissions cycle.

How Many Marks Are Required in CMAT 2026?

The marks required depend on your target college and state counselling process. A score of 260+ out of 400 (approximately 95+ percentile) is recommended for General category students targeting the top-50 CMAT-accepting MBA colleges. Students targeting state-level colleges through MP DTE or Maharashtra CAP can qualify with considerably lower scores, depending on their category.

College / Program Tier	Approx. CMAT 2026 Score Required	Approx. Percentile
JBIMS Mumbai	315+ out of 400	99.5+ percentile
SIMSREE Mumbai	295+ out of 400	99+ percentile
KJ Somaiya Mumbai / PUMBA Pune	265–294 out of 400	95–99 percentile
GIM Goa / Welingkar Mumbai	240–264 out of 400	90–95 percentile
BIMTECH Greater Noida / IMT Nagpur	220–239 out of 400	85–90 percentile
Maharashtra CAP Non-Autonomous Colleges (General)	160–200 out of 400	60–80 percentile
MP DTE State MBA Colleges (General)	140–180 out of 400	50–70 percentile

CMAT Merit List 2025

The CMAT 2025 exam was conducted by NTA in early 2025, and the central AIR list was released shortly after — state merit lists for MBA admissions followed from July to August 2025. The 2025 cycle is the most directly comparable to CMAT 2026 for score-to-rank benchmarking, since both years featured similar candidate pool sizes and state counselling timelines. CMAT 2025 state merit lists are archived on their respective portals and remain the best reference for estimating your 2026 state rank range before all 2026 lists are fully published.

State	Counselling Authority	CMAT 2025 Merit List Status	Archive Portal
Madhya Pradesh	MP DTE	Released — July 2025	dte.mponline.gov.in
Maharashtra	MAH CET Cell	Released via CAP 2025 — July–August 2025	cetcell.mahacet.org
Goa	GCPA	Released — July–August 2025	gcpa.goa.gov.in
Gujarat	ACPC	Released — August 2025	acpc.ac.in
NTA Central AIR (CMAT 2025)	NTA	Released — early 2025	cmat.nta.nic.in

CMAT Previous Year Merit Lists (2023–2025)

Reviewing multiple years of CMAT merit lists helps students understand how cutoffs and state counselling timelines have evolved. Each year’s state merit list data lets you calibrate how a given CMAT score translates into a state rank and a college offer. All three cycles below concluded state counselling within 6–8 months of the exam date — a pattern CMAT 2026 is continuing.

CMAT 2025 Merit List

CMAT 2025 was conducted in early 2025 with a candidate base similar to 2026, making it the most relevant year for cutoff trend analysis. State merit lists ran July to August 2025 — the same window CMAT 2026 state lists are following in July 2026, confirming that the annual state counselling calendar has stabilised.

State	Counselling Authority	Merit List Published
Madhya Pradesh	MP DTE	July 2025
Maharashtra	MAH CET Cell	July–August 2025
Goa	GCPA	July–August 2025
Gujarat	ACPC	August 2025

CMAT 2024 Merit List

CMAT 2024 was conducted by NTA in March 2024; the central AIR was released in April 2024. State merit lists followed from June to August 2024. The 2024 cycle had a slightly smaller candidate pool than 2025 and 2026, so rank ranges at equivalent score bands tend to be marginally broader when using 2024 data for estimation.

State	Counselling Authority	Merit List Published
Madhya Pradesh	MP DTE	July 2024
Maharashtra	MAH CET Cell	July–August 2024
Goa	GCPA	July–August 2024
Gujarat	ACPC	August 2024

CMAT 2023 Merit List

CMAT 2023 was conducted by NTA in April 2023; the scorecard with AIR was released in May 2023. State merit lists were published from June to September 2023 — a slightly extended window compared to 2024 and 2025, reflecting post-pandemic normalisation in management education admissions. This is the earliest CMAT cycle that remains reliably comparable for cutoff trend analysis.

State	Counselling Authority	Merit List Published
Madhya Pradesh	MP DTE	July–August 2023
Maharashtra	MAH CET Cell	July–September 2023
Goa	GCPA	August 2023
Gujarat	ACPC	August–September 2023

CMAT Good Score 2026

A good score in CMAT 2026 is entirely relative to your target college and state counselling process. The maximum score in CMAT 2026 is 400; with 41,872 students having appeared, each percentile point represents roughly 419 students. Here is what each score band means in practice for the 2026 admissions cycle:

99+ percentile (295+ marks): Positions you for JBIMS Mumbai and SIMSREE — the two most competitive CMAT-accepting institutes in India. Fewer than 420 students nationally reached this band in 2026.
95–99 percentile (260–294 marks): A strong score for KJ Somaiya, PUMBA Pune, and comparable Tier-1 CMAT colleges. You rank among the top 2,100 students nationally.
90–95 percentile (240–259 marks): Opens doors to GIM Goa, Welingkar, Great Lakes Chennai, and similar reputed institutes. This band is widely recognised as a good CMAT score for well-regarded MBA programs.
80–90 percentile (200–239 marks): Qualifies for BIMTECH Greater Noida, IMT Nagpur, ITM Navi Mumbai, and many state colleges through Maharashtra CAP and MP DTE counselling.
70–80 percentile (180–199 marks): Sufficient for MP DTE state-level colleges and Maharashtra CAP non-autonomous programs — a viable score for students prioritising state-funded B-schools with lower fees.
Below 70 percentile (below 180 marks): Narrows options primarily to specific private institutes or management quota seats; appearing in MAT, ATMA, or other supplementary entrances is advisable to widen your admission prospects.

Students who scored 90+ percentile in CMAT 2026 ranked in the top 4,200 out of 41,872 — a milestone that simultaneously opens eligibility across multiple state counselling processes and dozens of respected MBA programs.

Is Your CMAT 2026 Score a Good Score?

Whether your CMAT 2026 score qualifies as good depends on program type, state, and category. A score of 240+ marks (90+ percentile) is broadly considered competitive for well-known CMAT-accepting MBA programs. Students targeting state-level counselling in MP or Maharashtra can qualify with scores between 140 and 200 marks, with reserved-category students eligible at even lower thresholds. The table below maps score ranges to realistic admission outcomes for CMAT 2026.

Admission Possibilities Based on CMAT 2026 Score

CMAT 2026 Score (out of 400)	Percentile Band	Admission Prospects
315–400	99.5–100	JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE Mumbai — most competitive CMAT-accepting institutes
265–314	95–99.5	KJ Somaiya, PUMBA Pune, Welingkar — strong shortlist for Tier-1 CMAT colleges
240–264	90–95	GIM Goa, BIMTECH, N.L. Dalmia, Great Lakes Chennai — good score with multiple options
200–239	80–90	IMT Nagpur, ITM Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra CAP autonomous colleges, MP DTE state colleges
160–199	60–80	Maharashtra CAP non-autonomous colleges; MP DTE state-run MBA programs
140–159	50–60	MP DTE state colleges; OBC-NCL and SC/ST students eligible for better options at this score
Below 140	Below 50	Limited options via state counselling; management quota or supplementary entrance exams advisable

CMAT Marks vs Rank 2026

The CMAT 2026 marks vs rank data below is based on NTA scorecard information for the 41,872 students who appeared in the exam on January 25, 2026. NTA calculates percentile scores to seven decimal places to minimise ties in the merit list — meaning even a one-mark difference can shift dozens of ranks in the densely populated 85th–95th percentile band.

CMAT 2026 total marks: 400 (4 marks per correct answer; −1 for each wrong answer; no deduction for unattempted questions).
Five sections are scored individually on the scorecard: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; Language Comprehension; General Awareness; and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
The top score in CMAT 2026 is approximately 345–350 out of 400, corresponding to 100 percentile and All India Rank 1.
NTA’s percentile formula: Percentile = 100 × (Students who scored equal to or below your total ÷ Total students appeared).
All India Rank ranges below are approximate estimates; always refer to your official NTA CMAT 2026 scorecard for your exact AIR.

CMAT 2026 Score (out of 400)	Percentile	Approximate All India Rank (AIR)
345–400	100	1–10
320–344	99.90+	11–50
295–319	99–99.90	51–500
280–294	98–99	501–1,000
260–279	95–98	1,001–2,500
240–259	90–95	2,501–4,200
220–239	85–90	4,201–6,300
200–219	80–85	6,301–8,400
180–199	70–80	8,401–12,600
160–179	60–70	12,601–16,800
140–159	50–60	16,801–21,000
Below 140	Below 50	21,001 and beyond

FAQs

Ques: When was the CMAT 2026 merit list released?

Ans: NTA released the CMAT 2026 All India Rank list and scorecard on February 17, 2026, at cmat.nta.nic.in, for all 41,872 students who appeared in the January 25, 2026 exam. This is the central (national) merit list. State-level merit lists started releasing from July 2026 — MP DTE’s Round 1 CMAT-based MBA merit list is confirmed out (first week of July 2026), and Maharashtra’s CAP Final Merit List is expected on July 20, 2026.

Ques: Is the CMAT merit list the same as the CMAT result?

Ans: No. The CMAT result shows your raw score, section-wise marks, and percentile. The merit list ranks you within a specific applicant pool — nationally (NTA All India Rank) or within a state’s registered applicants. Your All India Rank on the NTA scorecard is the central merit list position. Your state rank on a portal like MP DTE or MAH CET Cell will differ, because it is calculated among only those students who registered for that specific state counselling process — a far smaller pool than 41,872.

Ques: How is the CMAT 2026 All India Rank calculated?

Ans: NTA calculates your AIR using the percentile method: Percentile = 100 × (Number of students who scored equal to or lower than you ÷ Total students appeared). Percentile values are computed to seven decimal places to minimise ties. Your All India Rank is then assigned based on this precise percentile. Students with identical total scores still receive different AIR values because section-level tie-breaking rules are applied before the final AIR is assigned.

Ques: What are the tie-breaking rules for the CMAT 2026 merit list?

Ans: When two or more students share the same total CMAT 2026 score, NTA resolves the tie using the following hierarchy:

Priority	Tie-Breaking Criterion
1	Higher score in Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
2	Higher score in Logical Reasoning
3	Higher score in Language Comprehension
4	Higher score in General Awareness
5	Higher score in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
6	Older age (student born earlier ranks higher)

State counselling authorities such as MP DTE and MAH CET Cell may apply additional tie-breaking criteria on top of NTA’s rules for their own state merit lists. Always check the respective state counselling notification for state-specific tie-breaking policy.

Ques: How do I check the CMAT 2026 state merit list?

Ans: Visit the official portal of the state counselling authority where you registered and log in with your counselling credentials:

Madhya Pradesh (MP DTE): Visit dte.mponline.gov.in and navigate to the MBA merit list section under your application login.
Maharashtra (MAH CET Cell): Visit cetcell.mahacet.org and check the MAH MBA CET CAP merit list using your application number.
Goa (GCPA): Monitor the GCPA official portal — the merit list is expected July–August 2026.
Gujarat (ACPC): Visit acpc.ac.in and check the CMAT-based MBA merit list once published.

For the NTA central All India Rank, visit cmat.nta.nic.in and log in with your CMAT 2026 application number and date of birth.

Ques: What documents are required after appearing in the CMAT 2026 state merit list?

Ans: Once your name appears in a state merit list, you must submit the following documents at the counselling document verification stage:

CMAT 2026 scorecard (downloaded from cmat.nta.nic.in)
Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
Graduation degree or mark sheets (or enrollment certificate if you are in the final year)
Category certificate — OBC-NCL (non-creamy layer), SC, ST, EWS, or PwD, as applicable
Domicile or state residence certificate (for state quota seats)
Government-issued identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID)
Recent passport-size photographs

Exact requirements vary by state — confirm with the specific state counselling portal’s official notice before your document verification appointment. Missing even one required document can result in rejection of your merit list claim.

Ques: Is there a category-wise merit list in CMAT 2026?

Ans: Yes. State counselling bodies prepare separate category-wise merit lists for CMAT 2026 to allocate reserved seats under SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD quotas. Your category rank is your position within your own category’s registered applicant pool in that state — it is always equal to or better than your overall general merit rank. When you apply under a reserved category in state counselling, your category merit list rank — not your overall rank — determines your seat allotment.

Ques: What is the difference between the NTA All India Rank and a state merit list rank in CMAT 2026?

Ans: Your NTA All India Rank (AIR) places you among all 41,872 students who sat CMAT 2026 nationwide. Your state merit list rank places you among only those students who registered for that specific state’s counselling process. Because not all 41,872 national students apply for every state, your state rank is typically better than your All India Rank. For example, if 4,000 students register for MP DTE’s MBA counselling in 2026, your MP state rank reflects competition among 4,000 — not 41,872 — making state counselling viable even for students with moderate All India Ranks.

Ques: What should I do if my name is not on the CMAT 2026 state merit list?

Ans: If your name does not appear on a state merit list, the most common reasons are: you did not register with that state’s counselling portal; documents were not verified in time; or your CMAT score did not meet the state’s minimum qualifying threshold. First, confirm your registration status on the state counselling portal using your application number. If you are registered and your name is still missing, raise a grievance through the official grievance window — typically open for 2–3 days after the provisional merit list is released. Contact the state counselling helpline for urgent resolution; do not wait until the grievance window closes.

Ques: Can I use my CMAT 2026 score for MBA admissions in 2027?

Ans: CMAT scores are valid for one year from the date of the exam. The CMAT 2026 score (exam date: January 25, 2026) is valid only for the 2026 MBA admissions cycle. For 2027 admissions, you must appear in the CMAT 2027 exam. A small number of institutes may accept a prior-year CMAT score for supplementary admission rounds, but this is the exception — confirm directly with each institute before assuming your 2026 score carries forward to 2027.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is sourced from official NTA notices, state counselling portals, and publicly available data as of July 15, 2026. CMAT 2026 merit list dates, cutoffs, and state counselling schedules are subject to revision by the respective authorities. Students are advised to verify all details at cmat.nta.nic.in and their respective state counselling portals before taking any action.

Paper Analysis

The CMAT 2026 exam concluded successfully on January 25, 2026. It was conducted in a single shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in CBT mode, featuring 100 questions across five sections.

Experts from Unacademy the CMAT 2026 exam was easy to moderate, where the paper will follow a similar pattern as in previous years.

QT & DI: Toughest and most time-consuming; heavy calculations and lengthy DI sets made selective attempts (11–15) essential.
Logical Reasoning: Easy to moderate; well-balanced and doable with smart selection, allowing 14–17 good attempts.
Language Comprehension: Easiest and most scoring section; direct questions led to 16–18+ attempts.
General Awareness: Moderate and scoring; mix of current affairs and static GK enabled 12–16 attempts.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Easy to moderate; concept-based and manageable with basics, yielding 13–16 attempts.

