CMAT Exam Pattern 2024: Check New CMAT Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme

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Updated on
August 17, 2023

CMAT Pattern 2024: Key Changes and Dates, Total Questions, Time duration

 

Latest Update: CMAT 2024 exam is expected to be held on February 25, 2024 in two slots. The exam will be held by National Testing Agency (NTA) and will be of 3 hours duration for MBA/PGDM admission 2024 in AICTE approved B-schools. Many changes are introduced in CMAT exam by National Testing Agency during last few years.

  • CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Changed to 5 sections from earlier 4 sections
  • CMAT Exam duration 2024 is reduced to 3 Hours from 3½ Hours earlier
  • CMAT 2024 being conducted in 2 shifts instead of 1 shift earlier
  • Optional Sectional in CMAT exam is Made Compulsory Section for CMAT 2024
  • Top MBA Colleges accepting CMAT include GIM, Great Lakes, K J Somaiya, TAPMI, IMT Nagpur among others

AICTE has made substantial changes in CMAT exam question paper pattern during last 2-3 years and has increased number of sections from 4 to 5. Despite increasing the number of sections, there is no increase in the number of questions and time duration

CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern: 10 Important Changes since 2021

AICTE has announced following important changes in CMAT Exam Pattern 2024:

Sl
CMAT 2024 Exam
CMAT 2021 Exam
1.
5 Section Exam with no choice
Choice to appear in 4 or 5 section exam  
2.
2 Shift Exam
Single shift exam
3.
Compulsory 5th Section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Optional 5th Section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship
4.
CMAT Time Duration Reduced & Fixed to 3 Hours
Option to attempt CMAT in Time duration of 3 hours or 3½ Hours
5.
Total Questions Reduced to 100
Total Questions were 125 (Option to attempt 100 or 125 questions)
6.
No additional time for 5th Section
30 Minutes additional time for 5th section
7.
5th section Score counted for Percentile calculation to prepare merit list
5th section Score Not counted for Percentile calculation to prepare merit list
8.
20 Questions in Each of the five Sections
25 Questions in Each of the five Sections
9.
Candidates need not apply for the new course of  Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Candidates had to apply for the new course of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
10.
Number of CMAT Test cities increased to 126
Number of CMAT exam cities were 109

cmat previous question paper

NTA conducts CMAT exam on behalf of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). CMAT exam 2024 will be conducted in a revised test pattern as AICTE has revamped the CMAT exam pattern. Read below in detail the revised CMAT 2024 exam pattern, sectional composition and other important changes in question paper.

 

CMAT 2024 Exam for MBA admission 2024 in AICTE approved colleges, will be conducted by NTA as per the Notification released by National Testing Agency. CMAT 2024 is a computer based online test. The CMAT exam pattern is designed to evaluate the candidate's ability across various segments like Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.  

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K J Somaiya MBA Admission 2024 Open | Apply Now GIM Goa PGDM Admission 2024 Open- Apply Now
LBSIM PGDM Admission 2024 Open | Apply Now SIOM Nashik Admission 2024 Open | Apply Now
IMT Hyderabad PGDM Admission 2024 | Apply Now KIIT University MBA Admission Open | Apply Now
TAPMI Manipal MBA Admissions 2024 | Apply Now Welingkar Mumba and Bangalore Admissions 2024
IBA Bangalore PGDM Admissions 2024 Open JAGSoM Bangalore PGDM Admissions 2024 Open

National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous testing organization created by Government of India, has been assigned the responsibility to conduct the CMAT and other entrance examinations for higher educational institutions instead of AICTE. CMAT 2024 Exam pattern has been designed by NTA to facilitate Management Institutions to select suitable graduate candidates for admission in all AICTE approved Management programs. The CMAT score is accepted by all AICTE-Approved Institutions/University Departments/Constituent Colleges/Affiliated Colleges

CMAT Pattern 2024: Key facts

  • CMAT 2024 exam pattern is computer based and there is no paper based CMAT exam
  • CMAT 2024 Pattern will be a 3 hours duration exam
  • CMAT 2024 will be held in Two Shifts: Shift-1 from 9AM to 12 Noon; Shift-2 from 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM
  • No test taker in CMAT 2024 will be disqualified even if he/she scores very low​

CMAT Exam Pattern 2024: Highlights

CMAT 2024 exam pattern as shared by NTA will have 100 questions divided in five sections. The overall composition of CMAT 2024 exam pattern is as below: 

CMAT Exam Pattern 2024
CMAT 2024 Paper Details
CMAT 2024 Exam Date
Expected on Feb 25, 2024
CMAT 2024 Test Conducting Authority
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Total Questions in CMAT 2024 Exam
100
No. of Sections
  5
CMAT 2024 Exam Duration
3  Hours
CMAT 2024 Test slots
Two (9AM to 12 Noon and 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM)
Type of Questions
MCQs-Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions
Mode of CMAT 2024 Exam
Online Computer Based Test
CMAT Scoring Pattern
+4 Marks for each correct answer
Total Maximum Marks in CMAT
400
Negative Marking
-1 Mark for Each Wrong Answer

cmat syllabus

CMAT 2024 Pattern: Sectional Composition

The five Sections in CMAT 2024 paper pattern with number of questions and maximum scoring chances are as under:

