CMAT 2026 Exam Schedule Live: Check Exam Section-wise structure

National Testing Agency (NTA) has come out with an official notification regarding the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026. The entrance examination at the PAN India level to get admission in MBA or PGDM programs would be on 25 January 2026. The test would be computer based and it would be held at different centers in India and the duration would be three hours. The test would be conducted precisely in English.

The structure of the test CMAT 2026 includes five Part that comprehends the necessary knowledge base for management studies. A hundred questions would be asked for 400 marks. On the whole, every part would contribute 20% to the total score.

Section-wise structure of CMAT 2026

• One correct response will be awarded 4 mark. For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.

The CMAT is the most important exam that one should appear if one wishes to join an MBA, PGDM or related program in management in India. Scores obtained in CMAT have been accepted by more than 500 various types of institutes such as university departments, colleges, business schools and AICTE approved management institutes that conduct admission tests.

NTA also mentions that it will only conduct the examination and release the marksheet, thus, not being responsible for conduct of counselling or the admission process. Once the result is disclosed, officials from colleges will wait for candidates to submit applications. It is also important to note that each institute will generate its own cut, off and shortlist accordingly.

Subsequently, candidates who clear the cut, off criteria will be called for the next rounds of admission procedures which will vary from institute to institute and include Personal Interview, Group Discussion and institution specific evaluation. The final merit list that the colleges will draft will be on the basis of these rounds as well as the CMAT score.