CMAT Exam 2026: Dates, Eligibility, CMAT Registration Number & More

CMAT exam, also known as Common Management Admission Test, is an aptitude test for admission into  MBA program and PGDM programs in 1000+ B-schools across India. This entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CMAT exam of 2026 will be conducted in an online mode (CBT at exam centers) and the duration of the exam is three hours.

To learn more about the CMAT exam, let us guide you through the following sections!

What is CMAT Exam?

Known as Common Management Admission Test, this exam is an aptitude test for admission into MBA and PGDM programs in 1000+ B-schools across India. This entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The CMAT question paper consists of 100 questions from Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, and General Awareness. In the 2021 exam, a new section was added to the CMAT paper which was Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The total marks for CMAT are 400.

CMAT Exam Info

Here are some important CMAT exam details that you will have to keep in mind:

CMAT Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level	National
Frequency of Exam	Once a year
Mode of Exam	Online
Duration of Exam	3 hours
Sections in the Exam	1. Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation 2. Logical Reasoning 3. Language Comprehension 4. General Awareness 5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Exam Pattern	MCQ Format 100 Questions
Language	English
Exam Fees	INR 2,500 for General Category Male INR 1,250 for General Category Female and Reserved Category
Courses Offered	MBA and PGDM
Number of Test Cities	153
Help-desk Number	0120-6895200
Official CMAT-NTA Website	https://cmat.nta.nic.in

CMAT Eligibility

To appear for the exam, you have to fulfil the following CMAT eligibility criteria:

• You must have completed your graduation in any discipline from a recognized university.
• If you are in the final year of your graduation, you meet the CMAT eligibility criteria to apply for CMAT 2026 but you will have to present your passing certificate at the time of admission

CMAT Registration

To begin with, you would be required to complete your CMAT registration procedure. The registration process for the CMAT exam is online. You will find the CMAT 2026 paper application form on the official website of NTA.

• Upload a passport-size photo and a scanned signature in the prescribed format.
• Make the payment of the CMAT 2026 registration fees via a credit/debit card, or internet banking. 

Here are some important dates you need to remember for CMAT registration

CMAT 2026 registration start date	14th November 2025
CMAT 2026 registration last date	25th December 2025
Last day to pay CMAT 2026 registration fee	25th December 2025
CMAT 2026 exam	25th January 2026

CMAT Exam Syllabus

As mentioned above the CMAT syllabus 2026, like the CMAT 2026 question paper is divided into these parts:

• Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
• Logical Reasoning
• Language Comprehension
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The NTA has introduced a new section in 2021, for MBA aspirants who wish to purue Innovation & Entrepreneurship .Earlier this is an optional section of the CMAT 2023 question paper comprising 25 questions. If you opt for this section, you will get an additional slot of 30 minutes to solve it.But now it is a compulsory section.

Given below is the CMAT syllabus 2026 for better preparation for the CMAT exam:

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

• 25 questions in MCQ format.
• Topics include Algebra, Geometry, Quadratic and Linear Equations, Graphs, Time-Speed-Distance, etc.

Logical Reasoning

• 25 questions in MCQ format.
• Topics include Matrix Arrangement, Analytical Reasoning, Number Series, Blood Relationship Tests, etc.

Language Comprehension

• 25 questions.
• Two primary sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
• Topics include Jumbled Para, Synonyms and Antonyms, Idioms, Phrases, Sentence Improvement, etc.

General Awareness

• 25 questions.
• A mix of current affairs and static general knowledge.
• Some topics include Politics, Literature, History, Culture, Geography, Economics, Sports, Trade, etc.

CMAT 2026 Exam Date

The table below will give you a comprehensive list of the most important CMAT exam dates in 2026:

CMAT 2026 registration start date	14th November 2025
Form correction process (CMAT last date to apply)	14th-16th November 2025
CMAT 2026 exam	25th January 2026
CMAT 2026 result declaration	12th February 2026

CMAT Exam Pattern

To understand the CMAT exam pattern, refer to the table below:

Number of Sections	1. Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation 2. Logical Reasoning 3. Language Comprehension 4. General Awareness 5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Mode of Exam	Online
Duration of Exam	3 hours
Number of Questions	125
Total Marks	400
Number of answer choices	4
Marking Pattern	a) +4 for every correct answer b) -1 for every incorrect answer

The five sections in the CMAT question paper pattern are as follows:

SECTIONS	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS	MARKS ALLOTTED
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	25	100
Logical Reasoning	25	100
Language Comprehension	25	100
General Awareness	25	100
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	25	100

CMAT Admit Card

The admit card can be downloaded on the official website of CMAT-NTA using the registration id and password. You can download the CMAT admit card till the day of the exam. It is an important document and you will not be allowed to sit for the exam without it. 

