CMA Pattern 2026: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration
Certified Management Accountant 2026 ( CMA )
Result - 10 Apr '26
CMA 2026 Exam Pattern: The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the CMA exam pattern for Foundation, Intermediate and Final course. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) releases the exam pattern of CMA 2026 for December and June sessions on the official website, icmai.in. ICMAI will be conducting the exam as offline centre-based test for all three courses. Last year, CMA exam for Foundation course was conducted as remote proctored exam, while exam for the Intermediate and Final courses was conducted as online test from centre. Each exam paper has a total of 100 questions to be answered within 120 minutes for the Foundation course and within 180 minutes for Intermediate and Final courses.
Scroll down for complete information on CMA 2026 exam pattern for Foundation, Intermediate and Final courses.
- CMA 2026 Course Levels
- CMA Exam Pattern 2026 for Foundation Course
- CMA Sectional Weightage for Foundation Course
- CMA Exam Pattern 2026 for Intermediate and Final Courses
CMA 2026 Course Levels
ICMAI conducts CMA exam at three course levels. Candidates have to clear one course level of CMA to enrol into the second course level. However, there are several exceptions to get exempted from the first course level. The space below mentions the CMA course levels:
- CMA Foundation
- CMA Intermediate
- CMA Final
Commonly asked questions
The type of questions in the CMA exam varies based on the course level. The space below mentions the course-wise type of questions in the CMA exam based on the course levels:
- CMA Foundation course exams have multiple choice questions. Candidates have to answer as many as 50 MCQs with four answer options. Out of the four options only one is correct.
- CMA Intermediate course exam has both objective types questions and descriptive type questions.
- Similar to the Intermediate level exam, questions in CMA Final course exams are both objective and discriptive.
CMA exam is conducted at three course levels, namely Foundation, Intermediate and Final. CMA exam for all three course levels are conducted as an offline centre based exam. In the past sessions, ICMAI, the conducting body of the CMA exam, had conducted the Intermediate and Final course exams as an online centre based exam. While the CMA Foundation was conducted as a remotely proctored exam from home. However, the mismanegement in the online exams led ICMAI to shift back to the offline centre based exam.
ICMAI may change the mode of the CMA exams in the upcoming exam sessions. Stay tuned to shiksha's CMA exam pattern article for key developments in the test structure from time to time (https://www.shiksha.com/accounting-commerce/accounting/cma-exam-pattern)
CMA foundation course has four papers. All four papers of CMA Foundation exam will have 50 multiple choice questions of two marks each.
CMA Intermediate course have two groups with four papers each. Each paper of CMA Intermediate has eight questions. Out of these questions, the first question is compulsory, while candidates have to attempt any five questions from the remaining seven questions. While some papers have five questions, first question is compulsory, and out of remaining four questions, three are mandatory.
Similarly, CMA Final course have different question numbers in different test papers.
CMA Exam Pattern 2026 for Foundation Course
The space below mentions the CMA 2026 exam pattern for foundation courses:
| Exam Features | CMA Exam Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of CMA Foundation exam | Offline Centre-Based Test |
| Type of questions in CMA Foundation exam | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Total marks in each subject paper | 100 |
| Duration of CMA Foundation exam | 120 minutes |
| Number of subject papers | 4 |
There are four papers based on accounts in the CMA foundation course. The subjects below are as per the CMA 2026 syllabus:
- PAPER 1: Fundamentals Of Business Laws and Business Communication (FBLC)
- PAPER 2: Fundamentals Of Financial and Cost Accounting (FFCA)
- PAPER 3: Fundamentals Of Business Mathematics and Statistics (FBMS)
- PAPER 4: Fundamentals Of Business Economics and Management (FBEM)
Commonly asked questions
Maximum marks in the CMA exam is similar irrespective of the course level. Papers under all three course levels have a maximum of 100 marks. Candidates answering all the questions correctly will get 100 marks. In the CMA Foundation eaxam, each exam paper has 50 multiple choice questions. Each question fetches two marks. Whereas, the CMA Intermediate and CMA Final have different marking scheme with descriptive and objective type questions. Marks for each question of Intermediate or Final exam paper ranges from seven marks to 15 marks.
CMA exam has three course levels, namely CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate and CMA Final. CMA Foundation course has four test papers. Candidates need to appear for all four test papers. The Intermediate course of CMA exam have two groups. Candidates appearing for CMA Intermediate exam will have option to appear for both the groups in one exam session. Candidates planning to attempt both groups of CMA Intermediate course have to appear for eight test papers. Passing test papers in both the groups of Intermediate course is mandatory. Candidates can appear for one group in one session or both the groups in one session.
Identical to CMA Intermediate, CMA Final course also has two groups with four test papers each. Candidates can choose to appear for the test papers under both the course groups in one session. Passing all the test papers will be mandatory to get the CMA destination.
