CMAT Exam: Gateway to 1,300+ B-Schools
Your Complete Guide to the Common Management Admission Test
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The NTA has been entrusted with administering CMAT, replacing the earlier conducting authority AICTE.
CMAT is one of India's most accessible and affordable MBA entrance exams, accepted by over 1,300 AICTE-approved MBA and PGDM colleges across the country. This includes premier institutions such as JBIMS (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies), KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Welingkar Institute of Management (Mumbai), Great Lakes Institute of Management (Chennai), Xavier Institute of Social Service (Ranchi), KIIT School of Management (Bhubaneswar), Goa Institute of Management, BIMTECH, Amity University, and many others.
Unlike CAT which is highly competitive and restricted to 20 IIMs, CMAT provides a broader pathway to quality management education with lower registration fees and a moderate difficulty level, making it an inclusive option for MBA aspirants from diverse academic backgrounds.
📅 CMAT Registration Timeline
Registration Period: Typically opens in mid-October
Application Window: Approximately 1 month duration
Expected Exam Date: Usually conducted in late January
Result Declaration: Expected in February
CMAT Exam Highlights
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) |
| Full Form | Common Management Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Frequency | Once every year (typically January) |
| Official Website | https://cmat.nta.nic.in |
| Accepted By | 1,300+ AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM colleges |
| Score Validity | 1 Year |
| Language | English (CBT only) |
| Test Cities | Over 124 exam centres across India |
Latest CMAT Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks Per Question | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| Total | 100 Questions | - | 400 Marks |
Marking Scheme:
• Correct Answer: +4 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
• Unanswered Question: No deduction (0 marks)
Question Format: All questions are in Multiple Choice (MCQ) format with 5 answer options. There are no TITA (Type In The Answer) questions in CMAT.
CMAT Important Timeline
| Event | Expected Timeline |
|---|---|
| Registration Start Date | Mid-October (typically) |
| Registration Last Date | Mid-November (approximately 1 month window) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 1 day after registration closes |
| Application Correction Window | 2-3 days after registration closes |
| City Intimation Slip Release | To be announced by NTA |
| Admit Card Release | Few days before exam |
| Expected Exam Date | Late January (typically last week) |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Answer Key Release | Few days after exam |
| Result Declaration | Expected in February |
CMAT Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final-year candidates are also eligible, provided their results will be declared before the commencement of MBA admissions.
Age Limit
No age restriction - candidates of any age can apply multiple times if they meet other eligibility criteria.
Nationality
Indian citizens are eligible to apply.
Minimum Academic Marks
Bachelor's degree holders must have scored at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD category).
Top CMAT Accepting Colleges & Expected Cut Offs
| College Name | Location | Expected Cut Off (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management (JBIMS) | Mumbai | 99.92 |
| Goa Institute of Management | Goa | 99.85 |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | 99.20 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | Chennai | 99.06 |
| Xavier Institute of Social Service | Ranchi | 95 |
| Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool) | Mumbai | 70 |
| Christ University Institute of Management | Bangalore | 70 |
| BIMTECH | Greater Noida | 75 |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Noida | 82 |
| IFIM Business School | Bangalore | 85 |
| KIIT School of Management | Bhubaneswar | 80 |
Why Take CMAT?
Key Benefits & Opportunities
1. Broader Accessibility - Accepted by over 1,300 MBA colleges across India, providing more choices compared to CAT.
2. Affordable & Inclusive - Lower registration fee and moderate difficulty level make it accessible to candidates from diverse academic backgrounds.
3. Guaranteed AICTE Approval - All colleges accepting CMAT are government-approved AICTE institutes, ensuring quality education and recognized degrees.
4. Multiple Attempts - Unlike some other exams, candidates can attempt CMAT multiple times to improve their scores.
5. Career Growth Opportunities - CMAT graduates secure positions with top multinational corporations including Deloitte, EY, PwC, KPMG, HDFC, ICICI, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Capgemini, HUL, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Flipkart.
6. Strong Salary Packages - Top CMAT-accepting colleges offer attractive packages with average salaries ranging between ₹10-23 LPA.
7. Geographic Diversity - Colleges across 13+ states accept CMAT, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and others.
CMAT Score vs. Percentile Reference
| CMAT Score | Percentile Range | College Options |
|---|---|---|
| 270+ marks | 95th percentile | Great Lakes Institute of Management, Welingkar Mumbai, National Insurance Academy Pune |
| 240-270 marks | 85-95th percentile | BIMTECH, Christ University, ISBM Pune, WeSchool Bangalore |
| 200-240 marks | 70-85th percentile | Jaipuria Institute of Management, Asia-Pacific Institute of Management |
| Below 200 marks | Below 70th percentile | Various private MBA colleges |
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