CMAT 2025: Exam Date Announced - January 25, Registrations Started; Check Important Dates, Exam Pattern

CMAT 2025 is a government organized computer based national level MBA entrance examination for entry into 1000 AICTE approved management programmes (MBA/PGDM) all over India. CMAT full form is Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). Till 2018, CMAT was conducted by AICTE, now the Test is conducted by the National Testing Authority (NTA) constituted by Government of India. More than 75,000 candidates apply for CMAT every year. CMAT offers unique opportunity to all the test takers as none of them is disqualified in its result. Salient Points about the Exam are:

• A computer based test conducted at more than 110 test cities 
• The exam is divided into five sections of  Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• No Individual time limit to attempt the sections

Q: Is CMAT conducted by Government or by some Institute?
A: The exam is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) created by Government of India, Ministry of Education. 

Q: Is CMAT a larger exam than CAT and XAT?
A: CMAT is one of the largest and reputed MBA entrance exams although the number of applicants are fewer than CAT and XAT. Number of  registrations in CMAT 2024 was more than 76000

CMAT is not only one of the most accepted MBA entrance exams in India, it is the gateway to top MBA colleges. Following are the key CMAT Exam 2025 Highlights including CMAT Exam Details, CMAT Full Form, CMAT Form 2025 release date, CMAT Exam 2025 Dates, top MBA colleges accepting the exam 

FAQs

Q: How many times CMAT is conducted in one year?
A: It is conducted once in a year.  

Q: What is the mode of the CMAT exam?
A: CMAT is a computer based online test and is conducted at exam centres in more than 110 cities in India

Important dates and timelines including CMAT 2025 Registration date; CMAT Exam 2025 Date, form filling dates are as below:  

FAQs
Q: Is the CMAT exam date 2025 fixed or it can be changed?
A: CMAT exam date varies from year to year. While CMAT exam 2025 date is January 25, 2025, for the past few years CMAT was conducted in first or second week of May. 

Q: Is the CMAT Notification Release date and Registration start date is same?
A: The registration begins from the date of release of Notification unless National Testing Agency (NTA) specifies some other start date for CMAT Registration.  

Below are the important points that determine CMAT eligibility criteria 2025 

Also Read: CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

FAQs
Q. Is there any difference in CMAT eligibility criteria and B-School Admission eligibility criteria?
A: CMAT eligibility criteria do not cover the B-school admission criteria. You need to check for respective B-school eligibility criteria for admission separately 

Q. I'm 2020 BE passed out but I have an arrear am I eligible to write the CMAT exam?
A. Yes you can write the exam provided the arrear is cleared 

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is online computer based exam conducted in a single day. Since 2022 CMAT Exam has remained on similar pattern. The same pattern is likely to be followed for 2025 also, as under:

• Total questions are 100 divided in 5 sections.
• All the questions are MCQ type
• Marks for every correct answer are +4 and -1 Negative Marking applies for wrong answer 
• No Marking for Unattempted questions 
• All the questions have four options with one correct option 

The table below shares the sectional order, number and type of questions in each section, questions for each section in the exam 

FAQs
Q. In how many days CMAT exam will be conducted
A. The exam will be conducted in a single day as a computer based test 

Q. In how many sessions will exam be conducted?
A. The exam is likely to be conducted in two slots of 3 hours duration in a single day 

Q. What is the Mode of CMAT exam?
A. It is a computer based test and is conducted at test centres. Last year the exam was conducted in more than 110 test cities.  

Q. Is CMAT a difficult exam?
A. CMAT is a moderate difficulty exam and is easier that CAT, XAT, SNAP 

Q. Can I attempt any section in the CMAT exam within over all time limit?
A. Yes, CMAT does not have individual sectional time limit

Last year CMAT exam had got over on May 15, 2024 and was conducted in two slots. The exam had three hours duration. 

CMAT 2024 Analysis: Summary 

• •Exam was conducted in two slots from 9AM to 12 Noon and from 3.00 PM to 6.00 PM on May 15, 2024
• •Total 100 Questions appeared in five sections. 
• •Exam difficulty level remained Moderate

Read in detail Complete Previous year CMAT exam Analysis

CMAT Exam syllabus is divided into five sections. It tests the candidate on Language Comprehension, Quantitative Tehniques & Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The revised syllabus includes 100 MCQ type questions. 

