CMAT 2025 is scheduled to be conducted in May 2025. Common Management Aptitude Test is a three-hour aptitude exam for admission to management programmes. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam in over 300 cities across India. The examination receives approximately 80,000 applicants each year. In CMAT 2024, a total of 76745 candidates registered for exam out of which 65127 candidates appeared.
CMAT scores are valid for over 1000 AICTE-approved colleges (both government & private), although CMAT scores are not valid for IIMs, only CAT Exam scores are considered. Top colleges that accept CMAT score include JBIMS, KJ Somaiaya, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Great Lakes Institute of Management, etc.
Is CMAT worth it?
The exam is accepted by over 1000 AICTE approved colleges and universities all over India. In comparison to MAT and ATMA, CMAT is a higher level MBA entrance exams and it is accepted by more colleges in contrast. However, when compared to CAT, it lacks some tier 1 colleges. CAT is accepted by IIMs which is India’s premier management institutes. CMAT is accepted by JBIMS and SIMREE which students refer to as top tier. Other colleges include Welingkar and KJ Somaiya which are considered tier-2.
So, if you’re aiming for top tier colleges, you’re best bet is CAT/XAT as some students have also reported that they were unable to get any top tier colleges even by having a high percentile score.
Are you eligible?
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline Students enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree program in any discipline |
| Minimum Marks | No minimum aggregate marks are required |
| Nationality | Any candidate who is applying for CMAT 2024must be an Indian resident |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| CMAT Eligible Colleges | 1000+ |
Key Dates
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration starts | Second week of March 2025 |
| Registration ends | Third week of April 2025 |
| Form correction window | Third week of April 2025 |
| Admit card 2025 release | First week of May 2025 |
| CMAT 2025 Exam | Second week of May 2025 |
| Answer key challenge | One week after the exam |
| Result declaration | Three weeks after the exam |
CMAT Exam Format
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Sectional Time Limit | No |
| Nature of Questions | Objective Type (MCQs) |
| Number of Choices | Four Choices, out of which only one choice will be correct |
| Number of Sections | 5 |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 400 Marks |
| Marks Awarded | +4 for every correct answer |
| Negative Marking | -1 for every wrong answer |
| Medium | English Only |
CMAT Syllabus
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) releases the CMAT Exam Syllabus on its official website. The CMAT includes topics like- Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Students need to make themselves familiar with these in order to prepare in a streamlined manner.
- In CMAT Syllabus for Quant and DI, Arithmetic and Number System account for about 40% of weightage.
- The important topics of CMAT logical reasoning syllabus include blood relations, seating arrangements, sequence & series completion, and verbal reasoning (syllogisms, analogy, assertion-reasoning, etc.).
- CMAT syllabus for language comprehension comprises reading comprehension, para jumbles, sentence correction, phrases/ idioms, antonyms/ synonyms, and grammar.
- For GK and Innovation & Entrepreneurship Syllabus for CMAT, the more focus is on the static part. The current affairs account for only about 20-25% of the questions in both sections.
| Section Name | Important Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | Time speed distance, algebra, geometry, allegation and mixtures, quadratic and linear equation, etc | 20 |
| Logical Reasoning | Analytical reasoning, linear arrangements, number series, blood relationship, arrangements | 20 |
| Language Comprehension | Reading comprehension, grammar, usage errors, para jumbles, | 20 |
| General Awareness | Politics, economy, culture, society, sports, events, current affairs | 20 |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Questions in this section will be based on topics related to Innovation, entrepreneurship skills, startups, business developments, etc. | 20 |
Preparation Strategies: Ace Your Score!
NTA releases the syllabus every year but note that the question paper pattern has not changed much over the years. Hence, the preparation strategies that are available online can be used as a good reference.
- Start by understanding the syllabus, exam pattern and the sectional distribution
- NTA releases AICTE-approved syllabus every year. To start your preparations, you can refer to previous year syllabus’ PDF.
