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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Nov 26, 2025 12:00 IST

CMAT 2026 exam registration is over and form correction window is open now (November 26 to November 28). The NTA will announce exam date soon. Check here all about CMAT 2026, including dates, application, syllabus, pattern, question papers, preparation, cut offs, top colleges, etc. 

CMAT 2026 exam

CMAT 2026 exam

CMAT 2026 exam will be held in January 2026. Registration process for the same is over. CMAT form correction window is now open. Candidates can edit their test city option, photo and signature from November 26 to November 28, 2025. Last date to apply for CMAT 2026 is November 24, 2025. Earlier, the deadline was November 17, 2025. Candidates planning to appear for the exam, must submit the application form and exam fee before the deadline. 

Over 1300 MBA Colleges in India accept CMAT score for admission to MBA/PGDM courses. Some of the top CMAT score accepting colleges include JBIMS, KJ Somaiaya, Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Great Lakes Institute of Management, KIIT School of Management, Amity University, BIMTECH, Goa Institute of Management, Xavier Institute of Management and Research, Gitam School of Management. Read below all about CMAT 2026 exam including dates, syllabus, pattern, registration process, application fees, cut offs and list of MBA colleges accepting CMAT exam score for admission.

Table of contents
  • CMAT 2026 Exam Dates
  • CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
  • CMAT 2026 Registration and Application Process
  • CMAT Exam Fees 2026
  • CMAT Exam Pattern 2026
  • CMAT 2026 Syllabus
  • CMAT Preparation 2026
  • CMAT 2026 Admit Card
  • CMAT Answer Key 2026
  • CMAT 2026 Result
  • CMAT Cut Offs for MBA Admission
  • MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Score
View More

CMAT 2026 Exam Dates

For the past few years, the CMAT has been conducted on April-May, however, in 2025, the exam was conducted in January. If NTA follows the same schedule, CMAT 2026 will also be conducted in January. Check below tentative CMAT exam date. 

CMAT 2026 Events

CMAT 2026 Dates

CMAT 2026 registration starts

17-Oct-2025

Registration ends

17-Nov-2025

24-Nov-2025

Fee payment window closing 

18-Nov-2025

25-Nov-2025

Form correction window

20-Nov-2025 to 21-Nov-2025

26-Nov-2025 to 28-Nov-2025

Announcement of city intimation

To be announced

CMAT admit card 2026 release

To be announced

CMAT 2026 exam

To be announced

CMAT 2026 answer key challenge

To be announced

CMAT 2026 result declaration

To be announced

CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

CMAT is a postgraduation entrance exam, so candidates must have graduation degree. Check below CMAT eligibility criteria 2026.

  • Graduation or equivalent degree from a recognised university.
  • Students in their final year of bachelor’s degree can also apply for CMAT exam.
  • Only passing marks in graduation is required for CMAT
  • There is no age limit for appearing in the exam. Any candidate at any stage of their career can appear for CMAT.

Note: The CMAT accepting colleges may have minimum score requirement of 50 percent (45 percent) in graduation.

Also Read: CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

CMAT 2026 Registration and Application Process

CMAT registration and application form is available in online mode only. The form live at CMAT-NTA website. Given below is the CMAT 2026 application process:

  • Visit CMAT 2026 website: cmat.nta.nic.in
  • Click on ‘registration link for CMAT 2026
  • Click on 'new registration' option
  • Enter personal details and choose a password to create a login ID
  • Log in with the ID shared in mail
  • Upload a government ID
  • Fill the CMAT 2026 form will relevant details
  • Add personal and academic details
  • Select 4 test cities in order of preference
  • Upload a photo ID and signature
  • Pay the fee via debit/credit card or net banking

Also Read: List of CMAT test cities 

CMAT Exam Fees 2026

Given below is the fee amount to be paid at the time of CMAT 2026 form submission:

  • INR 2,500 for General / EWS/OBC-NCL (Male)
  • INR 1,250 for Females, Third Gender and Reserved category students

Candidates msut note that the fee in non-refundable and if they make an error in their form and have to fill it again, they will need to pay the fee again. 

CMAT Exam Pattern 2026

CMAT exam pattern is prepared on the basis of AICTE guidelines for MBA entrance exams. It is an MCQ based test. Check the table below for the latest CMAT exam pattern:

CMAT Exam Pattern

Details

Number of sections

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

Logical Reasoning

Language Comprehension

General Awareness

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Mode of examination

Computer based test

Duration of exam

180 minutes (no sectional time limit)

Number of questions

100 

Number of questions per section

20

Number of answer choices

4

CMAT Marking scheme

4 marks for correct answer

-1 mark for incorrect answer

Total Marks

400

Download: CMAT question paper PDFs

CMAT 2026 Syllabus

CMAT syllabus is prescribed by the AICTE for NTA and includes important topics from Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical ReasoningLanguage Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Check below section wise important topics included in the CMAT exam syllabus 2026.

CMAT Syllabus

Important Topics

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

Algebra, Time-Speed-Distance, Alligation & Mixtures, Geometry, Graph, Quadratic and Linear Equations, etc.