Related Articles:

Table of Contents

CMAT 2026 Overall Paper Analysis (Students' Reaction)
CMAT 2026 Section-wise Analysis
CMAT 2026 Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Analysis
CMAT 2026 Logical Reasoning Analysis
CMAT 2026 Language Comprehension Analysis
CMAT 2026 General Awareness Analysis
CMAT 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Analysis
CMAT 2026 Score vs Percentile (Expected)

CMAT 2026 Overall Paper Analysis (Students' Reaction)

As per many students’ reactions on Reddit, the CMAT 2026 was moderately easy compared to the previous year's paper. The past years from 2023 to 2025 have shown that the paper in difficulty was moderately easy.

Section / Aspect	Student Reactions / Feedback	Common Sentiment
Overall Exam	"Doable and moderate", "manageable if prepared", "no surprises", "similar to last year", "time management was crucial"	Positive to neutral; mostly satisfied
Quantitative Techniques & DI	"Toughest section", "lengthy calculations", "DI sets were time-consuming", "needed strong speed", "arithmetic heavy but doable"	Challenging / Time-pressure heavy
Logical Reasoning	"Moderate", "some puzzles/arrangements took time", "mix of easy and tricky", "selectable questions"	Balanced, some lengthy
Language Comprehension	"Easiest and most scoring", "direct questions", "straightforward RC, vocab, grammar", "no tricks"	Very positive / Scoring
General Awareness	"Okay if updated", "scoring for current affairs", "static GK predictable", "mix of recent and old"	Moderate to good
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	"Moderate", "not too hard", "focused on schemes/startups", "basic concepts tested"	Neutral to positive
Good Attempts (Self-reported)	"70–80 comfortably", "aiming 75+ with high accuracy", "maximized LC & GA", "avoided guessing due to negative"	70–82 range common for high targets
Time Management / Difficulty	"Felt lengthy in Quant/LR", "but overall balanced", "not too bad if selective"	Time was the main challenge

CMAT 2026 Section-wise Analysis

The expected analysis and good attempts for the CMAT 2026 exam:

GK and Innovation & Entrepreneurship might be slightly tricky and difficult to score.
Other sections are comparatively easy to score with constant practice.
Overall Safe Good Attempt: 70-75 questions with high accuracy.

Section	Difficulty	Good Attempts
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Easy to Moderate	16–18
Logical Reasoning	Moderate	15–17
Language Comprehension	Easy to Moderate	15–17
General Awareness	Moderate to Difficult	10–12
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Moderate	11–13

CMAT 2026 Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Analysis

This section is expected to be easy to moderate, focusing mainly on arithmetic and basic Data Interpretation sets. Speed and concept clarity will help you to maximize your score.

Safe Good Attempt: 16-18 questions

Topic	Expected No. of Questions	Difficulty
Arithmetic Calculations (Percentages, Ratio, Time & Work)	7–9	Easy to Moderate
Algebra	3–4	Moderate
Geometry & Mensuration	2–3	Moderate
Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs)	4–5	Easy to Moderate
Number System	1–2	Easy

CMAT 2026 Logical Reasoning Analysis

The Logical Reasoning section will be expectedly moderate, covering verbal and analytical reasoning. Questions will test your logical thinking and pattern recognition.

Safe Good Attempt: 15-17 questions

Topic	Expected No. of Qs	Difficulty
Seating Arrangement & Puzzles	5–6	Moderate
Coding-Decoding	2–3	Easy
Series & Analogy	2–3	Easy
Blood Relations & Directions	2–3	Easy
Statement & Assumption	3–4	Moderate

CMAT 2026 Language Comprehension Analysis

This section is expected to be easy to moderate, mainly focusing on reading comprehension and vocabulary-based questions.

Safe Good Attempt: 15-17 questions

Topic	Expected No. of Qs	Difficulty
Reading Comprehension	7–9	Moderate
Vocabulary	3–4	Easy
Grammar & Error Detection	3–4	Easy
Para-jumbles	2–3	Moderate

CMAT 2026 General Awareness Analysis

The General Awareness section is usually moderate to difficult due to the wide syllabus and current affairs dependency.

Safe Good Attempt: 10-12 questions

Topic	Expected No. of Qs	Difficulty
Static GK	6–8	Moderate
Current Affairs	6–7	Moderate to Difficult
Business & Economy	2–3	Moderate

CMAT 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Analysis

This section is expected to range in moderate difficulty and test your business awareness and startup knowledge.

Safe Good Attempt: 11-13 questions

Topic	Expected No. of Qs	Difficulty
Startup & Business Models	6–8	Moderate
Government Schemes	3–4	Moderate
Case-based Questions	2–3	Moderate

CMAT 2026 Score vs Percentile (Expected)

As per the suggested advice by experts and students, and previous year analysis, here the expected raw score to approx percentile is drawn out.

Raw Score (out of 400)	Approx. Percentile	What It Means
Above 300	More than 99	Top colleges (JBIMS, KJ Somaiya)
260–299	95–98	Very good (Great Lakes, IMT)
220–259	90–94	Good calls
180–219	85–89	Decent colleges
140–179	75–84	Tier-2 colleges
Below 140	Less than 75	Limited chances

CMAT 2025: Shift-1 Question Paper with Answer Key
CMAT 2025: Shift-2 Question Paper with Answer Key

CMAT 2025: Session-2 Question Paper and Solution PDF (Available)

Date	Shifts	Question Paper	Solutions
25th January,2025	Shift-1(9:00 AM to 12:00 P.M)	Available	Available
25th January,2025	Shift-2(3:00 P.M to 6:00 P.M)	Available	Available

CMAT 2025 Paper Analysis

The CMAT 2025 exam is now over, and preliminary feedback from around 75,000 test-takers indicates that the exam had a well-balanced mix of easy, moderate, and difficult questions across sections.

Candidates said time management and proper preparation, especially on the harder spots, were very important to make the most out of their performances.

Here is a brief analysis of the section-wise paper :

Section	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Moderate to Difficult	Questions were more calculation-based, requiring speed and accuracy.
Logical Reasoning	Easy	The easiest section, with direct questions.
Language Comprehension	Moderate	Included a mix of vocabulary and reading comprehension questions.
General Awareness	Moderate to Difficult	Focused on current affairs, with some challenging questions.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Moderate	Questions on practical applications and theory-based concepts.

CMAT 2025 Topic-wise Weightage

As the CMAT 2025 Exam is now over, here is a topic-wise weightage of the exam. It will help the candidates understand what topics were their along with the weightage.

Section	Topics	Weightage
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation	15-20 Questions
Logical Reasoning	Analytical Reasoning, Coding-Decoding, Series, Puzzles	20 Questions
Language Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar	20 Questions
General Awareness	Current Affairs, Static GK, Business Awareness	20 Questions
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Business Models, Start-ups, Economic Terms, Innovation	20 Questions

Table of Contents

CMAT 2024: Paper Analysis
CMAT 2023 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2022 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2021 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2020 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2019 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2018 Exam Analysis
CMAT 2017 Exam Analysis
CMAT Exam Analysis FAQs

CMAT Paper Analysis 2024

CMAT 2024 Shift 1 Analysis

CMAT 2024 Sections	Difficulty Level	Number of Good Attempts (Expected)
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Moderate	16-17
Logical Reasoning	Easy	17-18
Language Comprehension	Easy to Moderate	16-17
General Awareness	Difficult	11-12
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Moderate	11-12

Based on the CMAT 2024 Score vs Percentile, attempting 80+ questions with 95% accuracy is considered to be good. You score should be 340+ to get 90 to 99 percentile in CMAT 2024.

CMAT 2024 Answer Key by NTA will be out a week after the exam date. Using the answer keys, candidates will be able to calculate their CMAT scores by awarding 4 marks for each correct answer and deducting 1 mark for every incorrect answer.

CMAT Previous Year Paper Analysis

In previous years, candidates usually found the Quant and DI in the CMAT exam to be the toughest. Also, the section on Innovation and Entrepreneurship had 20 MCQs of moderate difficulty with more focus on current affairs. Language Comprehension has been rated easy with more questions on antonyms-synonyms and para jumbles.

Candidates can check the CMAT Previous Year Paper analysis (2022-2017) provided here to get an idea about the expected difficulty level for the CMAT 2023 exam.

CMAT 2023 Analysis

CMAT 2023 Paper Analysis

CMAT 2023 Exam Shift	Question Paper Analysis
Shift 1 (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)	Check Here
Shift 2 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm)	Check Here

CMAT 2023 Shift 2 Paper Analysis Section-wise

Name of the Section	Total No. of Questions	Total Marks	Good Attempt	Difficulty Level	High Weightage Topics
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	20	80	15-17	Moderate	Arithmetic and DI questions
General Awareness	20	80	11-13	Moderate to Difficult	Static GK
Logical Reasoning	20	80	17-18	Easy to Moderate	Critical reasoning
Language Comprehension	20	80	15-17	Easy to Moderate	RC passages, Error detection, Vocabulary-based questions
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	20	80	14-17	Moderate	To be updated
Total	100	400	73-78	Moderate	-

CMAT 2023 Shift 1 Paper Analysis Section-wise

Name of the Section	Total No. of Questions	Total Marks	Good Attempt	Difficulty Level	High Weightage Topics
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	20	80	16-18	Moderate and Tricky	Arithmetic, Number System, Correct Statements, 5 DI questions
General Awareness	20	80	12-14	Easy to Moderate	Static GK- 18 questions, Current Affairs- 2 questions
Logical Reasoning	20	80	17-18	Moderate and Lengthy	Blood relations- 2 questions, Coding/ decoding- 2 questions, Syllogisms- 2 questions, Number of squares & trianges- 2 questions
Language Comprehension	20	80	16-18	Easy to Moderate	RC passages- 2 with 3 questions each, Vocabulary-based questions
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	20	80	15-18	Easy to Moderate	Direct theory-based questions, 2-3 questions on current news related to startups
Total	100	400	75-80	Moderate	-

Check CMAT 2024 Expected Cut Off

CMAT 2022 Analysis

CMAT 2022 Exam Analysis

CMAT 2022 exam had 5 mandatory sections for the first time. Each section comprised 20 MCQs. The total time given to attempt 100 MCQs was 180 minutes (3 hours). Each question carried 4 marks, i.e. the paper was for a total of 400 marks. It was essential to attempt the questions strategically as there was a negative marking to the extent of 25%.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was moderately difficult.
Language Comprehension and Logical Reasoning were easier than last year and did not have tricky questions.
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation were tougher than last year with 3-4 lengthy and tricky questions.
General Awareness was less focused on current affairs, hence was of moderate difficulty.

CMAT 2021 Analysis

CMAT 2021 Exam Analysis

CMAT Exam Analysis for the first shift:

Name of the Section	Total No. of Questions	Total Marks	Good Attempt	Difficulty Level
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	25	100	21+	Moderate
General Awareness	25	100	19+	Moderate-Difficult
Logical Reasoning	25	100	21+	Easy-Moderate
Language Comprehension	25	100	20+	Moderate
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Optional)	25	100	18+	Moderate
Total	100+25	400+100	85+ to 105+	Moderate

Quick Links:

CMAT 2023 Top B-Schools	CMAT 2023 Score vs Percentile

CMAT Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation Analysis (Shift 1)

Area	No of Questions.	Specifics /Topics
Arithmetic	10	Percentages Time-speed-distance Time-work Ratio-Proportion SI-CI Mixtures & Allegations Work Pipes & Cisterns
Algebra	3	Quadratic equations Linear Equations
Geometry	1	Triangles
Modern Math	4	Function Probability Permutation - Combination Venn Diagram
Numbers	5	Properties of Numbers Surds & Indices HCF LCM
Data Interpretation	2	Table Pie-Chart

CMAT Logical Reasoning Analysis (Shift 1)

Area	No of Questions.	Specifics /Topics
Verbal Reasoning	3	Critical Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning	22	Coding-decoding Relations Series Analogies Blood Relations Arrangements(Circular & Matrix) Visual Reasoning Directions Counting number of figures etc.

CMAT Language Comprehension Analysis (Shift 1)

Area	No of Questions.	Specifics /Topics
Reading Comprehension (4 passages)	14	(approx. 80 to 500 words)
Vocabulary	3	Synonyms Fill in the Blanks
Grammar	8	Sentence Correction/Improvement

CMAT General Awareness Analysis (Shift 1)

Area	No of Questions.	Specifics /Topics
Static GK	17	Indian Context 15 questions International 7 questions Miscellaneous 3 questions
Current Affairs	8

CMAT 2021 Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Section Analysis (Shift 2)

Topic	No. of Questions
Arithmetic	11
Algebra + Function	3
Number System	1
Data Interpretation	4
Geometry & Mensuration	2
Quadratic Equation & Series	2
Probability/ Permutation & Combination	2
Total	25

CMAT 2021 Language Comprehension Section Analysis (Shift 1)

Topic	No. of Questions
Reading Comprehension 1	2
Reading Comprehension 2	3
Active & Passive	1
Central Idea	1
Fill-in the Blanks	11
Idioms & Phrases	2
Correct Sentence	5
Total	25
Topic	No. of Questions
Syllogism	3
Blood Relations	2
Coding-Decoding	4
Verbal Reasoning	3
Series Completion	6
Analogies	2
Directions	1
Visual Reasoning	1
Seating Arrangements	2
Rank & Order	1
Total	25

CMAT 2020 Analysis

CMAT 2020 Paper Analysis

Section	Total Number of Question	Marks per Section	Difficulty Level of Exam
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Analysis	25	100	Easy
Logical Reasoning	25	100	Moderately Difficult
Language Comprehension	25	100	Easy
General Awareness	25	100	Difficult
Overall	100	400	Moderate

CMAT 2020 Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Analysis

Area	No of Questions.				Specifics
Area	Easy	Medium	Difficult	Total	Specifics
Arithmetic	4	4	2	10	Percentages, Time-speed-distance, Time-work, Ratio-Proportion, Profit & Loss, Compound Interest, Averages
Geometry	2	0	0	2	Mensuration, Triangles
Modern Math	3	1	1	5	Probability, Permutation - Combination, Venn Diagram
Numbers	3	0	0	1	HCF, LCM
Data Interpretation	4	0	0	4	Table

CMAT 2020 Quant Highlights

Most of the candidates found this section moderately difficult and straightforward. However, a number of the aspirants found questions a little tough to solve for this section.
Arithmetic was the topic out of which most of the questions were from this section, whereas solely many questions were from the magnitude relation, Percentage, Interest, Time and work.
The questions of information Interpretation queries were protracted.

Check CMAT Score Accepting Colleges

CMAT 2020 Logical Reasoning Analysis

Area	No. of Qs.
Coding -decoding	2
Blood Relations	4
Series completion	2
Logic-based	3
Symbol Based	1
Venn Diagram	1
Number Grid	1
Directions	1
Miscellaneous	1
Visual reasoning	2
Verbal Reasoning
Strong/Weak Argument	2
Analogy	2
Odd one out	1
Syllogism	2

CMAT 2020 Logical Reasoning Highlights

This section was moderately difficult.
Most of the questions were from topics like - blood relations, directions, cube, sequence, clock, and calendar, grouping, statement conclusion, word relationship, statement argument, reasoning & assertion distribution, arrangement, comparison, coding/ decoding, etc.