FAQs
Q: Is the CMAT Exam 2025 Syllabus Changed? What are the important changes
A: CMAT 2025 syllabus remains on the lines of last year syllabus. It is not changed. 

Q: Is CMAT exam syllabus published by NTA before the exam?
A: No, while NTA publishes CMAT exam and scoring pattern, it does not publish CMAT exam syllabus. You can find CMAT syllabus at MBAUniverse.com 

Q: Which Section syllabus in CMAT is considered more difficult to cover?
A: All the five sections in CMAT exam have equal weightage. As such syllabus for all the five sections need to be covered to score well. 

Q: How much time is sufficient to cover complete CMAT syllabus?
A: If you are devoting time and studying 2-3 hours a day, 3-4 months are considered sufficient to cover the syllabus.

You can prepare for CMAT with self preparation through Books, Mocks or through coaching as per your convenience. You need to devise your own CMAT exam preparation strategy. Shared below are the details of best preparation books section wise, how to prepare with Coaching, how to prepare with self preparation, Preparation with Mocks, toppers’ tips and more:

8.1 CMAT Preparation Books for Language Comprehension, QTDI, LR, GK, I&E
The Best Books for Preparation should keep pace with the changing exam pattern. Most of the preparation books in the market are based on the previous exam pattern but the best books shared here are the updated books which have incorporated changes with the anticipated question type in the exam. Every year different types of questions appear in the exam. So, while choosing the best books for exam preparation, it should be kept in mind that the books are conversant with the changed exam pattern and difficulty level. Few things to check in the books are:

• Should Provide conceptual clarity on the relevant topic
• Rich on the exercises, practice questions and Mocks given after each topic
• Caters your need to focus more on the weak areas with variety of practice questions  
• Latest edition of preparation Book offers the updated exam pattern and syllabus also

8.1.1 Section-Wise 10 Best books for CMAT Preparation
If you are self-preparing for the exam or are preparing with the support of coaching institute, in both the cases, the latest edition of the books for preparation as shared below section wise will help you in getting more conceptual clarity, practice questions and attempting the sample papers

8.1.2. Preparation Books for Language Comprehension

• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

8.1.3 Preparation Books for Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

• How to prepare for Quantitative for the CAT by Arun Sharma, published by MGH Education
• Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)

8.1.4 CMAT Preparation Books for Reasoning

• ‘Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT’ - by Nishit K Sinha (Published by Pearson)
• ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ - by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)

8.1.5 CMAT Preparation Books for General Awareness (GK) 
One of the important sections for CMAT preparation is the General Awareness (GK). Your GK preparation for CMAT should cover all the important topics and events and changes at national and international level. GK for CMAT exam is as important as other sections and cannot be avoided. To prepare GK for CMAT, you should gather the CMAT Exam GK material. GK section in CMAT exam can be divided in three parts and each part has to be given due weightage. 

• Conventional GK-available in books;
• Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals; 
• Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate, Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee.  
• Get CMAT GK sample questions from CMAT Mocks and CMAT previous test papers
• Read regularly the news papers and create your own CMAT GK question bank. A good source of preparation for updated GK questions for CMAT is Manorama Year Book
• Your CMAT GK Material should be as per CMAT GK syllabus
• CMAT GK topics to prepare broadly are International current affairs and details about international organizations like ASEAN, TPP, BRICS and also know basic details about them, the headquarters, the year of establishment
• Topics and GK sample questions for CMAT preparation should also include National current developments, Government schemes like UDAN Scheme, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, JAM, Demonetisation, GST among others; latest who’s who; achievements; pacts and agreements

8.1.6 CMAT Preparation Books & Study Material for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the recently added new mandatory section in CMAT exam. Some of the updated and comprehensive best books on CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship section as per the CMAT syllabus, study material, practice papers and questions are:

