CMAT Answer Key 2026: Check Key Dates, Download Provisional & Final Key & Raise Objection

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22 Sep, 2026

CMAT 2027 Exam is scheduled for February 07,2027

22 Sep, 2026

CMAT 2027 Registration is expected to begin in mid-October 2026 and continue through November 2026.

The provisional CMAT 2026 answer key, along with the response sheet, was released on 31 January 2026. Candidates were able to download the answer key from the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT by logging in with their CMAT application number and date of birth. After the release of the provisional answer key, NTA opened a short objection window that remained available until 31 January to 02 February 2026, allowing candidates to challenge any discrepancies. The final CMAT answer key was later released on 17 February 2026 after reviewing the objections submitted by candidates.

The CMAT 2026 exam was conducted on 25 January 2026. After the examination, candidates used the answer key to check their responses and estimate their performance in the test. Those who noticed any errors in the provisional answer key were given the opportunity to raise objections through the official NTA portal. The CMAT 2026 results were also declared on 17 February 2026. In this article, candidates can find the important dates, steps to download the answer key PDF, and the process that was followed to submit objections against the CMAT 2026 answer key.

CMAT Answer Key 2025 Release Date

You can find the key dates related to the CMAT 2026 answer key listed below:

Event	Date
CMAT Exam 2026	25 January 2026
Provisional CMAT Answer Key 2026	31 January 2026
Last Date to Raise Objection to Answer Key	31 January 2026 to 02 February 2026
Final CMAT Answer Key 2026	17 February 2026
CMAT Result 2026	17 February 2026

Also Check: CMAT 2026 Dates

How to Download CMAT Answer Key 2026?

If you want to download your CMAT answer key, follow these simple steps:

Visit the official CMAT website: Open your browser and visit exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Click on the answer sheet link: You will get a link that says something like "Download CMAT Answer Key 2026". Click on it.
Log in to your account: Use your application number and date of birth/password to sign in.
Check your answer sheet: After logging in, you will be able to see your recorded answers along with the official answers.
Download and save it: You can download the PDF of the answer sheet for future reference or to compare it with your own answers.

How to Challange the CMAT Answer Key 2026?

If you think an answer in your CMAT 2026 answer key is wrong, don't worry — NTA gives students the opportunity to report it. But you need to do it quickly and carefully. Here's what you need to do:

Visit the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Log in using your application number and password or date of birth
Click on the link to check and challenge the answer key
Find the question(s) you think you answered incorrectly
Upload proper evidence in support of your objection (like a screenshot from a book or website)
Pay INR 200 for each question you want to challenge
Double-check everything and submit before the deadline

Note: You won't get this opportunity after the deadline. So, if you're sure that any answer is wrong, don't miss out.

How to Calculate CMAT 2026 Score?

The CMAT Answer Key 2026 will contain the question-wise correct answers, the candidate's selected options, marks given for the correct options and marks deducted for the wrong options. Using this information, candidates can easily calculate their raw CMAT score before the results are out. Check the CMAT marking scheme below to calculate the CMAT score:

Type of Answer	Marks Per Answer
Correct Answer	+4
Wrong Answer	-1
Unanswered Questions	0

For detailed information on marking scheme, check CMAT Exam Pattern 2026

An example of how to calculate the CMAT score using the CMAT answer key is given below.

Suppose you have attempted 20 out of 25 questions in the Logical Reasoning (LR) section. Out of 20, 14 answers are correct and 6 are incorrect. So, your score in the Logical Reasoning section will be 14x4-6 = 50. So, your score in LR is 50 marks out of 100.
Similarly, calculate the raw scores of all the sections and add them to get the overall CMAT score. This overall score is normalized and then converted into a percentage to prepare the CMAT results.
The CMAT percentage is the relative performance of a candidate compared to other test takers. For example, if a candidate scores 98 percent, it means that his performance was better than 98 percent of the candidates.

What Details are Mentioned on CMAT Answer Key 2026?

You will be able to view the following information in the CMAT answer key 2026:

Exam Date
Exam Shift
Question ID
Correct Option ID

What After the Release of the CMAT Answer Key 2026?

Once the NTA releases the provisional CMAT answer key 2026, you should go through it carefully and match it with your responses. If you spot any errors or mismatches, then you will have the opportunity to submit objections. The NTA will review all the challenges in detail and then release the final CMAT answer key 2026 after making any required corrections.

The final CMAT answer key 2026 and result will be announced at the same time. Once released, you will be informed of your percentile or rank. Since there isn’t a centralized admission system for CMAT, you will need to apply individually to each college that accepts the CMAT scores. It will give you flexibility to target multiple institutes based on how well you performed in the CMAT exam 2026.

Key Takeaways for CMAT 2026 Candidates

Compare Carefully: Match each answer in the key with your responses to estimate your score accurately.
Use the Response Sheet: Refer to your official response sheet to avoid any confusion while checking answers.
Understand the Marking Scheme: You should have a clear idea about how marks are awarded and deducted to calculate your expected score correctly.
Submit Objection Promptly: Use the official portal to raise an objection within the given time-frame, usually until the first week of February 2026.
Track Updates: Check the official website for updates on the final answer key and result declaration. You can also check our portal for the latest updates.
Plan Ahead: Once your score is clear, start shortlisting colleges and prepare for applications.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ans: After appearing in the CMAT exam 2026, candidates will be curious to know how their performance was and how many marks they will get. Also, candidates should know that their career depends on the correct answers to the questions they work so hard for. Therefore, it is important for them to see the official answer key and their own answers. With the help of the official CMAT answer key, candidates can calculate their exam scores which will give them an idea of the percentage they will actually get. This will help them in making decisions related to MBA admissions, such as which college to apply to, whether to reapply for CMAT exam or whether to opt for the remaining entrance exams for the current session. The CMAT results are released about a month after the exam so with the help of the answer sheets, candidates can make an early decision.

Ans: The CMAT answer sheet will release 3-7 days after the exam. NTA will share the exact date of release of the CMAT exam answer key after the completion of the exam. After the release of the CMAT answer key, candidates can compare their answers with the official answer key and assess their performance. They can challenge the official CMAT answer key by filling in an online form and uploading supporting documents. NTA will verify the objections to see if they are genuine. If the objections are found to be valid, the CMAT answer key will be revised and released as the final answer key. CMAT result is prepared only after examining all the objections received from the candidates.

Ans: Provisional CMAT answer key is a PDF file released within 3-7 days of the exam. It contains details like candidate name, roll number, exam date and exam slot. The main content of Provisional CMAT answer key is the question, correct option, candidate’s answer to each question-and-answer status. Provisional CMAT answer key helps candidates to evaluate their performance and calculate their score. Final CMAT answer key is a PDF document which is released along with the result along with the revised answer key. If there are any alternative answers to the questions after verification as per the objections raised by the candidates. Final CMAT answer key is the basis for the preparation of the result. Final answer key like provisional answer key cannot be challenged.

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