KMAT is a management exam conducted for admissions into various post-graduation courses in the top B-schools of the country. Read about the preparation strategy, exam pattern, syllabus, best books, etc. in the article below.
Karnataka Post Graduate Private Colleges’ Association (KPPGCA) conducts Karnataka Management Aptitude Test or KMAT every year for admissions into various post-graduation programs in more than 189 management institutes across Karnataka.
KMAT is a state-level entrance exam and is a gateway to some of the top colleges in the country. KMAT is conducted twice a year in pen-paper-based mode or offline mode. This year, the exam will likely be conducted in the month of December 2023, in the home-based remote proctored mode. The exam assesses the candidates’ English language proficiency, mathematical ability and critical reasoning skills. In the article below you will find the best preparation strategy for KMAT 2023 exam and some tips and tricks to ace the exam.
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- KMAT 2023 Exam: Understanding Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- Preparation strategy for KMAT 2023: Best Books for KMAT 2023 exam
- Preparation Strategy for KMAT: Tips and Tricks to Crack KMAT 2023 exam
KMAT 2023 Exam: Understanding Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
Before starting with the preparation strategy for KMAT 2023, one needs to understand the KMAT 2023 exam pattern. KMAT exam will be conducted in online or home-based remote proctored mode and will consist of multiple-choice questions. There is no negative marking in the exam. Take a look at the KMAT 2023 exam pattern, marking scheme and sectional weightage below.
Commonly asked questions
Markign scheme of KMAT exam is as follows:
- +1 mark for correct answers
- No negative marking
- 120 MCQs
KMAT exam pattern is:
Exam structure | Details |
|---|---|
Test mode | IBT test mode or home-based remote proctored mode |
Number of sections | 3 sections |
Subjects |
|
Duration | 2 hours |
Number of questions | 120 MCQs |
Total marks | 120 marks |
Language of paper | English |
Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Exam Structure |
Details |
|---|---|
| Test Mode |
Home-based Remote Proctored Mode |
| Number of Sections |
3 |
| Subjects |
·Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension ·Logical Reasoning ·Quantitative Aptitude |
| Duration of the Exam |
2 hours |
| Number of Questions |
120 MCQs |
| Total Marks |
120 |
| Language of the Paper |
English |
| Number of answer choices |
4 |
| Marks per question |
1 mark |
KMAT 2023 exam will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions which are to be solved in two hours. KMAT 2023 question paper will consist of three sections; Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section consists of 40 questions and each question carries one mark.
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Also Read: KMAT 2023 exam syllabus
Preparation strategy for KMAT 2023: Best Books for KMAT 2023 exam
Choosing the right books and study material for preparation for any exam is of utmost importance. Here is a list of some important books that will help in the KMAT 2023 exam preparation.
Also Read: Section-wise important books for KMAT
| Books |
Publication/Author |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for all Competitive Exams |
Abhijit Guha |
| Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
| High School English Grammar and Composition |
Wren and Martin |
| How to prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
Preparation Strategy for KMAT: Tips and Tricks to Crack KMAT 2023 exam
To ace any exam, all you need is hard work, consistency and focus along with the right study material. Listed below are a few tips and tricks that you can use in your preparation strategy for KMAT.
- Be thorough with KMAT 2023 syllabus: Before preparing for the exam it is necessary to understand the kind of subjects that you will have to study for the KMAT exam. Focusing on each topic is very important. As stated above, there will be three sections in the KMAT 2023 question paper. Hence, for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section brush up on your vocabulary and grammar skills. Topics such as Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms, Para Jumbles, Phrases, Expressions, Comprehension Passages, etc. will form this section. Reading the newspaper daily will definitely work in your favour.
Reopen the mathematics books that you studied in Class 9 and Class 10 for the Quantitative Aptitude section. This section will include topics like Trigonometry, graphs, algebra, time and speed, geometry, interest, etc. To ace the Logical Reasoning section, study topics such as Relations, Family Tree, Puzzles, Syllogism, Venn diagrams, Coding and Decoding, etc.
