Content Writer | Updated On - Apr 20, 2023
CMAT 2023 exam date is May 4, 2023. NTA has announced the official CMAT 2023 date at cmat.nta.nic.in 2023. CMAT 2023 is scheduled in 2 shifts on May 4:
NTA is expected to release CMAT 2023 Exam City Intimation Slip by April 25.
Candidates can expect CMAT 2023 Admit Card to be out by this week on the official website- cmat.nta.nic.in. Check CMAT Admit Card 2023 Download Link
CMAT 2023 exam is of 3 hours duration comprising 100 MCQs- 20 each from Quant & DI, Logical Reasoning, VARC, GK, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. You get 4 marks for each correct answer and lose 1 mark for each incorrect answer. Check CMAT 2023 Exam Pattern
CMAT Cut off is not released by NTA. It is decided by the respective institutes for carrying out the admission process. CMAT Cut off for some colleges can be as low as 60 percentile while for some it is above 95 percentile. Check CMAT Cut off
CMAT 2023 Cut off for JBIMS, Sydenham, SIMSREE, etc., is expected above 99 percentile. To secure 99+ percentile, candidates need to aim for a score of 320+ in CMAT 2023 exam. Check CMAT Score vs Percentile
Common Management Aptitude Test or CMAT is a national level management entrance exam conducted by the NTA for admission to MBA/ PGDM courses in about 1300 AICTE approved B-schools in India including JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE Mumbai, K J Somaiya Institute of Management and Research, PUMBA Pune.
CMAT 2023 Exam Date is out. Given below are the tentative dates for admit card, exam date based on the latest media reports.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| CMAT Registration Begins | February 13, 2023 |
| CMAT Registration Last Date | March 13, 2023 |
| CMAT Correction Window | March 14 to 16, 2023 |
| CMAT 2023 Admit Card Download | Second week of April 2023 |
| CMAT 2023 Exam Date | May 4, 2023 |
| CMAT 2023 Answer Key | Third week of April 2023 |
| CMAT 2023 Result | Last week of April 2023 |
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the exam | CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Online Computer Based Test |
| Medium of the exam | English |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Number of Sections | 5: Language Comprehension, Quant & DI, Logical Reasoning, GK, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | 4 marks for correct answer and 25% negative marking, i.e. 1 mark for every incorrect answer |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| CMAT Exam Date 2023 NTA Official website | cmat.nta.nic.in |
CMAT exam offers various advantages over other MBA entrance exams. Some of the reasons why one should sit for CMAT MBA entrance exam include:
CMAT 2023 Admit Card will be available for download only on the official website- cmat.nta.nic.in. The admit card for CMAT 2023 will be issued provisionally to all the registered candidates, subject to the fulfillment of the eligibility criteria.
CMAT Admit Card 2023 download link is available under the ‘Candidate Activity’ section on the official NTA CMAT website- cmat.nta.nic.in. You can also find the download link for CMAT Admit Card 2023 here.
| CMAT Admit Card 2023 Download Link | Check Here |
| Activity | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry to the Examination Hall | 8:15 - 8:30 am | 1:45 – 2:00 pm |
| Last Entry to the Exam Hall | 8:30 am | 2:00 pm |
| Instructions by Invigilator | 8:45 to 8:55 am | 2:15 to 2:25 pm |
| Commencement of CMAT Exam | 9 am | 2:30 pm |
| CMAT Exam Concludes | 12 am | 5:30 pm |
The important guidelines that all candidates need to follow on CMAT exam day are provided below for your reference:
CMAT 2023 will be conducted at 200+ CMAT 2023 Exam Centers located across 110 major test cities all over the country. NTA takes all the efforts to allot the exam center as per the 4 city choices opted by the candidates during CMAT registration. However, in case of some logistic issues, a different test center may be allotted. The final allotted CMAT test center is printed on the admit card and no changes are permitted in the same.
