CMAT 2026: Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Colleges & More
The CMAT 2026 (Common Management Admission Test) is one of India’s most popular national-level MBA entrance exams conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Every year, thousands of students compete in CMAT for admission into top AICTE-approved management institutes across the country. If you are planning for an MBA or PGDM in 2026, then CMAT 2026 is one of the most important exams you must consider.
This complete guide covers CMAT exam dates, registration process, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, fees, preparation tips, and top colleges accepting CMAT scores.
⭐ What is CMAT?
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam designed to assess a candidate’s ability in quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general awareness. CMAT is widely accepted by more than 1000+ management institutes in India for admission to MBA, PGDM, PGCM, and Executive PGDM programs.
📅 CMAT 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)
| Event | Dates (Expected) |
|---|---|
| CMAT 2026 Registration Begins | January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 2026 |
| Form Correction Window | February 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | March 2026 |
| CMAT Exam Date | April 2026 |
| CMAT 2026 Answer Key | April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | May 2026 |
🎓 CMAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
✔ Educational Qualification
Must have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Final-year students are also eligible.
✔ Age Limit
No age limit for appearing in CMAT.
✔ Nationality
The candidate must be a citizen of India.
🧪 CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 100 Questions | 400 Marks |
Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 hours
Marking Scheme: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect
Medium: English
📘 CMAT 2026 Syllabus (Section-wise)
1. Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation
Arithmetic: Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio
Algebra: Equations, Functions
Geometry: Mensuration
Data Interpretation Sets
2. Logical Reasoning
Series
Puzzles
Coding-Decoding
Blood Relations
Odd-One-Out
3. Language Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Synonyms & Antonyms
Para-Jumbles
Error Detection
4. General Awareness
National & International Affairs
Economics & Business
Sports
Awards
Science & Technology
5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Business Startups
Government Schemes
Entrepreneurial Concepts
Market Strategies
📝 CMAT 2026 Application Process
Follow these steps:
Visit the official NTA CMAT website
Click on New Registration
Enter details & create login ID
Fill in personal, academic & exam details
Upload scanned photo & signature
Pay the application fee online
Download the confirmation page
💰 Application Fees
| Category | Fees |
|---|---|
| General | ₹2000 |
| Female/SC/ST/OBC/PwD | ₹1000 |
🎯 Top Colleges Accepting CMAT 2026 Scores
Here are some of the best AICTE-approved colleges:
JBIMS Mumbai
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management
Welingkar Institute (WeSchool)
PUMBA Pune
Great Lakes Chennai
IMT Nagpur
BIMTECH Greater Noida
Goa Institute of Management
KIIT School of Management
🎓 CMAT 2026 Admission Process
Take the CMAT exam
Result & Scorecard released
Apply to colleges
Shortlisting based on CMAT scores
Group Discussion / Personal Interview
Final Admission Offer
📚 Preparation Tips for CMAT 2026
Study NCERT basics for Quant
Practice 1–2 mock tests weekly
Strengthen vocabulary & grammar
Follow monthly current affairs
Revise formulas regularly
Use CMAT previous year papers
Focus on speed + accuracy
📢 Why Choose CMAT for MBA in 2026?
Accepted at 1000+ colleges
Moderate difficulty level
No sectional time limits
Affordable exam fee
Opens doors to top PGDM/MBA institutions
