What to Expect from CMAT 2026?
Aspirants can anticipate the exam to be of a moderate difficulty level, with the overall pattern largely remaining consistent from the previous year.
CMAT 2026 will include five sections: Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The exam will be conducted in online mode, carrying overall 400 marks, with each correct answer awarded 4 marks and a penalty of 1 mark for every incorrect response.
CMAT 2026
is scheduled to be held on January 25, 2026, across 120 cities in India. Check this article to understand what to expect from CMAT 2026, along with insights on
CMAT exam pattern
, marking scheme, and section-wise structure to help aspirants prepare with clarity.
Also Read
:
CMAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines
CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
The exam question paper is divided into five sections and is expected to have separate section-wise questions. All the questions will carry equal marks (+4 for correct answers and -1 for incorrect answers). Take a look at the exam pattern mentioned below:
Exam Pattern | Detailed Information |
|---|---|
Sections |
|
Total Questions | 100 |
Total Marks | 400 |
Exam Duration | 3 hours or 180 minutes |
Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult (Expected) |
Sectional-time limit | No |
Marking Scheme |
|
Also Read:
| How Many Questions to Attempt for 99 Percentile in CMAT 2026? | How Many Questions to Attempt for 100 Percentile in CMAT 2026? |
|---|
Expected Question Paper & Difficulty Level of CMAT 2026
Based on the Previous Years' Question Paper of CMAT , the exam is expected to be moderate to difficult. According to the trends of the last few years, the Logical Reasoning section has always been regarded as the difficult section. Aspirants planning to appear for the exam can collect a gist of what to expect in the upcoming question paper by taking a look at the expected list, section-wise and the difficulty level:
Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Considerably Good Attempt | Expected Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy-Moderate |
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy-Moderate |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 | 15-17 | Moderate-Difficult |
General Awareness | 20 | 80 | 16-17 | Moderate |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 | 14-16 | Moderate-Difficult |
Total | 100 | 400 | 75-84 | Moderate |
Also Read : CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Language Comprehension
Preparation Tips to Ace CMAT 2026 Exam
The difficulty level of the exam is always considered to be Moderate. Hence, there is a high possibility to score exceedingly well in the CMAT exam in comparison to other MBA Entrance Exams. With dedication, good preparation, and a well-planned strategy, it becomes easier to ace the exam. Here are some tips to follow to ace the exams:
- It is recommended that aspirants follow a proper CMAT preparation strategy to complete the preparation.
- They should start their preparation six months before the examination to ensure the completion of the preparation plan for the exam.
- The first step, while preparing, should be to complete the entire syllabus for the exam. Students must refer to the best books for CMAT 2026 to prepare for the exams.
- All the sections of the exam should be prepared individually. Avoid skipping any difficult or easy topics, out of pressure or confidence. Make sure to touch on all the topics during the preparation.
- Memorise all the formulae, theorems, and concepts ahead of time, and revise them daily.
- Aspirants must practice the Mock Tests and CMAT practice tests and check out the previous year's question paper for reference. The marking scheme and question format will remain the same, hence, it will help the candidates to take references from.
- The question paper can be tricky and may consist of decision-making questions. Hence, students should prepare well for such situations.
- Finally, make it a habit to revise the entire syllabus before the exam day, and avoid starting any new topics.
Also Read : Tips on How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning Section for CMAT 2026
Colleges Accepting CMAT 2026 Score and Expected Cutoff
Students can check out the participating colleges and their expected cutoff for CMAT 2026 after the CMAT 2026 results are declared. Prepare well in advance to secure seats in your desired colleges and institutes accordingly.
Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores | Expected CMAT 2026 Cutoffs |
|---|---|
95-99 | |
85 | |
80 | |
SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99+ |
95-99 | |
80 | |
99.9+ | |
95-99 | |
85 | |
Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management | 85 |
Also Read: Top 10 Colleges that Accept CMAT Scores In India
Aspirants must prepare well for the upcoming CMAT exam. They are advised to reach the allocated
CMAT exam centres
two hours before the exam and follow all the instructions stated by the exam authorities. Take a printout of the
CMAT admit card
for the exam day and carry any one of the documents, such as an Aadhar card, PAN card, Voter ID card, Passport, Driver’s license, and College/University ID card. Prepare well in advance for the exams and get excellent results to get admission to your preferred college/institute.
Related Articles:
| CMAT 2026 Section-wise Revision Plan | |
|---|---|
| CMAT 2026 Predicted Question Paper | CMAT 2026 Login |
For any queries related to CMAT 2026, fill out the
Common Application Form (CAF)
or write through the
Q and A zone
. Stay tuned with us for all the latest updates on CMAT 2026!
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FAQs
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship are the five broad categories that make up the CMAT syllabus. Each of these sections contains some topics that are given more weight than others. Grammar, English Usage Errors, Reading Comprehension, Algebra, Time-Speed-Distance, Allegation & Mixtures, Analytical Reasoning, Linear Arrangements, Geometry, Parajumbles, Graphs, Number Series, Matrix Arrangements, and Blood Relationship Tests, etc. are some of the most crucial topics in the overall CMAT syllabus.
The CMAT exam is divided into five sections, including Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship, in accordance with the test's format. The exam has four sections, each worth 100 points, for a possible overall score of 400. Each section has 20 questions, for a total of 100 questions. Each inquiry is worth four points. One mark is subtracted for each incorrect answer.
The CMAT exam is conducted only once a year. The Common Management Admission Test, or CMAT, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for MBA/PGDM admission into AICTE institutions. It is a national-level aptitude test. Every year, in the months of April or Match (tentatively), NTA administers the CMAT Exam. The exam is held at various testing facilities in 124 Indian cities. The test city of your choice is completely up to you. To register for the CMAT, applicants must fill out an online application form. Anyone who has earned a bachelor's degree in any field is eligible to apply for the CMAT exam.
Yes, aspirants who received less than 50% of their grade point average at graduation are qualified to take the CMAT. There is no minimum score requirement for graduation from the CMAT exam set by the CMAT conducting authorities. Students only need to have earned their diploma from an accredited university or an equivalent degree. They should be aware that the MBA colleges have minimum graduation score requirements of 50% overall (45% for SC/ST/PwD applicants) before granting admission to applicants, so they must maintain at least a 50% grade point average.
The results of the CMAT exam are valid for a year. Students will be eligible for admission to MBA/ PGDM programs for the academic years 2026–2028 if they take the CMAT in 2026. If they decide to apply for admission after a year, they will need to retake the CMAT exam.
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, SIMSREE, Mumbai, JBIMS, Mumbai, Goa Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai, Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, NL Dalmiya Institute of Management, Welingkar Institute of Management, Bangalore, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, BIMTECH, Greater Noida, etc., are some of the most popular colleges accepting CMAT scores. Over 1,300 colleges in India accept CMAT scores for admission to MBA/PGDM programs.
No, revaluation or re-checking of the CMAT results is not permitted by the organisation responsible for administering the exam (National Testing Agency). Once the exam results have been released, the CMAT conducting authority prohibits the rechecking or revaluation of the answer sheets. The aspirants' scores listed on the scorecard serve as the final scores for that CMAT exam. One must retake the exam in the following session if they want to raise their CMAT score.
No one CMAT section has a higher weight than the other in the exam. Each multiple-choice question (MCQ) on the CMAT exam is worth four marks, and the total weightage of the exam is equally distributed. Each unsuccessful attempt results in a loss of one point, which is present in all sections. The CMAT exam is worth 400 points overall, with each section worth a total of 100 points.
CMAT has a total of 100 questions, with 20 questions in each section. Each question is worth 4 marks. For each incorrect response, one mark is subtracted; however, there is no mark reduction for a question or questions that are not attempted.
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