CMAT Exam

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Any student intending to pursue Management Programmes in institutions affiliated with AICTE should write the CMAT exam. To qualify and perform well in this nationwide competitive exam, you should understand the structure and requirements for the exam. Read on to understand the eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, selection process, etc, and confidently participate in this test conducted by NTA.

What is the CMAT Exam?

CMAT is a nationwide test conducted by the National Testing Agency for candidates who seek enrollment in Management Programmes in institutions affiliated with AICTE. It is an online computer-based test to assess the knowledge of students in various segments like logical reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, Language Comprehension, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and General Awareness.

CMAT Exam Highlights

The highlights of the CMAT Exam are given below:

 

Name of the Examination Common Management Admission Test
The Body Conducting the Exam National Testing Agency (NTA)
Mode of Examination Online
Periodicity of Examination Yearly
Number of Questions 100
Medium of Examination English
Questions Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Number of Sections
    5
  • Quantitative Techniques
  • Language Comprehension
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • General Awareness
Marking Scheme 4 marks for every right answer.
-1 for every wrong answer
Total Marks 400
Duration of the Exam 3 hours

What is CMAT Exam Eligibility Criteria (Give Intro and then Make Table)

To qualify for the CMAT Exam, satisfying the eligibility criteria set out by CMAT is mandatory. Candidates have to be aware of the eligibility criteria before applying for the exam. Else, they may be disqualified at any stage of the admission process. Below is the list of eligibility criteria:

 

Nationality Indian Citizens only are eligible.
Qualification A minimum of 3 years of graduation in any discipline. Candidates who are in the final year of graduation can also apply for the exam.
For Executive PGDM: Should have completed graduation in any discipline combined with a minimum of 5 years experience.
For PGCM: Graduation in any discipline.
For MBA and PGDM: Bachelor’s degree in any stream.
Age limit No age limit is specified for taking the exam

CMAT Exam Application Process

The CMAT Exam Application Process involves registration, filling out the application form, and making the payment. The form can be submitted after making a payment through any available payment gateway. The candidates have to register for the exam on or before the deadline declared. The link will not be available after the last date.

 

Steps to Fill CMAT Exam Application Form

Aspiring candidates have to follow the steps given below to fill out the application form.

  • Access the official website of CMAT, i.e., cmat.nta.nic.in.
  • Click on the ‘CMAT Registration’ option.
  • An application number will be generated, which will be required for future reference.
  • Set a password. A security question also has to be generated while setting the password. This will come in handy while resetting the password (forgot password).
  • Enter the personal details required and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • A registration number will be generated.
  • Login again using the login credentials to fill out the application form with personal and qualification details.
  • Enter the Captcha displayed on the screen.
  • Verify the details provided and make corrections if required.
  • Click on the ‘I agree’ button after verification.
  • Upload the scanned image of a passport-size photograph and signature, as well as scanned copies of essential documents.
  • Proceed for payment through debit/credit card, net banking, or E-challan.

CMAT Exam and Application Fee

The details of the application fee for the CMAT Exam are given below:

 

Gender Application Fee
Male Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000, depending on the category
Female Rs. 1000 irrespective of category
Transgender Rs. 1000

CMAT Exam Preparation Tips

Preparation is an integral part of the CMAT Exam to become proficient in all the subjects and topics. Here are a few preparation tips that will boost your confidence.

  • Understand the syllabus completely.
  • Select your strong and weak areas.
  • Collect study material from the college library or through online platforms.
  • Focus more on subjects that you are weak in.
  • Make it a practice to revise the completed subject.
  • Solve question papers of previous years.
  • Take tests regularly to gain speed.
  • Set the timetable with study breaks. This will help in focussing better.
  • Make notes. This will come in handy for last-minute revisions.

CMAT Exam Pattern

The CMAT Exam Pattern and the test structure is given below:

 

Structure Details
Number of Sections 5 Sections
  • Quantitative Techniques
  • Language Comprehension
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • General Awareness
Exam Mode Online
Duration of the Exam 3 hours
Number of Shifts One
Number of questions 100
Number of choices 5
Total Marks 400
Marking Scheme 4 marks for each correct answer -1 for each wrong answer No negative marks for unattempted questions

CMAT Exam Admit Card

The candidates have to carry the CMAT Exam Admit Card to the exam centre along with a photo ID. NTA will give an advance intimation for the allotment of exam city before releasing the Admit Card. Candidates can download the intimation slip from the CMAT website.

 

Steps to Download

  • Log in to the official CMAT website with login credentials like registration number and date of birth or application number and password.
  • Click on the ‘Submit’ tab.
  • Details of the candidate will be displayed on the screen.
  • Click on the ‘Download Admit Card’ option
  • Verify the details in the Admit Card and take a printout for further use.