CMAT 2023 exam pattern is provided by NTA in the official information bulletin. No changes have been introduced in this year’s CMAT exam pattern from last year. The medium of CMAT 2023 question paper will be English only. The details of the paper pattern of CMAT 2023 are tabulated below:
| Section | Number of questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 20 |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 |
| General Awareness | 20 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship (optional) | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
It was in CMAT exam 2021 that the section on Innovation and Entrepreneurship was introduced as an optional section with 25 extra questions. Hence, before 2021, CMAT exam had 100 questions divided equally into 4 sections only.
| Particulars | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| For every correct response | +4 |
| For every incorrect response | -1 |
| For unattempted questions | 0 |
It must be noted that if after the conclusion of the answer key challenge:
CMAT 2023 Syllabus is as prescribed by AICTE. CMAT Syllabus 2023 includes the important topics included under the 5 sections:
| Subject | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | Speed, Time and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Percentages, Averages, Profit, Tables, Bar Graphs , Line Charts, Venn Diagrams, Pie Chart, |
| Logical Reasoning | Logical Sequence, Number and Letter Series, Binary Logic, Direction Sense, Clocks & Calendars, Puzzles, Syllogism, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations |
| Language Comprehension | Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Grammar, Vocabulary-based, Parajumbles |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs of National and International Economy, Personalities in News, Indian Constitution, Sports News, Politics, History, Culture, Geography, Economics, Science in Everyday Life. |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Important Events, Budget & Economic Survey, Business & Corporate affairs, New Investments & Schemes, Policies related to Entrepreneurship and Business Promotion, Startups, General Economy, and Current Affairs |
CMAT topic wise weightage is provided here to help you prepare well for the upcoming exam in 2023. Based on the analysis of the past 2 years’ CMAT exam, we have curated the list of topics that have had the highest weightage in CMAT exam.
| Topic | Number of Questions in CMAT 2022 | Number of Questions in CMAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | 11 |
| Algebra | 1 | 4 |
| Number System | 2 | 4 |
| Geometry | 2 | 1 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 3 |
| Data Interpretation | 5 | 2 |
| Topic | Number of Questions in CMAT 2022 | Number of Questions in CMAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4 | 14 |
| Synonyms/ Antonyms | 2 | 1 |
| Phrasal Verbs | 3 | 2 |
| Word Meaning & Spellings | 2 | - |
| Fill in the blanks (Vocabulary) | 2 | - |
| Error Detection | 3 | 1 |
| Direct Grammar based questions | 2 | - |
| Rephrasing of underlined text (Grammar & Vocabulary based) | - | 5 |
| Jumbled Sentences | 1 | - |
| Sentence Completion | - | 2 |
| Topic | Number of Questions in CMAT 2022 | Number of Questions in CMAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Arrangement | 1 | 1 |
| Blood Relations | 2 | 2 |
| Alphabet Series | 2 | 1 |
| Syllogism & Venn Diagram | 1 | 1 |
| Number Series | 1 | 1 |
| Number based Puzzle | 1 | 1 |
| Number Analogy | 1 | 1 |
| Circular Arrangement | 1 | 2 |
| Order & Ranking | 1 | 2 |
| Direction Test | 3 | 2 |
| Coding/ Decoding | - | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | - | 2 |
| Verbal Reasoning | ||
| Assertion Reason | 2 | - |
| Analogy | 1 | 1 |
| Odd one out | 1 | - |
| Statement, Assumption & Arguments | 1 | 1 |
| Logical Consistency | - | 4 |
NTA introduced Innovation and Entrepreneurship as an optional section in the 2021 CMAT exam. It has been made a compulsory section from 2022 onwards. This section is quite dynamic in terms of the questions asked.
Going by the analysis of questions asked in Innovation and Entrepreneurship CMAT section in the last 2 years, the below-mentioned topics are extremely important:
CMAT 2023 exam is amongst the top management admission exams with a large number of candidates appearing for the exam.
So, CMAT exam has a higher competition level, and thorough preparations are required. All exam aspirants must check out below mentioned preparation tricks and tips which will help them have a good score in the exam.