- Speed and Accuracy: Speed and accuracy are the two major players in the preparation strategy for KMAT. KMAT 2023 exam is a time-based exam with no negative marking, hence it is important to attempt all the questions accurately within the allotted time.
Practice a lot of KMAT exam sample papers and take an ample number of mock tests to practice solving the questions with speed and accuracy. This will also give an insight into the type of questions that will be asked in the KMAT 2023 question paper. - Keep an eye on your strengths and weaknesses: While solving the sample papers, identify your strengths and weaknesses and constantly work on them. Working on your weak points is a must but also try and strengthen your strong points more during the preparation.
- Stay calm and focused: If you wish to excel in the KMAT 2023 exam then it is necessary to remain calm and focused at all times. Nervousness will only add up to the anxiety and you might end up choosing the incorrect option.
- Keep a check on calculations and theorems: It is very important that your calculations, theorems and formulae are accurate and correct. Revise theorems and formulae before leaving for the exam centre to crack the exam like a pro.
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
Just like other management entrance exams, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is divided into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability/English Usage. The KMAT exam assesses your language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension abilities. There are about four to five comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows:
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Grammar
- Fill in the blanks
- Word meanings
- Vocabulary
- Parajumbles
- Idioms and Phrases
- Error Identification
- Reading Comprehension
- Correct statement
- Cloze
- Incorrect word/phrase.
Quantitative Aptitude section of the KMAT exam is one of the toughest sections of the three. The QA section tests the candidate's mathematical ablilties. One must be clear on the high school mathematic fundamentals and concepts in order to score well in this section. There will be a total of 40 questions in this section.
The important topics of this section include Numerical Calculations, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Number System, Average, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Time, Speed and Distance, Mensuration, Quadratic Equation, Probability, Statistics, Pie Chart, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Common Graphs and Charts, Time and Work, etc. Candidates can use a rough paper for calculations after showing the same to the proctor. Candidates will be required to choose the correct option against the question.
Consistency, speed and accuracy are the key players if one wishes to ace the Quantitative Aptitude section of the KMAT question paper. Students can refer to books such as Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Exams by Abhijit Guha and Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K Sinha.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
KMAT admit card 2026 is expected to release in the first week of September 2026. The admit card will release online.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, students can get a duplicate copy of the KMAT admit card if they loose the original copy by following:
- Login again to candidate portal on KMAT India website and download admit card.
- Students can contact exam authorities and request them to issue a new admit card.
- If candiadate looses admit card a
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Last date to register for KMAT 2026 exam is yet to be announced. It will likely be in August 2026. The KMAT application form was released on April 2, 2026.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Taking coaching to prepare for KMAT exam is not necessary. It completely depends on each individual. It can be helpful if the student cannot prepare alone or require guidance.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
No, the session 2 dates of KMAT registrations are yet to be opened for 2026 admissions to Empire College of Science MBA course. Candidates are not required to appear for KMAT in order to apply for MBA. However, if the candidates wish to apply through KMAT then they can expect the session 2 registrat
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, there is no fee concession on registration fee. The conducting body, KPPGCA, offers the same application fee for candidates belonging to the reserved categories, such as SC/ST as for the unreserved category. This year, the application fee for KMAT is INR 850, which includes GST.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
A candidate must have a Bachelor's degree with at least 50 per cent aggregate marks. Aspirants of KMAT 2026 must carefully go through the KMAT application form instructions to register for the state-level entrance exam.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
No, candidates cannot make change in KMAT application form once submitted. Candidates must review application form before submission. If there is an error, they must make the changes immediately.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes, when candidates are applying for KMAT they do not have to fill form and pay application fee in one go. However, they have to pay the application within a few days of filling KMAT registration form. Candidates must note that a completely filled application form without application fee will be re
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
KMAT application fee is not refundable. After student has paid KMAT application fee, authorities will not refund fee under any circumstances. Even if they do not appear for KMAT exam.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
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