CMAT Counselling 2026: Check Admission Process, Criteria, and Dates

Exam On - 25 Jan '26

Updated on Dec 5, 2025 13:37 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

CMAT counselling 2026 - Over 1,300 B-Schools in India accept CMAT score for MBA/PGDM admission. CMAT counselling or admission process mainly includes Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). The score accepting colleges determine admission cut offs and conduct selection process as per their own schedule. The institutes shortlist candidates on the basis of CMAT scores of the applicants and call them for GD/PI. NTA does not conduct any common counselling for CMAT.

CMAT exam date 2026 is January 25. Candidates who have registered for it must start exam preparation as the CMAT admission criteria of top colleges include high cut off score. CMAT registration 2026 was conducted from October 17 to November 25, 2025.

Table of contents

CMAT Admission Process 2026: Key Points
CMAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
CMAT Admission Criteria and Eligibility
Stages of CMAT Admission Process 2026
Documents Required for CMAT Admission 2026
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores
FAQs on CMAT Counselling

CMAT Admission Process 2026: Key Points

Here are a few key points related to CMAT admission process 2026, one should keep in mind:

CMAT is accepted by all AICTE approved MBA colleges. These include government, private and government aided colleges.
NTA, the CMAT conducting body, does not conduct any common counselling for seat allocation.
Candidates have to apply for admission by themselves and clear the selection rounds.
Validity of CMAT score is one year. If a candidates wishes to drop a year, they will have to appear for CMAT again.
CMAT score accepting MBA institutes have their own admission criteria, cut off limits, and selection process, can thus vary from each other.
CMAT exam qualifying candidates have to apply to each institute of their choice separately and participate in their selection process.
Application process for MBA colleges is online and candidates have to visit specific college's website to fill the form.
Candidates have to pay application fee for every target institute to be able to register for admission.
Having the required CMAT score does not confirm admission. Selection of candidates is based on GD/PI and academic record.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the eligibility criteria for admission to colleges accepting CMAT score?

Although there is no minimum graduation marks criterion for appearing in the CMAT exam, the criterion applies for admission through CMAT. As per the AICTE recommendation, the candidate must have completed graduation from a recognised university with a minimum score of 50 per cent in aggregate (45 per cent for Reserved category students) to be eligible for admission to a UGC recognised MBA/PGDM course.

Q: What is the CMAT score calculation process?

CMAT scores calculation is a simple process and it is based on the marking scheme. The raw score calculation in CMAT is the sum total of correct/incorrect entries and unanswered questions. To understand the CMAT score calculation, first understand the marking scheme. For each correct answer, 4 marks will be allotted For each incorrect answer 1 mark will be deducted For each unanswered question, 0 marks will be allotted CMAT has five sections and all the sections have 20 questions each. Thus, the total marks of CMAT exam is 400. If a candidate has got 70/100 questions correct, 10 questions incorrect and skipped 5 questions, then their total score will be (70x4-10+5x0) 270/400. After the calculation of CMAT raw score of each test takers, they are converted into percentile for result and all India merit list preparation. On the CMAT result cum scorecard, raw score as well as percentile is mentioned.

CMAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CMAT 2026 exam

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
25 Jan ' 26	CMAT 2026 exam

CMAT Admission Criteria and Eligibility

Candidates seeking admission to an MBA programme must fulfill the following CMAT admission criteria, common to all the CMAT participating institutes:

Academic requirement: Candidates must fulfil the minimum score requirement for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation
Valid CMAT score: Selection is largely based on CMAT cut off, which is institute specific
Good performance in GD/PI: Final selection is based on candidate's skill and abilities displayed during GD/PI
Work experience (if applicable): There are additional points for work experience for MBA admission in all top B-Schools

Check CMAT cut offs and predict calls from colleges accepting CMAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CMAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict CMAT Admission Calls

Stages of CMAT Admission Process 2026

1.CMAT Admission Process: Screening of Candidates

The CMAT participating institutes fix cut offs to select candidates for admission. The criteria of fixing CMAT cut off may vary for every institute. The institutes will accept applications from only those candidates who will meet the minimum CMAT cut off criteria. They will be then invited to participate in Group Discussion/Written Ability Test and Personal Interview.

Also read: CMAT cut offs of top MBA institutes

2.CMAT Admission Process: Group Discussion

Group discussion conducted as part of CMAT selection process will be to assess the candidate’s communication skills, leadership quality, problem solving ability and other personality traits. A lot of weightage is given to this round for admission hence, candidates must prepare well for this round. They must read a lot on socio-economic issues and current affairs and practice public speaking.

3.CMAT Admission Process: Personal Interview

The Personal Interview round is conducted by the institutes to assess the candidate's interpersonal skills, personality, general & managerial aptitude, command over speech, confidence and knowledge of business and industry. It is mandatory to be present in person for both Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Those who will not attend this round, will not be considered for admission.

Also Read: Top MBA colleges accepting CMAT score for admission

4.CMAT Admission Process: Final Selection

Final selection for admission will be based on the candidate’s overall performance in the CMAT exam, Group Discussion and Personal Interview, academic history and other professional/ECA merits. Admission offers will be sent to selected candidates by the institutes and they will be required to complete the formalities within the deadline.

Commonly asked questions

Q: When can I apply for CMAT?