Start studying in a more focused and well-planned manner. Make a timetable and adhere to the same throughout your preparations. We have provided below a carefully devised plan for CMAT 2023 daily study plan for your convenience:
| Number of Hours a Day | What to Study? |
|---|---|
| 2.5 hours | Study and Practice Questions on QADI, VA, GK |
| 2 hours | Practice LR, RC |
| 0.5 hours | Read newspaper |
| 1 hour | Study the basics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship CMAT Syllabus |
| 3 hours | Sectional and Complete Mock Tests on alternate days |
CMAT 2023 is expected to be conducted in the first week of April 2023,here are some tips to help you out with CMAT 2023 Preparation.
Based on the analysis of previous year statistics, Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System and DI should be your focus area as these 4 topics alone can get you more than 80% marks.
| Topic | CMAT 2022 | CMAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | 11 |
| Algebra | 1 | 4 |
| Number System | 2 | 4 |
| Geometry | 2 | 1 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 3 |
| Data Interpretation | 5 | 2 |
In CMAT logical reasoning, you should practice questions from all the topics of Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning. Verbal Reasoning accounts for about 25% of the questions while analytical reasoning topics like blood relations, series, direction sense test, arrangements, puzzles, coding- decoding, etc., account for 75%.
Practice as many Reading Comprehension passages as possible. Although in 2022, there were only 4 questions, in 2021, there were 14 questions. So, do not leave this topic untouched before the exam. The difficulty level of the passages is not very high, so make sure that you attempt all the questions in the exam.
Usually, grammar and vocabulary have almost equal weightage in the exam. So, practice at least 30-40 questions each on synonyms, antonyms), para jumbles, spelling errors, error detection, phrases and idioms, etc.
It has been observed that in CMAT GK section, the maximum weightage is of static GK. So, try to revise only the notes or material you have to cover as much as possible. You can expect more questions from politics, economics, and general awareness on awards and events.
You can expect a majority of the questions from basics and business knowledge (about 10-15), 3-4 questions from government schemes and funding, startup and venture development, and only 2-3 questions from brand names and taglines, CEOs of companies, MVP, VC, investment related terms, etc. So, divide your preparation time accordingly to get maximum marks in this section.
One can either decide to self-study or seek the assistance of a coaching center, online or offline, for CMAT 2023 exam preparation. In any case, practicing and reading books can prove beneficial for the preparation for CMAT exam. Check Best Books for CMAT Exam Preparation
Candidates can download and solve CMAT question papers of previous years using the links given below. These are beneficial in getting good insights into the CMAT question paper pattern and difficulty level.
| CMAT Question Paper | Download Link |
|---|---|
| CMAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CMAT 2021 Question Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CMAT 2020 Question Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CMAT 2019 Question Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CMAT 2018 Question Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
For more CMAT previous year papers, click here
The NTA Provides Mock tests on its official website- nta.ac.in. You can access the same by selecting CMAT exam in the ‘Mock Test’ tab present on the webpage. The test series is designed to mimic the exam setting and covers the entire syllabus in a systematic and time-based manner.
Also, practicing the CMAT mock tests and CMAT sample papers can help in developing effective revision strategies, improving the retention of concepts, and constructive time management.
Check direct link to take CMAT Mock Test by NTA
The purpose of TPC is mainly to organize practice tests for the upcoming NTA exams including CMAT 2023. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has directed the NTA to establish a network of test centers for candidates, especially in remote and rural areas, so that they can practice and feel comfortable in taking the Computer Based Test (CBT). Check CBT Mode Guidelines by NTA for CMAT exam
The purpose is to provide practice tests and questions so that candidates can familiarize themselves with how to log into the system, go through the detailed instructions of the test, use the mouse or on-screen numeric keypad (virtual), scroll to attempt each question, to the next question, navigate between questions, check and change their choices.
CMAT 2023 Exam Analysis will be updated here soon after the exam concludes. The detailed section-wise CMAT 2023 exam analysis will be updated here based on the analysis by subject-matter experts. Candidates preparing for CMAT 2023 exam can check the previous year’s CMAT paper analysis provided below.