CMA Sectional Weightage for Foundation Course
Each paper of CMA courses will have weightage from the syllabus as under:
Fundamentals of Economics and Management (Paper 1)
| Sections |
Topics |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Section A - Fundamentals of Economics |
Basic concepts of Economics |
20 marks |
| Forms of Market |
20 marks |
|
| Money and Banking |
10 marks |
|
| Section B – Fundamentals of Management |
Management Process |
50 marks |
| Total |
- |
100 marks |
Foundation Course Paper 2: Fundamentals of Accounting
| Sections |
Topics |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Section A: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting |
Accounting Fundamentals |
35 marks |
| Accounting for Special Transactions |
20 marks |
|
| Preparation of Final Accounts |
25 marks |
|
| Section B: Fundamentals of Cost Accounting |
Fundamentals of Cost Accounting |
20 marks |
| Total |
- |
100 marks |
Foundation Course Paper 3: Fundamentals of Laws and Ethics
| Sections |
Topics |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Section A: Fundamentals of Commercial Laws |
Indian Contracts Act, 1872 |
40 marks |
| Sale of Goods Act, 1930 |
20 marks |
|
| Negotiable Instruments Act,1881 |
10 marks |
|
| Section B: Fundamentals of Ethics |
Ethics and Business |
30 marks |
| Total |
- |
100 marks |
Foundation Course Paper 4: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics
| Sections |
Topics |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Section A: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics |
Arithmetic |
20 marks |
| Algebra |
20 mark |
|
| Section B: Fundamentals of Business Statistics |
Statistical representation of Data |
10 marks |
| Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion |
30 marks |
|
| Correlation and Regression |
10 marks |
|
| Probability |
10 marks |
|
| Total |
- |
100 marks |
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
CMA Intermediate Course Group - I
- PAPER 5: Business Lawns and Ethics (BLE)
- PAPER 6: Financial Accounting (FA)
- PAPER 7: Direct and Indirect Taxation (DITX)
- PAPER 8: Cost Accounting (CA)
CMA Intermediate Course Group - II
- PAPER 9: Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM)
- PAPER 10: Corporate Accounting and Auditing (CAA)
- PAPER 11: Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (FMDA)
- PAPER 12: Management Accounting (MA)
The passing score for all three levels of the CMA course levels is the same. Candidates securing a minimum of 40 per cent in all test papers and 50 per cent aggregate score pass the CMA exam. Candidates securing less marks even in one of the subjects will fail the entire group or course level for ICMAI CMA.
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, also known as ICMAI, conducts the CMA exam twice in one year. The two terms of the CMA exam are conducted in December and June sessions. CMA students need to fill the exam form until a specified date to participate in the examination process under a particular exam session.
Candidates who need a new admission in CMA course must fill the regisatration form to enrol themselves to the course. Candidates must enrol themselves until January 31 to appear for CMA exam in June session. On the contrary, to appear for CMA December term exams, candidates need to complete the admission process until July 31. The registration deadlines for the CMA enrolment may or may not extend in a particular exam session.
CMA Final exam has two-course groups. Candidates can either appear for a single course group or both course groups in one session. The space below mention the test papers for both the course groups of the CMA Final exam:
Final Course Group - III
- PAPER 13: Corporate and Economic Lawns (CEL)
- PAPER 14: Strategic Financial Management (SFM)
- PAPER 15: Direct Tax Lawns and International Taxation (DIT)
- PAPER 16: Strategic Cost Management (SCM)
Final Course Group - IV
- PAPER 17: Cost and Management Audit (CMAD)
- PAPER 18: Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR)
- PAPER 19: Indirect Tax Lawns and Practice (ITLP)
- PAPER 20: One of the following subjects
- PAPER 20A: Strategic Performance Management and Business Evaluation (SPMBV)
- PAPER 20B: Risk Management in Banking and Insurance (RMBI)
- PAPER 20C: Entrepreneurship and Start Up (ENTS)
CMA Exam Pattern 2026 for Intermediate and Final Courses
The space below mentions the exam pattern for CMA intermediate 2026 and final courses:
| Exam Features | CMA Exam Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of CMA Intermediate and Final exams | Offline test from centre |
| Type of questions in CMA Intermediate and Final exams | Descriptive |
| Total marks in each subject paper | 100 |
| Duration of CMA Intermediate and Final exam | 180 minutes |
CMA Intermediate Course Papers
The course consists of two groups (Group 1 and Group 2) inclusive of 4 papers each (Papers 5-8) and (Papers 9-12)
| Group I | Group II |
|---|---|
| PAPER 5: Business Laws and Ethics (BLE) | PAPER 9: Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM) |
| PAPER 6: Financial Accounting (FA) | PAPER 10: Corporate Accounting and Auditing (CAA) |
