CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into various management programmes offered by participating institutes across India.

The exam tests candidates on their quantitative techniques and data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general awareness.

CMAT scores are accepted by over 1,000 participating management institutes across India for admission into MBA, PGDM, and other management courses.

What is the CMAT Exam?

CMAT is a computer-based national-level entrance exam organised by the government for admission into over 1,000 AICTE-approved management programmes across India. Prior to 2018, AICTE conducted the exam, but now it is conducted by the NTA. The exam takes place online and consists of multiple-choice questions. It lasts three hours, and the maximum number of marks is 400. Candidates who qualify for the exam are called for counselling, and participating institutes conduct further selection rounds.

To appear for CMAT, candidates must have completed their graduation in any stream from a recognised university. There is no age restriction for appearing in CMAT.

Purpose & Highlights of the CMAT Exam

The purpose of the CMAT exam is to provide a standardised platform for evaluating the aptitude and suitability of candidates for admission into various management programmes offered by various institutes all over the country.

By conducting CMAT, the NTA aims to simplify the admission process for management programmes and ensure a fair and transparent selection process for all candidates.

Additionally, CMAT scores are accepted by over 1000 participating institutes, making it a widely recognised exam for MBA and other management courses.

CMAT Exam Highlights

Exam Name	Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Number of MBA Colleges Under the Exam	1,000+
Exam Date	March 26th, 2023 (Tentative)
Frequency of Conduct	Once a year
Exam Slots	Single Slot Exam of 3 Hrs
Mode of CMAT Exam	Online Computer-Based Test
Total Questions in CMAT Entrance Exam	100
Sectional Division of Questions	5 Sections with 20 Questions in Each Section
Exam Details: Section-Wise	Quantitative Technique Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension General Awareness Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Optional)
Medium of Question Paper	English
Maximum Score	400 Marks for 100 questions
Negative Marking	– 1 mark for each wrong answer
Required Rank/Score for Admission into MBA in Top Colleges	Score of 240+ Rank within 5000
Application Process	Online
Exam Application Fee	Application Fee for Boys- INR 2,000 Application Fee for Girls- INR 1,000 Application Fee for EWS/OBC-NCL- INR 1,000 Application Fee for SC/ST/PwD- INR 1,000 Application Fee for Third Gender- INR 1,000

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the CMAT exam are released in the official notification by the National Testing Agency. Candidates who meet the academic qualifications and age limit specified in the eligibility criteria can apply for the CMAT entrance exam.

CMAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates applying for CMAT must hold Indian citizenship.
• Individuals who have completed their graduation from recognised institutions in any discipline are eligible to apply for the CMAT exam. Additionally, final-year students can also apply.
• There is no age restriction for candidates who wish to appear for the CMAT exam.

CMAT Exam Date 2023

Event	Dates
Notification Release	February 13th, 2023
Registration Starts	February 13th, 2023
Registration Ends	March 6th, 2023
Last Date of Successful Transaction of Fee	March 6th, 2023
Correction Window	March 7th to 9th, 2023
Admit Card Download	To be announced
CMAT Exam Date	To be announced
Answer Key	To be announced
Result	To be announced

Registration Process & Fees

The application form for CMAT is available for download on the official website, and the registration process is entirely online. The application process for CMAT 2023 commenced on February 13, 2023.

The following is a step-by-step procedure for applying:

• Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in appearing for the exam should register on the official website and complete the application process.
• For male candidates belonging to the General/Unreserved category, the application fee is INR 2000, while for female candidates belonging to the General/Unreserved category and all candidates belonging to reserved categories, the fee is INR 1000.
• The candidates must upload scanned images of their photographs and signatures in the prescribed format only.
• Before submitting the application form, it is essential to double-check all the necessary details to ensure their accuracy.
• Candidates are advised to take a printout of the application form for future reference. 

CMAT 2023 Application Fee

Category	Fee
For General Male Candidates	INR 2,000
For General Female/ SC/ ST/ NC-OBC/ PwD/ EWS/ Third Gender candidates	INR 1,000

CMAT Admit Card

To download the CMAT Admit card, candidates must log in to the official website of NTA CMAT at cmat.nta.nic.in/ using their login credentials.

For this year’s CMAT exam, the NTA has not announced the admit card release date yet. However, it is expected to be out in the first week of May.

CMAT 2023 Exam Syllabus

The syllabus for CMAT 2023 comprises several topics, including Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Language Comprehension. Each section has an equal number of questions, and candidates must give equal attention to all the subjects to score well.

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	Speed, Time & Distance, Percentages, Averages, Ratio & Proportion, Profit, Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagrams, Pie Charts, etc.
Logical Reasoning	Logical Sequence, Data Structure, Number & Letter Series, Binary Logic, Direction Sense, Clocks & Calendars, Puzzles, Syllogism, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, etc.
Language Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Passages, Sentence Correction, Jumbled Paragraphs, etc.
General Awareness	Current Affairs of National & International Economy, Personalities in News, Indian Constitution, Sports News, Trade Awareness, Politics, History, Culture, Geography, Economics, and Sports Science in Everyday Life.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	Important Events, Budget & Economic Survey, Business & Corporate affairs, New Investments & Schemes, Policies related to Entrepreneurship and Business Promotion, Startups Ecosystem, Banking Regulation & Reforms, International Organisations, General Economy, and Current Affairs

Exam Pattern

Sections	Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension General Awareness Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Number of questions	100
Number of questions per section	20
Marks per question	4
Negative marking	-1 per wrong answer
Total marks	400
Difficulty level	Moderate to Difficult
Duration	3 hours (180 minutes)
Medium of CMAT Exam	English

Subject/Section Wise Distribution of Question Paper

Section	Number of questions	Marks
Language Comprehension	20	80
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	20	80
Logical Reasoning	20	80
General Awareness	20	80
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (optional)	20	80
Total	100	400

Counselling Process

The counselling process for CMAT includes Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI) conducted by individual B-Schools. Candidates are shortlisted for the GD-PI round by the CMAT accepting colleges based on the marks scored.

