Exam
Get details about CMAT 2027 for MBA admission including exam dates, eligibility, syllabus, and list of accepting colleges.
Common Management Admission Test
Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to Management & Business programmes across India. The exam is conducted in online mode with a duration of 3 hours for a total of 400 marks . CMAT is held once a year. Currently, 5+ colleges in India accept CMAT scores for admission.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to Management & Business programmes across India. The exam is conducted in online mode with a duration of 3 hours for a total of 400 marks . CMAT is held once a year. Currently, 5+ colleges in India accept CMAT scores for admission.
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is a national-level online Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBA, PGDM, and other management programmes at AICTE-approved institutions across India. The test is held once a year, typically in January-February, and the score is valid for one academic year.
Application Form Release
05 Jan 2026, Monday
Last Date to Apply
05 Feb 2026, Thursday
Admit Card Download
25 Feb 2026, Wednesday
Exam Date
10 Mar 2026, Tuesday
| Event | Type | Session | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Form Release Tentative | Registration | - | 05 Jan 2026 | Apply at official NTA CMAT portal cmat.nta.nic.in |
| Last Date to Apply Tentative | Registration | - | 05 Feb 2026 | Last date to submit application form and pay fee |
| Admit Card Download Tentative | Admit Card | - | 25 Feb 2026 | Download hall ticket from NTA CMAT official website |
| Exam Date Tentative | Exam | - | 10 Mar 2026 | Computer-based test conducted in two shifts across exam centres nationwide |
| Answer Key Release Tentative | Answer Key | - | 18 Mar 2026 | Provisional answer key released; candidates can raise objections |
| Result Declaration Tentative | Result | - | 05 Apr 2026 | Scorecard and percentile available on NTA website |
| Counselling Registration Tentative | Counselling | - | 20 Apr 2026 | Participating institutions begin individual admission/counselling processes |
Understanding the eligibility criteria is the first step towards preparing for Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). The exam is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) at the national level for candidates seeking admission to Management & Business programmes across India. Candidates must carefully verify that they meet all requirements before filling the application form to avoid rejection at a later stage.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,000 |
| General / OBC | ₹2,000 |
CMAT does not have a centralised national counselling body like JoSAA or MCC. Admissions based on CMAT scores are handled independently by each participating institution and, for state-quota seats, by respective state counselling authorities. The broad process is as follows:
Candidates are advised to simultaneously apply to multiple colleges and track each institute's GD-PI/WAT schedule, as these rounds typically run parallel to counselling during March-June 2025.
CMAT cutoff is the minimum score required by candidates to qualify the examination and become eligible for the next stage of admission. The cutoff is determined by National Testing Agency (NTA) based on factors like total number of candidates, difficulty level of the paper, and availability of seats. The exam is conducted for a total of 400 marks. Candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) generally have lower cutoff scores compared to the General category.
CMAT 2026 cutoff scores will be published after the results are declared. Check back for updates.
Difficulty Level
The overall difficulty of the question paper directly affects cutoff scores.
Number of Candidates
Higher participation generally leads to higher cutoff scores due to increased competition.
Available Seats
The total number of seats across participating institutes impacts how many candidates qualify.
Reservation Policy
Different cutoffs apply for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories as per government norms.
A total of 5+ colleges and institutions across India accept CMAT scores for admission to Management & Business programmes . This includes 2 government and 3 private institutions. These colleges are spread across 5 states including Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and more . The highest-rated institution is National Law University Jodhpur with a rating of 4.40/5.
Verify your eligibility well before the application deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
Keep all required documents (marksheets, certificates, ID proof) ready before starting the application.
Final-year students can usually apply provisionally - check the official notification for details.
Always refer to the official CMAT website for the most up-to-date eligibility norms.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Marks per Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 25 | 100 | 4 |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 | 100 | 4 |
| Language Comprehension | 25 | 100 | 4 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 100 | 4 |
| Total (Core) | 100 | 400 | - |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Optional) | 25 | 100 | 4 |
All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options and a single correct answer. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship section is additional and institution-specific; its score may or may not be considered depending on the accepting college.
The total duration of CMAT is 180 minutes (3 hours) for the four core sections. Candidates attempting the optional Innovation & Entrepreneurship section get additional time. The exam is conducted entirely online in CBT mode at designated NTA test centres across India. There is no sectional time limit - candidates can allocate their 180 minutes across sections as they prefer.
| # | College | Location | Type | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Law University Jodhpur university | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | Government | 4.4 | View → |
| 2 | National Institute of Technology Rourkela nit | Rourkela, Odisha | Government | 4.3 | View → |
| 3 | Christ University Bangalore university | Bangalore, Karnataka | Private | 4.2 | View → |
| 4 | Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology institute | Patiala, Punjab | Private | 4.2 | View → |
| 5 | SRM Institute of Science and Technology university | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Private | 4.0 | View → |
Dedicate a minimum of 3-4 months to CMAT preparation. Spend the first 6 weeks on concept building - cover all four core sections thoroughly. Weeks 7-10 should focus on revision and sectional practice tests. From week 11 onward, shift entirely to full-length practice tests and analysis. Aim for at least 20 full practice tests before exam day.
CMAT has no strict sectional time limits, so practice managing 180 minutes across 100 questions (400 marks). Attempt the Innovation & Entrepreneurship section first if you find it easy - it builds confidence. Always review incorrect answers in detail; CMAT deducts 1 mark per wrong answer, so accuracy matters more than speed. Use NTA's official practice tests portal (nta.ac.in) to familiarise yourself with the exact interface.
Report to the centre at least 90 minutes before the scheduled time with a valid photo ID and NTA admit card. CMAT is conducted in a single session (morning), so sleep early the night before. Do not attempt new questions on exam day - trust your preparation. Read all four options before marking, as CMAT often uses close distractors in Logical Reasoning and Language Comprehension sections.
Information last reviewed on 25 Jun 2026.
Exam dates, eligibility rules, application windows, and counselling steps can change. Always cross-check the latest bulletin or exam authority notice before acting.