| PAPER 7: Direct and Indirect Taxation (DITX) | PAPER 11: Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (FMDA) |
| PAPER 8: Cost Accounting (CA) | PAPER 12: Management Accounting (MA) |
CMA Final Course Papers
CMA Final Course will consist of two groups (Group 3 and Group 4) has 4 papers each (Papers 13-16) and (Papers 17-20)
| Group III | Group IV | |
|---|---|---|
| PAPER 13: Corporate and Economic Laws (CEL) | PAPER 17: Cost and Management Audit (CMAD) | |
| PAPER 14: Strategic Financial Management (SFM) | PAPER 18: Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR) | |
| PAPER 15: Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation (DIT) | PAPER 19: Indirect Tax Laws and Practice (ITLP) | |
| PAPER 16: Strategic Cost Management (SCM) | PAPER 20: One of the following subjects | PAPER 20A: Strategic Performance Management and Business Valuation (SPMBV) |
| PAPER 20B: Risk Management in Banking and Insurance (RMBI) | ||
| PAPER 20C: Entrepreneurship and Start Up (ENTS) | ||
Commonly asked questions
CMA Intermediate Course Group - I
- PAPER 5: Business Lawns and Ethics (BLE)
- PAPER 6: Financial Accounting (FA)
- PAPER 7: Direct and Indirect Taxation (DITX)
- PAPER 8: Cost Accounting (CA)
CMA Intermediate Course Group - II
- PAPER 9: Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM)
- PAPER 10: Corporate Accounting and Auditing (CAA)
- PAPER 11: Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (FMDA)
- PAPER 12: Management Accounting (MA)
CMA Final exam has two-course groups. Candidates can either appear for a single course group or both course groups in one session. The space below mention the test papers for both the course groups of the CMA Final exam:
Final Course Group - III
- PAPER 13: Corporate and Economic Lawns (CEL)
- PAPER 14: Strategic Financial Management (SFM)
- PAPER 15: Direct Tax Lawns and International Taxation (DIT)
- PAPER 16: Strategic Cost Management (SCM)
Final Course Group - IV
- PAPER 17: Cost and Management Audit (CMAD)
- PAPER 18: Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR)
- PAPER 19: Indirect Tax Lawns and Practice (ITLP)
- PAPER 20: One of the following subjects
- PAPER 20A: Strategic Performance Management and Business Evaluation (SPMBV)
- PAPER 20B: Risk Management in Banking and Insurance (RMBI)
- PAPER 20C: Entrepreneurship and Start Up (ENTS)
Accounting & Commerce exams you must check out
Exams which are to be conducted soon
20 Mar '26 - 22 Mar '26
20 Mar '26 - 22 Mar '26
20 Mar '26 - 23 Mar '26
CMA Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
Release date for CMA Inter result for June 2026 exam is August 05, 2026. Candidates who will appear for CMA Inter exam between June 11 and June 18, will be able to check their scores.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, ICMAI has announced release date for CMA Final exam to be conducted between June 11 and June 18 on its official website. As per the notice, the result will be announced the latest by August 05, 2026.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
According to official notice released by ICMAI, the CMA Foundation result for June 2026 exam will be released the latest by July 09, 2026.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
CMA exam is conducted twice a year - June and December. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India allows candidates to appear for the exam twice in a year, provided they fill and submit the exam form before last date for both sessions.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
ICMAI will administer CMA Final exam June 2026 between June 11 and June 18, 2026. The mode of examination will be offline centre based.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
The CMA Intermediate exam for June 2026 session will be conducted between June 11 and June 18, 2026. The exam is scheduled on each day. Check Shiksha page to get paper-wise schedule.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
The CMA June 2026 exam for Foundation course will be conducted for all four papers on June 14, 2026 (Sunday). According to official notice, ICMAI will conduct this exam through offline OMR centre based.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, ICMAI has released exam dates for CMA June exam 2026. The CMA June 2026 Inter and Final exams will be conducted between June 11 and June 18, 2026. CMA June 2026 Foundation exam will be held on June 14.
Y
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
ICMAI conducts CMA exam twice a year in June and December term. If ICMAI decides to conduct CMA exam thrice it will be notified on the official website.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
ICMAI conducts CMA exam in June and December. Candidates can apply for ICMAI CMA based on the cutoff date for each exam term.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Explore more Accounting & Commerce exams with upcoming dates
CA Foundation May 2026 correction window 20 Mar '26 - 22 Mar '26 CA inter May 2026 correction window 20 Mar '26 - 22 Mar '26 CA Final May 2026 Correction Window 20 Mar '26 - 23 Mar '26 ICSI CS Executive June 2026 Enrollment (Without Late Fee) 26 Feb '26 - 25 Mar '26
What is the release date for CMA Intermediate June 2026 result?