- Now, make a plan for the remaining time you have for the preparation. Note that it is crucial that you make the most of the time you have.
- Once you have a plan for your exam preparation time, do a couple of mock tests (see banner below) to understand your level.
- Analyse your performance in mocks and work on you weak areas.
- In the section below, we have provided the top books you can refer for your preparation.
Books to Refer
| Subject | Book Name | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | RS Agarwal |
| Accredited Guide to Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha | |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation Data Sufficiency | Think Tank of Kiran Prakashan | |
| Logical Reasoning | A modern approach to logical reasoning | RS Agarwal |
| How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT | Arun Sharma | |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit Sinha | |
| Language Comprehension | The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability | Sujit Kumar |
| The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT | Nishit K Sinha | |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension? | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay | |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R S Aggarwal | |
| CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Gautam Puri | |
| General Awareness | General Knowledge | Disha Experts |
| Face To Face MAT With 19 Years (1997-2016) | BS Sijwali |
CMAT Statistics
A total of 76,745 candidates registered for CMAT Exam out of which 65127 candidates appeared for the examination. The CMAT exam was conducted on May 15, 2024 in two slots at various CMAT test centres. You can check the full 2024 statistics below:
Gender And Category Wise Number Of Candidates Registered 2024
| Gender | General | Gen-EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC | ST | PWD* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 19033 | 3126 | 9738 | 2033 | 542 | 68 | 34472 |
| Male | 19273 | 5115 | 13993 | 3142 | 749 | 133 | 42272 |
| Third gender | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Total | 38307 | 8241 | 23731 | 5175 | 1291 | 201 | 76745 |
Gender And Category Wise Number Of Candidates Appeared 2024
| Gender | General | Gen- EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC | ST | PWD* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 15831 | 2804 | 8309 | 1671 | 435 | 53 | 29050 |
| Male | 16434 | 4549 | 11995 | 2548 | 596 | 100 | 36122 |
| Third gender | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 32265 | 7353 | 20304 | 4219 | 1031 | 153 | 65172 |
Key Reasons for the Drop in CMAT Registrations in 2024
- Uncertain Exam Dates: The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts CMAT, has a history of delaying the exam and not announcing the dates well in advance. This creates confusion and disrupts students' preparation plans. In 2023 and 2021, NTA caused similar anxiety among applicants by announcing the exam date at the last minute.
- Lack of Transparency Compared to Other Exams: Unlike CAT and XAT which announce exam dates along with the notification, NTA withholds this information for CMAT. This puts CMAT at a disadvantage as students prefer exams with a clear schedule.
- Impact on Students' Strategy: The delay in CMAT disrupts students' preparation as they are unsure about the exam date and cannot plan their admissions process effectively. This uncertainty makes it difficult for them to explore MBA/PGDM options for the upcoming academic year.
- Top B-Schools Not Accepting CMAT Scores: Many prestigious PGDM colleges that consider CMAT scores have deadlines for their admissions process in March/April, with sessions starting in June/July. The delay in the CMAT exam creates a conflict for these institutes, as they cannot wait indefinitely for the results but also need to accept CMAT scores. This disrupts their admissions process and academic calendar.
- NTA's Confusing Practices: Frequent changes to the CMAT format and inconsistencies between the official website and notifications add to the confusion for students and institutions. This lack of clarity discourages students from applying and makes it difficult for B-schools to manage admissions.
CMAT vs CAT
CMAT full form is the Common Management Admission Test which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) whereas CAT Exam or Common Admission Test is conducted by IIMs (Indian Institute of Management). Listed below is the comparison between CMAT vs CAT:
- Validity: CMAT Scores are valid for more than 1000 B-Schools across India except for IIMs. CAT Scores are valid for IIMs as well as other B-Schools.
- Popularity: Total CAT registrations are 3 times more than that of CMAT registrations. Last year alone over 3.3 Lakhs appeared for CAT, for the same year, CMAT registrations was 70,000.
