Students’ Speak: How many sections are there in the CMAT test paper

Common Management Admission Test 2026 ( CMAT )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 17 Oct '25 - 18 Nov '25

Updated on Mar 30, 2020 14:48 IST

By: Madhvee Soni

CMAT includes 100 questions that are to be completed in 3 hours (180 minutes). The structure of the exam this year was the same as that of the last year. Read to know more about the various sections in the exam paper.

CMAT (Common management admission test) is held once a year in the month of January. The exam is steered at various centres across 75 cities in India. This test is conducted by the National Agency Test. CMAT is accepted by top B-schools as it a higher level national MBA entrance exam. It also offers admission opportunities in Tier 1 MBA colleges. The registration fee for General/OBC candidates Rs 1400 in addition to the bank charges as applicable whereas for females and SC/ST category candidates, fee is Indian currency 700 in addition to the bank charges.
CMAT includes 100 questions that are to be completed in 3 hours (180 minutes). The structure of the exam this year was the same as that of the last year. Every wrong answer will deduct one mark. Each of these sections consists of 25 questions carrying 4 marks each. Each section is of 100 marks so the exam is of 400 total. Medium of exam is English. It is conducted online. The division of section is in four categories which are as follows-

Explore colleges based on CMAT

Bangalore
#95 Business Today
₹12.05 L
Bangalore
#97 Business Today
₹9.25 L
Greater Noida
101-125 NIRF
₹1.80 L
Mumbai
#20 NIRF
₹9.50 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Bangalore
#26 Business Today
₹10.00 L
Bangalore
#57 NIRF
₹6.20 L
Bangalore
#79 Business Today
₹10.45 L
Noida
#49 Business Today
₹7.14 L
Mumbai
#65 NIRF
₹13.48 L
Gurgaon
#9 NIRF
₹8.25 L
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections
  • Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation - This understands the problem solving capability of the candidate. In this section, questions consist of several topics like data given in numerous statistical forms as pie charts, caselets, graphs, etc. and difficulties on interpreted data as geometry, ratios, proportions, profit or loss equations, number base system, arithmetic progression, algebra, etc. Candidate should be aware of the shortcuts of calculations for solving the answers properly.
  • Logical Reasoning –This checks how a candidate evaluates issues analytically and logically. The topics that are included in the questions are blood relation, circular arrangement, section & conditionals, mapping, puzzles, sequencing, statements and assumptions, cause and effect, conclusions, analogy test, true and false, symbol-based problems, identifying valid inferences and others kinds fall into this section.
  • Language Comprehension - This analyses the candidate’s comprehension ability and critical reasoning. Comprehension questions are based on synonyms, antonyms, checks word usage, idioms, sentence completion, para jumbles and fact inference and judgment, phrases, contextual usage, substitution, analogies. The other aspects of the questions in this section cover the language and grammar.
  • General Awareness - This understands how a candidate is aware of the current affairs. Main emphasis is on areas like geography, economy, polity, science and technology, corporate and business, sports, finance, culture, world records, history, books and authors, constitution within the wide-ranging areas of the world.

Any Indian individual who scores 50% or more in their graduation can apply in CMAT. There is no age bar and the students in the final year can also apply for CMAT.

About the Author:

Madhvee Soni

Madhvee Soni is a second-year student of Integrated Masters of Business Administration at Ahmedabad University. She has served as a volunteer with U and I NGO and also in different events. She has a keen interest in novels and also loves to explore new places and indulge in fitness activities.

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

CAT

LIVE
SNAP 2025 Registration Process

1 Aug '25 - 20 Nov '25

MICAT (I) Registrations

30 Sep '25 - 20 Nov '25

XAT 2026 mock test 3

19 Nov '25 - 20 Nov '25

MAT PBT Registration 2025 (Dec )

23 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25

XGMT registration

30 Sep '25 - 10 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Rescheduling Window

1 Aug '25 - 16 Dec '25

IBSAT 2025 Registration

1 Jul '25 - 19 Dec '25

SRCC GBO Registration 2026

21 Dec '25

MAH MBA CET 2026 registration ...