 

Steps to Retrieve the CMAT Application Number

NTA has provided a provision to retrieve the CMAT application number wherever the candidates have misplaced the application number. Here is how you do it:

  • Access the CMAT website.
  • Click on the ‘Find CMAT application number’ option
  • Enter the father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, and security PIN.
  • Click on the ‘Get application number’ tab.

 

What Your Admit Card Says

The Admit Card has the following details:

  • CMAT Exam time and date
  • Shift time and reporting time
  • Exam centre venue and address
  • Name and DOB
  • Gender and Category
  • Registration number and roll number
  • Candidates address with PIN
  • Candidates PwD status
  • Candidate’s photograph and signature

Unable to Download Admit Card - What to do?

There could be several reasons for not being able to download the admit card. The internet speed may not be enough to support the admit card file size, the login credentials may be wrong, and the registration process may be incomplete i.e., required documents not uploaded or application fee not paid. The candidate can contact the CMAT helpline between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm by dialling 011-69227700, 011-40759000 or email at cmat@nta.ac.in.

Admit Card Discrepancy - What to do?

After downloading the Admit Card the candidates have to ensure that all the details mentioned in the admit card like name, exam venue, date and time, registration and application number, etc. If any discrepancies are found then they have to contact the helpline numbers 011-69227700, 011-40759000 between 10 am and 5 pm or email at cmat@nta.ac.in.

Exam Day Guidelines

The CMAT Exam day guidelines for the candidates are:

  • Be at the venue at least one hour before the shift time.
  • Carry necessary documents.
  • Dress comfortably.
  • Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep before the exam day.
  • Be calm and focused.
  • Do not carry prohibited items like electronic devices, calculators, mobile phones, etc to the exam hall.

What to Carry with Your Admit Card on Exam Day

The candidates should have the following along with the Admit Card on the exam day.

  • Admissible Photo IDs like Aadhar cards, Voter’s IDs, Driving Licences, PANs, Passports, etc.
  • Passport-size photograph (latest and similar to the one affixed on the application form).

CMAT Exam Examination Centers

CMAT Exam Centres are spread over 124 cities across the country, providing convenient choices for all participating candidates. Candidates must check the exam centres on the CMAT website and choose the one closest and convenient for them.

CMAT Answer Key

NTA releases the answer key with provisional answers along with question papers and response sheets of each candidate after the exam. The candidate can compare the answers in their response sheet to assess their score.

How to Download?

The steps to download the answer key are as follows:

  • Access the CMAT website.
  • Login with login credentials like application number/password/date of birth.
  • Enter the security PIN shown on the screen.
  • Choose the ‘CMAT answer key’ option.
  • Click on the ‘submit’ button.
  • The answer key, question paper, and response sheet will be displayed on the screen.
  • Click on the ‘Download’ option to download in PDF format.

Steps to challenge

If candidates find any answer unsatisfactory, they can challenge the same. The CMAT challenge window will be open for 2 to 3 days, within which the objections have to be raised. A fee of Rs. 200 for each question has to be paid online. A panel of subject experts will verify the challenges, and if found correct, the answers will be corrected, and a final answer key will be released.

CMAT Exam Result

The CMAT exam results will be announced online; candidates can check them on the official CMAT website.

How to Check CMAT Result?

  • Access the CMAT website.
  • Click on the ‘Download CMAT Scorecard’ option.
  • Login with login credentials.
  • Enter the Captcha displayed.
  • Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • The CMAT scorecard will be displayed on the screen.
  • Download the scorecard and preserve it for future reference.

Details Mentioned in the CMAT Result

The CMAT Exam result will have the following details of the candidate:

  • Name, roll number, and exam slot
  • Gender
  • Guardian’s name
  • Contact details
  • Sectional and overall score
  • Sectional and overall percentile
  • Rank
  • Qualifying status

CMAT Cut Off

CMAT cutoff is determined by individual institutes based on the difficulty of the question paper, the number of candidates taking up the CMAT Exam, and the overall pass percentage of candidates in the CMAT Exam. Candidates who score equal to or over the CMAT cutoff will qualify for the further admission process i.e., Personal Interview, Written Aptitude Test, and Group Discussion.

CMAT Selection Process

After the CMAT results are obtained, the participating institutions will select the students for personal interviews, written aptitude tests, and group discussions based on the CMAT scores. The final selection will depend on the performance of the candidates in these rounds. The selected candidates will have to give their confirmation by paying the entrance fees.

CMAT Documents Required at Counselling

The following documents are required for CMAT counselling:

  • 10th and 12th class mark sheet
  • Marksheet of all semesters of the respective degree course
  • Photo ID
  • Domicile Certificate
  • CMAT Scorecard
  • Passport-size photograph (5 Nos.)
  • Caste Certificate (wherever applicable)

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