CMAT 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Registration, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national MBA Entrance Exam for admission to 1000+ AICTE Approved PGDM Institutions, University MBA Departments and their Constituent/Affiliated Colleges across the country. However, IIMs and many top MBA colleges like MDI Gurgaon and XLRI Jamshedpur do not accept CMAT exam scores. Check list of MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT exam 2025 scores. 

TTill 2018, CMAT Test was conducted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). National Test Agency (NTA) is conducting this Test since 2019. CMAT exam official website is exams.nta.ac.in/cmat.  

CMAT 2026 will be conducted on January 24, 2026 (expected date). Last year, CMAT 2025 was held on Saturday, January 25, 2025. CMAT exam difficulty level is moderate. CMAT exam duration is 180 minutes. CMAT Exam Pattern is divided into five sections: Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Check details below. 

CMAT is not only one of the most accepted MBA entrance exams in India, it is the gateway to top MBA colleges. Following are the key CMAT exam highlights including CMAT Exam Details, CMAT Full Form, CMAT Form release date, CMAT Exam Dates exam among others.

CMAT exam date 2026 is January 24, 2026 (expected). Check other important CMAT dates below, as per last year’s dates. 

CMAT Exam Pattern consists of 100 objective type (MCQs) questions which are equally divided into five sections: Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CMAT 2026 exam duration is 180 minutes. There is no sectional time limit. Based on previous year exam paper patterns, CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 is given below.

Based on previous year exam paper patterns, CMAT Marking Scheme 2026 is given below:
i) Each question carries 04 (four) marks. 
ii) For each correct response, candidate will get 04 (four) marks. 
iii) For each incorrect response, 01 (one) mark will be deducted from the total score. 
iv) Un-answered/un-attempted will be given no marks. 

Syllabus for CMAT 2025 is divided into five sections: Language Comprehension; Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. A brief overview is given below. 

• Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation: Syllabus for this section includes Arithmetic (Ratio, Time & Work, Averages, Percentages, Profit & Loss), Algebra, Geometry, Probability, Number Properties, and Data Interpretation through tables, pie charts, bar diagrams, and graphs.
• Language Comprehension: Syllabus for this section includes grammar, tenses, vocabulary, sentence correction, jumbled paragraphs, and reading comprehension passages focused on inference, central idea, idioms, and expression.
• Logical Reasoning: Syllabus for this section includes questions on arrangements (linear, circular, sequencing), puzzles, coding-decoding, statement-conclusion, Venn diagrams, and visual reasoning.
• General Awareness: Syllabus for this section includes Static GK, Current Affairs, and Business & Economics awareness such as fiscal/monetary policies, international organizations, key personalities, and national events.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Syllabus for this section includes government schemes, start-up concepts, innovation management, key entrepreneurs, terminology (bootstrapping, break-even point), and recent developments in business and policy.

Check section wise detailed CMAT Exam Syllabus 2026. 

Eligibility Criteria for CMAT exam is given below. 

• The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline. 
• Candidates appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s Degree, whose result will be declared before commencement of admission for academic year 2025-26, can also apply for CMAT exam. 
• The candidate must be a citizen of India. 
• There is no age restriction for appearing in CMAT- 2025.

CMAT Registration process can be completed online on CMAT official website exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/ in three simple steps, given below. Remember CMAT registration process will be considered complete only after you have paid the requisite CMAT exam fees, submit the application and receive the confirmation message from National Testing Agency.

Step 1: Visit CMAT Official Website and Apply for Online Registration

Step 2: Fill in the Online Application Form 

Step 3: Pay Fee Online and receive a confirmation from CMAT website

All the 3 Steps can be done together or at separate timings. Remember, the submission of Application of a candidate is considered as successful and confirmed only on the successful transaction/receipt of the prescribed application fee.

CMAT Admit Card  is a mandatory document to enter the exam centre to take the exam. NTA will upload the Admit card on official NTA CMAT exam website a few days before the exam. Only successfully registered candidates can download the CMAT admit card. The last date to download the Admit Card is exam date. 

CMAT Exam Centers are located across all the States in India. National Testing Agency conducted CMAT exam 2025 in 107 cities at 178 Exam Centres across the country. A candidate should choose four most preferred CMAT test cities at the time of filling the CMAT application form. Check list of CMAT Exam Cities in India. 

Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CMAT Score are K J Somaiya Mumbai, Welingkar Mumbai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, IFMR Krea University, IMI Bhubaneswar, Jaipuria Noida and WOXSEN Hyderabad. But remember, CMAT admission process is not central. You need to apply separately to CMAT participating Institutions with your CMAT Score after the exam. Thereafter, CMAT accepting institution will release their own CMAT Scores Cut Offs to qualify for admission. Check complete list of MBA colleges accepting CMAT Exam scores.

A total of 74,012 candidates registered for CMAT 2025 exam, while 63,145 candidates appeared in the examination. A total of 34,717 female candidates registered for CMAT Exam 2026. Male candidates were 39,293, while there were 2 transgender candidates. Total number of candidates who registered for CMAT 2024 was 76,745. However, only 65,127 candidates actually took CMAT 2024 exam. CMAT 2026 Registration Numbers are expected to remain the same as in previous two years. CMAT Registration Numbers for last few years are as below:

In case of any emergency regarding CMAT exam registration or admit card, you can contact NTA Helpdesk using following details: 

• Official Website: exams.nta.ac.in/cmat
• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone No.: 011-40759000 (09: 30 AM to 06:00 PM)

In conclusion, Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national MBA Entrance Exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to 1000+ MBA colleges. CMAT 2026 exam will be held on January 24, 2026. CMAT exam difficulty level is moderate. CMAT exam duration is 180 minutes. CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern consists of 100 objective type (MCQs) questions which are equally divided into five sections. Read complete details of CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 and previous year CMAT papers below. CMAT Exam Pattern PDF download link is also given below.