CMAT 2020 Language Comprehension Analysis

Area	No. of Qs.
Reading Comprehension - 1 Passage	6
Synonyms/Antonyms	1
FIB (Vocabulary)- 2 Blanks	2
FIB (Grammar)	1
Idiom-based	2
Word definition	3
Paragraph Jumbles	2
Meaning of phrase	1
Antonym/ synonym of the underlined word	5
Spelling	1
Sentence Correction	1

CMAT 2020 Language Comprehension Highlights

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section was easy to moderate level of questions in terms of the difficulty level.
The Reading Comprehension lined a complete of six questions and therefore the remainder of the questions were asked from the verbal ability.
A number of the key queries from Verbal Ability were idiom/ phrase, word analogy, fill in the blanks, antonym and synonym, identify correct sentence, etc.

CMAT 2020 General Awareness Analysis

The general awareness section was a little difficult to solve for the candidates.
Generally, this section is considered to be difficult.
There were few questions that the aspirants found queries ambiguous and tough to get an answer for.
In the General Awareness section, queries were asked from topics like the Indian Constitution, Recent Acts of Parliament, Appointments, known personalities etc.

CMAT 2019 Analysis

CMAT 2019 Analysis - Language Comprehension

This section comprised of 4 passages, out of which 3 passages were short and had three questions each. Check: CMAT Detailed Syllabus
The questions in these 3 passages were from the World Trade Organisation and UN agency about the state of developing countries; vulnerable Languages (Eg: Greek and Latin); Parenting and culture-related systems.
The passages were of easily solvable question level and consisted of factual questions apart from one illation question.
The fourth passage had a moderate length and it had six queries for the candidates to aim. The queries were supported by Steve Jobs, some little-known facts regarding him, and his views on life.
The queries for the Verbal Ability section were easy to moderate in terms of difficulty level. It comprised one Sentence Correction question, four Vocabulary questions, one grammar error question, two questions on Idioms, one Para Jumble (PJ) question, and one Sentence Completion question.

CMAT 2019 Analysis - Quantitative Techniques & information Interpretation

This section had no set-based questions; only single questions were asked.
In terms of the difficulty level, there have been nine moderately difficult questions, and two very difficult questions whereas the remainder of the questions were comparatively easy.
There were thirteen questions that were quite simple and only needed the candidates to implement basic methods to solve.
As unremarkably is the case, Arithmetic and pure mathematics-based questions could be seen the most in this section.
Alternative questions were equally distributed within the areas of Algebra, modern maths, etc. Other than that, from Data interpretation there were two questions that were not set-based.

CMAT 2019 Analysis - Logical Reasoning

The difficulty level for this section was easy to moderate level. there have been four Verbal Reasoning questions and 2 Analogy questions. Also, there have been questions that were from topics like sequence, Coding/Decoding, blood relation, etc.

CMAT 2019 Analysis - General Awareness

There were around eight questions from Current Affairs.
Candidates who thoroughly read the newspaper daily or those that have a good knowledge of what’s happening across the globe might have simply managed to solve the questions.
The paper was dominated by static GK queries and there have been questions supporting Science, Awards, Politics, etc.
A candidate might expect to attain well with thirteen to fifteen makes an attempt during this section with the 80% accuracy.
Overall, a candidate would fetch around 99+ marks for making an attempt of around 85 to 87 questions with around 90% accuracy (net score of 305 to 310).
Around 95 marks may be potentially scored if a candidate has attempted around 74-76 questions (net score of 260 to 265).
Around 90 marks may be achieved if the student has marked around 64-66 questions in the question paper with around 90% accuracy (net score of 225 to 230).

Check CMAT Previous year Mock Tests.

CMAT 2018 Analysis

CMAT 2018 Paper Analysis

Section	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Difficulty Level
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	25	100	Moderate
Logical Reasoning	25	100	Moderate to Difficult
Language Comprehension	25	100	Moderate
General Awareness	25	100	Moderate to Difficult

The CMAT 2018 was quite predictable, and there were no questions out of the blue that would have given surprise to the test takers.
The difficulty level in general of the paper was moderate however Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning (LR), and General Awareness were slightly on the difficult facet.
No major technical glitches were reportable at the examination centers.
Students reportable found half of the data Interpretation in the Quant section difficult likewise as expected.
In line with the aspirants, even the Logical Reasoning section was reported to be tough and long.
The General Awareness section was conjointly more tough as compared to last year.
Students hoped to attain well within the Quant section and Language Comprehension sections as they found these topics easily comprehendible

Quick Links:

CMAT Selection Process	CMAT 2023 Merit List

CMAT 2017 Analysis

CMAT 2017 Paper Analysis

Section	Number of questions	Total marks	Difficulty level
Language Comprehension	25	100	Easy
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	25	100	Easy
Logical Reasoning	25	100	Moderate
General Awareness	25	100	Tough

Questions related to current economic developments and government policies were asked in the General Awareness section
Topics like Demonetization, Digital India initiatives, Ease of Doing Business, and the Nobel Prize for Music were covered.
Questions based on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number system, and Modern Math among others.
The largest amount of questions were from Arithmetic.
There were four Reading Comprehension passages in the reading comprehension section.
Three passages were short in length (about 400 words) while one was lengthy.
In the Logical Reasoning section, all questions were independent, and not set-based.

Frequently Asked Questions

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 FAQs

Ques. How many correct attempts will be equal to the 99 percentile in CMAT 2024?

Ans. Out of 100 questions, if a candidate is able to attempt 80-85 questions with 99% accuracy, i.e. a score of 320-340 marks will be equivalent to the 99 percentile. This analysis is based on the previous year’s data.

Ques. Into how many sections is CMAT 2024 paper divided?

Ans. CMAT 2024 paper is divided into:

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Analysis - 20 questions
Logical Reasoning - 20 questions
Language Comprehension - 20 questions
General Awareness - 20 questions.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship- 20 questions

Ques. What is the difficulty level of the CMAT exam?

Ans. The CMAT exam is usually of moderate difficulty. It has been seen in the past few years that the quant section is usually tougher than the rest of the sections.

Ques. What type of questions are asked in the General Awareness section of CMAT?

Ans. The general awareness section of CMAT exam has questions from static GK, current affairs and business news.

Ques. What is the weightage of the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Sections in CMAT 2024?

Ans. All the sections in the CMAT Paper have the same weightage, i.e 20%. Each section has 20 questions out of the 100 total questions.

Ques. Is it a good idea to attempt every question?

Ans. You should attempt questions you are confident you can solve correctly. Blindly answering or guessing would lead to a lot of lost marks, as there is a negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer.

Ques. How many attempts are allowed for CMAT?

Ans. There is no limit to the number of attempts in CMAT. Candidates who meet all the eligibility requirements can appear for CMAT any number of times.

Preparation

CMAT Preparation 2026 should be done as per the updated exam pattern and syllabus to optimize preparation. As per the revised paper pattern. a total of 100 questions worth 400 marks is going to be asked in CMAT exam. Check CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Preparation for CMAT should be well structured to include all 5 sections of CMAT Syllabus- Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Check CMAT 2026 Syllabus
Sections such as Quant & DI preparations should be focused on learning short tricks, clearing the basics of arithmetic, algebra & geometry, and solving 2-3 DI sets every day.
The Language Comprehension section preparation should include clearing the basic grammar concepts, reading articles or newspapers daily, and solving 2 RC passages daily.
To prepare for CMAT Innovation & Entrepreneurship, refer to CMAT Previous Year Papers, read Business Line & The Hindu, read the Budget & Economic Survey, current affairs, and government schemes related to investment economy & entrepreneurship.
Candidates must refer to books by renowned authors like Arun Sharma, Norman Lewis, etc., and online resources like Unacademy, IMS, hitbullseye, etc., to learn short tricks and to prepare well for the exam. Check CMAT Preparation Books
As per toppers, solving previous year's CMAT question papers released by NTA is essential to get an idea of the difficulty level of the exam.

Before devising CMAT 2026 preparation strategy keep the following questions in mind:

When to start preparation for CMAT and what mode to choose?
What are recommended books for preparation? Are they available to you?
Are there any other resources needed to prepare apart from books?
Strategy to prepare online for the exam

Quick Links:

CMAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions PDF	CMAT 2021 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CMAT 2020 Question Paper with Solutions PDF	CMAT 2019 Question Paper with Solutions PDF

CMAT Preparation Dos & Dont's

CMAT Preparation: Dos and Dont’s

Dos	Don’ts
Go through the previous year papers to get an idea of the type and the difficulty level of questions asked	Do not study irrelevant topics and stick to the revised CMAT syllabus.
Solve CMAT Previous year Papers as solving practice papers reflect on your level of preparation for CMAT	Do not let the GK section in CMAT exam stress you out. Candidates who are not well prepared may find this section difficult to prepare
Prepare for CMAT exam to solve fewer questions correctly rather than attempting too many and losing marks	Do not be clueless about what the good number of attempts is. If you answer 70 questions with 80 percent accuracy, it should suffice.
Focus on completing the syllabus for CMAT exam a month before the exam date to have ample amount of time for revision	While preparing for CMAT exam, do not keep any target score. This reason is, in CMAT your rank matters and not the total score
Do practice sectional mock tests, analyze your performance in it and work on your weak areas.	Avoid attempting too complex questions from CMAT Language Comprehension as they can be very time-consuming. Too many Questions from critical reasoning should also be avoided
Do not be clueless about what the good number of attempts is. If you answer 70 questions with 80 percent accuracy, it should suffice.	Many candidates deprive themselves of sleep the day before CMAT Exam. Not only does this add to your stress but also spikes the chances of forgetting what has already been learned
Stay focused and prepare every day	If the initial impression of the paper is that many questions are harder than expected, do not lose confidence. Remember, CMAT 2026 will be a 3-hour long exam and you will have plenty of time to think about them

Quick Links:

CMAT Score Accepting Colleges	CMAT Previous Year Exam Analysis

CMAT Exam Preparation Tips

CMAT General Preparation Tips for Self Study

Plan Your Study: This is the first step to CMAT 2026 preparation. Every candidate must plan and allocate their time to studies and stick to the plan. Allot the time according to the difficulty level of the sections and the time taken to prepare for it. While preparing, candidates must make sure that every section is covered. All the hours and days before the exam must be organized according to the syllabus.
Solve Mock Tests: Usually, an official CMAT mock test is released on the official website. If it is not available, the candidate must solve as many mock tests as possible from other sources of preparing for CMAT. These tests will help the candidate familiarize themselves with their weaknesses as well as strong points. One must start with weekly or bi-weekly tests and then go ahead with daily tests and manage the time accordingly with each section.
Distributive Learning: The candidates must try and cover more than one subject in one day to ensure extensive CMAT preparation 2026. Studying one subject for too long will make excessive studying redundant. Learning two subjects turn by turn will keep the mind absorbed and bring variety to the studying schedule.
Revise Regularly: Gradual and regular revision makes the candidates familiar with the types of questions and CMAT exam pattern. It helps the candidates to get disciplined about their CMAT 2026 preparation strategy. The regular revision will increase accuracy and thus will lead to a boost in confidence.
Make Basics your Strength: There are always some basic questions from all the sections that are present in the question paper almost every year. The nature of these questions is the same. Candidates must practice these questions as much as possible. It helps in solving the predicted questions in the minimum time possible during the examination.
Practice last year's question papers: To get an exact idea about the exam and get familiar with the pattern, candidates must practice last year’s question papers. This will avoid last-minute anxiety.
Take Regular Breaks: The candidates must go for shorter studying sessions for efficient CMAT preparation. During the preparation for CMAT 2026, candidates must keep in mind that studying for long intervals will make their brains tiresome. Candidates must take short but regular breaks so that the mind stays fresh.
Set a Finishing Date: The candidate must set a deadline for the completion of the whole syllabus and plan the whole CMAT 2026 preparation process accordingly. A deadline needs to be set for every section so that those candidates can finish learning new topics and concentrate on revising them. More importantly, this date must be strict as well as feasible. Goals that are not feasible must not be set. After this, he/she can start giving mocks and solving test papers.

CMAT Study Plan

CMAT 2026 Study Plan

Devising a preparation strategy for CMAT exam can be a tricky task. Students often wonder how to plan their preparation for CMAT exam and pondering over this takes away a lot of their valuable time. Hence to aid you in your CMAT exam preparation, here is a carefully designed 3 stage study plan:

Stage 1: Analyze CMAT Exam Pattern and Cover the Syllabus

For preparing for CMAT in a comprehensive and strategic way, it is extremely important to go through the entire CMAT Syllabus and analyze the exam pattern to understand the requirements of the exam and to be able to identify the weak and strong areas. A brief highlight of CMAT Exam Pattern is given below for your reference:

Particulars	Details
Total Number of Questions	100
Number of Sections	5
Questions in Each Section	20
Total Marks	400
Type of Question	MCQ
Marking Pattern	+4 for the correct answer -1 for the wrong answer
Difficulty Level	Moderate

CMAT Syllabus is defined by NTA in the official brochure. CMAT Syllabus has been divided into 4 sections Quantitative Techniques which includes aspects of Mathematics with emphasis on arithmetic and data interpretation, English Language and Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.

The syllabus is further divided into sub-sections to pin down important topics. Thus the scope of CMAT syllabus is quite wise like other management entrance exams. There cannot be a strong preparation without getting fully acquainted with CMAT syllabus.

Start with a section that seems tough to you
Complete a section and then try to move on to a new one
Do not confuse yourself by preparing multiple topics at the same time

Stage 2: Practice Through Sample Papers/ Mock Test

After covering the basics of the Syllabus, move on to solving sample papers. National Testing Agency too releases an official mock test on the website, do practice it to get a hold of what the question paper will look like on exam day.

Do not jump on solving mock tests as it can be demotivating, complete CMAT Syllabus and then move on to sample papers.
Analyze your performance after each mock test to know your weak and strong points.
Try to increase speed and accuracy with every mock test
Try to solve sectional mock tests and a variety of questions from varied sources

Check CMAT Previous Year Papers

Stage 3: Thorough Revision

In the last few days prior to the exam, revision should be the focus. Devote more time to topics that seem difficult. Do not start a new chapter or topic on the last day and instead focus on topics already covered. Relax a day prior to the exam and give time to rejuvenate. Avoid revising on the exam day.

Revision is the key to acing the exam as the extent of the syllabus can be confusing. Try to revise section wise-prepare notes for revision, especially for basic concepts, tricks, and tips that suit you, theorems, and formulas.

How to Prepare for CMAT 2026 exam in 3 Months?

3 months are enough to prepare for CMAT exam if you have studied earlier for any other competitive exam. You just need to make a few changes in your preparation strategy to prepare for CMAT 2026 exam in 3 months. Given below are the most important points you need to keep in mind to finish your preparations for CMAT exam in 3 months:

Go through all the important basic concepts of all topics in CMAT syllabus.
Pick 1-2 good books by Arun Sharma, Nishit K Sinha, R S Aggarwal, Arihant publications, and Norman Lewis for preparing for each section and practice all the questions from these books.
Visit online youtube channels for CMAT preparation as they will help you in learning new tricks for solving questions in minimum time.
During the first month of preparation, try to attempt at least 1 mock test every week and increase it with time. Initially, you may score fewer marks, but this is the time for preparation, hence focus on rectifying your mistakes and improving your weak areas.
Never skip a day without studying. Consistency is the key to preparing well for any management entrance exam.

