CMAT 2019: Exam Date Shifted to January 28; Application Process opens on November 1

CMAT 2019 Exam date has been changed to January 28, 2019 instead of earlier January 27. This is the first time that the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) will be held on Monday instead of Saturday or Sunday. With effect from CMAT 2019, National Testing Agency (NTA) will be the CMAT exam conducting authority instead of AICTE.

CMAT 2019 Exam Schedule
NTA has announced the following important dates to conduct CMAT 2019 exam including the  exam date, Registration date, application fee, CMAT Result date among others

NTA Announces ‘No Change in CMAT 2019’ Exam Pattern
CMAT 2019 Exam pattern will have no substantial change. NTA proposes to keep CMAT 2019 on lines of past test pattern. Although there is a change in the test taking agency from AICTE to NTA, there is no change announced by NTA in the CMAT 2019 exam pattern, mode or difficulty level nor the test components will be changed.

Accordingly, CMAT 2019 remains on the same pattern  as an online computer based test for admission to AICTE approved MBA/ PGDM courses 2019-21 batch. It is expected that there could be content based changes in CMAT 2019.

NTA has announced the following key components of CMAT 2019 exam pattern:

• Duration of test is 180 minutes (3 hours).
• There shall be negative marking for wrong answers, for each wrong answer 1 mark shall be deducted .
• A Trial test will be available from last week of November 2018 onwards for the candidates to have a feel of the online test and navigation functionality. Candidates are advised to go through them carefully to familiarize themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.
• No breaks will be given during the test.

CMAT Test Training by NTA
NTA has established a network of test practice centres for students of rural areas so that everyone will have an opportunity to practice before the exam. Schools/engineering colleges with computer centres are being identified and kept open on Saturday / Sunday starting from last week of August. Any student can use the facility free of charge.

In order to serve the requirements of the rural students, NTA would locate the centres at sub-district / district level and as far as possible would undertake hands-on training to the students to take the computer based tests. The candidates at these centres will be able to understand about the navigation tools, how to mark and unmark the answers on the computer screen, how to improve the test taking speed in computer based test format and about other features. 

On the pattern of advanced countries, a specialized body in India National Testing Agency (NTA)  has been set up in pursuance of the Finance Minister’s Budget speech  2017-18. According to the Government, establishment of NTA will benefit about 40 lakh students appearing in various entrance examinations. It will relieve CBSE, AICTE and other agencies from responsibility of conducting these entrance examinations, and also bring in high reliability, standardized difficulty level for assessing the aptitude, intelligence and problem solving abilities of the students.

From this year, the NTA would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the AICTE as CMAT, GPAT; CBSE such as JEE Main for B.Tech and B.Arch courses, NEET UG for MBBS / BDS courses, National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) and others. Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up.

NTA will use highly secured IT software and encryption to ensure delivery of tests just in time. This will ensure no leakages and other malpractices.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on NTA- CMAT 2019