CMAT 2024 Exam Sections
Number of Questions
Maximum Marks Section-wise
Language Comprehension  
 20
80
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
 20
80
Logical Reasoning
 20
80
General Awareness
 20
80
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
 20
80
Total: Sections-5
100
400

CMAT Paper Pattern: Activity, Do’s & Don’ts, Unique Features

  1. NTA has released CMAT Mock Test for the CMAT 2024 exam on NTA-CMAT exam website.
  2. Go through the CMAT 2024 trial test to have a feel of the online computer based CMAT paper pattern carefully and familiarize yourself with the screens, layout, and navigation tools in the revised CMAT exam pattern.
  3. At the CMAT test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations.
  4. After the CMAT exam is over, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk.
  5. CMAT Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the CMAT testing room. No breaks will be given during the CMAT exam.
  6. One of the key features in CMAT 2024 exam pattern is that None of the candidates in CMAT 2024 will be disqualified even if they score very low. The objective of the test is not to eliminate the candidates from the process of seeking admission in the AICTE approved management programmes, rather to facilitate the institutions to select the suitable candidates as per their merit. 

Role of NTA in CMAT Exam 2024

The role of NTA is limited to conduct of CMAT 2024 exam. It has no role in granting approval to any PGDM or equivalent programme. AICTE is the authority to grant approval to different types of PGDM programmes of the management institutes. 

CMAT 2024 Pattern Vs Pattern of Previous 4 Years CMAT Exams

Exam Details
CMAT 2024, 2023 & 2022
 CMAT 2021
 CMAT 2020
CMAT Exam Date
Feb 25, 2024; May 4, 2023; April 9, 2022
March 31, 2021
28-Jan-20
CMAT conducting Agency
National Testing Agency (NTA)
National Testing Agency (NTA)
National Testing Agency (NTA)
CMAT Testing Mode
Computer Based
Computer Based
Computer Based
Training for CMAT Test Taking Methodology/Navigation
NTA centres across India to train candidates to understand CMAT paper pattern 2022 and Test Taking Strategy
NTA centres across India to train candidates to understand CMAT paper pattern 2021 and Test Taking Strategy
NTA centres across India to train candidates to understand CMAT paper pattern 2020 and Test Taking Strategy
Changes in the cost of Registration
Rs.2000/-
Rs.2000/-
Rs.1400/-
Sectional Composition of CMAT
5 sections exam with 100 questions
5 sections exam with 125 questions
4 sections exam with 100 questions
Scoring Pattern
+4 marks for each right answer
 +4 marks for each right answer
+4 marks for each right answer
Maximum Marks
400
500
400
Difficulty Level
Expected Moderate
Moderate to Difficult
Slightly lower

CMAT 2024 Important Dates

CMAT 2024 exam date will be announced by the NTA in November/December 2023. Check the table below for tentative CMAT exam 2024 schedule.

Exam Activity
CMAT 2024
Remarks
CMAT Notification 2024 Release
November 10, 2023 (Expected) 
Release on official NTA-CMAT website
Exam Registration starts
November 10, 2023 (Expected) 
Online Process
Last date to apply
January 2024 first week (Expected)
Application form submission closes at midnight
Last date of successful transaction of fee through Credit/Debit Card/NetBanking/UPI / Paytm Wallet
January 2024 first week
Upto 11.50 PM
Correction in Particulars of Application Form on the website only
Second week of January 2024
Upto 5 PM
CMAT 2024 Admit Card Download start date
Last week of January 2024
No Hard copy of the Admit Card will be sent
CMAT Exam Date
February 25, 2024 (Expected)
In 2 Shifts on same day
Exam Duration
3 Hours
In two slots of 3 hrs duration each
Result Date
Three weeks after the exam
Score card download starts in afternoon


India’s Top MBA Entrance Exams: Check Dates, Pattern, Mocks, Registration Process…

Short name
Pattern

Question and Answers

  • Answered by : MBAUniverse.com News Desk on Wednesday, February 02, 2022, 12:41 PM

    3 hrs or 3½ hrs duration for those who opt for 4 section exam or 5 section exam

  • Answered by : MBAUniverse.com News Desk on Wednesday, February 02, 2022, 12:41 PM

    1 mark is deducted from the total marks for each wrong answer.

  • Answered by : MBAUniverse.com News Desk on Wednesday, February 02, 2022, 12:40 PM

    CMAT is a higher level national MBA entrance test as compared to MAT and ATMA. CMAT offers admission opportunity in higher level MBA/PGDM colleges.

  • Answered by : MBAUniverse.com News Desk on Wednesday, February 02, 2022, 12:40 PM

    The maximum score is 400 or 500 as per the option exercised by the applicant.

  • Answered by : MBAUniverse.com News Desk on Wednesday, February 02, 2022, 12:39 PM

    The first 4 sections, namely -Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness are used to calculate the CMAT percentile. For more information about the same, checkout