• National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship - Published by Govt of India
• Document on Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)
• MSME Market Development Program by Govt of India
• Woman Entrepreneurship Platform by Government of India  
• Venture Capital Scheme by Govt of India
• End to End Energy Efficiency Scheme of Govt of India
• Standup India program by Govt of India
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker 
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management by R. Gopal

  
The questions in CMAT exam in Innovation and Entrepreneurship section are framed on concepts of innovation and business; Innovation of the life cycle; Entrepreneurship and its devlopment, Start ups, Make in India, How to start a venture, Government policy and guidelines on Entrepreneurship

8.2. CMAT Preparation with Top Coaching Institutes
A few months of devoted preparation can enable you to crack the exam as it requires ‘Smart Preparation.’ You can join a coaching as it offers expert guidance. 
 
8.2.1 Benefits of Preparation with Coaching

• Coaching institutes help you to prepare systematically without deviating from your preparation path.
• While offering smart and intensive preparation for the exam, the top coaching institutes help you to minimize the wastage of time with optimum utilization.
• There are 6 months, 3 months and 1 month preparation time modules offered by the good coaching institutes that help you crack the exam with high score
• If you need to clear the concepts and build your basics before practicing sessions, coaching centers suggest to start the preparation with a 6 month time margin.

8.2.2 Top CMAT Coaching Centers in India
The choice of coaching mode depends upon your interest, time, money and preparation level while preparing for the exam. Shared below are the top coaching institutes with their key centres and available options for coaching: 

8.3 Self & Coaching Mixed Preparation
CMAT Exam preparation can be self, with the support of online or offline coaching or a mix of both. To begin and advance with your preparation, experts suggest:

• You should have strong basics with clarity on concepts
• Improve your weak areas and strengthen your strong areas
• Consistent revision is required with Mocks, practice tests, Quizzes
• Prepare a list of topics as per the syllabus and improve on each of them
• Form a peer group on social media for preparation
• Time Management with Accuracy & Speed is required. Consistently improve on them
• Consult best preparation books and attempt their practice questions
• Read Interviews and tips from Toppers on their preparation strategy published on MBAUniverse.com and other channels

Toppers are of the view that taking Mocks is of utmost importance as it is a very important preparation tool. If you are seriously preparing for the exam and wish to score high percentile, it is necessary to attempt more and more Mock Tests to get ready for the exam day. 

Take Free CMAT Mock Tests based on previous years CMAT papers on MBAUniverse.com. 

(FAQs)
Q: How many Mocks before the exam are sufficient to take?
A: You should take a minimum number of 35-40 Mock tests before the exam of different difficulty level. To prepare for the exam, it is not only sufficient to take Mocks but more important is to analyse your mistakes in them and improve for future.

Q: Is writing Offline Mocks helpful to score high in the exam?
A: Although it is a computer based test, taking offline Mock can also help you in improving your score. Whenever, you are writing an Offline Mock, you should adhere to sectional time limit and overall time limit of three hours thirty minutes. This will give you actual exam feeling with time management and improving your score. 

Q: Where can I get online computer based Mocks Free?
A: You can take Online computer based free Mocks at MBAUniverse.com as well as other websites including the websites of coaching institutes 

Q: If I score low in Mock, what should I do?
A: The first step after writing Mock test is that, you should analyse it for your errors. Ensure that the errors are not repeated. Make sure to bring clarity on concepts and practice more mocks of similar pattern. 

CMAT Registration process is done online. You can register & apply online only on the official website cmat.ntaonline.in. CMAT Exam Fees for registration is Rs. 2500 /- for General Male and the CMAT Exam Fees is Rs.1250 for other category candidates

CMAT 2025 Registration: 5 Step Process

FAQs
Q: If I apply for CMAT Exam 2025 after the last date of registration, can I get successful registration message from NTA?
A: No, you should complete your registration process before the closing time on the last date. Usually NTA closes the CMAT registration process at Midnight on the last date.

Q: Can I apply for CMAT 2025 in offline mode also?
A: No, you can submit only online application 

Q: Is it possible to amend mistake in registration after form submission?
A: After submitting the online application it is not possible to rectify the errors. You will have to re-register.