Logical Reasoning

Analytical Reasoning, Linear Arrangements, Number Series, Matrix Arrangements, Blood Relationship Tests, etc.

Language Comprehension

Reading Comprehension, Grammar, English Usage Errors, Parajumbles, etc.

General Awareness

Economy, Business, World, Politics, Sports, Culture, Society

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Questions related to innovation, entrepreneurship and start up business

CMAT Preparation 2026

CMAT 2026 preparation will require at least 6 months. So, aspirants should start preparing from August/September onwards. The CMAT preparation plan should include syllabus coverage and practice of CMAT mock tests.

Check below, some useful CMAT 2025 preparation articles:

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CMAT 2026 Admit Card

CMAT admit card 2026 will be released at the CMAT-NTA website. Candidates will have to download it and carry to the examination centre on the exam day. To download the CMAT 2026 admit card, the below given process is to be followed:

  • Visit the CMAT-NTA website
  • Click on 'CMAT 2025 admit card' tab
  • Enter CMAT application number and date of birth
  • Enter security pin and click on login
  • Click on CMAT admit card and download the PDF

CMAT Answer Key 2026

CMAT answer key 2026 will be released 3-5 days after the exam. It will be released along with the candidate response sheet Check below steps to download CMAT 2026 answer key and response sheet.

  • Visit CMAT 2026 website
  • Click on 'CMAT 2026 answer key ' option
  • Enter application number and password
  • Click on 'answer key' to download it

NTA will give candidates the option to challenge the provisional CMAT answer key 2026, if they feel any answer given by the authority is incorrect. They will be able to raise objection against the CMAT answer key by filling an online form and paying INR 200 per question as fees. The objections will be analysed and if any of them are found to be valid, the provisional CMAT answer key will be revised. 

Also Read: 

CMAT 2026 Result

CMAT result 2026 will be declared about 10 days after the release of provisional answer key. Test takers will be able to download their CMAT 2026 result cum scorecard from the official website by using their login credentials. Given below are the steps to download the CMAT result 2026:

  • Go to CMAT-NTA website
  • Click on CMAT 2026 scorecard tab
  • Enter CMAT application number and date of birth
  • Click on CMAT scorecard and download the PDF

Also Read: 

CMAT Cut Offs for MBA Admission

MBA admission through CMAT is based on cut offs. Here is a list of CMAT cut off score accepting colleges in the range of 85 to 99 percentile.

Colleges Accepting CMAT score

CMAT Cut Off Percentiles

JBIMS, Mumbai

99.9

Goa Institute of Management

95-99

KJ Somaiya Institute of Management

95-99

SIMSREE, Mumbai

99

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

95-99

University of Pune, Dept of Management Sciences

95-99

Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi

95

Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai

85

Welingkar Institute of Management, Bangalore

80

Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management

85

IFIM, Bangalore

85

IFMR, Chennai

85

NIBM, Pune

85

NL Dalmiya Institute of Management

85

Also Read: Institute-wise CMAT cut offs

MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Score

Check out some of the popular MBA colleges in India which accept CMAT score for admission:

Top CMAT accepting MBA colleges

1. Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra

2. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Mumbai

3. BIMTECH, Greater Noida

4. Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

5. Goa Institute of Management, Goa

6. LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai

7. N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai

8. Xavier Institute of Social service, Ranchi

9. KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai

10. Christ University, Bangalore

11. KIIT School of Management

12. Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore

13. Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education, Mumbai

14. Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Hyderabad

15. KIIT School of Rural Management, Bhubaneshwar

16. Indus Business Academy, Bangalore

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Q:   Is there any negative marking in CMAT?
A:

Yes, there is a negative marking in CMAT exam. For each wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted. However, no marks will be deducted for unanswered questions.

Q:   Which is the lengthiest section in CMAT?
A:

Sectional weightage of CMAT is same. Since the Language Comprehension section of CMAT includes reading comprehension passages, it can be considered a lengthy section. However, any other section can also be lengthier due to nature of the questions.

Q:   What is the CMAT marking scheme?
A:
CMAT marking scheme is straightforward. If they can recall their attempts or have the answer key with them then they can calculate their CMAT raw score by adding and subtracting scores as per correct and incorrect attempts. Check CMAT marking scheme below: 1. For every correct attempt, 4 marks is awarded and for every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted. 2. For every unanswered question, the candidate will be marked zero. Given below is the process of calculating the CMAT score with the help of the CMAT answer key. Every section has 20 questions, so suppose in Quantitative Techniques section you got 14 questions right, 2 questions wrong and skipped 4 questions. So, your score will be 54 out of 80. Similarly, calculate the score of other sections. After the add all five to arrive as overall raw score. For example, you scored 54, 44, 75, 60 and 40 in five sections, then your sum total will be 203/400. You can read more about CMAT scoring process here: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/cmat-score-vs-percentile-how-to-calculate-blogId-19977 https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/what-is-cmat-score-normalization-process-blogId-53987.
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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. Read Full Bio
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