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CMAT exam 2026 is scheduled to be held in January 2026. NTA conducts CMAT exam annually in CBT mode for admission to MBA/PGDM programs. In India, there are more than 1300 MBA colleges that accept CMAT score for admission to MBA/PGDM programs. Some of the top colleges that accept the CMAT score are KJ Somaiya, Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Amity University, and others.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level management entrance exam, conducted by NTA. This exam is conducted for admission into management programs, like MBA and PGDM. CMAT is one of the very popular management entrance exams in India after CAT. It is a computer-based online test that is conducted to evaluate your ability across various segments such as quantitative techniques, language comprehension, general awareness, innovation, etc.
Check out the key highlights of CMAT 2026 exam:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | CMAT 2026 |
| Full Form | Common Management Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| CMAT Exam Frequency | Once a Year |
| Courses Offered through CMAT | MBA |
| CMAT 2026 Exam Date | Fourth week of January 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT) |
| Language/Medium | English |
| CMAT 2026 Application Fee | General Male: INR 2500 General Female: INR 1250 Gen-EWS/SC/ST/PwD/OBC: INR 1250 Third Gender: INR 1250 |
| CMAT 2026 Exam Duration | 180 Minutes |
| CMAT 2026 Total Marks | 400 |
| Total No. of Questions | 100 |
| Official Website | exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT |
Here are the ongoing and upcoming CMAT 2026 dates:
| Important Events | CMAT 2026 Exam Dates |
| CMAT 2026 Registration Starts | The second week of November 2025 |
| CMAT 2026 Registration Last Date | Last week of December 2025 |
| Fee Payment Window Close | Last week of December 2025 |
| CMAT 2026 Application Correction Window | Last week of December 2025 |
| CMAT 2026 City Intimation Slip Release | Third week of January 2026 |
| CMAT Admit Card 2026 | Third week of January 2026 |
| CMAT Exam 2026 Date | Fourth week of January 2026 |
| CMAT 2026 Objection Window | Fourth week of January 2026 |
| CMAT Result 2026 | The second week of February 2026 |
You can easily apply for CMAT 2026 exam through online mode only. To complete CMAT registration, you must follow these steps below:
Step 1: Visit the official CMAT website at cmat.ntaonline.in.
Step 2: Click on the "New Registration" button to create an account. Enter correct details and a valid email ID.
Step 3: Use the login credentials sent to your email to sign in.
Step 4: Complete the CMAT application form by adding your personal details, educational qualifications, and selecting your preferred exam centres.
Step 5: Upload a scanned passport-size photo and signature, ensuring they meet the specified size and format requirements.
Step 6: Pay the application fee online and save the transaction details for future reference.
Step 7: Carefully review all the entered information before submitting the form. If everything is accurate, submit your application.
To confirm the application, candidates must pay CMAT exam fees. You can make the payment through the credit card/debit card / net banking / UPI. Check out the table below for the detailed structure of the CMAT exam fees:
| Fee Payable for CMAT 2026 | ||
| General (UR) | Male: INR 2500 | Female: INR 1250 |
| Gen-EWS/SC/ST/PwD/OBC (NCL) | Male: INR 1250 | Female: INR 1250 |
| Third Gender | INR 1250 | |
For CMAT eligibility criteria 2026, refer to the table below:
| Particulars | CMAT Exam Eligibility |
| Educational Qualification | Must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline to appear for the CMAT. If you are in the final year of your bachelor’s degree, waiting for your result, still you can apply for this exam. |
| Citizenship | You have to be an Indian citizen to appear for this exam. |
| Age Limit Criteria | There is no age restriction to appearing for CMAT 2026. |
CMAT admit card 2026 release date is not confirmed yet. However, it is expected that the admit card will be released in the third week of January 2026. The admit card will be issued provisionally to the candidates, subject to satisfying the eligibility criteria. You can download the admit card from the official website of NTA and appear for the exam.
Step 1: Visit the official website of CMAT 2026.
Step 2: Select CMAT 2026 admit card download link.
Step 3: Enter your application number and date of birth.
Step 4: Download CMAT admit card and take a printout.