10.1 NTA CMAT: Application Trends Over the Years
More than 76 thousand candidates had applied for CMAT 2024. The rising number of registrations signify that candidates have to compete with more candidates in the exam and need to score high to get shortlisted by top B-schools.

The Admit Card download will start from January 20, 2025. NTA will upload the Admit card on official NTA CMAT exam website 2025. The last date to download the Admit Card is exam date. 
 
Three Steps to Download CMAT 2025 Admit Card

• Go to CMAT 2025 website 
• At login page enter CMAT ID and password to view and download the CMAT Admit Card
• Save the Admit Card and take print on A4 size paper 

FAQs
Q: How to confirm that I will get my CMAT 2025 Admit Card?
A: You should check your mail from NTA that your application form has successfully been submitted. If yes and still you don’t receive the Admit Card you should immediately contact the help desk.
 
Q:  I am unable to access CMAT Website, how can I download the Admit Card?
A: After a few minutes from the Admit card release, thousands of the candidates try to get access to website simultaneously due to which some technical glitches may come up. The best strategy at that time is to access the website after some time when the rush gets subsided.

Q: Can I download CMAT Admit card from my Mobile Phone?
A: You should view the Admit Card only using the recommended browsers and not from your mobile phone. 
 
Q: I have got CMAT Admit Card which is Blank? What should I do?
A: If the Admit Card is blank, you need not worry. If the candidate registers multiple times, NTA will consider only the most recent (last) registration as the official application. The Admit Card generated for you is for the most recent (last) registration. Thus, if you login by using User ID of earlier registration attempts, you may find your Admit Card as blank.
 
Q: Do I need to take Color print of Admit Card?
A: It is not necessary, you can also have Black &White print of your Admit card from laser printer. Don't forget to affix your photo on the hard copy of admit card in the space provided beside the printed photograph

The exam will be held in 110 test cities across the country. Check list of CMAT Exam Cities in India

FAQs
Q: How many CMAT Exam cities I can choose? 
A: You can choose a maximum number 4 exam cities

Q: Can I change my CMAT Test City Preference after completion of Registration?
A: Yes, NTA will open Application error correction window after close of last date of application submission for 2-3 days. During this period you can change your test city preference

Q: Can NTA increase or decrease CMAT exam cities after release of Admit Card?
A: No, the exam cities can be increased or decreased before release of admit card. After release of admit card, test cities can neither be increased nor decreased.
 

Q: How and When I will know the CMAT Exam city and Center allotted to me?
A: The details of exam city and test venue with exam slot is mentioned in admit card. As such, you will know all the details about your exam center after release of admit card.  

Q: When CMAT 2025 will be Conducted?
A: The CMAT exam date is January 25, 2025. 

Q: What is Mode of CMAT?
A: CMAT is a computer based entrance test of three hours duration
 
Q: When to look for CMAT Notification with complete CMAT Information?
A: NTA has released all the details about the exam on NTA CMAT website on November 14, 2024
 
Q: How difficult is CMAT?
A: Despite being a highly competitive and important MBA entrance exam in India, the difficulty level of the CMAT exam is considered moderate.
 
Q: What is the Scoring Pattern in CMAT
A: Each correct answer in the exam is awarded with +4 marks. The raw score obtained in the exam is converted to scaled score and then converted to percentile score after allowing for equating and normalizing the scores for all the question paper sets. Top MBA colleges consider All India Rank, exam score and percentile awarded in the exam to shortlist the candidates for final selection round.

Q. How many Questions are expected in CMAT 2025?
A: The exam is expected to consist of 100 MCQs divided in 5 sections with 20 questions in each section. 
 
Q. Can I take a calculator to the testing centre?
A. No, but the onscreen calculator is available throughout the exam. You can use that
 
Q. Do the wrong answers carry any penalty of negative marking?
A. The MCQs carry a penalty of -1 mark for each wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions. 
 
Q. Can I choose the order of sections while attempting the CMAT question paper?
A. Yes, you can attempt any question in any section of the question paper within the overall exam time duration.
 
Q. Can I submit the paper early and leave the test center before the exam time is over?
A. No, the paper cannot be submitted before the test duration is over. You can neither leave your seat, nor can leave the test centre early