CMAT 2026 Last-Minute Preparation Strategy and Tips

Shivangi Ahirwar

Updated On: December 22, 2025 01:01 PM

CMAT last-minute preparation tips and strategies include marking the important topics, understanding the question mechanics, being confident & revising the most asked sections, etc. 
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CMAT Last-Minute Preparation Tips

CMAT 2026 last-minute preparation tips suggest revising critical concepts and formulas from the sections carrying high weightage. While preparing for the final stage of the CMAT, students must avoid learning anything new. Instead, they should concentrate on strengthening the knowledge they have already acquired in a manner that ensures maximum retention. The CMAT 2026 last-minute preparation tips & strategies will help students to keep a check on their preparation levels & get a hold on the necessary topics in the syllabus without mugging up the entire syllabus in a short time. Students eager to know more about the CMAT 2026 last-minute preparation tips & strategies, can go through the overall last-minute strategy, document to carry in the exam centre etc.

Also Read : Last Month CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips

CMAT 2026 Last-Minute Preparation Strategy and Tips

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is conducted for admission into MBA courses offered by more than 1000 B-Schools across India. While the exam is around the corner, it is important to focus on the last-minute preparation tips and strategies for CMAT 2026 provided here.

Revise Important Topics

Identify the important sections in the question paper and know the CMAT 2026 important topics that may come into the exam. Revise and review the topics and remove any doubts and confusion you might have with the topics. This will help improve the accuracy and time needed to solve the questions in CMAT 2026. Also, go through various shortcuts to help you solve problems faster.

Don't Begin Any New Topic

Avoid beginning a new chapter when there is just one week till CMAT. A few days before the exam, starting a topic from scratch is a terrible idea since it will not only devour your time but might also leave you confused and grossly unprepared. Make use of the effort you've previously expended. When answering questions on the exam, stick to the topics you've studied with confidence.

Attempt Mock Tests

Taking CMAT mock tests in the final moments of the exam can give you a real-time experience of taking CMAT 2026. You can see how well you have prepared for the exam by analyzing your performance. You can also practice time management by solving the questions from various sections. If you perform well in the mock test, you will be more confident in solving the real exam.

Examine CMAT Previous Year Question Papers

Analyse CMAT previous years' question papers to learn which topics frequently appear on the exam. There will be 20 questions in each of the CMAT's five components, each with the same weightage. Look through the question papers from previous years to see how many questions have been asked on each subject overall.

Create a Time Management Plan

The CMAT is an aptitude test focused on speed. In 180 minutes, 100 questions must be answered. This implies you have 1.8 minutes to read, comprehend, and answer each question. Develop an approach that will enable you to answer 70–75 questions with the highest level of accuracy in 180 minutes.

Utilise Shortcuts and Tricks for Problem-solving

Invest some time practising the shortcuts and tricks you have learned for answering questions that require heavy calculation, in addition to the revision of important topics. Because of the time constraint, you must avoid wasting time by undertaking too much rough work. For Quant, memorise the following tables: square, square roots, cube, cube roots, etc.

Avoid Mugging Up the GK

Mugging up names, dates, and facts is useless for the general knowledge portion. The knowledge won't stay in your memory for very long. It is best to review your notes on current events and static GK.

Know the Number of Good Attempts in Each Segment

You should be quite aware of how many questions you must attempt to pass each CMAT segment. For each portion of the exam, you must spend a specified amount of time to do well. The goal should be 15–17 successful attempts since the CMAT 2026 exam has 20 questions in each of its five components.

Stay Calm and Sleep Well

The stress of an upcoming exam can be taxing on the mental condition of the students. So, students must stay calm and not worry much about the results. They should be confident that they will do well in the exams and prepare accordingly.

Gather Important Documents

Carrying the CMAT 2026 admit card and original ID proof is mandatory as entry to the exam hall will not be provided without them. So, ensure you take a few printouts of the admit card and gather all the necessary documents beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassle.

Get a Strong Hold on the CMAT Exam Pattern

To prepare well for the CMAT 2026 exam, it is important to know the updated CMAT 2026 exam pattern . The test has five sections, and each section contains 20 questions. In total, you will face 100 questions across all sections, and the maximum score you can achieve is 400.

Also Read : CMAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

Documents to Carry to the CMAT 2026 Exam Centre

students must carry some important documents to the CMAT 2026 exam centre for identity verification. Here is a list of items you must carry to the CMAT 2026 exam centre.

  • CMAT admit card
  • One passport-sized photograph (same as uploaded with the Online Application Form)
  • A valid Photo ID Proof in original (PAN card/ Driving License/ Voter ID/ Passport/ Aadhaar Card (With photograph)/E- Aadhaar/Ration Card/ Bank Passbook with Photograph)
  • Original and attested copy of a valid PwD certificate issued by a competent authority, in case of a physically disabled candidate, if claiming relaxation under the PwD category.
  • Medical certificates are issued by the concerned authority in case of any special medical condition.