The next CMAT exam will be held in January 2026. The NTA will start registration for the same in November 2025. Those interested in appearing for the exam are required to register for it at CMAT-NTA website and fill the online application form. The score of CMAT will be valid for one year only, so if you appear for CMAT 2026, you must take admission in the same academic year.

Apart from 1300 B-schools, the CMAT score is also valid for admission through MAH CET CAP. The Maharashtra State CET Cell conducts MBA/MMS admissions for 300 colleges in the state. It is followed by a common counselling process called CAP. CMAT test takers can also participate in MAH MBA CET CAP and secure a seat in MBA/MMS course offered by over 300 colleges in Maharashtra.

Q: How are CMAT cut offs determined?

CMAT cut offs are determined by the score accepting colleges individually. The colleges determine admission cut offs on the basis of certain parameters such as:

· CMAT result trend and exam difficulty level

· Previous years' CMAT cut offs for their college

· Number of exam test takers

· College ranking

· Overall pass percentage and scoring trend in CMAT of that particular year

Documents Required for CMAT Admission 2026

Documents to carry for Group Discussion and Personal Interview for admission to MBA/PGDM course through CMAT exam are listed below. Additional documents if required will be specified by the institute in the PI-call letter. Candidates must arrange the following documents before their GD/PI schedule:

Documents required (original and self-attested photocopy)
CMAT scorecard	CMAT admit card
Class 10 marksheet and certificate	Class 12 marksheet and certificate
Graduation marksheet and certificate	Date of birth certificate
Valid photo ID issued by the Government of India	Permanent Address proof
Caste/PWD certificate	ECA certificates or proof of recognition

Planning to study MBA in India? Find useful insights & emerging trends on student preferences for MBA colleges, locations and more.

Download Free Shiksha MBA Guide

Commonly asked questions

Q: If I meet CMAT cut offs but not the academic score criteria, will I still be considered for admission?

The academic score criteria of minimum 50% in graduation for General category candidates and minimum 45 % for SC/ST/PwD candidates is a mandatory criteria set by AICTE for all colleges offering technical education including MBA, so it is very unlikely that if you don't have the minimum academic score by meet CMAT cut off, you will still get admission.

Q: Are there CMAT accepting colleges in which GD/PI is not conducted?

Yes, there are CMAT accepting colleges which do not conduct GD/PI. The seat allotment is based on counselling process based on CMAT cut off and candidate's choice of college. Most of the Maharashtra MBA colleges such as JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, Welingkar's, IMT, KJ Somaiya, etc. that participate in MAH CET CAP round, offer admission without GD/PI.

Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Score: City Wise

Candidates can check from the list below, their preferred MBA college in their preferred city for admission through CMAT:

MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Delhi	MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Bangalore	MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Bhopal
MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Mumbai	MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Pune	MBA colleges accepting CMAT in Hyderabad

List of MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores

Check Cut offs of top MBA entrance exams and predict calls from IIMs and other Top MBA Colleges. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and eligibility of all MBA Colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict IIM & Non IIM Calls

View accepting colleges

FAQs on CMAT Counselling

Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CMAT counsellling:

Commonly asked questions

Q: Which are the top colleges for MBA with CMAT score of 65-75 percentile?

Candidates with CMAT score of 65-75 percentile, must not feel bad about their comparatively low score. There are number of good MBA colleges in India which accept CMAT scores in this range for their postgraduate management courses. Some of the college that accept CMAT score of 65-75 percentile include, BIMTECH-Greater Noida, BIT-Mesra, DY Patil School of Management-Pune, DY Patil School of Management-Pune, Calcutta Business School, New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) New Delhi, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME) Chennai, IES Management College And Research Centre, Mumbai, Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida, FIIB Delhi: Fortune Institute of International Business, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII Ahmedabad), VESIM Mumbai, Durgadevi Saraf Institute of Management Studies, Delhi School of Business, EMPI Business School New Delhi, Jaypee Business School (JBS) Noida, International Institute of Management Studies (IIMS) Pune among others.

Q: Which are the top colleges for MBA with CMAT score of 80 to 85 percentile?

If you score between 80 to 85 percentile CMAT you need not worry about admission. There are a large number of MBA colleges that accept candidates with CMAT score in the range of 80 to 85 percentile. A number of government as well as private institutes with good infrastructure and placements are within your reach. Some of those popular colleges include, Welingkar Institute of Management-Mumbai, Welingkar Institute of Management-Bangalore, Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, IFIM-Bangalore, IFMR- Chennai, NIBM-Pune, NL Dalmiya Institute of Management, IMT Hyderabad, IMT Nagpur, XISS Ranchi, ITM Navi Mumbai, Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida, Xavier Business School-Xavier University, Great Lakes Institute of Management-Gurgaon, BIMTECH-Greater Noida, XIME-Bangalore, ISBM-Pune, Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow, KIIT School of Management, IPE Hyderabad, SIES College of Management Studies-Navi Mumbai and Chetana Institute of Management and Research-Mumbai among others.

CMAT Exam

Student Forum

Anything you would want to ask experts?

Write here...

What is the CMAT 2026 expected cutoff?

Answered 5 days 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

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 9

What is the CMAT cutoff for NIA Pune?

Answered a week ago

CMAT Cutoff 2025 has not been released yet. According to the NIA Pune CMAT Cutoff 2024, the overall percentile required for admission to NIA Pune MBA course was 75 for the students belonging to the General All India category. For more information, click here.

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 9

View More 5926 Comments ->