Candidates should be well aware of the detailed CMAT Paper Analysis of previous years to know the distribution of questions in various sections, and difficulty level of the questions asked. CMAT exam analysis 2022 is provided below for reference:
| Subject | Topic Wise Weightage in CMAT 2022 (No. of Questions) | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation |
| Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning |
| Moderate |
| Language Comprehension |
| Easy to Moderate |
| General Awareness |
| Easy to Moderate |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Moderate |
CMAT 2023 Answer Key will be released by NTA 1-2 weeks after the conclusion of the examination. Candidates will be able to access the answer key, question paper, and response sheet in the login window. The steps to check CMAT Answer Key 2023 are mentioned below:
CMAT Answer Key 2023 (provisional) will be open for challenge for a period of 2-3 days by paying INR 200 per answer/ question challenged. The objections, if any, are accepted by NTA, the provisional answer key will be revised and released along with the result.
CMAT 2023 Result will be announced by NTA in the second week of May 2023. CMAT 2023 Result will be released as a scorecard comprising the overall score, sectional scores, and the AIR of the candidate. CMAT Results will be available in the candidate login.
The steps to download CMAT 2023 result-cum-scorecard are:
CMAT Score vs Percentile analysis is provided below based on the analysis of previous year result statistics of candidates.
| CMAT Scores | CMAT percentile |
|---|---|
| 330+ | 100 |
| 320-330 | 99.95-99.99 |
| 315-320 | 99+ |
| 280-310 | 95+ |
| 270+ | 90 + |
| 200-250 | 81 to 89 + |
NTA does not release CMAT Cut off scores. Each participating college of CMAT 2023 will release its own CMAT Score for Admission. CMAT 2023 Cut Off for the top MBA colleges like JBIMS, GIM Goa, Great Lakes, PUMBA Pune, XISS Ranchi, etc. ranges between 95 to 99.9 percentile.
CMAT 2023 sectional cut-off means the least score that candidates are supposed to get to clear CMAT 2023 exam and get a seat in an AICTE approved Management College. The expected cut-offs for CMAT 2023, section wise is mentioned here:
| CMAT Paper Section | Sectional Cut Off for CMAT 2023 |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 50 |
| Language Comprehension | 50 |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 |
| General Awareness | 45 |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 40 |
Check the table to get an idea of the expected cut off for top colleges based on which candidates get shortlisted in CMAT 2023 exam.
NTA is not responsible for carrying out the admission process post declaration of CMAT result. Each of the 1300+ CMAT score accepting colleges carry out their separate admission process based on the Cut offs decided. CMAT 2023 selection process for MBA/ PGDM admission comprises Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT) rounds. Check CMAT 2023 selection process
The list of the documents that candidates are supposed to bring at the time of CMAT counseling include:
Many reputed B-Schools all over the country consider CMAT scores for offering admissions to various courses. The top CMAT score accepting colleges that are most sought after by the candidates are listed below for your reference.
In the government institutes that accept CMAT scores, the following reservation criteria is applicable:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Class (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% |
| Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS) | 10% |
Use CMAT 2023 College Predictor tool to predict your chances of admission to top MBA/ PGDM colleges based on CMAT scores.
Candidates should ensure that they meet CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2023 before registering for the exam:
CMAT 2023 registration concluded on March 13, 2023 and the form correction window closed on March 16, 2023. Candidates can check the step-by-step CMAT 2023 Application Process provided below.
CMAT 2023 registration fees structure as per the category of candidates is mentioned in the table below:
| Category | Fees |
|---|---|
| For General Male Candidates | INR 2000 |
| For General Female/ SC/ ST/ NC-OBC/ PwD/ EWS/ Third Gender candidates | INR 1000 |
Ques. Who will conduct CMAT 2023?
Ans. CMAT 2023 will be conducted by NTA. CMAT exam is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) since 2018. Prior to this year, the Common Management Aptitude Test or CMAT was conducted by AICTE as per the provisions of the Government of India.