How to Prepare for CMAT 2026 in 6 Months?

6 months is the maximum time that you require to prepare well for CMAT exam. Candidates who start their preparations 6 months before the scheduled exam date must definitely go through the key points mentioned below to devise their preparation strategy accordingly:

The first and foremost step for all aspirants is to go through the updated CMAT exam pattern and syllabus.
Focus on completing the theory topics first and then focus on practicing questions from these topics.
Solve a previous year CMAT question paper during the first month to get an idea of the difficulty level, and to identify your strong and weak areas.
Practice every day and solve at least 40 questions from each section by the end of each week.
Do not forget to revise the topics that you studied a month back in the next month. This ensures consistency and will save a lot of time in revision during the last month.
Practice questions from books of renowned authors and also refer to study materials and question banks available online.
Try to finish your CMAT syllabus by the end of the 4^th month and focus on revision and mock tests in the last 2 months.

CMAT Last Minute Preparation Tips

Thorough preparation, a calm head, and time management will turn out to be the key to crack CMAT 2026 exam. For the last few days of CMAT Preparation before the exam date, aspirants should focus on strengthening their skills by focusing on topics that they are most comfortable with, shortcut tricks for the QA section, and not starting up with fresh topics that haven't been touched yet.

Here is a list of some last-minute preparation tips:

Work on Speed and Accuracy - In the few days approaching CMAT, it is extremely important to work on speed and improve the accuracy of answers. This can be done by attempting several mock tests, sample papers, and previous years’ CMAT Question Papers. Work on improving the questions that are too time-consuming for you as well as the questions where you make a lot of mistakes.
Revise - Now is the time for revision and making sure you are aware of how to solve each question.
Do Not Pick Up New Topics - It is not recommended to pick up new topics too close to the exam as it will worsen your CMAT 2026 preparation. Stick to the topics that you have completed and are confident about.
Hone your basics - Make sure that all the basics for the CMAT paper are clear. Go through the tables, formulas, grammar basics (Tenses, Prepositions, Punctuation), Word lists, Shortcuts, and other notes you have made throughout CMAT exam preparation.
Other Useful Tips:
- Concentrate on Accuracy and Time-management
- Rely on your set defined strategy
- Brush up topics from self-made notes
- Revise shortcut methods for complex calculations
- Attempt Practice Papers and other Mock Tests
- Read the Guidelines thoroughly before starting your Paper
- Eat and rest well for the last few days

CMAT Section-Wise Preparation Tips

Section Wise CMAT Preparation Tips 2026

The section-wise preparation tips for CMAT exam has been discussed below for your reference,

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation

This section has 20 questions, each of 4 marks. Remember that negative marking of -1 is applicable, and therefore attempt accordingly.
Memorize the basics to calculate after in the exam hall such as tables up to 50, square roots, and cubes till 25.
The only way to ace this section is more and more practice. Solve mock tests, previous year's question papers at least thrice a week during the last few days of preparation. Remember, this is a calculation-based section.
While solving mock tests, do not take more than the stipulated time in the exam. Also, try to score the minimum required cutoff score for his section.
The main objective of this section is to test your mathematical skills in various areas such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry (cover all the sub-topics).
Identify your weak areas through mock tests. Constant practice will enhance one’s accuracy and speed.
Instead of a step-by-step calculation in all the questions, use shortcut tricks for the calculation to save a lot of time. These tricks can be found in online videos as well as preparation books.
Don’t get stuck up at one question. Remember, all questions carry equal marks, so it is advisable to move on to the next question.
The objective of the data interpretation section is the ability to interpret data that is presented in tables, graphs, and charts. It involves analysis or decision-making based on numerical data.

Logical Reasoning

The main objective of this section is to test the aspirant’s logical ability.
While preparing for CMAT, candidates should try to solve different types of problems with varying difficulty levels.
The logical reasoning section for CMAT covers topics like statement and argument, blood relation, statement and conclusion, coding and decoding, statement and assumptions, number series, and analogies. Practice a few topics every day and you will be ready to handle the same in the exam.

Language Comprehension

The language comprehension section for CMAT covers various types of questions such as para jumbles, reading comprehension, sentence completion, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, and synonyms and antonyms.
One should start reading newspapers, articles, and other forms of reading material every day to enhance one’s vocabulary and grammatical abilities for effective preparation.
Reading on the computer will be beneficial in improving one’s reading and comprehension speed and skill for the online exam.

General Awareness

Be updated with the recent government schemes in the areas of the economy, environmental issues, news related to finance, sports, politics, social issues, major corporate events, famous awards, world records, and international news.
Focus on the famous and trending topics because most questions are asked from recent news or updates.
Don’t leave this section for last-minute preparation. Watch news videos and read newspapers every day to avoid last-minute stress.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Based on the analysis of CMAT question paper 2021, certain section-specific tips have been devised and candidates are advised to follow these to score high in CMAT Innovation & Entrepreneurship section:

Questions will be asked from topics like Budget & Economic Survey, Business affairs, New Investments, Important Events, Schemes and Policies related to Entrepreneurship and business promotion, Startups, Banking regulation and reforms, general economy, and current affairs.
Candidates must read the newspaper daily and cover all the news related to the above-mentioned topics.
Read weekly and monthly magazines like business line, business today, yojana, India today, and frontline.
For the static awareness part, refer to any yearbook like India Year Book, Manorama Year Book, etc.
Basic knowledge of the economic survey and budget of India is highly recommended. For this, you may refer to the summary of the budget and survey available on online preparation apps.

CMAT Preparation Books

Books are the most important aspect of CMAT exam preparation. Some of the books that candidates may refer to for the preparation for CMAT exam are given below. The students and experts most recommend these.

Subject	Book Name	Author
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation	Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	RS Agarwal
	Accredited Guide to Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency	Ananta Ashisha
	Data Analysis & Interpretation Data Sufficiency	Think Tank of Kiran Prakashan
Logical Reasoning	A modern approach to logical reasoning	RS Agarwal
	How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT	Arun Sharma
	Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT	Nishit Sinha
Language Comprehension	The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability	Sujit Kumar
	The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT	Nishit K Sinha
	How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension?	Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
	A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning	R S Aggarwal
	CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	Gautam Puri
General Awareness	General Knowledge	Disha Experts
General Awareness	Face To Face MAT With 19 Years (1997-2016)	BS Sijwali

Practice Papers/ Mock Test Resources for CMAT Preparation

There are many resources available for prospective candidates who wish to give CMAT. Test takers can access a variety of practice test booklets and manuals available on the internet. The following table includes a curated list of the resources that are bound to be highly advantageous to candidates during their preparation. Exam guides can be utilized by applicants who are just laying the groundwork, while the practice sets and solved papers will provide aid to those who are in the revision stage.

Resource	Author
3 Edge Advantage Series: CMAT Practice Sets	Ayush Gupta, Diwakar Sharma, Ashwani, R.K. Behl
Complete Reference Manual for CMAT	S.K. Sinha, S.Satyanarayan, Col. J.S. Rana
MBA Solved Papers (All Management Exams)	Gautam Puri
CMAT Exam Guide 2016	RPH Editorial Board
CMAT Entrance Guide that contains 5 mock tests	Disha Experts
Study Package for CMAT	Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay

Best Resources for CMAT General Awareness Preparation

NTA has not set a syllabus for current affairs or general knowledge. For many candidates, this is a reason for discontentment and confusion since they have no idea what they have to study from because the contents of the syllabus are so vast. General Awareness questions are divided into two main subsects: Static GK and Current GK.

Current GK includes questions that are based on economic and fiscal policies, country-wise denominations, new scientific endeavors, and world politics. On the other hand, Static GK mainly focuses on arts, culture, and historical events.
The following table delineates the resources that candidates can utilize to prepare their study material for the current affairs and general knowledge portion of CMAT:

The Hindu	Financial Express	Economic Times
The Financial Times	Wall Street Journal	Hindu Business Line
Business Today	Business World	Manorama Year Book
Competition Success Review	Arihant GK	Lucent’s GK

A vital topic in general awareness is History. To prepare for history, candidates can use Manorama Year Book, Lucent’s GK, and their 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th standard books.
For economic insight, the financial times, financial express, economic times, Hindu business line, business world, and business world are great resources.
Candidates can brush up on their current affairs by studying Competition Success Review, Arihant GK, Wall Street Journal, and by being subscribed to google updates.
Many editorials, news pieces & interviews of eminent personalities are published in newspapers such as The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and Times of India.

Online Preparation for CMAT 2026

There are times when candidates are stuck while solving or getting through a question during preparation. In this tech-savvy generation, candidates can join online study groups. They are helpful as they provide opportunities for interaction with other candidates and experts and this ensures a better preparation for CMAT.

These online sources also act as doubt-solving groups. It is advised to discuss topics, tricks with the active members. You can even create a Whatsapp group for this purpose with your friends.
Online preparation for CMAT can also be done by downloading MBA exam preparation apps. There are youtube videos available along with plenty of preparation content via blogs, videos, sample questions, analysis experts. Android users can access the Google play store to download preparation apps.
In case you are a working professional or even a student who is not able to spare time for regular class coaching and needs guidance, then online coaching can be helpful. They cost less than regular coachings and can be scheduled in accordance with your timetable.

Check Best Books & Online Coachings for CMAT Preparation

CMAT Preparation: Online Coaching vs Offline Coaching

The first thing that every candidate needs to decide is the mode of study for the exam preparation. Given below are the pros and cons of offline & online preparation to help you in making a decision. You can add your own pros and cons as per your requirements.

Mode of Study	Pros	Cons
Online Coaching	Cost-Effective: These courses are cheaper than offline coaching and involve minimal or no traveling expenses. Online study materials: These resources are very well curated for better understanding. Comfort: You can study in the comfort of your home Accessibility: You can enroll in the courses from anywhere in the world. No need to travel to a particular city or state.	Candidates need to motivate themselves to study as there is no fixed schedule to be followed. As there is limited scope for one-on-one interaction with teachers and other students, clearing doubts becomes difficult. Need a good internet connection, computer, and other hardware.
Offline Coaching	Individual guidance & doubt clearing sessions from experienced professionals Access to well-curated physical study material Interaction with other CMAT Aspirants Access to study resources available at the institute	Expensive: The cost of offline courses is higher than the online courses. Traveling to and from coaching institute every day can lead to wastage of time and money Limited Accessibility: Accessible only to candidates in the locality or city of the coaching institute. Others need to travel to the city where the coaching is located. Fixed schedule of classes

CMAT Topper Tips

CMAT Topper Tips for Preparation

Prefer only the latest edition of preparation books.
Focus on weak areas and improve by solving more and more practice papers.
Do not neglect books by Arun Sharma and Nishit K Sinha for preparation as they are holistic in nature.
If opting for coaching for preparation, go through the material recommended by them.
Regularly read newspapers and magazines to improve vocabulary
Do not spend unnecessary time on topics that seem difficult and take way more time than the required to prepare.

Best Coaching Institutes for CMAT Exam Preparation

CMAT exam is scheduled for 25 January 2026 and there is ample amount of time to prepare for the same. Candidates looking for taking coaching classes for a well-planned and meticulous preparation must refer to the list of the best coaching institutes for CMAT exam preparation given below:

State/ UT	Coaching Centers
Delhi	IMS Learning Resources, Connaught Place T.I.M.E, Connaught Place Career Launcher, Connaught Place Fluke Academy, South Extension Teachwell Professional Studies Institute Pvt. Ltd, Pitampura Prudence Academy, Laxmi Nagar Simplified Learning, Janakpuri, Delhi
Maharashtra	IMS Learning Resources, Bandra East Manoeuvre, Borivali The Vision Academy, Bhandup West, Mumbai Avon Academy, Vashi, Mumbai MBA Pathshala, Thane T.I.M.E. Andheri Success Forum, Thane West
West Bengal	IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Elgin, Kolkata Ravi Raja’s Classes, Bhowanipore, Kolkata Erudite Education, Park Street, Kolkata D.C Tutorial, Salt Lake City, Kolkata Career Guide, Dum Dum, Kolkata Learning Plus, Bara Nagar, Kolkata
Tamil Nadu	Career Launcher India Ltd., T. Nagar, Chennai IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Adyar, Chennai Velans Academy, Valasaravakkam, Chennai T.I.M.E, Nungambakkam, Chennai Global Smart Infotech & Education, Royapettah, Chennai
Karnataka	T.I.M.E, Malleswaram, Bangalore IMS Learning Resources, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore Summit Careers, Jayanagar, Bangalore Great Learning, HSR Layout, Bangalore

CMAT Preparation FAQs

CMAT Preparation Tips 2026: FAQs

Ques. How do I prepare for Language Comprehension in CMAT?

Ans. The language comprehension part for CMAT covers various types of questions such as para jumbles, reading comprehension, sentence completion, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, and synonyms and antonyms.

Refer to 1-2 best books for CMAT exam preparation mentioned in the article above.
One should start reading newspapers, articles, and other forms of reading material every day to enhance one’s vocabulary and grammatical abilities.
Reading on a computer screen will be helpful because it will familiarize the candidate with the test format and thus in turn increase their rate of comprehension.

Ques. How do I prepare for General Awareness in CMAT?

Ans. Candidates need to be aware of all the novel schemes that are run by the Indian government and major statutory bodies in the spheres of economy, environmental degradation, financial sector, sports news, political events, social events, famous awards, their beneficiaries, and major international news.

It is important to not just stick to one source of information and refer to multiple books for comprehensive information.
You should prepare for general knowledge from a holistic perspective, so watch videos, movies, read the newspaper aside from just focusing on the textual material.

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in QA/DI to get a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Based on an analysis of CMAT exam held in 2022, most of the questions in CMAT exam are expected from the algebra, number system, and arithmetic sections. The overall difficulty level of the section is usually rated ‘moderate’. Attempting around 15-17 questions in a moderately difficult paper would be enough to get a good score in CMAT QA/DI section.

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in Language Comprehension to get a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Based on an analysis of CMAT Language Comprehension section over the past few years, most of the questions are in the easy-moderate range. So, attempting 15-17 questions with 95%+ accuracy will get you a good score in CMAT.

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in General Awareness to get a good score in CMAT?

Ans. In previous years, out of current affairs and static GK, most of the questions that appeared in CMAT were from static GK. Hence, based on the previous year's exam analysis, an attempt of 16-17 questions in a moderately difficult paper would be a good attempt.

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in Logical Reasoning to get a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Most of the logical reasoning questions in CMAT are rated in the ‘easy-moderate range as usually there are no questions on data sets that are overly complex or complicated. The majority of the questions are from coding-decoding, blood relations, and verbal reasoning i.e. word relationship, statement argument, statement conclusion, and assertion reason. In a moderately difficult exam, attempting 15-17 questions accurately will be sufficient to get a good score.

Ques. How many hours should I dedicate to CMAT Preparation?

