CMAT Total Marks 2026: Marking Scheme, Weightage & Paper Pattern

Overview: The CMAT exam pattern was released by the NTA with the official notification. There is no such change in the paper pattern of CMAT 2026. Read on to know about the CMAT total marks, CMAT marking scheme and more!

• The Common Management Admission Test 2026 is scheduled for 25 January 2026. The last date to complete the CMAT application form is 25 December 2024.

Download FREE Study Material for CMAT Exam 2026 by SuperGrads

• According to the CMAT paper pattern, the exam will consist of 100 questions following the MCQ format. 
• There will be 5 sections including Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Continue reading to get the information about the latest CMAT total marks and CMAT exam pattern 2026

Also Read | CMAT 2026 Admit Card- Download Here!

CMAT Total Marks 2026 Highlights 

The Common Management Aptitude Test 2026 was conducted on 25th January 2026 across various CMAT exam centres. The CMAT score is accepted by more than 1300 colleges and other prestigious management institutes.

The CMAT exam pattern consists of five sections: quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and entrepreneurship.

Each section asks the question in MCQ format. Here are the CMAT exam pattern highlights to be familiar with:

Section	Number 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
CMAT Total Marks	100	400

Read More: CMAT Exam Day Instructions

CMAT Total Marks 2026: Marking Scheme 

Does CMAT have negative marking? In CMAT 2026, the marking scheme works as follows: 

• CMAT Correct Answer: Each correct answer earns four marks.
• CMAT negative marking: Each incorrect answer results in a one-mark deduction.
• CMAT Skipped Questions: No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

Type of answer	Marks
Right answer	4
Wrong answer	-1
Blank question	No deduction

Since there are no non-MCQ questions in CMAT, it's important to be careful when selecting your answers. The marking scheme is clearly explained in the table below.

Read More | CMAT 2026 Dates Announced

Attempt Free CMAT Mock Test 2026 by SuperGrads

CMAT Total Marks and Exam Pattern 

The CMAT Exam 2026 will consist of five main sections: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

The total number of questions for the exam will be 100, with 20 questions included in each of the five sections. The total marks in CMAT exam 2026 will be 400. 

• The maximum number of CMAT total marks obtained per section is 80.
• Negative marking in CMAT exam - There is a negative marking of -1 marks for each incorrect response.
• The exam will be 180 minutes long, i.e. 3 hours. There will be no sectional time limit, enabling you to navigate between sections at your convenience.
• Percentile and rank scores, not raw scores, will be shown for CMAT admission cutoffs.
• The medium of the question paper will be English only.

Read More | CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 Explained In Details

Navigation in CMAT Exam 2026

To do well in the CMAT 2026 exam, it's important to understand both the exam format and how to navigate the interface smoothly. Here’s a simple guide to the navigation options you will encounter during the exam:

• Save & Next: Use this to save your answer and move to the next question.
• Clear: This option allows you to erase or change your answer if unsure.
• Save & Mark for Review: Choose this if you want to answer a question and return to it later for review.
• Mark for Review & Next: This lets you flag a question for later without answering it right now, and you can move on to the next question.

Make sure to use your mouse to select answers, as keyboard usage is not allowed in the CMAT exam. Being familiar with these options will help you avoid confusion during the test.

CMAT Total Marks 2026 - CMAT Marks vs Percentile

The relationship between the total marks obtained in the CMAT exam and the percentiles is essential to comprehension.

Using trends from previous years, we will explore what score a candidate can expect at a certain percentile, which indicates the relative performance compared to other test-takers.

The CMAT exam percentile, not the RAW CMAT total marks, is considered during admission to colleges that accept CMAT scores.

CMAT Exam Total Marks 2026 vs Percentile

CMAT Percentile Range	CMAT 2026 Expected Score Range
100	350-355
90-99.99	285-345
81-89	210-280
71-80	171-200
61-70	141-170
51-60	116-140
Below 51	Below 116

Read More | CMAT Exam 2026 Complete Details

CMAT Total Marks 2023 vs Percentile

CMAT Percentile Range	CMAT Exam Marks Range
100	365
99-99.99	292-360
95-99	271-292
90-95	258-271
81-89	206-258
71-80	179-206
61-70	154-179
51-60	133-154
Below 51	Below 133

Read More | CMAT Application Form - Step By Step Guide

CMAT Total Marks 2022 vs Percentile

CMAT Percentile Range	CMAT Exam Marks Range
100	385
99-99.99	293-380
95-99	260-293
90-95	240-260
81-89	211-240
71-80	188-211
61-70	168-188
51-60	150-168
Below 51	Below 150

Read More | Difference between CAT and CMAT

What is the Passing Marks in CMAT Exam 2026?

The NTA does not provide any minimum criteria for CMAT exam passing marks, but the colleges offering admission have different cutoffs. Percentile and rank scores, not raw scores, will be shown for CMAT admission cutoffs. 

Now, let's explore some of the top colleges that accept CMAT scores and their minimum cut-offs, keeping in mind the CMAT total marks to maximize opportunities for higher education.

Colleges Who Accept CMAT Score	Courses Offered	Fees	Highest Package (Approx.)	Average Package (Approx.)	Expected Cut-off CMAT 2025 (Percentile)
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies - JBIMS	Master in Management Studies (MMS)	6 Lakhs	37.75 LPA	28 LPA	99.90+
SIMSREE	Master in Management Studies (MMS)	1.34 Lakhs	21.53 LPA	15-16 LPA	99+
Welingkar	PGDM	9.8 Lakhs	16-17 LPA	10 LPA	95-99
Great Lakes Institute of Management	MBA	20.8 Lakhs	46 LPA	15-16 LPA	95-99
K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management	MBA	20.8 Lakhs	25 LPA	13-14 LPA	95-99

Read More | Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores 2026 In India

Conclusion

The CMAT exam date 2026 is 25th January 2026; therefore, knowing the total marks in CMAT, the marking scheme and the relation between percentiles and ranks is crucial for the candidate's performance evaluation and goal setting. 

Candidates should stay informed about the CMAT dates, familiarize themselves with the marking scheme, understand the CMAT total marks, and read their scores correctly.