CMAT 2026 Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus, PYQs & More [Check Latest Updates]

Overview: The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 is one of the most significant national-level MBA entrance exams in India. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), it is the primary gateway for admission into 1,300+ AICTE-approved management institutes.

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Latest Updates on CMAT 2026

• Admit Card Release: The NTA is expected to release the CMAT 2026 Admit Card on January 20, 2026. Candidates can download it using their application number and date of birth.
• City Intimation Slip: To help students plan their travel, the Advance City Intimation Slip is likely to be released by January 17, 2026.
• Exam Date: The exam is confirmed for January 25, 2026, and will be conducted in two shifts across 150+ cities.
• Registration Status: The application process closed on November 24, 2025. No further registrations or corrections are being accepted at this stage.

What is the CMAT Exam 2026?

The CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted in India by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

It evaluates candidates seeking admission to AICTE-approved MBA and PGDM colleges across the country through a computer-based test (CBT)

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Key Highlights of CMAT 2026

Feature	Details
Exam Name	Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Date	January 25, 2026
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Shifts	Shift 1 (9 AM - 12 PM) | Shift 2 (3 PM - 6 PM)
Number of Sections	5 Sections (20 Questions each)
Total Marks	400 Marks
Negative Marking	-1 for every incorrect answer

CMAT 2026 Exam Date and Schedule 

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting the Common Management Aptitude Test 2026. It has released the important dates for CMAT 2026, which include:

Event	Date
Notification & Registration Start	October 17, 2025
Last Date to Register	November 24, 2025
Correction Window	November 26 – 28, 2025
Admit Card Release (Expected)	January 20, 2026
CMAT 2026 Exam Day	January 25, 2026
Provisional Answer Key	Early February 2026
Result Declaration	Mid-February 2026

CMAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The CMAT score is accepted by over 1,300 colleges in India, including some renowned institutes. It is important to review the CMAT 2026 eligibility criteria and exam pattern to get admission to your dream college. Here are the eligibility criteria for the CMAT exam 2026: 

Eligibility Criteria for CMAT 2026

To be eligible for admission through CMAT 2026, candidates must fulfil the following:

• Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
• Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for their final year exams in 2026 are also eligible to apply.
• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for appearing in the CMAT exam.
• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.

What is the CMAT Exam Pattern for 2026?

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the sections, the number of questions asked, and the CMAT marking scheme. Here is the CMAT exam pattern for 2026.

The 5 sections of CMAT 2026 must be completed in 180 minutes. The CMAT exam consists of 100 questions and 400 marks.

Section	Questions	Marks
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation	20	80
Logical Reasoning	20	80
Language Comprehension	20	80
General Awareness	20	80
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	20	80
Total	100	400

What is the CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme?

The candidates appearing for the CMAT 2026 exam should be aware of the marking scheme, including:

• The CMAT exam consists of 100 questions.
• Each question carries + 4 marks.
• For each correct response, the candidate will get + 4 marks.
• For each incorrect response, -1 mark will be deducted from the CMAT total score.
• Unanswered/un-attempted will be given no marks.
• To answer a question, the candidate must choose the correct option.
• However, after the Challenges of the Answer Key process, if there are multiple correct options or changes in the key, only candidates who have attempted it correctly as per the revised Answer key will be awarded marks.
• If a Question is dropped due to a technical error, all candidates will receive full marks, regardless of whether they attempted it.

Also Read |CMAT 2026 Total Marks

What are the Most Important Topics of the CMAT 2026 Syllabus?

The CMAT 2026 Syllabus is designed to test a candidate's aptitude across five distinct areas. Each section contains 20 questions, making for a total of 100 questions.

As of January 10, 2026, with the exam just 15 days away, focusing on these high-yield topics is crucial for a 99+ percentile.

CMAT 2026 Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Syllabus

This section is primarily dominated by Arithmetic. Data Interpretation (DI) usually appears as sets of 3-5 questions based on a single graph or table.

Sub-Category	Key Topics
Arithmetic (High Weightage)	Percentages, Averages, Profit & Loss, Ratios & Proportion, Work & Time, Time-Speed-Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Alligation & Mixtures, Partnership, Pipes & Cisterns
Algebra & Numbers	Number Systems, Fractions & Decimals, Quadratic & Linear Equations, In-equations
Geometry & Mensuration	Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles), Mensuration (Area, Volume)
Modern Maths	Permutations & Combinations, Probability
Data Interpretation	Tabulation, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Line Graph

CMAT 2026 Logical Reasoning (LR) Syllabus

LR in CMAT is a mix of traditional puzzles and verbal logic. It tests your ability to identify patterns and deduce conclusions

Type of Reasoning	Key Topics
Analytical Reasoning	Linear & Matrix Arrangements, Blood Relationship Tests, Direction and Distance Test, Ranking Tests, Sequencing
Verbal/Critical Logic	Statements & Arguments, Statements & Conclusion, Statements & Assumptions, Inferences, Cause and Effects
Non-Verbal & Patterns	Number Series, Coding and Decoding, Analogy Test, Symbol-Based Problems, Non-Verbal Reasoning

CMAT 2026 Language Comprehension Syllabus

This section focuses on your command over the English language, covering vocabulary, grammar, and reading ability.