Ans. The number of hours to spend on CMAT exam preparation will depend on the level of your conceptual clarity. If your fundamentals are strong and you are aware of the updated exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly, then 3-4 hours daily will suffice. However, if you are a beginner, then 7-8 hours daily would be required to study the basics and practice questions.

Ques. Can I self-prepare for CMAT?

Ans. Yes, there are numerous candidates who have cleared CMAT by self-study. If you plan to prepare by yourself, then follow the below-mentioned steps:

Go through the updated syllabus and exam pattern and note down all the important topics.
Gather required books & study material for each section, and accordingly make a timetable.
Make use of the online resources on youtube and other study channels like Unacademy, BYJUs, Career Launcher, etc.
Practice overall and sectional mock tests to constantly evaluate your performance and growth.

Ques. How to improve time management skills for CMAT exam?

Ans. 100 questions have to be solved in 180 minutes in CMAT. It requires speed and accuracy, hence time management is a necessary skill that needs to be developed during the course of preparation. Solving mock tests and sample papers is the best way to manage time. Also, learning short tricks and formulas help in saving time during the exam. Try not to stick to one question and spare time for revision.

Question Paper 2018

CMAT Question Paper 2018 with answer key and solutions PDFs are provided here for download. The question paper had 100 questions carrying a total of 400 marks and each of the 4 sections carries 25 questions. The overall difficulty level of the paper was moderate.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2022 Question Paper
CMAT 2021 Question Paper	CMAT 2020 Question Paper
CMAT 2019 Question Paper	-

CMAT Question Paper 2018 with Solutions PDFs

Aspirants preparing for the upcoming CMAT are advised to go through the question paper with solutions PDF given below for better preparation.

CMAT Question Paper 2018 Slot 1

Slot and Section	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 1 Quant	Check Here
Slot 1 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 1 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 1 GK	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2018 Slot 2

Slot and Section	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 2 Quant	Check Here
Slot 2 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 2 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 2 GK	Check Here

Question Paper 2019

CMAT Question Paper 2019 for both slots is available with answer key and solutions PDFs for download. The question paper was tough as per the students’ response. No changes were introduced and the question paper consisted of 100 questions distributed equally across 4 sections, i.e.,LC, LR, GA,and QADI.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2022 Question Paper
CMAT 2021 Question Paper	CMAT 2020 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT Question Paper 2019 with Solutions PDF

Date	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
January 28	Check Here
January 29	Check Here

Question Paper 2020

CMAT Question Paper 2020 is available for download. The question paper comprised of 100 questions of 200 marks distributed equally across 4 sections – Verbal and Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, General Affairs, and Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2022 Question Paper
CMAT 2021 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT Question Paper 2020 with Solutions PDF

CMAT 2020	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Question Paper	Check Here

Question Paper 2021

CMAT Question paper 2021 is available for download. In 2021, the question paper was revised with the introduction of a new optional section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Hence, it was divided into 5 sections carrying 25 questions each- Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2022 Question Paper
CMAT 2020 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT Question Paper 2021 with Solutions PDFs

Slot	CMAT Question Paper
Slot 1	Check Here
Slot 2	Check Here

Question Paper 2022

CMAT 2022 Question Paper with answer key PDF is provided below for download. The pattern was revised wherein the optional section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship was made compulsory. The number of questions was reduced to 100 MCQs with equal weightage given to each section. Practice from the link given below and go through the detailed analysis to understand the revised exam pattern.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2021 Question Paper
CMAT 2020 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT Question Paper 2022 with Answer Key

CMAT 2022	Download Link
CMAT Question Paper 2022	Check Here

CMAT 2022 Question Paper: Section-wise Analysis

The section-wise analysis, number of questions asked from various sub-topics, and the difficulty level of each sub-topic is discussed below. Students can refer to the detailed analysis while preparing for CMAT.

Quantitative Technique & Data Interpretation Analysis

Students found CMAT 2022 Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation section fairly easy to solve. The majority of the questions were asked from Arithmetic, Geometry, Modern Maths, and Data Interpretation. The details of the above section are tabulated below:

Sub-Topic	No. of Questions	Type of Questions
Arithematics	8	Percentages, Time-speed-distance, Time-Work, Ratio-Proportion, Profit and loss, Compound Interest, Averages
Geometry	2	Mensuration, Triangles
Modern Maths	2	Probability
Numbers	2	Properties of Numbers
Algebra	1	Simple Equations
Data Interpretation	5	Tables and Pie-charts

Logical Reasoning Analysis

The question of logical reasoning section was direct, comprehensive, and easy to solve. It was reported that out of the 20 questions in this section, 15 were on Non-Verbal Reasoning and 5 questions were on Verbal Reasoning. The details of the above section are tabulated below:

Sub-Topic	No. of Questions
Directions	3
Series Completion	3
Number relations	2
Linear Arrangement	2
Family Tree	2
Coding	1
Misc Arrangement	1
Set Theory	1
Verbal Reasoning
Reasoning-based: assumptions, assertion-reason, analogy, odd word.	5

Language Comprehension Analysis

Sub-Topic	No. of Questions	Type of Questions
Reading Comprehension - Organization and Development of megacities	4	Reading Comprehension - Organization and Development of megacities
Vocabulary - Antonyms, synonyms, FIBs, idioms, spellings, etc	10	Vocabulary - Antonyms, synonyms, FIBs, idioms, spellings, etc
Grammar - FIB, Identify the correct statement, direct speech	5	Grammar - FIB, Identify the correct statement, direct speech
Verbal Reasoning - PJ	1	Verbal Reasoning - PJ

CMAT 2022 General Awareness Analysis

Sub-Topic	No. of Questions
Static GK	16
Current Affairs	4

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Analysis

This section was reported to be the most difficult. Being a new section, the section has no clearly defined syllabus as a result students found it difficult to answer most of the questions. Most of the questions were on business, economics, management, and government schemes

Question Paper 2023

CMAT 2023 Question Paper with solutions PDF for both shifts is available here. The question paper comprises 100 MCQs divided equally into 5 sections- Language Comprehension, Quant & DI, LR, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2022 Question Paper	CMAT 2021 Question Paper
CMAT 2020 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

Shift	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
May 4 Shift 1	Check Here
May 4 Shift 2	Check Here

Question Paper 2024

CMAT 2024 Question Paper with solutions PDF is available for download here. The question paper comprises 100 MCQs divided equally into 5 sections- Language Comprehension, Quant & DI, LR, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Shift 1 paper was moderate. Students reported Logical reasoning to be quite easy while General Awareness section was tough.

CMAT Previous Year Papers

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2023 Question Paper
CMAT 2022 Question Paper	CMAT 2021 Question Paper
CMAT 2020 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

CMAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 1	Download	Check Solutions
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 2	Download	Check Solutions

Question Paper 2025

CMAT 2025 was held on January 25, 2025. In total, more than 75,000 candidates appeared in the examination, conducted in both sessions according to their feedback the level of difficulty was moderately high in general, as many felt Quantitative Techniques were a bit tough.

CMAT 2025 Question Paper and Solution PDF (Available)

CMAT 2025 is a multiple choice-based exam that contains 5 sections: Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2025 Question Paper January 25	Download PDF	Check Solutions

Table of Contents

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
Previous year Difficulty-Level Analysis (2024-2021)

CMAT Year Wise Question Paper Download
CMAT 2024 Question Paper	CMAT 2023 Question Paper
CMAT 2022 Question Paper	CMAT 2021 Question Paper
CMAT 2020 Question Paper	CMAT 2019 Question Paper
CMAT 2018 Question Paper	-

Previous year Difficulty-Level Analysis (2024-2021)

The CMAT exam's difficulty level has changed with time, and there are differences in the difficulty levels of different sections based on trends and question patterns. Here is a summary of the section-wise difficulty levels from 2024 to 2021.

Year	Quantitative Techniques	Logical Reasoning	Language Comprehension	General Awareness	Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Overall Difficulty Level
2024	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate	Easy to Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
2023	Moderate	Easy to Moderate	Moderate	Difficult	Moderate	Moderate to Difficult
2022	Moderate	Moderate	Easy	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
2021	Difficult	Moderate	Easy to Moderate	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate	Moderate to Difficult

Question Paper 2026

The CMAT 2026 question paper is available to download here. Candidates will be able to access the CMAT 2026 question paper PDF, along with the solution PDF, using the link provided below.

The NTA has conducted the CMAT 2026 on 25 January 2026 in CBT mode in a single session from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM for admission to MBA/PGDM and other management programmes.

In this article, we have provided the CMAT 2026 question paper in the form of a memory-based paper, prepared using inputs and feedback collected from candidates who appeared for the examination.

Table of Contents

CMAT 2026 Question Paper and Solution PDF
CMAT Previous Year Question Paper PDF
CMAT Difficulty-Level Analysis (2025-2021)

CMAT 2026 Question Paper and Solution PDF

The CMAT 2026 exam will have 100 MCQs from 5 sections: Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship in a single session.

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2026 Question Paper January 25	Download PDF	Check Solutions

CMAT Previous Year Question Paper PDF

CMAT 2025 Question Paper	CMAT 2024 Question Paper
CMAT 2023 Question Paper	CMAT 2022 Question Paper
CMAT 2021 Question Paper	CMAT 2020 Question Paper
CMAT 2019 Question Paper	CMAT 2018 Question Paper

CMAT Difficulty-Level Analysis (2025-2021)

The CMAT difficulty analysis from 2021 to 2025 shows that the exam was largely moderate, with slight variations.

The CMAT 2022 was the easiest paper, which reflected in the highest average good attempts (90–95).
The CMAT 2023 was the toughest due to a harder Quant section, leading to the lowest attempt range (72–76).
From 2024 to 2025, the paper was stable again at a moderate level, with good attempts between 78 and 85, indicating a balanced exam.

CMAT Year	Overall Difficulty	Avg Good Attempts	Key Observation
2025	Moderate	80–85	Quant & Logical Reasoning slightly lengthier; Innovation & Entrepreneurship doable
2024	Moderate	78–82	Balanced paper; GK tricky but scoring
2023	Moderate to Difficult	72-76	Quantitative Techniques tougher than previous years
2022	Easy to Moderate	90-95	One of the easiest CMAT papers in recent years
2021	Moderate	75-80	Logical Reasoning dominant; GK unpredictable

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

Year	Avg Attempts	Accuracy %	Avg Score (80)	Difficulty Evidence
2025	12–13	~70%	34–36	Time-intensive
2024	13–14	~72%	36–38	Balanced
2023	10–11	~65%	28–30	Toughest Quant
2022	15–16	~78%	46–48	Very easy
2021	12–13	~70%	34–36	Standard

Logical Reasoning

Year	Avg Attempts	Accuracy %	Avg Score	Difficulty Evidence
2025	15–16	~75%	45–48	Puzzle-heavy
2024	16–17	~78%	50–52	Scoring
2023	14–15	~72%	42–45	Analytical
2022	17–18	~80%	54–56	Very easy
2021	15–16	~75%	45–48	Stable

Language Comprehension

Year	Avg Attempts	Accuracy %	Avg Score	Difficulty Evidence
2025	16–17	~80%	52–54	VA-dominant
2024	17–18	~82%	56–58	Easy
2023	15–16	~78%	48–50	RC-based
2022	18–19	~85%	60–62	Easiest
2021	17–18	~82%	56–58	Grammar-heavy

General Awareness

Year	Avg Attempts	Accuracy %	Avg Score	Difficulty Evidence
2025	8–9	~55%	18–20	Static + biz
2024	9–10	~58%	21–23	Mixed
2023	6–7	~45%	13–15	Most unpredictable
2022	10–11	~60%	24–26	Static-heavy
2021	7–8	~48%	15–17	CA-heavy

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Year	Avg Attempts	Accuracy %	Avg Score	Difficulty Evidence
2025	14–15	~75%	42–45	Conceptual
2024	15–16	~78%	48–50	Easy
2023	16–17	~80%	52–54	Very scoring
2022	17–18	~82%	56–58	Easiest
2021	15–16	~78%	48–50	Stable

Question Papers

CMAT question papers with answer key and Solutions PDF are available for download here. We have also provided slot-wise CMAT previous year question papers available for download. CMAT Question Paper has 5 sections due to the addition of a new section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Before 2021, the question paper comprised only 4 sections.

Check: CMAT 2026 Question Paper with Solutions

CMAT 2026 Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2026 Question Paper January 25	Download PDF	Check Solutions

CMAT 2026 Paper Analysis

The CMAT 2026 was conducted on 25 January 2026 in a single session in a CBT mode.

As per the analysis of Sumit sir from catking, the overall paper was easy to moderate, similar to previous years, with GK was unpredictable and difficult section.

“GK was frequently described as “bahut bekaar” and “unexpected”, with many questioning the relevance of certain current affairs questions.”

QT & DI: Moderate but time-consuming with heavy arithmetic questions and lengthy DI. 11–15 attempts
Logical Reasoning: Easy to moderate, balanced; coding-decoding and visual reasoning dominated, fewer critical reasoning Qs. 14–17 attempts
Language Comprehension: Easy to moderate and scoring; grammar, RCs, and idioms were mostly direct, with a few tricky Qs. 15–18 attempts
General Awareness: It was difficult and unpredictable, with static GK dominating the exam, and current affairs were tricky/outdated, with around 8–12 good attempts
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Easy, concept-based, highly scoring; questions were on startup stages, ideation, and exit strategies. 14–16 attempts

A score of 300–320 marks will place you in the 99.5+ percentile, and scores in the 270–285 range will translate into the 99th percentile.

CMAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2025 Question Paper January 25	Download PDF	Check Solutions

CMAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

Exam	Question Paper	Solutions PDF
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 1	Download	Check Solutions
CMAT 2024 Question Paper May 15 Shift 2	Download	Check Solutions

CMAT Previous Years’ Papers

Previous years’ papers help the candidate in understanding the exam pattern and in the revision of the entire syllabus. Before appearing for the exam, candidates are advised to go through the previous years’ papers given below:

CMAT Question Paper 2023

Slot	Question Paper PDF
May 4 Slot 1 (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)	Check Here
May 4 Slot 2 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm)	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2022

Question Paper	Download Link
Question Paper 2022	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2021

Exam Slot	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 1	Check Here
Slot 2	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2020

Exam	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Question Paper 2020	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2019

Date/Slot	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Jan 28	Check Here
Jan 29	Check Here

CMAT Question Paper 2018

Exam Slot and Subject	Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Slot 1 Quant	Check Here
Slot 1 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 1 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 1 GK	Check Here
Slot 2 Quant	Check Here
Slot 2 Language Comprehension	Check Here
Slot 2 Logical Reasoning	Check Here
Slot 2 GK	Check Here

CMAT Sample Papers

Sample Papers	Link
Sample Paper 1	Download
Sample Paper 2	Download
Sample Paper 3	Download

CMAT Question Paper FAQs

Ques: Why is it important to solve CMAT Previous Year Question Papers?

Ans: It is important to solve CMAT Previous year question papers because it helps in improving time management, identifying and rectifying common errors, and understanding the exam pattern and syllabus.

