CMAT 2021 Analysis: GK Difficult, RC Lengthy, Moderate Quant, Easy LR - Overall Moderate; Cut off Not Expected to go up – Check Admission Status in Top MBA colleges

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Updated on March 31, 2021
CMAT 2021 has brought a few surprises for the test takers with more focus on static GK, more RC based questions, moderate quant and much easier LR section in a changed exam pattern with five sections instead of earlier four. However, students and experts have rated overall CMAT 2021 as a moderate difficulty level exam and expect 99 percentile at a score of around 265 out of 400 marks. Read below CMAT 2021 analysis with expected cut offs at top MBA colleges
CMAT 2021 Exam Analysis

Slightly deviating from its earlier question pattern and difficulty level, CMAT 2021 has brought a few surprises for the test takers on March 31, 2021 with more focus on static GK, much easier LR and more RC based questions in a changed exam pattern. However, students and experts have rated overall CMAT 2021 as a moderate difficulty level exam.

CMAT 2021 exam has got over on March 31, 2021 in two slots. This year NTA conducted CMAT in two shifts from 9.00 AM to 12.30 PM and from 3 PM to 6.30 PM as a computer based test. The first slot was over at 12.30 PM on March 31, 2021 with all the five sections. For those who did not opt for 5th section, the exam had got over at 12 Noon. MBAUniverse.com CMAT 2021 slot wise Analysis shared below, consists of complete CMAT exam details, type of questions, difficulty level, expected percentile, cut offs for top MBA colleges accepting CMAT among other details.

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CMAT Analysis 2021: Key Highlights & Questions

  • The CMAT exam overall difficulty level was moderate
  • General Awareness (GK) section was found tough with more questions on Static GK
  • Many GK questions were based on Education system, New Education policy, History and other topics
  • Language Comprehension Section had 14 RC based questions. RC passages had a length between 80 and 500 words
  • Quant section was moderate and had more questions on Arithmetic. Few questions were also found on Algebra, P&C, Probability, Geometry and Mensuration.
  • Data Interpretation (DI) part in Quant section had PI chart and Table based questions of moderate difficulty level
  • Logical Reasoning was easier but had very close answer options
  • An additional section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship added in CMAT exam 2021 with 25 questions. Additional time of 30 minutes was given to attempt the new section
  • Questions in this section were asked on recent innovations, initiatives taken by Govt to boost Entrepreneurship
  • New section was optional and was not mandatory for all the candidates to attempt it. Only the candidates interested in this course needed to attempt this section
  • Total questions in CMAT question paper 2021 increased to 125 from earlier 100
  • There were 5 sections in CMAT 2021 instead of earlier 4 sections
  • Each of the five sections had equal number of 25 questions
  • There was no sectional time limit and candidates could attempt any question in any section within time limit of 3½ hours 
  • Each Correct answer is awarded + 4 Marks and Each wrong answer is penalized with -1 negative marking
  • Percentile cut off Merit will be prepared out of 400 marks, 5th optional section is to remain qualifying  

CMAT 2021 Analysis - Overall & Sectional with Scoring Pattern
The five Sections in CMAT 2021 paper pattern with number of questions and maximum scoring chances are as under:

CMAT 2021 Exam Sections
Number of Questions
Maximum Marks Section-wise
Language Comprehension  
 25
100
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
 25
100
Logical Reasoning
 25
100
General Awareness
 25
100
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Optional Section)
 25
100
Total: Sections-5 (Including optional section)
125
500

Percentile Cut off Calculation in CMAT 2021
NTA will determine CMAT percentile out of 400 marks based on the options exercised by the candidates. Irrespective of the fact whether the candidate has or has not opted for 5th section in CMAT 2021 exam, the percentile cut off is calculated out of 400 marks while the 5th section is to remain qualifying 

CMAT Cut off in Top MBA Colleges
While there are changes in CMAT scoring pattern leading to CMAT percentile cut off for various percentile ranges, say for 70, 80, 90 and 95 & above, the CMAT 2021 percentile range required for MBA admission 2021 is expected to remain same as was last year, in top MBA colleges.  Out of 400 maximum marks, now the 95 to 99.99 percentile is expected with  a wide score range of 251 - 342 marks.  Check Top MBA colleges accepting CMAT with admission open. According to the experts at IMS Learning, expected cut offs for different percentile range are as under:

CMAT 2021 score
Expected Percentile
300+
99.5
265-270
99
220-225
95
190-195
90

Source: IMS India

Read More 

Top MBA colleges Using CMAT 2021 Cut off: 90 Percentile & Above 

MBA college
CMAT Cut off Percentile with Expected Raw score 
Application Status
99.99/320-338
Opens in June 2021
99.96/310-325
Opens in June 2021
90/232/240
Open
90/232-240
Closed
90/232-240
2nd Round Opens soon
90/232-240
Opens in June 2021
90/232-240
Open

 Check All the top MBA colleges Accepting CMAT with Admission Open

Although CMAT 2021 Cut Offs & Scores will be released alongwith the CMAT result declaration in April 2021 second week by NTA on its official NTA CMAT website, you can check your expected CMAT percentile with the CMAT Percentile Predictor. Last year CMAT cut off for MBA admission at 100 percentile was 347 marks and for 99 to 99.99 percentile, the cut off was in the range of 282 – 342 marks.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on MBA admission 2021 with CMAT 2021 exam score