CMAT 2027: pattern, sections and what is announced so far
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is accepted by a large number of AICTE-approved management institutes. The paper has 100 questions in 180 minutes, 20 in each of five sections, marked +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one.
At the time of writing, NTA's official CMAT 2027 notice has not been confirmed. Last year, registration ran from 17 October to 24 November 2025 and the test was held on 25 January 2026, so expect a similar timeline. Check exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT for the official dates.
CMAT at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Questions | 100 (20 per section) |
| Marks | 400 |
| Duration | 180 minutes, no sectional time limit |
| Marking | +4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 unanswered |
| Eligibility | Bachelor's degree in any discipline; final-year students can apply |
| Last year | Test on 25 January 2026, result on 17 February 2026 |
Sections
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
CMAT is the only major MBA entrance with a full section on General Awareness and one on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (start-ups, government schemes for entrepreneurs, business terms). Students who prepare these two sections well often gain a big lead, because most CAT takers ignore them.
Strategy
- With −1 for a wrong answer and +4 for a right one, guess only when you can rule out at least one option.
- General Awareness: read business and national news daily for three months; revise static GK (books and authors, awards, organisations) in the last month.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship: learn the basics of start-up funding, intellectual property, business models and the main government schemes for start-ups and MSMEs.
- Quant, Reasoning and Language: easier than CAT. Speed and accuracy matter more than difficult concepts.
A 10-week plan
- Weeks 1 to 4: quant and reasoning topics daily, plus 30 minutes of news.
- Weeks 5 to 8: sectional tests; start an entrepreneurship notebook.
- Weeks 9 and 10: full mocks and GK revision.
Practise quant and reasoning free with solutions on Target Campus.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in CMAT?
Yes. A wrong answer loses one mark; a correct answer earns four.
Is there a minimum percentage to apply?
NTA asks for a bachelor's degree in any discipline. Individual institutes may set their own minimum marks for admission, so check their rules.
Is the CMAT 2027 date announced?
Not at the time of writing. Based on last year, registration is likely to open in October or November and the test to be held in January or February 2027.
Published 2 Nov 2026 · Facts last checked 2 Nov 2026 by Team Target Campus. Exam bodies and companies can change details at any time, so confirm on the official website before you apply.