The CMAT exam pattern has been released by NTA on the official website https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/. According to the CMAT exam pattern, the question paper consists of five sections: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovative and Entrepreneurial Skills.
- CMAT exam pattern 2026 is expected to remain the same as the previous year.
- Each section of CMAT carries a weightage of 20 questions
- The total number of questions in CMAT is 100
- Total marks in CMAT are 400, maximum marks for each section is 80.
- As per the CMAT marking scheme, +4 marks for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong answer.
Related Links
- CMAT 2026: Check dates, Registration, Eligibility and more
- CMAT Mock Test 2026
- Does IIM accept CMAT?
- Download previous years’ CMAT question papers
Key Summary
- The CMAT 2026 exam pattern includes 5 different sections, such as 1. Quantitative technique and data interpretation, 2. Logical reasoning, 3. Language comprehension, 4. General awareness and 5. Innovative and entrepreneurship.
- The CMAT 2026 consists of 100 MCQ-type questions.
- Each section of CMAT 2026 consists of 20 questions, each question worth 4 marks.
- The correct answer will be awarded 4 marks, and in case of the wrong answer 1 mark will be deducted.
- The arithmetic topic in quantitative technique and data interpretation has the highest weightage with 24%.
- Reading comprehension gets the highest weightage in the language comprehension section with 60%.
- Logical reasoning has equal importance across the topics, however verbal reasoning has slightly high weightage (16%) compared to other topics.
- Static general awareness is the highest weighted average in general awareness with 90% weightage.
What is the CMAT Exam Pattern?
CMAT is a computer-based test conducted by the NTA. The CMAT exam pattern is released by NTA along with the registration information.
- CMAT includes 100 MCQ-type questions.
- The exam pattern includes 5 sections of CMAT syllabus such as 1. Quantitative technique and data interpretation, 2. Logical reasoning, 3. Language comprehension, 4. General awareness and 5. Innovative and entrepreneurship.
- The time duration given to the students to solve the paper is 3 hours. There is no individual sectional time limit.
- Each section has 20 questions, and the total number of questions is 100.
- Total marks of CMAT is 400, with each question carrying 4 marks.
- The CMAT exam will be conducted only in English language.
| CMAT Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Language | English |
| Total number of shift | 2 |
| Sections |
|
| Sectional time limit | No sectional time limit |
| Number of questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 400 |
Ques. What is the format of CMAT?
Ans. CMAT is the computer-based test consisting of 100 MCQs divided into 5 sections. Such as Quantitative technique and data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, general awareness and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ques. Is there a sectional time limit in CMAT?
Ans. No, there is no sectional time limit in CMAT. Total duration of CMAT is 180 minutes ( 3 Hours) without sectional time limit. Students need to balance the time for the whole 5 sections.
Ques. What is the mode of the CMAT exam?
Ans. CMAT is conducted as a computer-based examination in pre-allocated test centers in 2 shifts.
Ques. Is the CMAT MCQ based?
Ans. Yes, CMAT is entirely MCQ based. CMAT consists of 100 MCQ-type questions.
What is the CMAT Marking Scheme?
As per the exam pattern released by the NTA, marking scheme is as follows
- Maximum marks can be obtained in each section is 80 marks, making the total marks of CMAT is 400.
- The correct answer will be awarded 4 marks.
- 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- No marks will be given for unanswered questions.
| Details | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +4 |
| Wrong answer | -1 |
| No answer | 0 |
Ques. How is the CMAT exam scored?
Ans. Each question in CMAT carries 4 marks. Correct answers are awarded 4 marks, incorrect answers get -1 marks, and no answer gets no marks or 0 marks.
Ques. Is there negative marking in CMAT?
Ans. Yes, there is negative marking in CMAT. Choosing the wrong answer will deduct 1 mark. The correct answers are awarded 4 marks each, and no answer will get no marks.
CMAT Exam Pattern: Sectional Weightage
The CMAT exam is divided into 5 sections. Each section carries 20 MCQ-type questions.