These are some top management colleges in India as per NIRF 2024, that accept CMAT exam score:
MBA admission through CMAT score is based on cutoffs. Check out the list of CMAT cut off scores accepting colleges in the range of 85 to 99 percentile:
| Accepting Colleges | CMAT 2026 Cutoff Percentile (Expected) |
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.9 |
| Goa Institute of Management | 95-99 |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | 95-99 |
| SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | 95-99 |
| University of Pune, Dept. of Management Studies | 95-99 |
| Xavier Institute of Social Science, Panchi | 95 |
| Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai | 85 |
| Welingkar Institute of Management, Bangalore | 80 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management | 85 |
| IFIM, Bangalore | 85 |
| IFMR, Chennai | 85 |
| NIBM, Pune | 85 |
| NL Dalmiya Institute of Management | 85 |
CMAT exam pattern is prepared based on AICTE guidelines for MBA entrance examination. The table below shows the latest CMAT exam pattern:
| CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern | Details |
| No. of Sections | Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension General Awareness Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
| Duration of Exam | 180 minutes |
| No. of Questions | 100 |
| No. of Questions Per Section | 20 |
| No. of Answer Choices | 4 |
| CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme | 4 marks for the correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer |
| Total Marks | 400 |
CMAT syllabus 2026 is prescribed by AICTE, that includes topics from four different subjects. The questions are asked from Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, CMAT General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Check out the table below for CMAT 2026 syllabus:
| Subjects | Topics | PDF Download Link |
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | Tabulation, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Line Graph; Probability; Quadratic & Linear Equations; Graph; Simple Interest & Compound Interest; Percentages; Averages; Geometry; Profit & Loss; Mensuration; Ratios & Proportion; Fraction & Decimals; Work & Time; Time-Speed-Distance; Number Systems; In-equations; Allegation & Mixtures; Partnership; Algebra; Permutations & Combinations; Pipes & Cisterns. | Click Here |
| Logical Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning; Cause & Effects; Non-Verbal Reasoning; Linear Arrangements; Analogy Test; Symbol Based Problems; Statements Arguments; Blood Relationship Tests; Direction & Distance Tests; Statements & Conclusion; Number Series; Statements Assumptions; Inferences; Matrix Arrangements; Ranking Tests; Coding & Decoding; Sequencing | Click Here |
| Language Comprehension | English Grammar; Paragraph Completion; Sentence Improvement; English Usage Efforts; Synonyms & Antonyms; Reading Comprehension; One-word Substitution; Jumbled Para; Idioms & Phrases; Sentence Correction | Click Here |
| CMAT General Awareness Syllabus | Literature; Current Affairs of National & International Economy; History; Sports News; Science in Everyday Life; Politics; Geography; Culture; Economics; Trade Awareness; Personalities in News; Indian Constitution | Click Here |
CMAT 2026 answer key is expected to be released in January 2026. The objection window to raise the objection against the NTA CMAT answer key 2026 will be open for a few days. Candidates can raise the objection by paying the objection fee of INR 200 per question. Only the paid challenge made during the stipulated time through the key challenged link will be considered.
CMAT 2026 results are expected to be released in the second week of February 2026. The result will be notified soon on the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT. The result will be compiled based on CMAT 2026 final answer keys. No grievance about the answer key after the declaration of the CMAT 2026 result will be considered. No scorecard will be provided through the speed post, candidates must download their scorecard from the official website.
You can apply separately to your preferred institutes participating in CMAT 2026 using your CMAT score. Each institute will release its cutoff score, which you must meet to qualify for admission. Once you clear the exam, you must follow the selection process of the respective institute. CMAT selection process generally includes:
NTA provides CMAT mock test to help the candidates analysis the exam pattern and boost their preparation strategy. To perform well in the exam, attempting CMAT mock test is essential. Mock tests not only help a candidate develop time management skills but also discover tricks and shortcuts to solve the questions easily and accurately. CMAT is a speed-based examination with 100 questions to be solved in 180 minutes. So, you will get 1.8 minutes to read every question, understand, and solve or skip a question.
To access the official CMAT mock test on the NTA website, follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the official website of nta.ac.in and select “CMAT Mock Test Free”.
Step 2: Then, select the exam you would like to appear.
Step 3: Select the “Paper” option and click on “Start Mock Test”.
Step 4: Then, login on that page with the User ID and password.
Step 5: An instruction page will appear on your screen. Simply select the “Proceed” button to access the mock test.
These are some major CMAT preparation tips 2026 for exam:
Ans: Yes, there will be negative markings in the CMAT exam 2026. 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect response, whereas 4 marks will be rewarded for every correct response.
Ans: CMAT 2026 will be conducted online in a computer-based test (CBT) mode at designated examination centres. You will need to punch in your answers with the help of a keypad and mouse of the computer system provided.
Ans: There are no upper age limit criteria for appearing in the CMAT exam 2026. Any candidates who have completed the graduation can appear for the CMAT and purpose MBA. However, the candidate’s minimum age should not be less than 20 years old.
Ans: CMAT 2026 will be conducted in two shifts. The first shift will start from 9 am to 12 pm and the second shift will start from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
Ans: The syllabus of two of these exams are similar to each other, but CMAT has two additional subjects, that is General Knowledge and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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