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.

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.
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 |
|
| Marking Scheme | 4 marks for every right answer. -1 for every wrong answer |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Duration of the Exam | 3 hours |
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 |
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.
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 |
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.
The CMAT Exam Pattern and the test structure is given below:
| Structure | Details |
| Number of Sections | 5 Sections
|
| 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 |
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
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:
What Your Admit Card Says
The Admit Card has the following details:
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.
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.
The CMAT Exam day guidelines for the candidates are:
The candidates should have the following along with the Admit Card on the exam day.
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.
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:
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.
The CMAT exam results will be announced online; candidates can check them on the official CMAT website.
How to Check CMAT Result?
The CMAT Exam result will have the following details of the candidate:
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.
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.
The following documents are required for CMAT counselling:
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