Sports Management Admission Test (SMAT) Pattern 2026: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

IISM SMAT is an objective type test. Check below key highlights of the SMAT 2026 exam.

The SMAT 2026 exam pattern for admission to the Bachelor course includes MCQs and an essay. The essay has to be submitted before the entrance test. After the essay is evaluated, the candidate will have to appear for SMAT in remote proctored mode which is of 80 minutes. The overall performance is measured on the basis of candidate's academic scores, sports achievements and extra-curricular activities for 20 marks. 

SMAT constitutes of 80 marks. The question paper is divided into 6 sections. Check the below table for marks alloted to each section:

In the Sports Management Admission Test (SMAT) for Master’s and PDG courses, the entrance exam will be conducted in two stages.

Stage 1: The candidate will have to give Caselets and in this stage, they will receive four topics over email. Each topic holds 20 marks each and the candidate will be given two days to submit their Caselets. Once evaluated, the candidate will have to appear for SMAT. In order to be eligible for Stage 2, a candidate needs to score 50%.

Stage 2: The second stage will be Personal Interview (PI) round of 120 marks.

The total weightage of Stage 1 and Stage 2 is 300 marks (180 +120). Aspirants need to score 60% in both stages to secure Admission at IISM.

SMAT Sections

The following sections are covered in the SMAT exam:

• Quantitative Analysis
• Data Interpretation
• Logical Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• Verbal Ability
• Sports Awareness

Here are some tips that will help students appear subject-wise in the sections of the test.

• SMAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation:

This section will assess how the candidate works towards gathering requisite information from data pool given and will judge their logical thinking ability. They should be ready to apply data and understand it.

• SMAT Quantitative Analysis:

Be ready with the tricks that will help in clearing number-based questions with ease.

Be acquainted with the basic formulas to avoid spending a lot of time on word problems.

• SMAT Sports Awareness

SMAT will cover a total of 30 per cent of sports-related questions. Although SMAT focuses on Sports Awareness, it will not cover questions on records or sporting personalities only but also other aspect around them. Hence, it is expected from them to be well aquainted with sports infrastructure, sports authorities, governing bodies in the industry, now and past activities in sports, sports finance as well as administrative side of the industry.

• SMAT Verbal Analysis:

As the name suggests, this section would have questions that will evaluate your reasoning abilities and reading comprehension.