CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: The Common Management Admission Test or CMAT exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year. It is a national-level entrance test held for admission to management (MBA/PGP/PGDM) courses in top B-schools in India. The official notification for CAT 2026 will be published in the coming months. Therefore, interested aspirants must begin their preparation at the earliest and check the CMAT exam pattern to formulate an effective strategy. Typically, the entrance test is expected to contain 100 multiple-choice questions for 400 marks. Each correct answer/response will be awarded 4 marks, and every wrong answer attracts a penalty of 1 mark. We have compiled below the CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 and marking scheme based on the previous year's notification for candidates' reference.
CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights
Familiarity with the CMAT exam pattern and marking scheme can simplify your preparation journey and help you align your focus accordingly. Here is an overview of the entrance test shared below for the clarity of the candidates.
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Name | Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Purpose | Admission to MBA programs |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 Section-Wise Weightage (Expected)
Candidates must check the CMAT exam pattern to get insights into the paper mode, question format, questions per section, maximum marks, test duration, and overall marking scheme. Have a look at the expected CMAT 2026 exam pattern tabulated below:
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The entrance exam comprises multiple-choice questions, divided into 5 sections, i.e. Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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The medium of the exam shall be in English only.
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A total of 100 questions will be asked for 400 marks in the exam.
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The exam duration shall be 3 hours.
| Subject | No. of questions | Maximum Marks |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
CMAT Marking Scheme 2026 (Expected)
The CMAT marking scheme follows a simple format. As per the previous year's notification, 4 marks were given to every correct response, and 1 mark was deducted for every incorrect answer. Here is the expected CMAT 2026 marking scheme shared below for reference purposes.
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Each question comprises 4 marks.
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For every correct answer, the candidate will be assigned 04 marks.
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For each incorrect answer, 01 mark will be deducted from the overall marks.
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No marks shall be given to Unanswered/unattempted questions.
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Aspirants must select one option as the correct one to answer a question.
CMAT Important Topics
Candidates should focus on the important topics for every section to perform well in the CMAT 2026 exam. They should grasp concepts and practice unlimited questions related to every chapter to achieve mastery in all the sections. This will enhance their confidence and question-solving speed with accuracy. Here are the expected CMAT important topics for all the sections:
| Section | CMAT Important Topics |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | Mean, Mode, Median Quadratic and linear equations Mensuration Tabulation Alligation & Mixtures In-equations Profit and Loss Binomial Theorem Pie Chart, Bar Chart Probability Simple Interest and Compound Interest Time, Speed, and Distance Geometry Number System Ratio and Proportion Permutations & Combinations Percentages Pipes and Cisterns Line Graph Algebra Work and Time, etc |
| Logical Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning Sequencing Number Series Cause and Effects Direction and Distance Test Inferences Analogy Test Non-Verbal Reasoning Symbol Based Problems Statements Assumptions Statements and Arguments Coding and Decoding Venn Diagram Statements and Conclusion Linear Arrangements Blood Relationship Tests Matrix Arrangements Ranking Tests, etc |
| Language Comprehension | Reading Comprehension Verbal Ability One-Word Substitution Sentence Correction Antonyms Jumbled Para Phrases Synonyms English Grammar Idioms English Usage Errors Paragraph Completion, etc |
| General Awareness | National and International Current Affairs Politics History Science in Everyday Life Literature Culture Geography Trade Awareness Personalities in News Sports News Economics Indian Constitution, etc |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Concepts of Entrepreneurship Overview of Entrepreneurship Framework of Entrepreneurship Theories Rural Entrepreneurship Women Entrepreneurship Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Theories and Models of Entrepreneurship Models of Entrepreneurship Emerging Trends in Social Entrepreneurship Emerging Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship Evolution of Entrepreneurship in India Principles of Business Organisation, etc |
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