CMAT Exam: 2024 Dates, Pattern & Registration

Students who want to enroll in top management programs in India often apply for several entrance exams. One prominent exam is the CMAT exam or the Common Management Admission Test. The popularity of this test is exhibited by the fact that in 2023, about 58,035 students appeared for the CMAT exam. Let’s find out more about the exam clearing, which opens a gateway to study at top-notch management colleges.

What is CMAT  

The CMAT entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Before 2019, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was responsible for conducting this test. The CMAT exam is a three-hour computer-based test conducted to assess the management, logical reasoning, and general knowledge of students for admission to management colleges and universities. 

CMAT: Exam Highlights 

CMAT Exam Dates 

The NTA announces the registration and exam dates. The CMAT 2024 exam registration is expected to start in February and end by the first or second week of March. If you want to change or update your CMAT application form details, you have time until the second week of March 2024. 

Also, the CMAT admit card will be released in May, and the CMAT exam will also be conducted in May. You must wait about a week after the CMAT exam date to access the CMAT 2024 answer key. CMAT results will be announced three weeks after the exam is conducted. 

CMAT Eligibility Criteria 

You must check the eligibility criteria before applying for the exam. The CMAT exam prerequisites are: 

• You must be a legal citizen of India. 
• There is no age limit. 
• You should possess an undergraduate degree in any field, or be in your final year with results expected before admissions for the 2024-25 academic year.

CMAT Registration 

You can apply for the CMAT exam if you meet the eligibility criteria by following the below steps for CMAT registration. 

1. Visit the official CMAT website where the application link will be available when the registrations are open. 
2. Fill in the application form and add your mobile number, email ID, and educational qualifications. Make sure to save the allotted application number. 
3. Upload your recent passport-size photos and digital signature. 
4. Select your preferred test centers. You can choose up to 4 examination centers. 
5. Pay the CMAT registration fees. The application fee for general category males is INR 2000, while the fees for general category females, transgender students, and students from SC, ST, EWS, OBC, and PwD groups is INR 1000.
6. You can also download the SANDES application to get the latest updates from NTA regarding the CMAT examination. 

CMAT Syllabus 

As for the syllabus of the CMAT exam, there are five primary subjects: 

1. Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation- This includes probability, menstruation, geometry, etc., to test your knowledge in data analysis and mathematics. 
2. Logical Reasoning- This includes non-verbal and analytical reasoning, blood relations, etc., to test your thinking and analytical skills. 
3. General Awareness- This covers current affairs, general knowledge, and basic subject knowledge. 
4. Language Comprehension- This tests your writing and reading skills and includes grammar, reading comprehension, etc. 
5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship- This includes different concepts of business, entrepreneurship, leadership, etc. 

CMAT Preparation  

The crucial part of the CMAT exam is preparation because it is hard to pass the test without thorough preparation. Follow these preparation tips to put your best foot forward in the exam: 

• Go through the exam pattern and sectional composition of the test. Become familiar with the marking scheme, duration limit, and the five main topics. 
• Collect top-notch CMAT preparation books or study materials. Some of the best books for CMAT are Comprehensive Guide to CMAT, The Complete Reference Manual CMAT 2024, Guide for CMAT Entrance, etc. 
• Set aside enough time daily to practice all five sections. For instance, allot 30 minutes or 1 hour every day to each subject (Logical reasoning, Quantitative techniques and data interpretation, Language comprehension, General awareness, and Innovation and entrepreneurship). 
• Attempt the previous year’s papers to understand the pattern and difficulty of questions. 
• You can practice sample papers or mock tests every week to strengthen your knowledge. 
• Ensure that you start doing topic-wise revision a week before the exam. Make sure to revise all the topics in all five subjects. 

Pro tip: It is best to start your preparation 6 months before the CMAT exam date so you have enough time to cover and practice every topic. 

CMAT Admit Card 

NTA will issue the CMAT admit card before the examination via the official website. You can download and print it. It is essential for the candidates to appear at the examination center with their admit cards. The admit card contains all the necessary details, such as: 

• Your examination center 
• Exam date and shift 
• Reporting and gate closing timings
• Exam duration timings 
• Candidate’s info (name, gender, father's name, roll number, application number, DOB, etc.) 
• Your passport-size photo and signature 

CMAT Result 

The CMAT result is released on the official CMAT website. Generally, the results are released three weeks after the exam date. You can check your result on the CMAT website by submitting your application number and date of birth.

CMAT Cut-Offs 

Colleges and universities that accept the CMAT exam will declare their cut-offs after the CMAT result is released. It is important to note that the number of students who appeared for the exam directly affects the cut-off scores. For example, if the competition is high, the cut-off score will be high. 

Top-tier colleges like JBIMS, Welingkar (MMS), SIMSREE, Goa Institute Of Management, K.J.Somaiya, and SIES (MMS) usually have 98 to 99.9 CMAT cut-offs. However, there are also colleges that have 95 to 90, 90 to 80, 80 to 70, and 70 to 60 cut-offs. 

Based on previous years' data, let us look at the projected percentiles corresponding to the CMAT Score in 2024.

Admission Process After CMAT 

After the CMAT results are declared, the colleges and universities will shortlist the students depending on the CMAT score and their cut-offs. Colleges will conduct group discussions and interviews for the shortlisted students. Admissions are allotted based on the availability of the seats, CMAT score, and performance in GD/PI rounds. 

The CMAT exam allows you to get into top-tier management colleges based on your scores. Ensure you are well-acquainted with the exam pattern and syllabus. Pay attention to the CMAT exam dates, admit cards, and other important rules. This exam could be your opportunity to fly high in the corporate world, so work hard for the exam and aim to achieve greater heights.