CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern consists of 100 objective type (MCQs) questions divided into five sections: Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CMAT 2025 exam duration is 180 minutes; hence candidates will get 36 minutes to solve each section. CMAT Exam date is January 25, 2025. NTA has released CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern as detailed below:
CMAT 2025 is a government organized computer based national level MBA entrance examination for entry into 1000 AICTE approved management programmes (MBA/PGDM) all over India. More than 75,000 candidates apply for CMAT every year. Highlights of CMAT exam pattern for MBA are:
| CMAT Exam Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| CMAT Exam Full Form 2025 | Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT) 2025 |
| Who conducts CMAT Exam? | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT | K J Somaiya, Welingkar, PUMBA, BIMTECH |
| CMAT 2025 Notification Release | November 14, 2024 |
| CMAT 2025 Exam Date | January 25, 2025 |
| CMAT Exam Slots | Two Slot Exam of 3 Hrs Duration for each slot |
| Mode of CMAT exam | Online Computer Based Test at Exam Centres |
| CMAT Official Website | https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/ |
| CMAT Exam Application Fees | Rs. 2500 |
| Number of Candidates who registered for CMAT 2023 exam | 76,745 |
| Total Questions in the Exam | 100 |
| Number of Sections | 5 Sections with 20 Questions in Each Section |
| Section Names in CMAT | Quantitative Technique; Logical Reasoning; Language Comprehension; General Awareness; Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
| Number of Answer Options | 4 |
| Scoring Pattern in CMAT exam | +4 Marks for Each Correct Answer -1 Mark for Each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Un-attempted Question |
| CMAT Sectional Time Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections | Yes, Attempt any question from any section within overall time limit |
CMAT Question Paper Breakup is based on CMAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025 as released by NTA. CMAT marking scheme is +4 marks for each correct answer. For each wrong answer CMAT 2025 marking scheme gives penalty of -1 negative mark. The table below shares the detailed CMAT paper pattern with section-wise break-up from Section-1 to Section-5, number and type of questions in each section, questions with maximum marks and time limit.
| CMAT 2024 Exam Sections | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks Section-wise | Overall Time Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 | No Sectional Time Limit |
| Total: Sections-5 | 100 | 400 | Total Time: 3 Hours |
CMAT Language Comprehension carries overall 20% Weightage in CMAT exam. Out of total 100 questions in CMAT, 20 questions are based on Language Comprehension section. The Language Comprehension Section in CMAT is divided into 2 parts. The 1st part covers topics on Verbal Ability and the 2nd Part covers Reading Comprehension passages. Below is shared the topic wise Language Comprehension sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual CMAT questions that appeared in CMAT 2024 to help you familiarise with the type of questions in CMAT.
Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Language Comprehension
| Sub-section/ Topic | Type of Questions | Description | No of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | Grammar & Tenses | Fill in the blanks (1), Parts of Speech (1), Passive voice (1), Cloze passage (3 blanks), | 6 |
| Verbal Ability | Vocabulary | Antonyms (1), One word substitution (1), Match the idioms with their meanings (2), Match the foreign words with their meanings (2), Synonyms (1), Replace underlined phrase (1) | 8 |
| Verbal Ability | Jumbled Paragraphs | Jumbled Sentences in a paragraph to be put in coherent order | 1 |
| Verbal Ability | Critical Reasoning | Odd one out (1), Assertion reasoning and True/False statements (2) | 3 |
| Reading Comprehension | RC Passage of 200 Words | Impact of Diversity on Education | 2 |
| Total Questions | -- | -- | 20 |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation in CMAT exam carries a weightage of 20%. It tests you on your ability on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, and your skills to analyse the data from Graphs, Charts, Tables etc. Below is shared the topic wise questions as appeared in CMAT 2024 exam for QTDI section:
Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QTDI)
| Sub-section/ Topic | Type of Questions | Description | No of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques | Arithmetic | Arithmetic: Time-speed-distance (2), Ratio-Proportion (1), Profit & Loss (1), SICI (2), Time & Work (1) | 7 |
| -- | Geometry | Mensuration | 1 |
| -- | Algebra | Quad equations (1), Quad inequality (1) | 2 |
| -- | Modern Math | Permutation & Combination (1), Probability (1) | 2 |
| -- | Number System | Surds (3), Properties of numbers (2) | 5 |
| Data Interpretation | Problem Caselet | Set of three Questions | 3 |
| Total Questions | -- | -- | 20 |
Logical Reasoning section carries overall 20% Weightage in CMAT exam. Out of total 100 questions in CMAT, 20 questions are based on LR section. Below is shared the topic wise LR sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual CMAT questions that appeared in CMAT 2024 to help you familiarise with the type of questions:
Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Logical Reasoning
