The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is one of the most popular national-level MBA entrance exams in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). CMAT is accepted by 1,000+ AICTE-approved B-Schools, making it a preferred choice for MBA/PGDM aspirants.
This guide provides complete details on CMAT 2026 including dates, eligibility, registration, syllabus, admit card, result, cut-offs, and admission process.
📑 Table of Contents
- What is CMAT?
- CMAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
- CMAT 2026 Exam Highlights
- CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
- CMAT Registration 2026
- CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- CMAT Syllabus 2026: Detailed Breakdown
- CMAT 2026 Preparation
- CMAT Admit Card 2026
- CMAT Answer Key 2026
- CMAT Result 2026
- CMAT Admission Process 2026
- CMAT Cut Offs and Top Colleges
- CMAT 2026 Contact Information
- Important FAQs Regarding CMAT 2026
1️⃣ What is CMAT?
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the NTA for admission into MBA/PGDM and other management programs in AICTE-approved institutes.
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Accepting Institutes: 1,000+ management institutes across India
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
2️⃣ CMAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule (Tentative)
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| CMAT 2026 Notification Release | January 2026 |
| CMAT Registration Start Date | February 2026 |
| Last Date for Registration | March 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | April 2026 |
| CMAT 2026 Exam Date | April/May 2026 |
| CMAT Answer Key | May 2026 |
| CMAT Result Declaration | May/June 2026 |
3️⃣ CMAT 2026 Exam Highlights
- Exam Level: National
- Mode of Exam: Online (CBT)
- Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Sections: 5 (including optional Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
- Marking Scheme: +4 (correct), -1 (incorrect)
- Application Fee (Expected):
- General/OBC: ₹2,000
- SC/ST/PwD/Female: ₹1,000
4️⃣ CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
- Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
- Final Year Students: Eligible to apply.
- Minimum Marks: No minimum percentage required.
- Nationality: Indian citizens only.
- Age Limit: No upper age limit.
5️⃣ CMAT Registration 2026
- Mode: Online at cmat.nta.nic.in
- Steps:
- Register with valid email ID & mobile number.
- Fill application form with academic & personal details.
- Upload scanned photo & signature.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Application Window: Expected in February–March 2026.
6️⃣ CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Optional) | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
7️⃣ CMAT Syllabus 2026: Detailed Breakdown
- Quantitative Techniques & DI: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Probability, Graphs, Data Tables.
- Logical Reasoning: Coding-Decoding, Series, Blood Relations, Puzzles, Statement-Conclusion, Analogy.
- Language Comprehension: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Synonyms-Antonyms, Sentence Correction.
- General Awareness: Current Affairs, Indian Economy, Polity, History, Sports, Business & Finance.
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Optional): Startups, Business Concepts, Govt. Schemes, Case Studies.
8️⃣ CMAT 2026 Preparation
- Start 6 months before exam with basics.
- Practice DI & Quant from NCERTs (8th–10th level).
- Read newspapers for GK & Vocabulary.
- Take mock tests weekly and analyze errors.
- Refer to standard books:
- Quant – R.S. Aggarwal, Arun Sharma
- Verbal – Norman Lewis, Wren & Martin
- GK – Manorama Yearbook, Newspapers
9️⃣ CMAT Admit Card 2026
- Download from cmat.nta.nic.in in April 2026.
- Requires: Application No. & Password/Date of Birth.
- Contains: Exam Date, Center, Reporting Time, Instructions.
🔟 CMAT Answer Key 2026
- NTA releases provisional answer key within a week of exam.
- Objections can be raised by paying a fee.
- Final Answer Key released before result declaration.
1️⃣1️⃣ CMAT Result 2026
- Expected in May/June 2026.
- Available at cmat.nta.nic.in.
- Scorecard includes sectional & overall percentile.
1️⃣2️⃣ CMAT Admission Process 2026
- Appear for CMAT 2026.
- Download scorecard and apply to colleges.
- Shortlisting based on CMAT percentile.
- Selection process: GD, PI, WAT (varies by institute).
- Final admission offer.
1️⃣3️⃣ CMAT Cut Offs and Top Colleges
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT
- JBIMS, Mumbai (cut-off 99.9 percentile)
- SIMSREE, Mumbai
- KJ Somaiya, Mumbai
- Great Lakes Institute of Management
- Welingkar (WeSchool) Mumbai & Bangalore
- PUMBA, Pune
- GIM, Goa
Cut-offs usually range from 85–99 percentile, depending on the institute.
1️⃣4️⃣ CMAT 2026 Contact Information
- Official Website: cmat.nta.nic.in
- Helpline: 011-40759000
- Email: cmat@nta.ac.in
1️⃣5️⃣ Important FAQs Regarding CMAT 2026
Q1. How many times is CMAT conducted in a year?
👉 Once a year by NTA.
Q2. Can I appear for both CAT and CMAT?
👉 Yes, many students appear for both exams.
Q3. Is CMAT easier than CAT?
👉 Generally, CMAT is considered moderate compared to CAT.
Q4. Does CMAT have sectional cut-offs?
👉 No, only overall percentile matters in most colleges.
Q5. Can I skip the Innovation & Entrepreneurship section?
👉 Yes, it is optional.
🌟 Final Words
CMAT is an excellent opportunity for students aiming to secure admission in top AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM colleges. With consistent preparation and the right resources, scoring well in CMAT 2026 is very achievable.
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