The maximum marks that can be obtained is 80 marks per section. The difficulty level varies across question papers.
| Section Name | Total Number of Question | Maximum Marks | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 | Easy to moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 | Moderate |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 | Moderate to Difficult |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 | Moderate to difficult |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 | Moderate |
Ques. What is the sectional distribution of CMAT?
Ans. The sectional weightage of CMAT is as follows
- Quantitative techniques and data interpretation: 20 questions
- Logical reasoning: 20 questions
- Language comprehension: 20 questions
- General awareness: 20 questions
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship: 20 questions
CMAT Previous Years’ Question Papers
Solving previous year's question papers is very important to improve time management and accuracy. Candidates can download the previous year's question papers below.
CMAT Exam Pattern: Changes in the Last 5 Years
There have been no major changes in the CMAT exam pattern since 2022. Here are the most recent changes regarding the CMAT exam pattern.
CMAT 2021:
- The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section is introduced as an optional section with 25 questions. It didn’t count for the calculation of percentile.
- Each section consists of 25 questions each.
- For the candidates who attend the section, 30 minutes extra.
CMAT 2022:
- The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section is now introduced as a permanent section and it is mandatory for all students.
- The number of questions in each section is reduced to 20.
- The exam duration is now fixed at 3 hours.
- All sections are counted for percentile calculations.
CMAT (2023 - 2026)
There are no significant changes in the CMAT exam pattern between 2023 - 2026.
- Exam duration remains 3 hours, and 5 mandatory sections remain unchanged.
- Each section consists of 20 questions.
| Year | Questions | Sections | Exam Duration | Major Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025,2024,2023 | 100 |
| 3 hours | No major changes |
| 2022 | 100 |
| 3 hours |
|
| 2021 | 100/125 |
| 3 hours/ 3.5 hours |
|
Ques. Is it compulsory to attend the Innovation and Entrepreneurship section?
Ans. Yes, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship section is compulsory. It is counted towards the percentile calculations. This section has a weightage of 20 questions, with each question carrying 4 marks, making it worth 80 marks.
Ques. Are there any changes in the CMAT 2026 exam pattern from the previous year?
Ans. There are no significant changes in the CMAT 2026 from CMAT 2025.
- There are 100 MCQ-based questions. 20 questions in each section.
- The exam duration is 3 hours. Total marks is 400.
- +4 for the correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer.
CMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Chapter-wise Sectional Weightage
As per the official NTA, The CMAT exam pattern is divided into 5 sections. Each section covers the questions from the various topics. Below are the topics and their topic-wise weightage, including number of questions and their percentages.
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation
Among all the topics in quantitative and data interpretation, arithmetic has the highest weightage with 6 questions, followed by geometry having 5 questions.
Algebra has a weightage of 3 questions out of 20 questions. All other topic gets
| Topic Name | Total number of questions | Weightage in Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 3 | 16% |
| Arithmetic | 6 | 24% |
| Geometry | 5 | 28% |
| Data Interpretation | 2 | 8% |
| Modern Maths | 2 | 16% |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 8% |
Language Comprehension
Highest weightage of 60% comes from 4 Passages for reading comprehension questions. Synonyms and antonyms will approximately get 2 questions.
| Topic Name | Total number of questions | Weightage in percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension - 4 passages | 10 | 60% |
| Synonyms and Antonyms | 2 | 8% |
| Fill in the blanks | 1 | 4% |
| Error correction | 1 | 4% |
| Idioms | 1 | 4% |
| Para jumbles | 1 | 4% |
| Word analogy | 1 | 4% |
| Meaning of phrase | 1 | 4% |
| Word meaning | 1 | 4% |
| Correct the sentence | 1 | 4% |
Logical Reasoning
Verbal reasoning gets the highest weightage with 4 questions, while other topics get around 1 - 2 questions each.
