CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)

 CMAT 2026 (COMMON MANAGEMENT ADMISSION TEST)

Notification | Exam Dates | Application Form | Eligibility | Exam Pattern | Admit Cards | Syllabus | Results | Counselling

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into MBA/PGDM programs across AICTE-approved institutes in India. The CMAT 2026 notification is expected in November 2025 by NTA. Registration will begin online for MBA/PGDM aspirants in AICTE-approved institutes. The exam is likely in January 2026. It will be a 3-hour computer-based test with 100 questions across five sections, including Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions divided equally into five sections: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Each section contains 20 questions worth 80 marks, and the total duration is 3 hours (180 minutes). The exam follows a marking scheme of 4 marks for every correct answer with a penalty of 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer. No sectional time limits are imposed, allowing candidates flexibility in time management.

CMAT 2026 is widely accepted by over 1,300 management institutes in India, including government and private B-schools, making it one of the most sought-after MBA entrance tests in the country. The test not only measures analytical and verbal skills but also emphasizes awareness of business innovation and entrepreneurial practices, aspects unique to CMAT.

Candidates preparing for CMAT 2026 should focus on building conceptual clarity, staying updated on current affairs, and practicing mock tests to enhance speed and accuracy.

This article covers everything you need to know about CMAT 2026, including crucial dates, eligibility, registration procedures, curriculum, pattern, cut-offs, and much more.

CMAT 2026 Exams Highlights

CMAT 2026 Exam Dates

The CMAT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted in the fourth week of January 2026, with strong indications from multiple sources that the exam date will be January 24 or January 25, 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will confirm the official date and release the notification in November 2025.

CMAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to sit for the CMAT 2026. These are broadly defined to allow graduates of any stream to participate.

• A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited university is required of candidates.
• Undergraduate students in their last year are also eligible to take the exam.
• The exam has no upper age limit for participation.
• To be eligible, candidates merely need to have passed their graduation exams.

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CMAT 2026 Application Process

The NTA CMAT portal will be used to submit the CMAT 2026 application online.  Candidates provide their academic and personal information during the full online process, which includes registration and fee payment.

To apply for CMAT 2026, follow these steps

• Visit https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT, the official website.
• To register as a new user, enter your basic personal information.
• Enter your login information to complete the application.
• Upload a legitimate photo ID, a passport-sized photo, and your signature.
• Choose four cities of your choice to take the test in.
• Pay the application cost online with a credit/debit card or net banking.

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CMAT 2026 Admit Card

The CMAT 2026 admit card will be distributed around one week before the test.  It must be downloaded and printed in order to enter the test center, and it will be available on the official NTA CMAT website.

 How the CMAT admission card can be downloaded

• Visit the website at https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.
• Click the link for the admission card.
• To log in, enter your application number and birthdate.
• Get the admission card in PDF format.

CMAT 2026 Syllabus

The subjects that the AICTE recommends are the basis for the CMAT 2026 syllabus. Common subjects on numeric ability, reasoning, English, general awareness, and an inventive component on entrepreneurship make up the course.

Language Comprehension-

• Reading Comprehension (RC)
• Vocabulary (Synonyms and Antonyms)
• Grammar (Sentence Correction, Sentence Completion)
• Verbal Ability (Error Spotting, Cloze Test)
• Para-jumbles and Para-completion
• Inference-based questions
• Idioms and Phrases

Logical Reasoning-

• Analytical Reasoning
• Syllogism
• Venn Diagrams
• Blood Relations
• Direction Sense
• Coding-Decoding
• Puzzles (Arrangements, Seating Arrangements, etc.)
• Series Completion
• Logical Consistency

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation-

• Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time and Work, Speed, Distance, etc.)
• Algebra (Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations)
• Geometry (Mensuration, Lines, Angles, Polygons)
• Number Systems
• Probability
• Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Data Sufficiency)
• Ratio and Proportions
• Averages, Mixtures, and Allegations
• Time-Speed-Distance