17 Dec '25

Videos you may like
About the Author
This account contains a repository of informative articles by external authors with domain expertise in various aspects of guiding students on how to go about pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Read Full Bio
Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

10 Jul '25 -

5 Dec '25

XAT 2026 Exam registration

19 Nov '25 -

20 Nov '25

XAT 2026 mock test 3

1 Aug '25 -

20 Nov '25

SNAP 2025 Registration Process

28 Nov '25 -

6 Dec '25

SNAP 2025 admit card session 1...

23 Oct '25 -

7 Dec '25

MAT PBT Registration 2025 (Dec...

23 Oct '25 -

15 Dec '25

MAT CBT Registration 2025 (Dec...

12 Nov '25

CAT 2025 admit card download

30 Nov '25

CAT 2025 exam

28 Oct '25 -

16 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Admit Card Issuance

1 Aug '25 -

16 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Rescheduling Window

1 Jul '25 -

19 Dec '25

IBSAT 2025 Registration

5 Nov '25 -

27 Dec '25

IBSAT Slot Booking 2025

Dec '25

MAH MBA CET 2026 registration ...

2 Sep '25 -

4 Sep '25

MAH MBA CAP 2025: Reporting to...

4 Sep '25

ATMA 2025 Result Declaration (...

30 Aug '25

ATMA 2025 (August)

17 Oct '24 -

5 Dec '24

IIFT 2025 registration and app...

Mar '25

IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno...

Feb '25

IRMASAT Personal Interviews

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 months ago

The admissions into MBA courses at Marwadi University have been concluded in the year 2025. Hence, candidates can no longer apply for admissions into the MBA course at Marwadi University in the year 2025. The CMAT exam for the year 2025 has also been concluded for this year. Candidates must now wait

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

No, candidates do not have to mandatorily appear for the CMAT entrance exam for MBA in Business Analytics at Marwadi University. Candidates can apply for MBA admissions through any of the national level entrance exam such as CAT, XAT, ATMA and more. However, during admissions into the MBA in Busines

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, it is possible to get an MBA seat at CET Trivandrum with a valid CMAT score. The institute accepts CAT, CMAT, and KMAT scores for MBA admissions. Thus, students who did not appear for CMAT or did not score well can apply via KMAT or CAT scores. Students are selected for the programme after eval

...Read more

S

Shailja Rawat

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

No, CMAT scores are not compulsory for admissions to the MBA course at Sabarmati University. Because the university accepts CMAT/ CAT or any other entrance exam accepted by the counselling body. Thus, applicants with CMAT scores can get admission to the MBA course. However, it is not compulsory. App

...Read more

V

Vishakha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

No, getting admission into SGSITS MBA courses is not possible without taking CUET. For admission to its MBA courses, the institute only accepts valid CMAT scores. Other than this, it is also essential that students aspiring to enrol into the programme meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the

...Read more

S

Shailja Rawat

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

GK is memory based, so all that you need to do is memorise important events and occurrences. So, candidates may not need a lot of time to prepare for CMAT GK. They can devote one or two months for it. On daily basis, they can read Year Books for one hour to memorise events. Apart from that they can

...Read more

S

Sreetama Tyagi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

CMAT RC passages are easy. Candidates need not worry about RCs in CMAT because they are short and pretty much straight forward. Questions are fact based and generally require candidates to identify the main argument/theme/idea of the passage. Sometimes, there are a few vocabulary and idiom based que

...Read more

J

Jasleen Dixit

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, it is necessary to attempt GK section in CMAT as unlike other MBA entrance exams, scores of GK are included in percentile calculation in CMAT. Total number of GK questions in 20 and attempting 8-10 questions correctly, can get the candidate desired sectional cut off in CMAT. So, while preparing

...Read more

A

Aarushi Hazarika

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

The minimum academic criteria for MBA admission through CMAT is minimum 50% in graduation for General category students and minimum 45% for SC/ST/PwD category students. Even though this eligibility criteria is not mandatory for CMAT, it is the basic requirement for full time MBA as per the AICTE reg

...Read more

78439220
Vipra Shrivastava

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

For admission to MBA/MMS courses offered by State affiliated universities, Maharashtra State CET cell accepts CAT/MAT/CMAT/XAT/GMAT/ATMA scores too for All India category candidates. If you wish to participate in the MAH MBA CAP round through your CMAT score, you can fill the CAP registration form a

...Read more

A

Anyam Kalra

Contributor-Level 6