Ques. Does CMAT happen twice a year?
Ans. No, CMAT happens only once every year in March or April. Unlike other top MBA exams like NMAT, MAT, IBSAT, CMAT is held only on one day in one or two shifts. CMAT 2023 will be conducted in two shifts for a duration of 3 hours each. The exam date announced on NTA CMAT official website is May 4, 2023.
Ques. Is CMAT easier than CAT?
Ans. Yes, CMAT is easier than CAT in terms of the overall difficulty level of the questions and the level of competition. Although CAT does not have the General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections, the difficulty level and application of concepts of CAT questions in the other 3 sections is still higher than CMAT. You can also practice CAT previous year papers as CMAT mock tests.
Ques. Do IIMs accept CMAT scores?
Ans. No, CMAT exam scores are not accepted by any of the IIMs. IIMs accept only CAT scores for offering admission into MBA courses. There are various other top MBA/ PGDM colleges in the country that provide admission based on CMAT results.
Ques. Is CMAT tough or easy?
Ans. CMAT is of easy to moderate level difficulty. The QADI section has a mix of easy and tough questions. The GK and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections are highly unpredictable making it difficult to prepare for them. LR and VARC on the other hand are easy to moderate with only a few tricky sections.
Ques. Is CMAT 2023 registration open?
Ans. No, CMAT 2023 registration is no longer open. CMAT 2023 registration last date was March 13, 2023, for all the eligible candidates to apply.
Ques. Is CMAT compulsory for MBA?
Ans. No, CMAT is not compulsory for MBA in India. CMAT is just one of the many MBA entrance exams in India. Other than CMAT, you can also appear in other exams like CAT, NMAT, MAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, IBSAT, MAH CET, TANCET, etc. to pursue an MBA course in India.
Ques. What is a good score in CMAT exam?
Ans. Based on previous year cut off trends, a CMAT score above 300 is considered good for getting admission to top MBA colleges including ITM Navi Mumbai, Great Lakes, JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE, We School, MET Mumbai, XISS Ranchi, Acharya Business School, etc.
Ques. What are the changes introduced in CMAT 2023 exam pattern?
Ans. No changes have been introduced in the exam pattern of CMAT 2023 from last year. The total number of questions in CMAT 2023 exam is 100. These 100 multiple choice questions are divided equally into 5 sections with each comprising 20.
Ques. Is there any section-wise cut off for CMAT?
Ans. Yes, many institutes release section-wise cut off along with the overall CMAT cut offs. The expected sectional cut off for CMAT 2023 is tabulated below after expert analysis:
| Section | Expected Cut Off |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 50 |
| Language Comprehension | 50 |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 |
| General Awareness | 45 |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 40 |
Ques. What to do if there is a discrepancy in the admit card for CMAT 2023?
Ans. In case of a discrepancy in your CMAT admit card 2023, you can contact NTA CMAT customer support via email or phone. The email id for contact is cmat@nta.ac.in. The NTA helpline numbers for CMAT related queries or doubts are- 011-69227700 and 011-40759000.
Ques. What is the duration of CMAT exam?
Ans. The total duration of the NTA CMAT exam is 3 hours or 180 minutes for attempting 100 MCQs. However, here is no provision of sectional time limit in CMAT examination.
Ques. What are the best coachings to prepare for CMAT 2023?
Ans. The best online coaching to prepare for CMAT 2023 is -
| City | CMAT Coaching Center |
|---|---|
| IMS India | BYJUs |
| mba.hitbullseye | Career Launcher |
| Catking | T.I.M.E 4 Education |
| Endeavor Careers | Unacademy |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
IIM Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management
Bangalore, Karnataka
National Institute of Technology - [NIT]
Kurukshetra, Haryana
Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management - [IISWBM]
Kolkata, West Bengal
Department of Management Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University - [PUMBA]
Pune, Maharashtra
Institute of Rural Management - [IRMA]
Anand, Gujarat