The ATMA 2026 exam was conducted on 22 February 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in CBT mode for 3 hours.

The exam will have 180 questions from the 6 sections: Analytical Reasoning (1 and 2), Verbal Skills (1 and 2), and Quantitative Skills (1 and 2) for a total of 180 marks, it followed the similar pattern as previous years.

As per the Catking, Part I sections were generally easier to moderate, while Part II ramped up slightly in complexity, making it more time-consuming.

Chapter-wise Weightage: Questions were distributed evenly, but key topics included:

  • Analytical: Puzzles, coding-decoding, arrangements (higher in Part II).
  • Verbal: Reading comprehension (3–4 passages), grammar, vocabulary.
  • Quant: Arithmetic (percentages, ratios), algebra, data interpretation (graphs, tables).

No major technical glitches were reported, though some centers had minor delays in starting

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ATMA 2026 Difficulty Level (Overall)

The Quantitative section generally acts as the differentiator for higher percentiles, making quant accuracy and speed key to scoring well, even if overall difficulty remained moderate.

Most students reported that the Verbal section was relatively easier compared to the other areas.

Aspect Difficulty Level Explanation / Insight
Overall Difficulty Moderate Most candidates found the exam balanced, not too easy or too tough.
Verbal Skills Easy to Moderate Questions were straightforward and mostly based on grammar and reading comprehension.
Analytical Reasoning Moderate Reasoning sets were doable but required careful thinking and time management.
Quantitative Skills Moderate to Difficult Quant was perceived as the toughest section due to calculation intensity and longer problem sets.
Time Management Challenging Many students found pacing difficult due to strict sectional time limits.

ATMA 2026 Section-wise Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

ATMA 2026 was overall moderate, but the second half, specifically Quantitative Skills II, was the toughest part.

  • Verbal sections were easier and had around 20–22 good attempts, while Quant required strong accuracy with fewer safe attempts (18–22).
  • Students who managed time well and maintained good accuracy across sections are likely to score in the higher percentile range (85+).
Section Difficulty Level Good Attempts Key Insights
Analytical Reasoning Skills – I Moderate 22–25 Focused on logical puzzles and reasoning; manageable with practice. Questions on arrangements and syllogisms were straightforward but required attention to detail.
Verbal Skills – I Easy to Moderate 20–22 Reading comprehension passages were moderate in length; grammar and vocabulary questions were direct. Some candidates found idioms/phrases tricky.
Quantitative Skills – I Moderate to Difficult 18–22 Arithmetic-heavy with some algebra; data interpretation sets were calculative but not overly complex. Time management was key here.
Analytical Reasoning Skills – II Moderate to Difficult 22–25 Tougher than Part I, with more critical reasoning and series questions. Some puzzles were lengthy, leading to skipped attempts.
Verbal Skills – II Moderate 20–22 Similar to Part I but with slightly more inferential RC questions. Overall, balanced and scoring for strong readers.
Quantitative Skills – II Difficult 18–22 The toughest section for many; included advanced quant like permutations and geometry. High accuracy needed to offset negatives.

ATMA 2026 Students Reaction

Reddit discussions show that aspirants are not just focused on exam difficulty but also on exam strategy, admit card logistics, and the broader value of ATMA for MBA admissions.

There’s a recurrent theme of comparing ATMA with other MBA entrance tests (CAT, CET), reflecting aspirants’ concerns about utility and outcome. - Reddit

Platform User Reaction / Topic Discussed Insight Summary
Reddit – r/CATpreparation Users discussing ATMA admit card release issues Some candidates were unable to see their admit cards on the dashboard even after the portal said it was released, indicating anxiety over official updates. (Reddit)
Reddit – r/CATpreparation Comment on difficulty and perception of ATMA Several users compared ATMA’s difficulty to other exams, noting it is often perceived as easier or moderate than CAT/XAT but with limited strong college options. (Reddit)
Reddit – r/CATpreparation Mixed opinion on whether applying through ATMA is worthwhile Some aspirants were unsure if attempting ATMA (e.g., for Welingkar Mumbai) was worth the effort due to exam and future prospects. (Reddit)
Reddit – r/CATpreparation CET vs ATMA discussion Users debated which exam to attempt; one noted that ATMA scores often lead to lower percentiles due to fewer test takers compared to CET/other exams. (Reddit)
Reddit – r/CATpreparation Query about whether to fill ATMA form Aspirants asked if they should attempt ATMA based on background and target colleges (like PUMBA or Welingkar), showing real confusion over strategic choices. (Reddit)

ATMA 2026 Good Attempts and Accuracy:

Overall good attempts: 135-145 questions (out of 180) with 85-90% accuracy for competitive scores. This suggests the paper allowed for high attempts without being too easy (which might inflate scores) or too hard (limiting attempts).

Section Difficulty Good Attempts
Analytical Reasoning I Moderate 22-25
Verbal Skills I Easy-Moderate 20-22
Quantitative Skills I Moderate-Difficult 18-22
Analytical Reasoning II Moderate-Difficult 22-25
Verbal Skills II Moderate 20-22
Quantitative Skills II Difficult 18-22

ATMA 2026 Cutoff for Top Colleges

College Expected Percentile Cutoff
PUMBA (Pune) 85-90
Christ University (Bengaluru) 80-85
IPE (Hyderabad) 75-80
XIME (Bengaluru) 75-80