CMAT Analysis 2021 - Section-wise CMAT Paper Analysis and Cut Offs
Common Management Admission Test 2026 ( CMAT )
CMAT 2021 exam analysis includes overall and sectional analysis of the CMAT 2021 question paper, difficulty level of the questions, section-wise weightage, number of good attempts and expected CMAT cut offs.
CMAT 2021 analysis is now available. The CMAT exam was held in two shifts from 9 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 6 PM. The CMAT 2021 paper analysis includes in-depth discussion of the structure of the question paper, it’s difficulty level, number of good attempts in each section and expected cut offs for MBA admission.
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The first shift exam is said to be of moderate difficulty level with LR easy, Quant & DI moderate. The GK section was difficult with more questions from History while, Language Comprehension was moderate. The Shift 2 paper was on the same lines. Read below, detailed CMAT 2021 exam analysis of Shift 1 and Shift 2.
Also Read:
CMAT 2021 Analysis: Highlights
- CMAT 2021 was conducted by NTA in two shifts. Shift 1: 9 AM to 12 PM, Shift 12: 3 PM to 6 PM
- The CMAT 2021 question paper has five sections carrying 25 questions each
- Apart from Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning¸ Language Comprehension and General Awareness there is a fifth section – Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
- This fifth section is an optional section. Those who opted for this section were given 30 minute extra to complete the paper.
- Each correct answer carries four marks and each incorrect attempt carries minus one mark
- There is no other change in the CMAT exam pattern. The difficulty level of both shifts was easy to moderate.
- Language Comprehension was moderate. There were four RCs having 14 questions
- GK was difficult and most of the questions were from Static GK and History
- Quantitative Technique section was moderate and Logical Reasoning section was easy
- Those who opted for the new section – Innovation and Entrepreneurship said that it was moderate
Also Read:
- CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 1: Sectional Break Up
- CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 1: Level of Difficulty
- CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 2: Level of Difficulty
- CMAT 2021 Analysis: Logical Reasoning
- CMAT 2021 Analysis: Language Comprehension
- CMAT 2021 Analysis: Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation
- CMAT 2021 Analysis: General Awareness
- CMAT 2021 Shift 1: Expected Cut Offs
CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 1: Sectional Break Up
The overall difficulty level of CMAT exam 2021 was moderate and about 80-85 questions with 90 per cent accuracy can fetch a good score. Check CMAT 2021 question paper break-up and marks allottment.
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| Section |
Number Of Questions |
Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
25 |
100 |
| Logical Reasoning |
25 |
100 |
| Language Comprehension |
25 |
100 |
| General Awareness |
25 |
100 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
25 |
100 |
| Total |
125 |
500 |
CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 1: Level of Difficulty
The new section-Innovation and Entrepreneurship was of moderate difficulty level. Check the table below for the difficulty level of the main four sections of CMAT exam.
| Section |
No. Of Questions |
Good Attempts |
Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
25 |
18-20 |
Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning |
25 |
21-23 |
Easy -Moderate |
| Language Comprehension |
25 |
17-19 |
Easy |
| General Awareness |
25 |
9-11 |
Difficult |
| Total |
100 |
65-70 |
Moderate |
CMAT 2021 Analysis Shift 2: Level of Difficulty
The overall difficulty level of CMAT exam 2021 was moderate like every year. Check the break up of CMAT 2021 question paper Shift 2.
| Section |
No. Of Questions |
Good Attempts |
Overall Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
25 |
18-20 |
Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning |
25 |
21-23 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Language Comprehension |
25 |
17-19 |
Easy |
| General Awareness |
25 |
9-11 |
Difficult |
| Total |
100 |
65-70 |
Moderate |
CMAT 2021 Analysis: Logical Reasoning
- The Logical Reasoning section of CMAT 2021 question papers of Shift 1 and Shift 2 were easy having 22 non verbal reasoning questions and 3 verbal reasoning questions.
- The questions in this section were stand-alone, straight forward and easy to solve.
| Area |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning |
Critical Reasoning |
3 |
| Non Verbal Reasoning |
Visual Reasoning, Coding-Decoding, Relations, Series, Analogies, Blood Relations, Arrangements (Circular & Matrix), , Directions, Counting figures, etc. |
22 |
CMAT 2021 Analysis: Language Comprehension
- The Language Comprehension section of CMAT 2021 question papers consisted of 14 Reading Comprehension questions and 11 non-RC questions.
