CMAT
National-level test for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes at AICTE-approved institutions, including JBIMS Mumbai, K J Somaiya, Welingkar, Goa Institute of Management and many state-quota seats.
Eligibility
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university; candidates in the final year of graduation whose result will be declared before admission may apply. There is no minimum percentage stipulated for the test, no age limit and no attempt limit.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
Computer-based test of 180 minutes with 100 MCQs (20 per section) carrying 400 marks. Sections: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong one; no sectional time limit. Results are given as NTA scores.
Syllabus at a glance
Quant covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation at a moderate level. Logical Reasoning includes series, coding-decoding, arrangements, blood relations and syllogisms. Language Comprehension tests RC, grammar and vocabulary; General Awareness covers current affairs and static GK; Innovation and Entrepreneurship covers start-up ecosystem, government schemes, business terms and famous entrepreneurs.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CMAT 2027 notification and registration opens | Nov 2026 | expected |
| Last date to apply | Late Nov – Dec 2026 | expected |
| Admit card and city intimation | Jan 2027 | expected |
| CMAT 2027 exam | 7 Feb 2027 (tentative date listed by NTA) | expected |
| Result | Late Feb – Mar 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
- Lucent's General Knowledge – Lucent Publications
- Manorama Yearbook – Malayala Manorama
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- High School English Grammar and Composition – Wren and Martin
How toppers play it
- General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship are 40% of the paper and are often the swing sections – read current affairs daily for the six months before the exam.
- With -1 for each wrong answer against +4 for a right one, guess only when you can eliminate two options.
- Start with GK and Innovation and Entrepreneurship (quick, recall-based), then Language Comprehension, leaving Quant and Reasoning for the larger block of time.
- Practise on the NTA computer interface and solve all past CMAT papers – the question styles repeat closely.
- Quant is moderate, not CAT-level; prioritise speed and accuracy on arithmetic and DI rather than advanced topics.