| Topic Name | Number of questions | Weightage in percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning - statement argument, statement conclusion, word relationship, Assertion reason | 4 | 16% |
| Odd one out | 2 | 12% |
| Coding - decoding | 2 | 12% |
| Blood relations | 2 | 12% |
| Series completion | 1 | 8% |
| Visual reasoning | 1 | 8% |
| Analogy | 2 | 8% |
| Logic based | 1 | 4% |
| Counting number of squares in a figure | 1 | 4% |
| Ranking | 1 | 4% |
| Square arrangement | 1 | 4% |
| Directions | 1 | 4% |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 4% |
General Awareness
Static GK covers various topics such as history, geography, the Indian constitution, economics, literature, etc. Static GK has the highest weightage with 18 questions, while current affairs get 2-3 questions.
| Topic Name | Number of questions | Weightage in percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Static GK | 17-18 | 90% |
| Current affairs | 2-3 | 10% |
Ques. How many marks are in the quant and DI sections in CMAT?
Ans. Quant and DI section has a weightage of 20 questions, with each carrying 4 marks. So the quant and DI section gets 80 marks in total.
Ques. Can I skip any section in the CMAT if I am weak in it?
Ans. It is technically possible to skip any section, but it is not advisable to skip completely, since every section carries 80 marks. You can minimize the preparation time, but please do prepare for important topics from the section to get at least partial marks.
Ques. Is the logical reasoning section more important than any other section in CMAT?
Ans. No, the logical reasoning section has equal weightage as other sections. Every section consists of 20 questions, and each worth 80 marks.
CMAT 2026 Preparation Tips
CMAT 2026 preparation should be done as per the exam pattern and syllabus. Go through the entire syllabus and analyse the exam pattern to understand the structure of the exam. Tips below may help you prepare well for CMAT 2026.
- Candidates must plan and allocate their time to studies and stick to the plan. Allot the time according to the difficulty level. Make sure every section is covered.
- Gradual and regular revision helps in familiarizing with the topics,basics of the topics, types of questions and important questions.
- Try to solve the previous year's CMAT question paper as much as possible.
- Do practice sectional mock tests, and overall mock tests to analyse what your strengths and weaknesses are.
- Work on speed and accuracy by learning shortcut methods and tricks to solve problems.
Check Out:
Ques. How to improve time management skills for the CMAT exam?
Ans. CMAT requires speed and accuracy to solve problems in CMAT since 100 questions need to be solved in 180 minutes. Solving mock tests and sample papers is the best way to practice time management. And learning shortcut methods, tricks and formulas will help you solve the problems so fast.
Ques. How many hours should I dedicate to CMAT preparation?
Ans. If you are a beginner who is just starting to understand the CMAT exam patterns, 7 - 8 hours of focused study is required. But if you already know about the CMAT exam pattern and concepts, then 3-4 hours of study would be enough.
CMAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Ques 1. Is CMAT difficult?
Ans. CMAT is considered moderately difficult, however difficulty level can vary section wise. CMAT tests the fundamentals and applications of each topic. It is easier compared to the CAT exam.
Ques 2. Can I use a calculator in the CMAT examination?
Ans. No, physical calculators are not allowed in the CMAT. An on screen calculator will be provided during the exam.
Ques 3. In what languages the CMAT is conducted?
Ans. CMAT is conducted in the English language only.
Ques 4. How many times can I attempt the CMAT?
Ans. You can attempt the CMAT as many times, there is no limit on the number of attempts. However, you need to pay the application fee each time you attempt the exam.
Ques 5. What are the passing marks for CMAT?
Ans. There are no passing marks for CMAT, generally colleges set their own cutoff using CMAT percentile. Usually 120 marks considered qualifying marks but scoring minimum 250 marks is required to be considered for top B schools
Ques 6. Do any IITs accept the CMAT score?
Ans. No, IITs don’t accept the CMAT score for their management programmes.They accept XAT, CAT and GMAT.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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