- RC questions on the two short passages (about 100 words each) were more difficult than questions on the two longer passages (400 to 500 words each).
- There were 11 non-RC questions (Vocabulary and Grammar). They all were of easy to moderate difficulty level.
| Area |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
Four passages of 100 to 500 words |
14 |
| Vocabulary |
Synonyms, Fill in the Blanks |
3 |
| Grammar |
Sentence Correction/Improvement |
8 |
CMAT 2021 Analysis: Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation
- The CMAT 2021 question papers of Shift 1 and Shift 2 had 25 questions in total. The section was overall of moderate difficulty.
- This section of CMAT 2021 exam was slightly difficult than the previous year.
- The Quants part was dominated by Arithmetic with 10 questions.
- The Data Interpretation questions were DI sets on Table and Pie Chart.
| Area |
Topics |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
Time-speed-distance, Time-Work, Percentages, Ratio-Proportion, SI-CI, Mixtures & Allegations, Work Pipes & Cisterns, |
10 |
| Algebra |
Quadratic equations, Linear Equations |
3 |
| Geometry |
Triangles |
1 |
| Modern Math |
Permutation - Combination, Function, Probability, Venn Diagram |
4 |
| Numbers |
Properties of Numbers, Surds & Indices, HCF LCM |
5 |
| Data Interpretation |
Table, Pie-Chart |
2 |
CMAT 2021 Analysis: General Awareness
- The General Awareness section of Shift 1 and Shift 2 of CMAT 2021 exam was of higher difficulty level.
- There were 17 Static GK questions and 8 Current Affairs questions.
- The section was dominated by questions of Indian context.
- There were some questions on international events too.
CMAT 2021 Shift 1: Expected Cut Offs
Based on the feedback received on the first shift paper of CMAT 2021, here are the expected percentiles by IMS India.
| CMAT Score |
Percentile |
|---|---|
| 300 + |
99.95+ |
| 265-270 |
99 |
| 220-225 |
95 |
| 190-195 |
90 |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
At GIBS Business School Bangalore, students are trained for interviews and corporate readiness through:
Regular mock interviews and group discussions to practice real-life scenarios.
Focus on developing soft skills, like communication and leadership.
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M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
While CMAT is the primary route, RGPV may occasionally admit based on merit in graduation if seats remain vacant after all CMAT-qualified candidates are placed through College Level Counselling.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 weeks ago
MAT and CMAT both are moderately difficulty exam, but have their own challenges. While, CMAT has one extra section Innovation and Entrepreneurship, MAT has a separate section for Data Interpretation having 30 questions. With focused preparation, you can crack either of the two that you choose.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
CMAT cutoff refers to minimum percentile required for admission to a particular college. Score accepting colleges determine the cut offs individually based on certain parameters. CMAT cut offs for top colleges like JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA are generally 99 percentile and above.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
With 82 percentile in CMAT, you stand a chance of getting colleges like Great Lakes Institute of Management Gurgaon, Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida, IPE Hyderabad, FLAME University Pune, Asia Pacific Institute of Management Delhi, Prestige Institute of Management Indore among others.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
CMAT total marks is 400. It is usually considered that scoring 270 to 300 marks can convert into good percentile, about 99 percentile. Around 200 marks can get you 90 percentile which is also good if you are targeting private colleges.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
There is no passing mark in CMAT exam, as admission is based on cut offs determined by colleges. A candidate scoring more than 0 in CMAT is eligible for admission will be selected only if they meet minimum cut off.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
CMAT 2026 result was declared by February 17, 2026. NTA released the scorecard late night at the official website. Candidates can download their scorecard through login.
E
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
No, GIM Goa does not accept CMAT scores for its PGDM programs for admissions. It only accepts CAT or XAT exam score. CAT score of previous year is accepted and XAT score of current year is accepted.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
No, CMAT scores are not compulsory for admissions into the MBA course at NSUT. Even CMAT scores are not the first priority of the admission committee to shortlist the students. Because the university considers the scores of CAT/ MAT for selecting the students. If the seats get vacant, then only CMAT
I
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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