Each institute that accepts CMAT scores individually determines the cut-offs and selection criteria for MBA admission.

As explained below, candidates will need to participate in various stages of CMAT counselling:

• Group Discussion

  During CMAT counselling, a group of around 10 candidates is given a topic to discuss. Communication skills are tested in this Group Discussion (GD). Additionally, the GD helps identify the best team player. Candidates who initiate the discussion, negotiate well, and express their thoughts in an organised manner will have an advantage over others.

• Personal Interview

  This round of CMAT counselling aims to test the personality and interpersonal skills of the candidate. The interviewer will also assess the subject knowledge of the aspirant, and questions will be asked based on their job or education.

• Written Test

  This test aims to evaluate how candidates express their thoughts and ideas in English without any factual errors. Reading newspapers can help students perform well in this section.

• Final Selection

  The final selection of candidates in CMAT counselling is based on their performance in the previous stages: personal interview, group discussion, and written test. The conducting authority cumulates the scores obtained by the candidates in these stages to prepare a final merit list.

  The institutions that accept CMAT scores will contact the selected candidates based on their scores in the final merit list. The mode of contact may vary from institution to institution, and candidates are advised to check the official website regularly for further information on status of the CMAT counselling.

Documents Required for Counselling

• 10th and 12th Mark Sheet
• CMAT Scorecard
• Admit Card
• Graduation Mark Sheet and Certificate
• Valid Photo ID Issued by the Government of India
• Date of Birth Certificate
• Permanent Address proof
• Caste/PWD Certificate
• Payment Challan Copy for Counselling Process
• Passport Size Colour Photographs
• Call Letter for CMAT Counselling

Colleges that Accept CMAT Score

• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra
• Indus Business Academy, Bangalore
• LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Mumbai
• Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore
• BIMTECH, Greater Noida
• Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Hyderabad
• N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai
• Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

And many more.

CMAT 2023 Expected Cut off

The expected cut-offs for CMAT 2023 are mentioned below:

CMAT Score	Expected Percentile
180+	74-76
200+	84-85
240+	95-97
300+	99 -100

Important Exam Guidelines

Below are some important exam day guidelines that candidates should strictly adhere to so as to score better in the CMAT exam.

1. Bring your Admit Card and ID Proof before heading to the exam. Note that items such as calculators, wristwatches, cell phones, and other such electronic items are prohibited.
2. It is essential to provide adequate rest to your mind and body. Please do so to avoid discomfort during the exam. To unwind, listening to music can also be beneficial.
3. Arriving at the examination centre before the designated time can aid in acclimatising to the surroundings. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to arrive at their test centre at least an hour before the scheduled exam time.
4. Confidence is key when preparing for exams. Avoid fixating on any one question and instead move on to the next if uncertain about an answer. Should you lack confidence in a response, it’s permissible to skip it and proceed to the next question.
5. Using your time effectively during the CMAT entrance exam is recommended. The test duration is a maximum of 180 minutes (3 hours), and since there’s no sectional time limit, you are free to choose the order of the sections. Allocating time for revision before submitting the paper is also advisable. This will allow you to double-check and ensure everything has been rechecked before turning it in.
6. Upon arriving at the exam centre, a candidate’s first step should be locating their assigned seat. Information regarding seating arrangements can be found on notices posted on the premises or at the exam centre gate. It is recommended that candidates proceed directly to their designated seats and refrain from leaving the examination hall before the allotted time has expired.

 

CMAT 2023 Preparation Tips

When preparing for CMAT 2023, it is essential to keep the following points in mind:

1. To prepare for the CMAT exam, a minimum of four to six hours of daily study is necessary.
2. Begin your preparation by focusing on the subject or area that you find most challenging. The rest of the preparation process should become more manageable by mastering the skill set required for the most challenging subject.
3. Stay informed of the most recent general knowledge and management-related developments.
4. Regular revision and a series of practice tests can aid in developing a better understanding of the exam and increasing familiarity with its structure.
5. Lastly, focus on enhancing your test-taking strategies.

Previous Year Question Papers & Mock Tests

https://www.examsnet.com/exams/cmat-previous-question-papers-online

https://testseries.edugorilla.com/tests/6/common-management-admission-test-cmat

FAQs

What is CMAT given for?

CMAT exam is given for admission to various management programmes, including MBA, PGDM, and other postgraduate management courses offered by AICTE-approved institutions across India.

Is CAT difficult or CMAT?

Compared to the CAT exam, CMAT is considered to be at a lower difficulty level.

Which colleges will accept CMAT scores?

Top colleges that accept CMAT exam scores include:

• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra
• Indus Business Academy, Bangalore
• LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Mumbai

Can I get admission to an MBA without CMAT?

While many MBA programmes in India require candidates to have a valid CMAT score for admission, some MBA programmes accept other entrance exam scores or offer admission through other channels.

Is there a negative marking in CMAT?

Yes, 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.

How many times is the CMAT exam held in a year?

The CMAT exam is held once each year.

What are the passing marks in the CMAT exam?

Candidates in the General category must score a minimum of 50% marks in their undergraduate degree. On the other hand, candidates from the Reserved category are required to have a minimum of 45% marks in their undergraduate degree.

How many attempts are there in CMAT?

There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate can appear for the CMAT exam.

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