| Sub-section/ Topic | Type of Questions | Description | No of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | Cubes, Triangles, Direction, Linear Arrangement, Others | Direction Sense (2), Cubes (2), Counting Number of Triangles (1), Linear Arrangement (1), Coding (2), Clocks (1), Numerical Puzzle (1), Others (1) | 11 |
| Verbal Reasoning | Statements, Arguments, Assumptions, Reason, Analogy | Syllogisms (1), Strong Weak Arguments (1), Assertion-Reason (1), Analogy (1), Statement-Conclusion (1), Statement-Assumption (1), Statement- Assertion (1), Odd one Out (1), Arrange words in Sequence (1) | 9 |
| Total Questions | - | - | 20 |
General Awareness section has 20% questions in CMAT exam. The score in this section has equal weightage like other sections. GK plays an important role in getting all India rank and can push your score up or down. In-depth and regular reading of GK helps more as sometimes a few GK questions in CMAT appear more tricky and need intensive reading. Below is shared the topic wise CMAT entrance exam GK section pattern with type of questions as appeared in CMAT 2024
Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: General Awareness (GK)
| Sub-section/ Topic | Type of Questions | Description | No of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static GK | Historical Facts, Indian Constitution & Polity, Books, Authors | Constitution of India, Books & Authors, Historical facts of India | 15 |
| Current Affairs | Sports, Physics, Geography | Various types of Sports, events, latest innovation in Physics, Geographical changes and exploration | 5 |
| Total | - | - | 20 |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship section in CMAT exam carries 20% weightage in the exam with 20 question out of 100 questions. The I&E section is the comprehensive test on the knowledge regarding Innovative business practices, Government plans and policies, global entrepreneurs and personalities among others. Key topics in CMAT on Innovation & Entrepreneurship as appeared in CMAT 2024 are:
Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
| Sub-section/ Topic | Type of Questions | Description | No of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Growth | Business & Entrepreneurship | Nascent Entrepreneur; Phases of funding; Reasons for failure | 16 |
| Global Business Understanding | Business GK | National and International Business GK questions | 4 |
| Total | - | - | 20 |
CMAT 2024 and CMAT 2023 exams remained on the same pattern with no change in number of questions, difficulty level, exam duration. Below is shared the CMAT exam analysis for the 2024 exam:
|
CMAT 2024 Exam Sections
|
Number of Questions
|
Scoring Scheme
|
Maximum Marks Section-wise
|
Overall Time Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hrs)
|
|
Language Comprehension
|
20
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
80
|
No Sectional Time Limit
|
|
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
|
20
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
80
|
No Sectional Time Limit
|
|
Logical Reasoning
|
20
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
80
|
No Sectional Time Limit
|
|
General Awareness
|
20
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
80
|
No Sectional Time Limit
|
|
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
|
20
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
80
|
No Sectional Time Limit
|
|
Total: Sections-5
|
100
|
+4 Marks for each Correct Answer
-1 Mark for each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Unattempted question |
400
|
Total Time: 3 Hours
|
CMAT exam pattern 2025 Vs CAT exam pattern has many similarities as well as differences. A brief comparison between CMAT & CAT is shared below:
CMAT 2025 Vs CAT 2024
IIM CAT 2024 and CMAT 2025 have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below:
CMAT 2025 Vs CAT 2024
|
Read other important details on CMAT 2025 Exam
| |
| Component | CMAT 2025 | IIM- CAT 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 100 | 66 |
| Overall time limit to attempt the exam | 3 hours | 2 hours |
| Type of questions | All MCQs | 48 questions are MCQs, rest 18 Non-MCQs |
| Answer options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
| Marks awarded for each correct answer | 4 | 3 |
| Negative marking | -1 | -1 only for MCQs; No negative marking for Non-MCQs |
| Exam difficulty level | Moderate | Comparatively high |
| Number of sections | 5 | 3 |
| Name of section-1 with number of questions | Language Comprehension-20 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension- 24 |
| Name of Section-2 with number of questions | Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation-20 | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning -20 |
| Name of Section-3 with number of questions | Logical Reasoning-20 | Quantitative Ability-22 |
| Name of Section-4 with number of questions | General Awareness-20 | NA |
| Name of Section-4 with number of questions | Innovation and Entrepreneurship-20 | NA |
| Facility to choose order of sections | Any section from the question paper | No, has to follow pre specified sectional order |
| Individual Sectional time limit | No | Each section with 40 minutes time limit |
Q: What is CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern?
Q: What is the CMAT 2025 exam date?
Q: Will NTA allow to take the examination from any computer?
Q: Can I bring a calculator to the CMAT exam centre?
Q: Is there a specific order for answering sections in CMAT? Can I attempt sections the way I want?
Q: Who conducts CMAT exam?
Q: What is CMAT 2025 Exam Structure?
Q: What is CMAT Marking Scheme?
Q: How I can get CMAT Exam Pattern PDF?
Q: What are CMAT pass marks?
Q: Does CMAT have negative marking?