Category	Key Topics
Reading & Structure	Reading Comprehension (RC), Jumbled Para (Para-jumbles), Paragraph Completion
Grammar	English Grammar (Tenses, Parts of Speech), Sentence Correction, Sentence Improvement, English Usage Errors
Vocabulary	Synonyms and Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Idioms and Phrases

CMAT 2026 General Awareness (GA) Syllabus

This is often the fastest section to complete but requires a broad range of knowledge across static and current topics.

Category	Key Topics
Current Affairs	National & International Events (Last 8-10 months), Sports News, Personalities in News, Trade Awareness
Static GK	Indian Constitution & Politics, Geography, History, Literature, Culture, Economics

CMAT 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Syllabus

This section, introduced recently, tests your awareness of the startup ecosystem and business terminology.

Focus Area	Key Topics
Business Concepts	Understanding Innovation, Business Plans, Life Cycle of Innovation, Types of Startups
Entrepreneurship	Dynamics of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Development, Launching a New Venture
Policy & Impact	Government Policies (Startup India, MSME schemes), Economic Impact of Entrepreneurship

What is the CMAT 2026 Registration Process?

To register for CMAT 2026, follow these steps:

• Visit cmat.nta.nic.in and create an account with your email and mobile number
• Fill out the application form and note your application number
• Upload required documents:
• Recent photo (10Kb-200Kb)
• Signature (4Kb-30Kb)
• PwD certificate (50Kb-300Kb), if applicable
• Pay the fee via SBI/HDFC, Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI
• Download, save, and print the confirmation page

What is CMAT 2026 Registration Fee?

The aspirants applying for the CMAT exam have to pay the fees, that are:

Category	Fee
Gen-EWS/ SC/ST/PwD /OBC-(NCL) Male	₹2500
Female/Third Gender	₹1250

Which Cities are Part of the CMAT 2026 Exam Centres List?

Once the CMAT exam dates 2026 are released, the following will be the sites where the CMAT 2026 exam will be conducted in online mode in the different CMAT Exam Centres:

CMAT 2026 Exam States	CMAT 2026 Exam City
Andaman And Nicobar	Port Blair, Guntur, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam
Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar/Naharlagun
Assam	Dibrugarh, Guwahati
Bihar	Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Begusarai
Chandigarh/Mohali	Chandigarh/Mohali
Chhattisgarh	Bhilai Nagar/Durg, Raipur
Delhi	Delhi-Ncr
Goa	Panaji
Gujarat	Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand, Bhuj, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Valsad/Vapi
Haryana	Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
Himachal Pradesh	Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla
Jammu And Kashmir	Jammu, Srinagar
Jharkhand	Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
Karnataka	Belagavi(Belgaum), Bengaluru, Dharwad/Hubballi, Hubli, Gulbarga, Mangaluru, Mysuru
Kerala	Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
Ladakh	Leh
Lakshwadeep	Kavaratti
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar
Maharashtra	Ahemednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Thane, Wardha
Manipur	Imphal
Meghalaya	Shillong
Mizoram	Aizawl
Nagaland	Dimapur, Kohima
Odisha	Balasore (Baleswar), Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Jeypore / Koraput, Sambalpur
Puducherry	Puducherry
Punjab	Amritsar, Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Patiala/ Fatehgarh Sahib
Rajasthan	Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur
Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli,
Telangana	Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal
Tripura	Agartala
Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Allahabad/Prayagraj, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut
Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi
Uttarakhand	Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
West Bengal	Kolkata, Siliguri

Also Check | List of Top colleges accepting CMAT Score in India

CMAT 2026 Exam Preparation Tips

Preparing for CMAT 2026 can feel overwhelming, but the right strategy can make it much easier. Here are some practical and proven tips to help you stay on track and boost your score:

✅Practice Previous Year Papers

Solving past CMAT question papers is one of the best ways to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. It improves your reasoning ability, time management, and confidence. Combine this with regular online mock tests for better results.

✅Use Your Exam Experience Wisely

If you have already appeared for other MBA entrance exams, use that experience to your advantage. Since CMAT shares a similar syllabus with exams like CAT, XAT, and MAT, your previous preparation will help you cover many topics faster.

✅Start Your Preparation Early

Ideally, begin your CMAT preparation at least six months before the exam. Starting early gives you enough time to cover the syllabus properly, revise important topics, and practise mock tests without pressure.

✅Take Mock Tests Seriously

Mock tests are not just for practice, they help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. After every mock, analyse your performance carefully and work on the areas where you are losing marks.

✅Build Strong Basics

A clear understanding of basic concepts is crucial, especially in Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, and Language Comprehension. Use standard books, online classes, and video tutorials if any topic feels difficult.

✅Develop a Daily Reading Habit

Reading newspapers, magazines, and current affairs articles regularly can greatly improve your Language Comprehension and Indian & Global Environment section. It also helps you stay updated with current events and improves reading speed.

With consistent effort, smart planning, and regular practice, cracking CMAT 2026 becomes much more achievable.