What Not to Carry to the CMAT 2026 Exam Centre

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Students are prohibited from carrying the following items to the CMAT 2026 exam centre:

  • Mobile Phone/ Earphones/ Microphone/ Pager
  • Calculator, DocuPen, Slide Rules, Log Tables, Camera, Tape Recorder
  • Watc,h including Electronic Watches having the facilities of a calculator, any metallic item, or electronic gadgets/ devices
  • Instrument/ Geometry/ Pencil box, Handbag, Purse, Paper/ Stationery/ Textual material (printed or written material)
  • Eatables and Water (loose or packed)
Also Read : Mistakes to Avoid on CMAT 2026 Exam Day

Instructions to Follow Inside the CMAT 2026 Exam Hall

Students have to go through certain security and verification procedures before entering the CMAT 2026 exam. Once they are inside the examination hall, they need to abide by certain rules stated below.

  • Students will be provided a pen/pencil and blank paper sheets for rough work in the examination hall.
  • Students must write their name and Roll Number at the top of the sheet. It is mandatory to return the sheets and Admit Card to the invigilator before leaving the examination hall.
  • Students must enter the required details in the Attendance Sheet, put their signature and Left Hand Thumb Impression, and paste the photograph in the mentioned place. The left-hand thumb Impression must be clear and not smudged.
  • If any candidate is caught adopting any unfair means during the CMAT exam, their candidature will be automatically cancelled without any notice.

CMAT 2026 Dress Code

NTA has not prescribed any dress code for CMAT 2026; however, students are advised to dress simply so that they do not have to go through any extra checking at the exam centre. Some of the suggestions related to the dress code for CMAT 2026 are as follows:

  • Wear plain jeans or trousers with fewer pockets.
  • Wear slippers and avoid shoes (closed footwear is not allowed in the exam hall)
  • T-shirts or shirts with no pockets
  • Jewellery is not allowed inside the exam hall
  • Footwear with thick soles and clothes with large buttons are not allowed inside the exam hall.

Related Links:

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for General Awareness

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Logical Reasoning

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Language Comprehension

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

7 Tips to Beat CMAT 2026 with a Bang

So, students must go through the previous years' question papers, sample papers, and question banks to understand the overall pattern of the exam. They can comprehend the exam paper difficulty levels, section-wise questions & topic pattern and accordingly create a study plan for themselves. They must make sure that they pick up the topics that they find the most difficult for themselves & then move to the ones that are their strengths during exam preparation. Furthermore, any queries regarding the CMAT exam last-minute preparation strategy and tips, log on to our CollegeDekho Q&A Zone or contact our toll-free helpline number 18005729877.

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FAQs

What are some CMAT 2026 exam last-minute tips?

CMAT last-minute tips include:

  • Getting the hard copies of the CMAT admit card ready.
  • Locating the address of the CMAT exam center.
  • Checking the ID proof to be carried at the exam center.
  • Checking the reporting time to avoid any delays.
  • Keeping calm and focusing on the exam.

How can I prepare for CMAT 2026 in the last month?

To prepare for CMAT 2026 in the last month, candidates can follow the given tips:

  • Revise important topics and formulas.
  • Brush up your basics to ensure you’re prepared for every type of question.
  • Take as many mock tests as you can and aim for a 90 percentile.
  • Analyze your test scores to check your stronger and weaker areas.
  • Focus on improving your vocabulary and grammar skills.
  • Solve CMAT previous years’ question papers as well as sample papers.

What are the best study materials for CMAT preparation?

The best study materials for CMAT preparation are listed below:

  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education)
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education)
  • How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education)
  • Newspapers and Journals

What is the best way to prepare for CMAT exam 2026 at home?

The best ways to prepare for the CMAT exam 2026 at home are the following:

  • Take official CMAT mock tests available on the website.
  • Get well-versed in the basic concepts.
  • Buy study materials provided by top coaching institutes.
  • Study from the best books for CMAT preparation.
  • Plan a strict schedule for studying.
  • Get in touch with people who can help you with the preparation.

How to prepare for the CMAT exam?

To prepare for the CMAT exam, candidates must keep the following points in India:

  • Analyze your strong areas and weak areas.
  • Solve numerical problems to brush up on your mathematical skills.
  • Read newspapers and magazines to stay updated with current affairs.
  • Study from the best books and materials.
  • Take CMAT mock tests to analyze your performance and get familiar with the exam pattern.
  • Solve previous years’ question papers and sample papers.

What not to carry to the CMAT exam hall?

Below is the list of things that are not allowed to carry to the CMAT exam hall:

  • Any electronic items (Mobile phones, iPad, calculators, etc.)
  • Bluetooth devices (watch, earphones, etc.)
  • No documents other than admit card and ID proof
  • Any stationary item other than a pen
  • Don’t wear jewelry or jacket
  • No eatables are allowed inside the exam hall

How to solve CMAT question paper?

Here are some strategies to solve the CMAT question paper:

  • Focus on solving easy questions which take lesser time and then move to the longer questions
  • Then focus on difficult sections
  • Lastly, focus on questions where you can maximize your scores.
  • Ensure that you balance time on both sectional cutoffs and overall scores.
  • Don’t waste too much time on intelligent guessing.

What are the documents to carry to the CMAT exam hall?

Here are the necessary documents to carry to the CMAT exam hall:

  • Admit Card
  • ID Proof issued by the Government of India (PAN Card, Driving License, Voter ID, Passport, etc.)
  • Candidates belonging to the PwD category have to bring the necessary medical certificates

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