Ques: Should I use a calculator while attempting CMAT mock test?

Ans: No, it is not recommended to use a calculator while attempting CMAT Mock test or CMAT Previous Year Paper as no calculator will be allowed during the actual exam.

Ques: Is there any negative marking in CMAT question paper?

Ans: Yes, 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. For every correct answer, 4 marks are awarded and no mark is deducted for unanswered questions.

Score Vs Percentile

In CMAT, a candidate’s score and percentile are both important for MBA admission in more than 1,000 AICTE-approved institutes in India. The CMAT Score vs Percentile will help candidates estimate their percentile based on the marks out of 400 they have scored in the exam.

Candidates scoring 300+ marks will fall in the 99+ percentile, where a score range of 250-280 marks will place you in the 95–98 percentile bracket.

For Top Tier B-schools like JBIMS, SIMREE, and Great Lakes Chennai, a score between 280-320+ (98-99+ percentile) is generally required.
A score range between 230-279 will get you in the 90–97 percentile, which can place you in mid-tier colleges like Welingkar, PUMBA, IFMR, and BIMTECH.
For Lower-Tier/Emerging B-Schools like IES, ISBM, and regional colleges, a score of 180-229 (70-89 percentile) will be enough.

As per the previous years’ trends, even a 5–10 mark difference can shift the percentile by 8–12 points, reflecting the exam’s competitiveness.

Related Links:

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026

The CMAT 2026 Score vs percentile shows thata small difference in top scores can lead to a significant shift in percentile, making forvery tough competition above 330 marks.

Scores in the range of 290-329 will place you in the 97-99.7th percentile, providing a good chance at colleges like K J Somaiya and Welingkar.
Below 270 marks, the percentile drops quickly, ranging from 90 to 94, and college options become limited to mid-tier or regional institutions.

This analysis shows that scoring 290+ in CMAT is key to better MBA opportunities through CMAT.

CMAT Score (out of 400)	Expected Percentile	Insight & Likely Colleges
345+	99.9 – 100	Top rankers; strong chances at JBIMS (CMAT), SIMSREE, K J Somaiya, Great Lakes
330 – 344	99.7 – 99.9	Excellent score; high conversion at JBIMS, SIMSREE, Welingkar, IFMR
310 – 329	99 – 99.7	Safe zone for K J Somaiya, Welingkar, BIMTECH
290 – 309	97 – 99	Very strong; good options at IFMR, IMT Hyderabad/Nagpur, NIBM Pune
270 – 289	94 – 97	Competitive range; suitable for Jaipuria, UBS Chandigarh, SDMIMD
250 – 269	90 – 94	Decent score; options at IFIM, SOIL, IPE Hyderabad, Alliance
230 – 249	85 – 90	Mid-tier private & regional B-schools like IMS Ghaziabad, JIMS, FIIB
210 – 229	80 – 85	Limited choices; newer or regional AICTE-approved institutes
190 – 209	75 – 80	Below average; mainly local private colleges
Below 190	< 75	Very limited options; consider reattempt or state CETs

Ques. If I score 300, what percentile should I expect in CMAT?

Ans. Historically, 300+ tends to fall in the 98-99+ percentile band (excellent). But final percentile depends on the year’s overall difficulty and test-taker performance.

Ques. How much score is 80 percentile in CMAT?

Ans. An 80 percentile in CMAT can be achieved by around 190–220 marks out of 400, which is suitable for the mid-tier colleges like Welingkar (Mumbai/Bangalore), BIMTECH, IFMR GSB (Krea Uni), IPE Hyderabad, IMT Nagpur/Hyderabad, SIES Mumbai, and Jaipuria Institute of Management (Lucknow).

Ques. What percentile is 240 marks in CMAT?

Ans. A score of 240 in CMAT typically falls in the 90-94th percentile range, placing you in a strong position for good MBA colleges like XBS, IMI Bhubaneswar, and potentially BIMTECH, Great Lakes (Chennai), and N.L. Dalmia

Table of Contents

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026
How is CMAT Percentile Calculated?
CMAT Category-Wise Cutoff 2026
CMAT Cutoff for CMAT Colleges 2026
What is a “Good” CMAT Score in 2026?
Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis
CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs

What is CMAT Score vs Percentile?

The CMAT Score is the raw marks that you get after taking the CMAT exam, based on the number of questions you answer correctly.

Then your scores are converted into a percentile, which shows how you have performed compared to other candidates.

It is calculated by seeing how many people scored less than you and converting that into a percentage.

How is CMAT Score Calculated?

The CMAT score is the total of marks obtained by a candidate in all the test sections.

It is calculated by using a predefined marking scheme, as mentioned in the CMAT Information Bulletin available on the official website.

Raw Score Calculation

Each candidate’s raw score is first calculated as

+4 marks for every correct answer
–1 mark for every incorrect answer
No marks for unattempted questions
Maximum score: 400

For example:

If a candidate attempts 100 questions, gets 75 right, and 25 wrong.

So, raw score = 300 − 25 = 275 marks

This raw score is then used by NTA to calculate the percentile (using the normalization method).

CMAT Normalization Process

As the CMAT 2026 will be conducted in 2 shifts, each shift might have a slightly different difficulty level.
To ensure fairness, NTA uses the Equi-percentile Normalization method, where percentile scores from different shifts are mapped to a common scale.
That means if 98 percentile in Shift 1 represents a raw score of 320, and 98 percentile in Shift 2 represents a raw score of 315, both are treated equally during final ranking.

Highest Raw Score and Percentile: Candidates with the highest raw scores in each session receive a normalized percentile score of 100 for that session.

Lowest Raw Score and Percentile: The percentile for the lowest raw scores depends on the total number of candidates who appeared in that session.

Source - CMAT 2026 Information Bulletin

How is CMAT Percentile Calculated?

The NTA does not publish a direct “score-to-percentile” chart. Instead, it follows a percentile-based ranking and normalization process so that scores from different shifts of the exam remain fair and comparable.

Source: cmat.nta.nic.in

Example: If 10,000 candidates appeared in your shift and 9,500 candidates scored less than or equal to you,

then your percentile = (9500 / 10000) × 100 = 95.0 percentile.

Ques. Does CMAT always have multiple shifts?

Ans. Not necessarily, but the CMAT 2026 will be conducted in 2 shifts

Ques. Can two candidates get the same percentile in CMAT?

Ans. Yes, two candidates get the same percentile in CMAT if their raw scores are the same and they fall within the same percentile range. To break ties, some specific tie-breaking criteria is used (like sectional scores, date of birth, etc.) that are mentioned in the CMAT Information Bulletin.

Ques. Why is the Normalization system used to calculate CMAT percentile?

Ans. The Normalization system used to calculate the CMAT percentile is because:

CMAT sometimes runs in two shifts, and the question difficulty may differ slightly.
The normalization method ensures equal opportunity regardless of which session a candidate appears in.
It makes the result statistically fair and transparent, following NTA’s standardized percentile process used in all national exams.

CMAT Category-Wise Cutoff 2026

Category	Expected CMAT Cutoff Percentile	Approx Score Range (Out of 400)
General (Open)	95–99.9+	~280–350+
OBC / OBC-NCL / EWS	80–95	~200–310
Scheduled Caste (SC)	55–75	~140–200
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	50–70	~120–180
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)	50–70	~120–180

CMAT Cutoff for CMAT Colleges 2026

Based on the previous years’ cutoff for colleges accepting CMAT scores, here are the expected cutoff percentiles for top B-schools accepting CMAT scores:

College	Expected CMAT 2026 Cutoff Percentile
JBIMS Mumbai	99.9+
SIMSREE Mumbai	99.9+
PUMBA Pune	99+
Great Lakes Chennai	95+
K.J. Somaiya Mumbai	90-95+
Welingkar Mumbai	85+
Welingkar Bangalore	80+

Also read: List of Top Colleges in India Accepting CMAT Based on 2025 Ranking

CMAT Score vs Percentile and Safe Score for JBIMS

As per the analysis of the CMAT 2026 exam by Ronak Shah of Unacademy, the CMAT score vs percentile is expected to be a little lower than last year’s, as the CMAT 2026 was slightly tougher (especially in VRC and LR) and was held in a single slot.

A raw score of 320+ is a safe score for 99.99 percentile, which is usually required for JBIMS Mumbai (through All India quota).
Scores ranging from 310-315 will fetch a 99.9th percentile, while scores ranging from 265-275 will fetch approximately a 99th percentile.

This shows a drop of 5–10 marks across percentiles compared to CMAT 2025, and those candidates with high raw scores will directly benefit from this in CMAT 2026.

For JBIMS candidates, a score of 320-330+ is the best way to stay safe in the competition.

CMAT 2026 Percentile (Approx.)	2025 Raw Score	2026 Raw Score (Expected)
99.99	320	320
99.9	312	310
99.5	290	280
99	275	265
97	260	250
95	235	230
90	220	210
85	190	180
80	180	170

CMAT 2026 Marks vs Rank

The CMAT 2026 shows that top scores matter a lot, where small marks at the top can change ranks a lot, but in the middle and lower ranges, ranks change more slowly.

Scoring a mark range between 350–360+ can get you a rank of 1–20, while 330–349 usually gives a rank between 21–100.
Getting above 300 will put you in the top 500, and a score ranging between 270–299 can give ranks 500–1,500, and 240–269 fall in 1,500–3,000.
Lower scores (210–239 or 180–209) go beyond 3,000, and below 150 is outside the top 18,000.

CMAT Score (Out of 400)	Expected Rank Range	Percentile Range
350 – 360+	1 – 20	99.95 – 100
330 – 349	21 – 100	99.7 – 99.9
300 – 329	101 – 500	99 – 99.6
270 – 299	501 – 1,500	95 – 98.9
240 – 269	1,500 – 3,000	90 – 94.9
210 – 239	3,000 – 6,000	80 – 89.9
180 – 209	6,000 – 10,000	70 – 79.9
150 – 179	10,000 – 18,000	60 – 69.9
Below 150	18,000+	Below 60

Top CMAT-accepting colleges for Finance

Finance is one of the most competitive MBA specialisations, and several reputed B-schools in India accept CMAT scores. As per Hitesh Sir, MBA Pathshala, and previous years' placement data:

JBIMS Mumbai is known as a “CEO Factory”; it has produced top leaders in investment banking, consulting, private equity, and corporate finance.
IFMR GSB (Krea University) is one of India’s strongest finance-focused B-schools outside IIMs, with 240 seats and a CMAT cut-off around the 80–90th percentile.
KJ Somaiya Institute, Mumbai, offers 600 seats accepting CMAT scores around 280–310 with a ₹13 LPA average package.
IMT Nagpur has around 300 seats with CMAT cut-off of 258–271 and an average of ₹13–15 LPA, especially for work-ex candidates.

College	CMAT Cut-off	Number of Seats	Avg Package (₹ LPA)
JBIMS Mumbai	99+ percentile	156	26
IFMR GSB	80–90 percentile	~240	13
KJ Somaiya	280–310 (score)	~600	13
IMT Nagpur	258–271 (score)	~300	13–15

What is a “Good” CMAT Score in 2026?

CMAT Score (out of 400)	Expected Percentile	Score Quality
280 – 320	99 – 100	Excellent
260 – 279	97 – 99	Very Good
240 – 259	95 – 97	Strong
200 – 239	90 – 95	Good
170 – 199	80 – 90	Average
Below 150	Below 75	Low

Ques. Is 280 a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Yes. A score of 280 usually corresponds to a 95-98 percentile, making it competitive for many good colleges. However, what counts as “good” depends on the specific college you are targeting.

Ques. Will CMAT cutoffs change in 2026?

Ans. Yes, cutoffs can change based on available seats, the applicant pool, and the year’s exam trends as cutoffs are set individually by colleges. Previous years’ cutoffs are useful guides, but small changes are expected.

Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis

Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis helps candidates understand how their scores translated into percentiles in past exams. This analysis provides insights for planning and estimating performance for CMAT 2026.

CMAT 2025 Score vs Percentile

Score Range (out of 400)	Estimated Percentile in 2025	Observations
340+	99.99	Top performers needed very high scores to reach this percentile band
300 - 325	99.5	Very competitive range
270 - 292	99.0	Strong showing, good for many top B-schools
240 - 260	95	A solid result in the upper percentile ambit
205 - 240	90	Mid-level percentiles, many private / regional colleges use these ranges
180 - 205	80	Lower mid percentile range
Below 180	Below 80	Falling in the bottom half in percentile

CMAT 2024 Score vs Percentile

In CMAT 2024, 345-350 marks were needed for 100 percentile, 281-340 for 90-99.99, 201-280 for 81-89, and below 116 for under 50th percentile.

General Awareness and Innovation sections were trickier, with similar difficulty across shifts.

Score Range (out of 400)	Approximate Percentile in 2024
345 - 350	100
281 - 340	90 - 99.99
201 - 280	81 - 89
171 - 200	71 - 80
141 - 170	61 - 70
116 - 140	51 - 60
Below 116	< 51

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2023

In CMAT 2023, scores above 360 are required to reach around the 99.99th percentile.

A score of 271+ generally gets candidates into the 95th percentile and above, which is considered competitive for well-ranked institutes.

200–206 marks placed test-takers around the 75–80 percentile—a decent range for Tier-2 institutes.

CMAT Score (2023)	Percentile
360	99.99
325	99.9
299	99.5
292	99
283	98
271	95
258	90
238	85
206	80
193	75
179	70
167	65
154	60
133	50

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2022

The top score in CMAT 2022 was around 380, higher than in 2023, suggesting a slightly easier paper or stronger performance spread.

A score of 260+ was typical for the 95th percentile, with 240+ for the 90th percentile.

Scores around 211 corresponded to roughly the 80th percentile, indicating a better overall candidate performance compared to some other years.

Approx Score (2022)	Percentile
385	100
380	99.99
303	99.5
293	99
280	98
260	95
240	90
211	80
188	70
168	60
150	50

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2021

Approx Score (2021)	Percentile
345	100 / Rank 1
340	99.99
300	99
281	95
281	90
250	85
200	80
185	75
170	70
155	65
140	60
116	50

CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs

Ques. Is 200 a good score in CMAT?

Ans. Yes, 200 is a good score in CMAT. It usually places a candidate in the 90–95 percentile range. With this score, aspirants can expect calls from several reputed Tier-2 and select Tier-1.5 MBA colleges such as Welingkar, Great Lakes, BIMTECH, IFMR, and other AICTE-approved institutes that accept CMAT scores.

Ques. What is the 95th percentile score on the CMAT?

Ans. The 95th percentile in CMAT usually corresponds to a score between 230 and 250. Analysis of past years shows some fluctuation in this range due to variations in exam difficulty and candidate performance.

Ques. Can normalized scores be lower than raw scores?

Ans. Yes, normalized scores in CMAT can be lower than raw scores. CMAT follows a normalization process to ensure fairness across multiple exam slots.

If a candidate appears in a relatively easier slot, their raw score may be scaled down during normalization.
For example, a raw score of 215 may be reduced to a normalized score of around 205 if the slot is considered easier than average.
Conversely, candidates from tougher slots may see their scores scaled up.