General Awareness-

• Current Affairs (National and International Events)
• Business, Economy, Politics
• Science and Technology
• Sports
• Awards and Honors
• Books and Authors
• History, Geography, and Culture

Innovation & Entrepreneurship-

• Innovation in Business
• Government Policies
• Entrepreneurial Strategies
• Case Studies on Startups
• Economic Development and its impact on Innovation

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CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CMAT 2026 Results

The CMAT 2026 results will be declared online by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the official website, exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT, likely in February 2026—about 10 days after the release of the provisional answer key. Candidates will need to log in with their application number and password or date of birth to access and download their scorecard.

Steps to check CMAT 2026 results

• Visit the official CMAT website: exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
• Click on the 'CMAT-2026 scorecard' link
• Enter your application number and password/date of birth
• View and download your scorecard

CMAT 2026 Cut-Off

The CMAT 2026 cut-off for top MBA colleges is expected to be between the 95th and 99^th percentile. Prestigious institutes like JBIMS, SIMSREE, Goa Institute of Management, KJ Somaiya, and Welingkar typically require higher percentiles, while well-regarded regional or newer colleges may accept lower cut-offs.

CMAT 2026 Score vs Percentile (Approximate)

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CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips

Candidates should concentrate mostly on practicing sample questions and CMAT mock exams in order to prepare for the CMAT 2026 exam. Verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude, reasoning, data interpretation, and general awareness are all covered in the same way on the CMAT as they are on other MBA entrance tests. Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the only additional subject, however it is manageable with some basic preparation.

• Covering the CMAT syllabus with the help of suggested books.
• Putting CMAT sample papers and mock exams into practice.
• Frequent review of significant subjects.
• Time management and test-taking strategies.
• Seeking advice from instructors or mentors.

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CMAT 2026 General Instructions

To ensure that the exam is administered freely and fairly, candidates must adhere to specific rules at the testing location. Key guidelines for the day of the CMAT exam are as follows:

• Applicants must provide two copies of their CMAT 2026 admission card. The admission card in digital, scanned, or photocopy form will not be recognized as a legitimate document.

• They must arrive at the CMAT exam location by the reporting time specified on the 2026 CMAT admission card. The gates to the testing facility will close fifteen minutes before to the start of the exam, and access will not be permitted thereafter.

• In order to sign the attendance sheet, candidates will need to bring a black or blue ballpoint pen. Additionally, they will need to bring two passport-sized photos to attach to the attendance sheet and admit card for CMAT 2026.

• At the exam location, electronic devices like phones, wrist watches, pagers, calculators, iPads, and more will not be allowed.

• Candidates must bring a photo ID as a supplementary form of identification in addition to their CMAT 2026 admission card. Examples of such identification include:

• Aadhaar card
• PAN card
• Voter ID card
• Passport
• Driver’s license
• College/University ID card

• During the exam, no applicant will be permitted to leave the test lab. Only when the allotted time had passed and the invigilator had announced the exit procedure was it permitted to go.

• During the CMAT 2026 exam, candidates must adhere to all rules and instructions that are posted at the testing location.

CMAT 2026 FAQs

Ques.1 Who is eligible to appear for CMAT 2026?

Ans. Indian citizens with a bachelor's degree (minimum 3 years) in any discipline or those in the final year of their degree can apply. There is no upper or lower age limit.

Ques.2 Is there negative marking in the exam?

Ans. Yes, there is a penalty of 1 mark for every incorrect answer.

Ques.3 What is the validity of CMAT 2026 scores?

Ans. The CMAT score is valid only for the academic session 2026-27 for which the exam is conducted.

Ques.4 Who conducts CMAT 2026?

Ans. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting CMAT, handling applications, exam conduction, and result declaration.

Ques.5 When will CMAT 2026 be conducted?

Ans. CMAT 2026 is expected to be held in the January 2026 (tentative dates).