CMAT 2024: 5 Last Minute Tips to Score 99%ile; Master the Exam Pattern, Learn Toppers’ Strategies, Devise Test Taking Plan with Time Management, Shortlist Top CMAT Colleges

If you have not scored well in CAT 2023 or XAT 2024, the CMAT 2024 is the answer to your MBA admission in a good AICTE approved MBA college. CMAT 2024 is being conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of AICTE on May 15, 2024 for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes in 1000 B schools in the country. You will find hundreds of top rated B-schools in the country that accept CAT, XAT and CMAT scores. Since almost all the PGDM B-schools are approved by AICTE and run AICTE approved programmes, most of them also accept CMAT scores with a few exceptions. Barring the 20 IIMs, FMS, XLRI and a few other B-schools, the scores of CMAT 2024 will be accepted by many top B-schools for admission 2024.

CMAT exam offers the last opportunity to get admission in one of the best MBA colleges and also to improve your score. Read this article not only to get last minute preparation tips for CMAT 2024, but also key exam day tips, toppers’ tips on test taking strategy, top MBA colleges accepting CMAT and their admission status among others

5 Last Minute Tips for CMAT 2024
CMAT exam is scheduled on May 15, 2024. The five key CMAT 2024 last minute tips by experts and toppers to improve your CMAT score, are:

• Scan and Revise Basics from Your Study Material
• Practice with Exercises, Mocks & Previous Papers
• Be Accurate: Avoid Negative Marks
• Time Management: Key to Success
• General Awareness: Update & Revise

But before, we go deeper in each of these last minute preparation tips & test taking strategy, let us understand what opportunities do we have with CMAT 2024 exam; which are the top MBA colleges accepting CMAT, what is their admission status how much score is required to get 99 percentile; what is the CMAT sectional composition and scoring pattern; what was the strategy adopted by CMAT toppers to score 99+ percentile and more, as below:

NTA CMAT 2024: Good Opportunity for CAT/XAT 40-50 Percentilers
Those who have scored as low as 40, 50 or 60 percentile in CAT 2023 or XAT 2024, should not be worried, if they have registered for CMAT 2024. You can very well improve your score and get a good B-school of your choice by taking CMAT 2024. 

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT 2024 with Admission Status, Fees, Placements

Top MBA colleges accepting CMAT score include K J Somaiya, IFMR, Welingkar, BIMTECH among others. JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA will also accept CMAT 2024 exam score. However, please ensure that you apply for admission in these colleges before their last date. Check below the latest admission status in some of the best CMAT accepting colleges:

Read More: Top MBA colleges accepting CMAT score

CMAT 2024 is the official gateway for admissions into the University MBA programs in India. Thirteen states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Karnataka, have officially notified CMAT as their official test. The scores of CMAT 2024 are accepted by more than 330 MBA colleges in Maharashtra for All India category candidates.

CMAT Raw Score you need for 99 Percentile
How much score you need to be a topper with 99 or 100 percentile in CMAT 2024 could be a big question at first unless you know the facts and the strategy to crack it. But when you see the CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern, syllabus, scoring pattern and analyse the past toppers’ overall and sectional scores, you will be surprised to know that with a planned and well defined test day strategy you can score 99 percentile with a score of 300 or less marks out of 400 maximum marks.

Most CMAT toppers relied upon their sectional scoring strategies taking help of the more mock tests, and preparing according to the CMAT exam pattern and the syllabus topics on which questions appeared earlier. These candidates cracked CMAT with such high percentile by not scoring very high in each section but made it a point to keep a balance among all the 4 sections.

How to score 99 Percentile in CMAT: Toppers’ strategy
The very first thing which is required to improve your score is the indepth understanding of CMAT exam pattern, number of questions and sections that you need to attempt. You should be well aware of CMAT 2024 paper pattern and your mind set should have a positive approach to attempt the question paper. CMAT 2024 has 5 sections and each section has 20 questions in MCQ format. The Exam is divided in 5 sections with 20 questions in each section. The sections are Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship

All the sections have equal weightage and award 4 marks for each correct answer and a penalty of -1 mark for each wrong answer. There is no sectional time restriction and during the 3 hours duration, you can attempt any question in any section which is a great advantage to maximise your attempts. Check the CMAT 2024 Paper Pattern and sectional composition as shared below:

No need to attempt all 20 Qs in Each Section: Toppers’ Advice
CMAT exam pattern and the well devised percentile predictor gives the clear message - that to score high, attempt fewer questions on which you are confident and avoid the penalty of negative marking due to wrong attempts.