- Difficulty: Owing to its popularity, CAT is more difficult than CMAT. CMAT Exam difficulty level is Easy to Moderate whereas CAT difficulty level is Moderate to Hard
- Exam Pattern: CAT Paper consists of 3 Sections with a total of 66 marks each whereas CMAT consists of 5 sections with a total of 100 marks.
CMAT Accepting Colleges With Their Cut Off and Fees
The top MBA colleges in India accepting CMAT scores are Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, JBIMS Mumbai, WeSchool Mumbai. There are around 1039 MBA colleges in India accepting CMAT scores out of which 929 are private and 101 are government MBA colleges.
| Top Colleges | Cut Off Percentile | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies | 99.99 | 6.00 Lakhs |
| Sydenham Institute of Management Studies And Research And Entrepreneurship Education | 99.96 | 1.36 Lakhs |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management - GLIM | 95 | 16.45 Lakhs |
| SIMSR Mumbai: K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies And Research | 97 | 11.93 Lakhs |
| Institute For Financial Management & Research | 90 | 12 Lakhs |
| Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research | 95 | 11 Lakhs |
| Department of Management Sciences University of Pune | 95 | 2.45 Lakhs |
| Goa Institute of Management | 93 | 9.79 Lakhs |
| SIES College of Management Studies | 84 | 6.30 Lakhs |
| Institute of Public Enterprise | 80+ | 8.00 Lakhs |
CMAT Score vs Percentile
| CMAT Score | CMAT Percentile |
|---|---|
| 340+ | 100 |
| 280-320 | 99+ |
| 260-280 | 95-99 |
| 240-280 | 90-94 |
| 200-240 | 80-90 |
| 160-200 | 70-80 |
| 140-160 | 60-70 |
| 120-140 | 50-60 |
| Below 120 | Less than 50 |
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Last Date of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS (Minorities) | Minority communities, a technical or professional course at undergraduate or postgraduate level, must have secured at least 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination, annual family income should not be more than INR 2.50 Lakh from all the sources, admission based on the competitive entrance examination or must have scored at least 50% in Class 12 or graduation (in case of direct admission) | October 31, 2024 (Tentative) |
| Post Graduate Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST | SC/ST category; The first year of the professional course at the postgraduate level Universities/Institutions/Colleges comes under section 2(f) & and 12(B) of UGC Act Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and are eligible to receive grants-in-aid from UGC Universities/Institutions/Colleges funded by Central/State Government Institutes of National Importance | October 31, 2024 (Tentative) |
| ONGC Scholarship | General category students must be studying in the first year of MBA/Engineering/MBBS/ Master of Geology program, minimum 60% or equivalent CGPA in class 12 and graduation, family income must not exceed INR 2 lakhs per annum, Candidate must not be older than 30 years of age. INR 48,000 per annum | July 08, 2024 (Tentative) |
| OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholarships (OPJEMS) | Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGP), 20 students from different B-Schools, and first-year students will be selected based on the entrance exam. Second, third, and fourth-year students will be selected from their previous year’s academic performance. | August 07, 2024 (Tentative) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Do CMAT release the official syllabus?
Ans. Unline CAT, NTA releases the AICTE-approved official syllabus for CMAT every year. You can refer cmat.nta.nic.in/ to get the official syllabus for CMAT. You can expect the syllabus by the end of 2024.
Ques. Which is best CMAT or CAT?
Ans. To decipher which is better for you, CMAT or CAT, you must check these points of comparison and take your decision:
- Competition Level: The competition level in CAT is higher with more than 2-2.5 lakh candidates registering every year. For CMAT, around 60000-80000 candidates register on a yearly basis.
- Difficulty Level: CAT is a tougher exam in terms of the difficulty level of questions and paper pattern. CMAT is way easier when it comes to CAT vs CMAT.
- IIM Admission Opportunities: You can take admission to IIMs only through CAT exam. If you are looking for an MBA in IIMs, then CAT is your choice.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments
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