How to download CMAT admit card

• Go to the official website of cmat.nta.nic.in
• Click on the ‘Download CMAT Admit Card 2026’ tab
• Enter the registration id and password
• Save the admit card as PDF and take a printout

CMAT Test centres

NTA conducts the CMAT exam across 124 different cities. Most candidates are able to appear for the exam at a centre close to their home town. The states and the number of centres in them have been listed in the table below:

S.L. No.	Name of State	No. of centres
1	Andaman & Nicobar	1 centre
2	Andhra Pradesh	7 centres
3	Arunachal Pradesh	1 centre
4	Assam	2 centres
5	Bihar	5 centres
6	Chandigarh/Mohali	1 centre
7	Chattisgarh	2 centres
8	Delhi	1 centre
9	Goa	1 centre
10	Gujarat	11 centres
11	Haryana	4 centres
12	Himachal Pradesh	4 centres
13	Jammu	1 centre
14	Kashmir	1 centre
15	Jharkhand	3 centres
16	Karnataka	7 centres
17	Kerala	5 centres
18	Ladakh	1 centre
19	Lakshwadeep	1 centre
20	Madhya Pradesh	5 centres
21	Maharashtra	12 centres
22	Manipur	1 centre
23	Meghalaya	1 centre
24	Mizoram	1 centre
25	Nagaland	2 centre
26	Odisha	6 centre
27	Puducherry	1 centre
28	Punjab	4 centres
29	Rajasthan	5 centres
30	Tamil Nadu	5 centres
31	Telangana	3 centres
32	Tripura	1 centre
33	Uttar Pradesh	13 centres
34	Uttarakhand	3 centres
35	West Bengal	2 centres

CMAT Result

NTA will release the CMAT result most likely in Feb 2026 in online mode. Candidates can download their scorecards on the official website of NTA-CMAT. The steps to download the result have been given below.

How to check CMAT results

1. Go to the official website of cmat.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the ‘CMAT 2026: Download Score Card’ option on the home page
3. On the login page enter your Application Number and Date of Birth
4. You have to properly enter the security pin/captcha next
5. Click on submit and the scorecard will appear
6. You can take a printout of the scorecard or save it as PDF 

CMAT Preparation

Preparation is the avenue to success in all walks of life, and here are some CMAT preparation tips which you can follow:

• Over 50% of your preparation for the CMAT exam should entail solving sample papers along with previous years' question papers. You need to confront your weak areas and work on them.
• Refer to important texts and CMAT preparation books for the different sections of the paper.
• On the basis of your strength and weaknesses, make a list of topics and address the weak areas.
• Devote an equal amount of time to the four different sections of the paper. Cover a topic from each section every day.

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FAQs about CMAT Exam

Is CMAT tougher than CAT?

The CMAT exam is easier than the CAT exam, however, it is more difficult than ATMA and MAT.

Is CMAT compulsory for an MBA?

CMAT is one of the important national-level MBA entrance exams for admission to B-schools offering AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM programs. However, there are other entrance exams like CAT, MAT, and ATMA too which can be taken to seek admission into business colleges for an MBA.

Is CMAT good for an MBA?

CMAT is comparatively easier than other MBA exams and you have to answer fewer questions too. So, if you wish to get admission into the top MBA colleges in India, however, through an easy national-level exam, then CMAT ought to be your go-to choice.

Which is better MAT or CMAT?

The CMAT exam was introduced with the objective to reduce the stress student's experienced when preparing for a management entrance exam. On the other hand, MAT is conducted 4 times a year and allows students access only to the second-tier B-schools in the country.

Moreover, CMAT is comparatively easier than MAT as you have to answer fewer questions too.

Who is eligible for CMAT 2026 exam?

Eligible candidates must have completed a minimum 3 years Bachelor’s degree. They must be citizens of India. There is no age limit for appearing in the CMAT exam.

Is CMAT difficult?

The difficulty level of CMAT is moderate to easy. If you are preparing for CAT exam, you can easily ace a good score in the CMAT exam as well.

Do IIMs accept CMAT score?

IIMs only accept CAT scores. However, CMAT scores are accepted in over 1000 B-schools in India.