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CMAT Exam Pattern 2025: Check Latest CMAT Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme

Last Updated on November 18, 2024 by Prof. SK Agarwal

CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern consists of 100 objective type (MCQs) questions divided into five sections: Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CMAT 2025 exam duration is 180 minutes; hence candidates will get 36 minutes to solve each section. CMAT Exam date is January 25, 2025. NTA has released CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern as detailed below: 

Table of Content

  • 1. What is CMAT Exam Pattern? Key Highlights

  • 2. CMAT Exam Pattern 2025: Sections, Number & Type of Questions

  • 3. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Language Comprehension

  • 4. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

  • 5. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Logical Reasoning

  • 6. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for General Awareness (GK)

  • 7. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

  • 8. Previous Year CMAT Analysis: Pattern, Difficulty Level

  • 9. CMAT Exam Pattern Vs CAT: A Comparison

  • 10. FAQs on CMAT Exam Pattern

1. What is CMAT Exam Pattern? Key Highlights

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. More than 75,000 candidates apply for CMAT every year. Highlights of  CMAT exam pattern for MBA are:

  • CMAT offers unique opportunity to all the test takers as none of them is disqualified in its result 
  • Unlike CAT and NMAT exams, CMAT has no Individual time limit to attempt the sections. Below are shared the key highlights of CMAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
CMAT Exam ParticularsDetails
CMAT Exam Full Form 2025Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT) 2025
Who conducts CMAT Exam?National Testing Agency (NTA)
Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMATK J Somaiya, Welingkar, PUMBA, BIMTECH
CMAT 2025 Notification ReleaseNovember 14, 2024
CMAT 2025 Exam DateJanuary 25, 2025
CMAT Exam SlotsTwo Slot Exam of 3 Hrs Duration for each slot
Mode of CMAT examOnline Computer Based Test at Exam Centres
CMAT Official Websitehttps://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/
CMAT Exam Application FeesRs. 2500
Number of Candidates who registered for CMAT 2023 exam76,745
Total Questions in the Exam100
Number of Sections5 Sections with 20 Questions in Each Section
Section Names in CMATQuantitative Technique; Logical Reasoning; Language Comprehension; General Awareness; Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Number of Answer Options4
Scoring Pattern in CMAT exam+4 Marks for Each Correct Answer -1 Mark for Each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Un-attempted Question
CMAT Sectional Time LimitNo Sectional Time Limit
Facility to Choose Order of SectionsYes, Attempt any question from any section within overall time limit
CMAT EXAM PATTERN 2024

2. CMAT Exam Pattern 2025: Sections, Number & Type of Questions

CMAT Question Paper Breakup is based on CMAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025 as released by NTA. CMAT marking scheme is +4 marks for each correct answer. For each wrong answer CMAT 2025 marking scheme gives penalty of  -1 negative mark. The table below shares the detailed CMAT paper pattern with section-wise break-up from Section-1 to Section-5, number and type of questions in each section, questions with maximum marks and time limit.

CMAT 2024 Exam SectionsNumber of QuestionsMaximum Marks Section-wiseOverall Time Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hrs)
Language Comprehension2080No Sectional Time Limit
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation2080No Sectional Time Limit
Logical Reasoning2080No Sectional Time Limit
General Awareness2080No Sectional Time Limit
Innovation and Entrepreneurship2080No Sectional Time Limit
Total: Sections-5100400Total Time: 3 Hours
CMAT PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPER – CMAT 2024 SLOT 1

3. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Language Comprehension

CMAT Language Comprehension carries overall 20% Weightage in CMAT exam. Out of total 100 questions in CMAT, 20 questions are based on Language Comprehension section. The Language Comprehension Section in CMAT is divided into 2 parts. The 1st part covers topics on Verbal Ability and the 2nd Part covers Reading Comprehension passages. Below is shared the topic wise Language Comprehension sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual CMAT questions that appeared in CMAT 2024 to help you familiarise with the type of questions in CMAT.

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table 
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Language Comprehension

Sub-section/ TopicType of QuestionsDescriptionNo of Questions
Verbal AbilityGrammar & TensesFill in the blanks (1), Parts of Speech (1), Passive voice (1), Cloze passage (3 blanks),6
Verbal AbilityVocabularyAntonyms (1), One word substitution (1), Match the idioms with their meanings (2), Match the foreign words with their meanings (2), Synonyms (1), Replace underlined phrase (1)8
Verbal AbilityJumbled ParagraphsJumbled Sentences in a paragraph to be put in coherent order1
Verbal AbilityCritical ReasoningOdd one out (1), Assertion reasoning and True/False statements (2)3
Reading ComprehensionRC Passage of 200 WordsImpact of Diversity on Education2
Total Questions----20
CMAT PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPER – CMAT 2023 SLOT 1

4. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation in CMAT exam carries a weightage of 20%. It tests you on your ability on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, and your skills to analyse the data from Graphs, Charts, Tables etc. Below is shared the topic wise questions as appeared in CMAT 2024 exam for QTDI section:

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table 
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QTDI)

Sub-section/ TopicType of QuestionsDescriptionNo of Questions
Quantitative TechniquesArithmeticArithmetic: Time-speed-distance (2), Ratio-Proportion (1), Profit & Loss (1), SICI (2), Time & Work (1)7
--GeometryMensuration1
--AlgebraQuad equations (1), Quad inequality (1)2
--Modern MathPermutation & Combination (1), Probability (1)2
--Number SystemSurds (3), Properties of numbers (2)5
Data InterpretationProblem CaseletSet of three Questions3
Total Questions----20
CMAT PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPER – CMAT 2023 SLOT 2

5. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Logical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning section carries overall 20% Weightage in CMAT exam. Out of total 100 questions in CMAT, 20 questions are based on LR section. Below is shared the topic wise LR sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual CMAT questions that appeared in CMAT 2024 to help you familiarise with the type of questions:

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table 
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Logical Reasoning

Sub-section/ TopicType of QuestionsDescriptionNo of Questions
Non-Verbal ReasoningCubes, Triangles, Direction, Linear Arrangement, OthersDirection Sense (2), Cubes (2), Counting Number of Triangles (1), Linear Arrangement (1), Coding (2), Clocks (1), Numerical Puzzle (1), Others (1)11
Verbal ReasoningStatements, Arguments, Assumptions, Reason, AnalogySyllogisms (1), Strong Weak Arguments (1), Assertion-Reason (1), Analogy (1), Statement-Conclusion (1), Statement-Assumption (1), Statement- Assertion (1), Odd one Out (1), Arrange words in Sequence (1)9
Total Questions--20
CMAT EXAM PATTERN 2024

6. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for General Awareness (GK)

General Awareness section has 20% questions in CMAT exam. The score in this section has equal weightage like other sections. GK plays an important role in getting all India rank and can push your score up or down. In-depth and regular reading of GK helps more as sometimes a few GK questions in CMAT appear more tricky and need intensive reading. Below is shared the topic wise CMAT entrance exam GK section pattern with type of questions as appeared in CMAT 2024

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table 
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: General Awareness (GK)

Sub-section/ TopicType of QuestionsDescriptionNo of Questions
Static GKHistorical Facts, Indian Constitution & Polity, Books, AuthorsConstitution of India, Books & Authors, Historical facts of India15
Current AffairsSports, Physics, GeographyVarious types of Sports, events, latest innovation in Physics, Geographical changes and exploration5
Total--20

7. CMAT 2025 Sectional Pattern for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Innovation and Entrepreneurship section in CMAT exam carries 20% weightage in the exam with 20 question out of 100 questions. The I&E section is the comprehensive test on the knowledge regarding Innovative business practices, Government plans and policies, global entrepreneurs and personalities among others. Key topics in CMAT on Innovation & Entrepreneurship as appeared in CMAT 2024 are:

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table 
Year: CMAT 2024
Section: Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Sub-section/ TopicType of QuestionsDescriptionNo of Questions
Business GrowthBusiness & EntrepreneurshipNascent Entrepreneur; Phases of funding; Reasons for failure16
Global Business UnderstandingBusiness GKNational and International Business GK questions4
Total--20

9. CMAT Exam Pattern Vs CAT: A Comparison

CMAT exam pattern 2025 Vs CAT exam pattern has many similarities as well as differences. A brief comparison between CMAT & CAT is shared below:

CMAT 2025 Vs CAT 2024 
IIM CAT 2024 and CMAT 2025 have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below:

CMAT 2025 Vs CAT 2024

ComponentCMAT 2025IIM- CAT 2024
Total questions10066
Overall time limit to attempt the exam3 hours2 hours
Type of questionsAll MCQs48 questions are MCQs, rest 18 Non-MCQs
Answer options for MCQs44
Marks awarded for each correct answer43
Negative marking-1-1 only for MCQs; No negative marking for Non-MCQs
Exam difficulty levelModerateComparatively high
Number of sections53
Name of section-1 with number of questionsLanguage Comprehension-20Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension- 24
Name of Section-2 with number of questionsQuantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation-20Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning -20
Name of Section-3 with number of questionsLogical Reasoning-20Quantitative Ability-22
Name of Section-4 with number of questionsGeneral Awareness-20NA
Name of Section-4 with number of questionsInnovation and Entrepreneurship-20NA
Facility to choose order of sectionsAny section from the question paperNo, has to follow pre specified sectional order
Individual Sectional time limitNoEach section with 40 minutes time limit

10. FAQs on CMAT Exam Pattern

A: CMAT 2025 is a computer based test. It has 100 MCQ types questions. The exam is divided into 5 sections with 20 questions in each section namely Language Comprehension, Quant & DI, Logical Reasoning, GK, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
A: The expected CMAT 2025 exam date is May 4, 2025. The exam will be conducted as a computer based test.
A: No, the candidates will appear in CMAT exam on a workstation assigned at the test centre, based on the test cities selected while registering for CMAT. The test centre details are printed on the Admit Card.
A: No, Candidates are prohibited from bringing calculators to the testing centre. You may use the onscreen calculator that will be available throughout the exam.
A: There is no specific order to answer the questions in CMAT exam. You may attempt any question from any section within the overall time limit of exam.
A: National Testing Agency (NTA), constituted by Government of India to conduct higher education exams, conducts CMAT exam.
A: CMAT 2025 will have 5 sections • Section I: Language Comprehension • Section II: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation • Section III: Logical Reasoning • Section IV: General Awareness • Section V: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
A: CMAT 2025 marking scheme is +4 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for each wrong answer.
A: CMAT exam pattern Pdf is released by NTA as well as MBAUniverse.com and other websites
A: NTA has not fixed any CMAT pass marks. No CMAT test taker is disqualified in CMAT exam.
A: Yes, CMAT has negative marking of -1 mark for each wrong answer.
CMAT EXAM PATTERN 2024
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