Ques. Does normalization affect my final CMAT percentile?

Ans. Normalization directly affects the final CMAT percentile, as percentiles are calculated based on normalized scores rather than raw marks.

Even a small change of 5–10 marks after normalization can lead to a noticeable shift in percentile, especially at higher score ranges.
For example, a normalized score of around 240 typically results in a 95–97 percentile, while a score close to 200 usually falls in the 85–90 percentile range.
Therefore, when evaluating performance or shortlisting MBA colleges, candidates should always rely on their final percentile, not just their raw score.

Selection Process

CMAT Selection Procedure 2026 is going to begin in the 3^rd week of June 2026. All the AICTE approved CMAT score accepting institutes have an individual MBA/ PGDM admission policy. NTA does not organize any centralized selection process.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will also release the final Merit List which will include the candidate’s All India rank, sectional score, and overall score.
The Cutoff will be declared by each college separately and based on this, candidates can apply to the colleges of their preference as per their rank and score mentioned on the Merit list.

CMAT Score is accepted by more than 1000 AICTE affiliated institutions across the country. Group Discussion, WAT, and PI rounds are conducted by these institutions to select prospective candidates.

Table of Content

CMAT Selection Procedure Highlights
CMAT Selection Process Important Dates
CMAT Selection Criteria
CMAT Selection Procedure
4.1 Group Discussion (GD)
4.2 Written Aptitude Test (WAT)
4.3 Personal Interview (PI)
CMAT Final Selection
CMAT Counselling Process
6.1 Documents Required for CMAT Counselling
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT score
Frequently Asked Questions

It is mandatory to present Admit Card at the time of counselling. Before the seat allocation process, all the original documents are verified. Admission to the allotted college and course is confirmed only after the payment of the admission fee. One must pay excessive heed to the application dates of their respective colleges so that they don’t miss the registration deadlines for their preferred courses.

The final allocation of college and course is done as per the candidate’s preference and marks.

Highlights of CMAT Selection Procedure

Feature	Detail
Conducting Body	NTA (National Testing Agency)
Mode of Counselling	Online
Official Website	www.nta.cmat.ac.in
Exam Date	25 January 2026
Declaration of Result	17 February 2026
Commencement of Counselling	June 2026
Documents to Carry for Counselling	Admit Card, Scorecard, Identity Proof, Educational Degrees, Photograph
CMAT Colleges	1000+

CMAT Counselling Dates

CMAT Selection Process 2026: Important Dates

CMAT Counselling is expected to begin after the declaration of Result 2026. Given below are the tentative important dates for CMAT Counselling process for your reference:

Event	Tentative Dates
Result Date	17 February 2026
Release of Merit list	June 2026
Counselling	June 2026

CMAT Selection Criteria

CMAT 2026 Selection Criteria/Stages

The selection Procedure consists of 5 stages and these stages may vary from college to college. These steps are given below –

CMAT Result: CMAT Result will be declared in the monthof May and the scorecards will be released in the official website.
Preparation of Merit List: After shortlisting the students based on their scores, a merit list is prepared.
Group Discussion (GD): Qualified candidates are required to visit the respective institutes for which they have applied for the Selection Procedure. Multiple rounds of selection are held at the campus of the concerned institute. Every college conducts the GD round during its selection process.
Personal Interview (PI) and/or Written Ability Test (WAT): These rounds are conducted for candidates who clear the Group Discussion round.
Final Admission process: Based on the performance of a candidate in the various rounds of GD, PI and WAT, the final list of students selected will be prepared. Candidates need to confirm their admission by payment of the admission fee.

CMAT Selection Procedure

CMAT Selection Procedure 2026

The selection process begins after the declaration of result. The various rounds held for selection include Group Discussion, Written Ability Test and Personal Interview. It is important to note that every Participating college follows its own Selection procedure and there is no centralized process for selection protocol.

Group Discussion

Candidates who clear CMAT will have to appear for the Group discussion round. The candidates will be required to travel to the respective institute to which they have applied as the further rounds will be conducted at the colleges’ campus.

As a part of GD, candidates will be grouped into 10 or so and given a topic related to current trends or business affairs to discuss.
Points are awarded on the basis of the applicant’s initiation skill (who starts off the GD), negotiation skills (who convinces others of his idea), managerial skills (who is able to ensure that the GD doesn’t get off track and goes on smoothly), encouragement skills (who is able to ensure that everyone gets a chance to voice out their opinions) and closure skills (who is able to summarise the points discussed and bring the GD to a meaningful end).
Some other traits that are accounted for are creative and logical thinking. Analytical skills and in-depth knowledge of the topic are aspects that are valued.
Leadership qualities are highly appreciated in Group Discussion rounds.
Candidates may also be given a real-life business scenario to test their business and managerial acumen.

Written Ability Test (WAT)

In addition to the Group Discussion round, some institutes may also conduct a Written Ability Test (WAT) for selection. Conducting the WAT round will be at the sole discretion of the concerned college.

WAT tests a candidate’s writing and interpretation skills.
This round is designed to test the candidate’s awareness of world affairs or his opinions on certain important issues as a candidate may be required to write an essay on a given topic in the prescribed time.
Candidates are marked for their critical thinking skills, grammar usage, analytical skills and general awareness.
Reading a newspaper regularly and going through important magazines is highly recommended for the successful preparation of this round.

Personal Interview

Candidates who successfully qualify group discussion & written ability test(in some cases) rounds are called for the next round of the selection procedure, which is Personal Interview (PI). This round is aimed at analyzing the personality traits of the candidate and his potentials.

Personal Interview is not affected by external factors such as other fellow candidates’ opinions. It is just the candidate with the interviewers. So it is essential to make sure that the candidates are well-prepared for this round and can positively clear it.
A confident personality, a creative thought process and an innovative bent of mind are the parameters that are looked for in the candidate. If the candidate can maintain a calm and composed persona without getting flustered under pressure, then his chances of being selected are higher, given everything else is in order.
This round of Personal Interaction also provides the candidate with an opportunity to explain his or her past academic performance, any prior voluntary work he may have done and other achievements. The panel’s aim here is to get to know the candidate and determine if he would fit in well with the college’s culture. So, it is highly recommended that the candidates do their homework and find out all the important information about the B-school that they appear for.
The candidate should prepare answers to some very common questions like “Tell us something about yourself” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses.”
Here, the candidate gets an opportunity to turn the interview in his or her favour. The panel, on the other hand also gets the chance to drill the candidates about any existing loopholes. Hence, the candidate should be able to justify anything that has been mentioned in his profile and have reasonable explanations for any discrepancies.
The interviewers are sometimes known to ask such questions that are explicitly designed to put the candidate under undue stress. In such a situation, as soon as the candidate realizes that the panel is trying to test him, he must try to maintain his cool and reply with confidence.
If the candidate can face the pressure test successfully, it immediately proves his managerial worth to the panel and tells them that the interviewee would perform well under real-life stress situations. Hence, it is very important for the candidates to ensure that they don’t get nervous at any point and can navigate any sharp corners with ease.

CMAT Final Selection

The final selection for will be done based on a candidate’s performance in all the stages mentioned above. A final merit list will be prepared after taking into consideration the candidate’s performance in Group discussion, Personal Interview, and/or Written Ability Test.

Those candidates who have been selected by the Institute for final admissions will be notified either through their call letters which may be sent to them via post or email, or a list may be declared on the website of the institute.

Candidates are hence advised to regularly check the official websites of different institutes to which they apply and must also check the emails frequently.

CMAT Counselling Process

CMAT Counselling process will begin soon after the announcement of results by NTA. Candidates have to register themselves on the official website to participate. After successful registration, they have to give their preference for college and course. The examination authority will then verify the required documents.

Candidates failing to present the required documents will be disqualified. Confirmation of admission will be done only after the payment of the admission fee. Given below are the steps in the counselling process of CMAT:

Step 1: Online Registration

Candidates need to visit the official website and then register themselves by submitting the required information. Registration will be confirmed when ‘Successfully Registered’ will displayed on the screen.

Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking

Candidates need to click on the link of ‘Web Options Entry’ and Select the colleges and courses of their choice from the list of options.

Step 3: Verification of Documents

After the GD/PI rounds, selected candidates will be called for document verification. Candidates are required to carry their documents in original and photocopy. The verification authority will verify all the submitted documents. Non-availability of the required document will lead to disqualification

Step 4: Allotment of Seats

Allotment of seats will base on two factors given below:

Number of seats available
Preference of courses given by Candidate

Step 5: Reporting to the college

Candidates should report to their allotted college before the last date and pay the admission fee in order to confirm their admission.

Candidates must note the following Key Points:

There are more than 1000+ management institutes that take admission based on score.
It is mandatory to present Admit Card at the time of counselling.
Before the seat allocation process, all their original documents are verified.
Admission to the allotted college and course is confirmed only after the payment of the admission fee.
The final allocation of college and course is done as per the candidate’s preference and marks.

Candidates have to register for the exam and need to apply separately to the B-schools by visiting their respective websites to be eligible for admission.

CMAT Documents Required

CMAT Score-Accepting College

Top CMAT Score Accepting Colleges

Given below are some of the top colleges accepting CMAT Score. Candidates clearing Cutoff and qualifying for the pre-admission rounds will be called for the counselling process.

Institute Name	Percentile	Cutoff Marks
Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi	85	180
Alliance School of Business, Bangalore	70+	120+
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra	75+	160+
Birla Institute of Management Technology, (BIMTECH) Greater Noida	95+	200+
Christ University, Bangalore	70+	-
Doon Business school, Dehradun	-	160
Department of Management Studies, NIT Durgapur	-	156
Flame University School of Business (FLAME) Pune	80+	140+
Galgotias Business School, Greater Noida	60	-
GIBS Business School, Bangalore	70+	120+
GITAM School of International Business	-	150
Goa Institute of Management, Goa	95+	200+
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai	95+	200+
Institute of Financial Management and Research, Changambakkam	95+	200+
International Institute of Business Studies (IIBS), Bangalore	70+	120+
International Institue of Management Studies (IIMS), Pune	70+	120+
Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad	70+	120+

Frequently Asked Questions

CMAT Selection Process: FAQs

Ques. What resources should I use to prepare for the Personal Interview round of CMAT selection process?

Ans. Candidates can utilize the following newspapers/ magazines to increase their economic insight for PI rounds of selection process:

The Financial Times
Financial Express
Economic Times
Hindu Business Line
Business World
Business Today

Ques. Which business schools in Pune accept CMAT 2026 scores?

Ans. There are many good colleges that accept CMAT scores in Pune:

Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
Singhad Institute
MIT School of Business
Indira School of Business Studies
Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies

Ques. What is the validity of CMAT scorecard?

Ans. The scorecard will be valid for 1 academic year, i.e. 2026-26`. Candidates need to carry their scorecard during CMAT admission process.

Ques. Does NTA conduct a common admission process for MBA/ PGDM admission through CMAT?

Ans. No, NTA does not conduct a common admission procedure for MBA/ PGDM admission through CMAT. Every institute follows its own selection criteria and process.

Ques. Does CMAT score accepting colleges release sectional cut offs?

Ans. Yes, CMAT score accepting colleges release sectional cut offs for MBA/ PGDM admissions. However, it varies from college to college.

Top B-Schools

Common Management Aptitude Test, popularly known as CMAT, is a national level aptitude test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various MBA/ PGDM courses. The top b-schools that accept CMAT score include JBIMS, Sydenham, SIMSREE, Great Lakes Institute of Management, K J Somaiya, etc. The cut off for these top MBA Colleges ranges from 95 to 99.99 percentile. Candidates meeting CMAT Cut off can apply to their desired colleges.

CMAT 2026 result will be announced on Feb 13 2026. Based on CMAT percentile scores, admission will be granted to 4500+ seats offered by the 1000+ AICTE approved CMAT score accepting colleges..

Quick Links:

CMAT Counselling Process	CMAT Score vs Percentile

Top B-schools for CMAT 2026

Top CMAT 2026 Colleges	Campus	CMAT cut off percentile score	Fees
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies	Mumbai	99.99	6.00 Lakhs
Sydenham Institute of Management Studies And Research And Entrepreneurship Education	Mumbai	99.96	1.36 Lakhs
Great Lakes Institute of Management - GLIM	Chennai, Gurgaon	95	16.45 Lakhs
SIMSR Mumbai: K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies And Research	Mumbai	97	11.93 Lakhs
Institute For Financial Management & Research	Chennai	90	12 Lakhs
Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research	Mumbai, Bangalore	95	11 Lakhs
Department of Management Sciences University of Pune	Pune	95	2.45 Lakhs
Goa Institute of Management	Goa	93	9.79 Lakhs
SIES College of Management Studies	Mumbai	84	6.30 Lakhs
Institute of Public Enterprise	Hyderabad	80+	8.00 Lakhs
Jaipuria Institute of Management	Lucknow	84	9.25 Lakhs
AIMS School of Business	Bangalore	80	9.00 Lakhs
New Delhi Institute of Management	New Delhi	80	8.25 Lakhs
Jagan Institute of Management Studies	Rohini	80	5.5 Lakhs
International School of Business & Media	Pune	80	8.9 Lakhs
ITM Group of Institutions	Mumbai	80	9.20 Lakhs
KIIT School of Management	Bhubaneswar	80	11.95 Lakhs
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship	Bangalore	80	10 Lakhs
Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management	Hyderabad	80	6.5 Lakhs
IES Management College And Research Centre	Mumbai	70	7.2 Lakhs
SCMS Cochin School of Business	Cochin	70	8.25 Lakhs
Adarsh Institute of Management And Information Technology	Bangalore	70	4.5 Lakhs
M S Ramaiah Institute of Management	Bangalore	75	6.9 Lakhs
FIIB New Delhi	New Delhi	70	7.2 Lakhs
Jaypee Business School	Noida Delhi NCR	70	8 Lakhs
International Institute of Management Studies	Pune	70	7.56 Lakhs
EMPI Business School	New Delhi	70	6.95 Lakhs
Calcutta Business School, Kolkata	Kolkata	70	6.85 Lakhs

NOTE: The above-mentioned data may be subject to change accordingly as per the university/institution authority. The candidate is advised to follow it as a standard for future reference.

Best Private B-schools Accepting CMAT 2026 Scores

MBA Colleges	CMAT cut off percentile score
JBIMS: Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies	90
DBS Dehradun: Doon Business School	75-80
PUMBA: Pune University’s Department of Management Studies	95-99
Prin L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai	Above 80
GIM Goa: Goa Institute of Management	90
BIMTECH Greater Noida: Birla Institute of Management Technology	70
IIT ISM Dhanbad: Indian Institute of Technology Indian School of Mines	60
SIMSREE Mumbai: Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education	99.96
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai	90
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai	90
XIME, Bengaluru: Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship	85

Toppers

CMAT 2026 Toppers Highlights

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the CMAT 2026 result on February 17, 2026, with only 1 candidate achieving 100 percentile out of 41,872 candidates who appeared in the Common Management Admission Test conducted on January 25, 2026; NTA does not publish a separate named toppers announcement for CMAT, and the complete merit list with All India Ranks, NTA Scores, and percentiles for all appeared candidates is accessible through the official portal at cmat.nta.nic.in.