You can score 99 and above percentile if you attempt accurately 10 to 15 questions in each section. The strategy adopted by CMAT 99 and 100 percentilers reveals this fact.

CMAT toppers Surendra N. Sharma, Kshitij Madan, Arvind Shankar, Sumeet Mishra with a total score of 352 to 372 marks did not get tempted to attempt more and more questions in the exam unless they were comfortable with it. The highest accurate attempt of 15-17 questions in each section was suffice to fetch a high percentile of 99 to 100.

5 Last Minute Tips to Crack NTA CMAT 2024
In case you haven’t practiced a few topics, please try them in next 2-3 days and be ready for the exam.

1. Scan and Revise Basics from Your Study Material
Revise your basics and have complete conceptual clarity. It is not advisable to read something new or build your vocabulary at the eleventh hour. On the contrary, now you should go for revision of the already built up learning.

2. Practice with Exercises, Mocks & Previous Papers
Fundamentals of Quant as well as Verbal; Vocabulary & Grammar, although cannot be further strengthened much now, the practice is the key during the remaining days. Practice one Mock, analyse it, understand your errors and focus to improve them. Another thing you need to do is attempt one or two CMAT previous test paper before the exam. It will be better also to practice a few more questions based on such topics which, although are of your strong hold, may require further polishing. It will be good also if you practice jumbled paragraphs and Reading comprehension passages regularly for next 3-4 days. Devote more time in taking mocks. Practice more such questions as you think, will give you more confidence and further strengthen your strong areas. Do not over stress, but half hearted study will also not help. So, devote your time with concerted efforts.

3. Be Accurate: Avoid Negative Marks
If you mark one wrong answer, you will lose the credit for the question and will be imposed a penalty also, pushing you back in score. It is advisable not to waste time, in case you find the question beyond your reach. Switch over to next one. You may come back to it, if time permits. With your more attempts, improve your accuracy level. Next few days are crucial for this improvement. It will help you to get a good score in CMAT.  

4. Time Management: Key to Success
Out of 20 questions in each section of CMAT, you can get a very good score by cracking around 15-17 questions. Since all the questions carry equal weightage and are to be solved within given time frame, say 20 questions in 35-40 minutes, your endeavour should be to solve one question in less than one and half minutes or within 90 seconds. This will enable you to come back and review as well as to solve the left over questions.

5. General Awareness: Update & Revise
It is better to revise the GK items that you have already studied and keep pace to keep you updated in the General Awareness. Since CMAT exam paper must have been prepared by now, you may not require to go through more such events which are taking place now a days. The focus should be on the current affairs that took place till 10 days ago. Conventional, business, commerce and other international GK must be revised at this point instead of learning something new.

Don’t fall for New Concept
You should not cram your head now in learning new topics. Go easy for whatever you can learn, revise and practice. Something which might create confusion in your mind should be avoided at this moment. Remain calm and cool throughout the examination. Just relax and sleep well before the night of the examination.

To Do List for CMAT Exam Day
Following exam day guidelines should be adhered to:

1. Visit your CMAT test venue a day before the exam date
2. Ensure to download your CMAT Admit Card and take a print
3. Go through the instructions in your NTA CMAT admit card
4. Carry your CMAT admit card, original photo ID, ball pen to the exam centre
5. Do not carry prohibited articles like calculator watch, mobile etc. to the exam centre
6. Reach the CMAT exam centre by the reporting time mentioned in your admit card

CMAT 2024: An Easier Test for Admission to Top MBA colleges
CMAT is considered an easier exam than CAT or XAT and leads to admission in highly ranked top MBA colleges like GIM, K J Somaiya, Great Lakes, JBIMS, Welingkar, BIMTECH among others. CMAT exam will be of 3 hours duration. Unlike CAT where sectional time restrictions are applicable, you can switch from one section to other freely in CMAT 2024. It would offer you an opportunity to utilize your time to solve more questions in other section once you complete one section early. CMAT awards raw scores out of maximum 400 marks as well as percentile scores. If you can score anywhere between 200 to 275 you may get admission to one of the top MBA colleges as above.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CMAT 2024