CMAT 2025 Exam Day Tips and Preparation Strategy
Common Management Admission Test 2026 ( CMAT )
Exam On - 25 Jan '26
Scoring high in a speed based exam requires quick action and eye for detail. Take a look at CMAT 2025 preparation and exam day tips to optimise your performance on the CMAT exam day.
CMAT is a three-hour test wherein candidates have to read 100 questions and solve about 70-75 questions accurately. This process can be mentally and physically tiring. Candidates must devise an exam day strategy before hand so that they can optimise their performance in the given time frame. For making a CMAT exam day strategy, ensure that you complete the revision of CMAT syllabus much before and shift your focus to revision of important concepts and formulae. Revise concepts and formulae from Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning, make notes for Language Comprehension and memorise static GK for General Awareness section of CMAT exam.
CMAT 2025 will be held on January 25 in two shifts. Since we all know that good result is the outcome of not only how much you know but how well you use that knowledge. A day before the exam, you should prepare a strategy on how to handle those crucial three hours when you will be writing the CMAT 2025 exam. It’s not the big errors but silly mistakes that affect performance. Thus there’s a need to pay attention to all the aspects of the exam. So, let’s take a look at some CMAT exam day tips that will complement your CMAT 2025 preparation.
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CMAT 2025: Preparing for the Exam Day
First of all, you should thoroughly read the CMAT exam day guide issued by NTA. For a hassle free exam, you need to know the dos and don’ts. It is very important that you not only read the instructions carefully but also understand and remember them on the exam day.
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.
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Listed below are some important CMAT preparation and exam day tips:
- The first thing to do is to read the instructions given on the CMAT question paper thoroughly and understand them clearly. Don't rush to the questions, the test screen will anyway not move to questions until it's time.
- CMAT is a computer based test, and you will have to use the computer mouse to punch in your answer. Attempt the official CMAT mock test before the exam day to have an experience of it.
- Only one question will appear on screen at a time. This is a helpful feature as the candidate's focus will be drawn towards only one question at a given time.
- There is no sectional time-limit in CMAT, thus you will be at complete freedom of choosing the order of sections in CMAT 2025. Start with solving the section which is your strength area.
- Keep a close look at the timer. The CMAT exam timer will start the moment you will click on 'Start Test' button. The test will automatically stop once the time is up. Divide three hours in such a way that you get enough time to spend on all five sections of CMAT.
- Unlike several other top MBA entrance exams, CMAT provides the students with the flexibility to review later. If you want to attempt or review a question later, choose the 'flag' button.
- In CMAT, you can even edit your answer at any point of time. To deselect the answers marked, click on 'deselect' button. Be careful in using these features and submit/save your final answer within the time limit.
There was no surprise element in CMAT 2025 exam. The question paper was structured as per the exam pattern announced by the NTA. There were five sections and each section had 20 questions. The questions asked also belonged to the syllabus. No question was erroneous or from outside the CMAT syllabus.
CMAT 2025: Exam Day Guidelines
- CMAT 2025 will be held in two shifts, from 9:00 AM to 12:00, and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Reporting time will be mentioned in the CMAT 2025 admit card. Candidates must visit their test centre as per the reporting time mentioned.
- No stationary other than a blue/black ball point pen will be allowed inside the test hall. Blank paper for rough work will be provided by the invigilator.
- Cell phones, calculators, log tables, book, paper, documents, picture, bag, waist pouch, ear phones, etc. are not allowed inside the exam centre.
- CMAT is conducted under CCTV surveillance so don’t resort to illegal means or malpractices like cheating.
- No additional time will be given to candidates so they must ensure they don't waste the time and complete the paper within three hours.
- Do carry two copies of your CMAT 2025 admit card to the exam centre. Affix the same passport size photo as uploaded in the application form.
- CMAT admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to exam hall. You will not be allowed to enter the CMAT exam hall without the admit card.
- It is also necessary for each CMAT 2025 candidate to carry a copy of their photo ID proof issued by Government of India or any other competent authority.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 22 hours ago
Hi.
For PGDM and MBA admissions at GIBS Business School, Bangalore, the following entrance exams are accepted:
Accepted Entrance Exams
| Exam | Type / Level |
|---|---|
| CAT – Common Admission Test | National-level MBA entrance exam |
| XAT – Xavier Aptitude Test | National-level MBA entrance exam |
| MAT – Management Aptitude Test | National-level MBA entrance exam |
| CMAT – Common Management Admission Test | National-level MBA entrance exam |
| GMAT – Graduate Management Admission Test | International / National-level MBA entrance exam |
| ATMA – AIMS Test for Management Admissions | National-level MBA entrance exam |
| State CET (e.g., Karnataka PGCET) | State-level MBA entrance exam for Karnataka candidates |
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered 22 hours ago
Hi.
GIBS considers any one valid score from these exams for shortlisting candidates.
Some exams (like CAT, XAT, CMAT) are preferred for national-level merit-based selection, but State CET scores are also accepted for Karnataka domicile candidates.
Along with the entrance score, academics, work experien
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered 4 days ago
Marvadi University's MBA Programme involves a total course fee of approximately Rs. 2.5 Lacs over the duration of your two years. The fee for first-year students is approximately Rs. 1.3 lakh. While hostel fees are different depending on whether you're male or female, they are billed separately. Mar
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
GGSIPU CMAT cutoff 2026 is expected to be around in the range of 95 to 99 percentile according to the previous years cutoff data. For admission to the MBA programmes at GGSIPU, candidates are expected to appear for the CMAT exam and clear the selection round of their chosen college. For more details
N
Contributor-Level 10
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.