Click Here to Check CMAT Result 2026 at cmat.nta.nic.in

Only 1 candidate scored 100 percentile in CMAT 2026 out of 41,872 who appeared — reflecting the high difficulty of achieving a perfect rank in this single-slot exam.
A total of 53,453 candidates registered for CMAT 2026, of whom 41,872 appeared, yielding a turnout of 78.33% — notably lower than the 85.32% recorded in CMAT 2025.
The exam was conducted on January 25, 2026, in a single shift at 259 exam centres across 110 cities in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
Female candidates numbered 19,905 and male candidates 21,966 among those who appeared for CMAT 2026.
Scores in the 340+ out of 400 range correspond to the 99.9 percentile and above band in CMAT 2026, with a total of five sections carrying 80 marks each.
CMAT scores are accepted by more than 1,000 AICTE-approved MBA and PGDM programmes across India, including JBIMS Mumbai, K J Somaiya, GIM Goa, and Great Lakes Chennai.

Key Summary — CMAT Toppers 2026

Total 100 Percentilers: 1
Result Date: February 17, 2026
Exam Date: January 25, 2026 (single shift)
Total Registered: 53,453
Total Appeared: 41,872
Authority: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Official Website: cmat.nta.nic.in

CMAT 2026 Official Toppers List
CMAT 2026: Top Score and Percentile Breakdown
CMAT 2026 Result: Date and Statistics
CMAT 2026: Category-Wise Participation
How to Check CMAT Result 2026
CMAT Toppers: Previous Year Trends
CMAT Topper Preparation Strategy
What to Do After CMAT Result 2026
FAQs on CMAT Toppers 2026

CMAT 2026 Official Toppers List

CMAT Toppers 2026: Official List and Merit Rankings

NTA released the CMAT 2026 result and the complete merit list on February 17, 2026. Unlike some entrance exams where the conducting authority issues a separate press release naming AIR 1 and other top scorers, NTA does not publish a standalone named toppers bulletin for CMAT. The merit list — accessible through the official scorecard portal at cmat.nta.nic.in with individual login credentials — is the definitive record of All India Ranks, NTA Scores, and percentiles for all 41,872 candidates who appeared in the exam.

In CMAT 2026, only 1 candidate out of 41,872 achieved a 100 percentile. This is consistent with CMAT’s historically low number of 100 percentilers per year. The exam’s single-slot, single-day format means raw scores directly determine percentile without any cross-session normalisation — making 100 percentile achievable only by the single highest-scoring candidate nationally.

Total 100 percentilers in CMAT 2026: 1
Merit list with AIR and NTA Score: available at cmat.nta.nic.in
Shortlisting by CMAT-accepting institutes is based on individual AIR, percentile, and institute-specific cutoffs
Individual AIR 1 name is not separately announced by NTA; top ranker identities are typically reported by coaching institutes based on candidate self-disclosure

Note: NTA does not publish a named toppers list for CMAT. Topper identities and college choices reported in media are based on candidate disclosure and coaching institute tracking, not NTA’s official communications.

CMAT 2026 Top Score and Percentile

CMAT 2026: Top Score and Percentile Breakdown

CMAT 2026 carried a maximum of 400 marks across five sections — Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship — with 20 questions per section worth 4 marks each and a penalty of 1 mark per wrong answer. The single candidate who scored 100 percentile in CMAT 2026 secured a total in the upper range of the score distribution; analysis from coaching platforms tracking test takers indicates the top raw score was approximately 370–380 out of 400. A candidate needed to score in the 340+ range to secure a percentile of 99.9 or above.

Since NTA does not separately publish the AIR 1 raw score, candidates and institutes rely on the individual scorecard for exact NTA Score and percentile values. The table below provides an indicative score-to-percentile mapping for CMAT 2026 based on the appeared candidate pool of 41,872.

Score Range (out of 400)	Approximate Percentile Band	Significance
370–400	100 percentile	AIR 1 — only 1 candidate in CMAT 2026
340–369	99.90–99.99 percentile	Top 2–40 candidates nationally; eligible for JBIMS Mumbai
300–339	99.00–99.89 percentile	Top ~40–420 candidates; eligible for most top CMAT colleges
260–299	97.00–98.99 percentile	Strong performance; eligible for many reputed PGDM programmes
220–259	92.00–96.99 percentile	Good score; matches cutoffs of mid-tier CMAT colleges
180–219	83.00–91.99 percentile	Average; eligible for colleges with 85+ percentile cutoff

Note: Score-to-percentile figures above are indicative and based on CMAT 2026 distribution analysis reported by coaching platforms. Candidates must refer to their official NTA scorecards at cmat.nta.nic.in for exact percentile and AIR values.

CMAT 2026 Result Statistics

CMAT 2026 Result: Date and Statistics

NTA declared the CMAT 2026 result on February 17, 2026 — approximately three weeks after the exam date of January 25, 2026. The exam drew 53,453 registrations, of which 41,872 candidates appeared, a participation rate of 78.33%. This was a notable decline from CMAT 2025, where 63,145 of 74,174 registered candidates appeared (85.32% attendance), continuing a trend of shrinking CMAT candidature that accompanied the introduction of rival management entrance exams.

Particular	Details
Result Declared On	February 17, 2026
Exam Date	January 25, 2026
Exam Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT), Single Shift
Total Registered	53,453
Total Appeared	41,872
Attendance Rate	78.33%
Total 100 Percentilers	1
Female Candidates (Appeared)	19,905
Male Candidates (Appeared)	21,966
Third Gender (Appeared)	1
Exam Cities	110
Exam Centres	259
Official Website	cmat.nta.nic.in

Source: NTA Official CMAT Portal

Category-Wise Participation

CMAT 2026: Category-Wise Participation

General category candidates formed the largest group among CMAT 2026 test takers with 20,502, followed by OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates at 12,541. Together, these two categories accounted for nearly 79% of all 41,872 appeared candidates. The category-wise composition of appeared candidates is as follows:

Category	Candidates Appeared in CMAT 2026
General	20,502
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	12,541
General-EWS	5,565
SC	2,540
ST	724
PwD	107

Note: NTA does not release a category-wise named toppers list for CMAT. Individual category-wise AIR can be verified only from each candidate’s own official scorecard downloaded from cmat.nta.nic.in.

How to Check CMAT Result

How to Check CMAT Result 2026

Candidates can download the CMAT 2026 scorecard from the official NTA portal at cmat.nta.nic.in. The scorecard contains the NTA Score (raw marks out of 400), percentile rank, All India Rank (AIR), and section-wise score breakdown across all five sections. Multiple copies should be saved for use across different college application and document-verification rounds.

Visit the official CMAT portal at cmat.nta.nic.in.
Click on the CMAT 2026 Scorecard or Result link displayed on the homepage.
Enter your Application Number and Password (or date of birth as applicable).
Submit the details to view your NTA Score, Percentile, and All India Rank.
Download the scorecard PDF and save it to a secure location.
Take multiple printouts for document verification at shortlisted colleges during their GD-PI or selection rounds.

Note: The CMAT 2026 scorecard is the valid document for MBA and PGDM admission at all AICTE-approved institutes that accept CMAT scores. Keep login credentials safe, as the scorecard is accessible only through NTA’s official portal.

Previous Year Trends and Next Steps

CMAT Toppers: Previous Year Trends

CMAT has consistently produced a very small number of 100 percentile candidates each year — typically between 1 and 5 — owing to the exam’s single-slot, single-day format where all candidates compete simultaneously without session-based normalisation. The following table summarises topper information across recent years based on official result data and credible media reports.

Year	Top Performers (per media and coaching reports)	State (AIR 1)	Percentile	Result Date
2026	1 candidate achieved 100 percentile (name not officially published by NTA)	Not officially disclosed	100	February 17, 2026
2025	Srijan Chaubey, Aditya Sharma, Shruti Nair (top performers per coaching institutes; NTA did not separately name toppers)	Not officially disclosed	99.9+	February 13, 2025
2024	Abhishek Jha (AIR 1, 100 percentile); also Gopaljee Jha (99.9940 percentile), Ayush Juneja (99.7350 percentile), Parash Goswami (99.9148 percentile), Om Dwivedi (99.5608 percentile)	West Bengal (AIR 1)	100	February 2024
2023	Neha Sharma (AIR 1, per media reports)	Not officially disclosed	100	February 2023

Note: NTA does not publish a named toppers list for CMAT. Topper names for 2023, 2025, and 2026 in the table above are sourced from coaching institute tracking and media reports, not from official NTA communications. CMAT 2024 topper data is from the merit list compiled by credible educational platforms.

CMAT Topper Preparation Strategy

Top scorers in CMAT — those in the 99+ percentile bracket — consistently exhibit mastery across all five sections rather than reliance on any single strong area. The exam’s negative-marking scheme of -1 per wrong answer penalises aggressive guessing, making accuracy and selective attempt discipline a defining trait of high performers. The following section-wise strategy is drawn from patterns observed among past toppers and high scorers.

CMAT Section	Marks	Topper Focus Area
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	80	Arithmetic, Algebra, Percentage, Profit-Loss, Data Tables; target 95%+ accuracy
Logical Reasoning	80	Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Syllogisms; time-box complex sets and skip if unsolvable
Language Comprehension	80	Reading Comprehension, Para-Jumbles, Vocabulary; daily editorial reading habit
General Awareness	80	Current affairs (last 6 months), Business news, Static GK; no guessing — skip if unsure
Innovation and Entrepreneurship	80	Startup ecosystem, Government schemes, Business case studies; under-prepared by peers — a scoring edge for prepared candidates

Attempt a minimum of 15–20 full-length mock tests under timed conditions; analyse every error in detail before moving to the next mock.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section is frequently neglected by candidates — thorough preparation here can add 10–20 marks over average competitors who treat it as an afterthought.
Maintain a strict no-guessing policy on General Awareness questions where the answer is not known with certainty; two wrong answers in this section alone cost 8 effective marks.
Daily reading of quality business newspapers and startup news simultaneously builds Language Comprehension and General Awareness without requiring separate study time.
In the final three weeks before the exam, shift focus to accuracy maintenance rather than learning new topics; consolidate and revise previously covered material.

What to Do After CMAT Result 2026

Download and save the CMAT 2026 scorecard from cmat.nta.nic.in — this document is required at every stage of college admission, from shortlisting to document verification.
Compare your percentile and AIR against the published cutoffs of your target institutes; JBIMS Mumbai typically requires 99+ percentile, K J Somaiya around 90–95+ percentile, and GIM Goa around 85–90+ percentile.
Prepare rigorously for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds — these typically carry 40–60% of the final selection weight at top CMAT-accepting institutes, and a lower-percentile candidate can often overtake a higher-percentile one at the GD-PI stage.
Compile all required documents in advance: mark sheets of all academic qualifications, category certificate (if applicable), work experience certificates, identity proof, and scorecard printout.
If your score falls below your target cutoff, use the CMAT 2026 section-wise scorecard to assess preparation gaps, and plan the CMAT 2027 attempt with a targeted improvement strategy.
For candidates who have received admission offers, compare programme rankings, placements, fees, and location before making a final decision — CMAT percentile alone should not be the sole criterion for college selection.

CMAT Toppers 2026 FAQs

Question: Who is the AIR 1 topper in CMAT 2026?

Ans. NTA does not separately publish the name of the CMAT 2026 AIR 1 topper. Only 1 candidate achieved 100 percentile in CMAT 2026. Topper identity in CMAT is typically reported through media and coaching institutes based on candidate self-disclosure after the merit list is released, not through any official NTA announcement. The merit list with complete AIR data is available at cmat.nta.nic.in.

Question: How many students scored 100 percentile in CMAT 2026?

Ans. Only 1 candidate scored 100 percentile in CMAT 2026 out of 41,872 appeared candidates. This low count is characteristic of CMAT’s single-slot format — since all candidates sit the same paper simultaneously, only the single highest-scoring individual can achieve 100 percentile, unlike multi-session exams where the normalisation process can yield multiple 100 percentile scorers.

Question: When was CMAT 2026 result declared?

Ans. The CMAT 2026 result was declared by NTA on February 17, 2026, approximately three weeks after the exam held on January 25, 2026. Candidates can access and download their scorecards from the official portal at cmat.nta.nic.in using their application number and password.

Question: How many candidates appeared for CMAT 2026?

Ans. A total of 41,872 candidates appeared for CMAT 2026 out of 53,453 registered, a turnout of 78.33%. This represents a decline compared to CMAT 2025, where 63,145 candidates appeared out of 74,174 registered (85.32% attendance), indicating a shrinking candidate pool over successive years.

Question: What score is needed to score 100 percentile in CMAT 2026?

Ans. Based on coaching platform analysis of the CMAT 2026 appeared candidate pool of 41,872, a score in the range of 370–400 out of 400 corresponds to the 100 percentile band. A score of 340 or above is estimated to place candidates in the 99.9 percentile and above range. NTA does not separately publish the AIR 1 raw score; candidates must check their own scores via the official scorecard at cmat.nta.nic.in.

Question: Does NTA release an official toppers list for CMAT?

Ans. No. NTA does not issue a separate named toppers list or press release naming the top rankers for CMAT. NTA does publish the full merit list showing every candidate’s AIR, NTA Score, and percentile on cmat.nta.nic.in, but does not specifically spotlight or name the top scorers. Topper identities circulated in media come from coaching institutes and candidates’ own disclosures, not from NTA — which is why topper profiles for CMAT vary in reliability across sources.

Question: Who topped CMAT 2024?

Ans. Abhishek Jha from West Bengal secured AIR 1 in CMAT 2024 with a 100 percentile score. Other high-ranked CMAT 2024 performers included Gopaljee Jha (Jharkhand, 99.9940 percentile), Parash Goswami (Chandigarh, 99.9148 percentile), Ayush Juneja (Haryana, 99.7350 percentile), and Om Dwivedi (Madhya Pradesh, 99.5608 percentile).

Question: Which colleges do CMAT toppers typically choose?

Ans. CMAT toppers with scores in the 99+ percentile range typically target and receive calls from JBIMS Mumbai (which requires 99+ percentile), K J Somaiya Institute of Management (90–95+ percentile), Sydenham Institute of Management (SIMSREE), GIM Goa, and Great Lakes Institute of Management. Final selection at all CMAT-accepting institutes also depends on performance in Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds conducted independently by each college.

More on Common Management Admission Test

Overview Eligibility Criteria Application Process Exam Pattern Syllabus Cut-offs Results Admit Card Answer Key Books Counselling Exam Centers Exam Dates Good Score in CMAT Merit List Paper Analysis Preparation Question Paper 2018 Question Paper 2019 Question Paper 2020 Question Paper 2021 Question Paper 2022 Question Paper 2023 Question Paper 2024 Question Paper 2025 Question Paper 2026 Question Papers Score Vs Percentile Selection Process Top B-Schools Toppers