Understand the exam
Exam overview
National management admission test whose scores are accepted under participating institution policies.
CMAT
Admission
Postgraduate
National
Common Management Admission Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
National management admission test whose scores are accepted under participating institution policies.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Graduation
A recognised bachelor degree or an accepted final-year route. CMAT appearance rules and the eligibility of each participating management institution must both be verified.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
A national management admission test conducted by the National Testing Agency, with scores accepted by a wide range of AICTE-approved management institutions under their own admission policies.
Subjects
What the paper tests
Quantitative techniques and data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, general awareness, and a section on innovation and entrepreneurship. The overall difficulty sits below the most competitive management tests, which changes what a good score looks like.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
Because the paper is more approachable, accuracy rather than difficulty decides your percentile - a few careless errors cost more here than on a harder paper. General awareness and the entrepreneurship section are often left unprepared and are straightforward marks for anyone who does the reading. Check which institutions you are targeting actually accept the score before committing preparation time.
AdmissionProcess
Who can take it, and how it runs
Who can appear. Bachelor's degree.
How often. Once a year.
Format. Computer-based.
Conducted by. National Testing Agency (NTA).
Dates, eligibility and the paper pattern change from year to year. Check the current official notification before you plan around any of this.
Where the score is used
Courses connected to this exam
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How does CMAT compare to CAT?
It is generally more approachable, which changes what a good score looks like - accuracy matters more than handling difficulty, and a few careless errors cost more percentile than they would on a harder paper.
Which sections do candidates neglect?
General awareness and the innovation and entrepreneurship section. Both are straightforward marks for anyone who does the reading, and both are routinely left unprepared because candidates focus on quantitative and verbal.
Which institutions accept the score?
A wide range of approved management institutions, each applying its own admission policy. Confirm your target institutions accept it before making it your primary route, because acceptance varies more than candidates assume.
Can I prepare for CMAT and CAT together?
Yes - the quantitative, verbal and reasoning preparation overlaps almost entirely. The additions for CMAT are general awareness and the entrepreneurship section, which need reading rather than a separate study plan.
What is Common Management Admission Test used for?
MBA/PGDM admission at AICTE-approved institutes.
Who is eligible to appear for Common Management Admission Test?
Bachelor's degree. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is Common Management Admission Test held, and in what format?
Once a year. Computer-based.
Who conducts Common Management Admission Test?
National Testing Agency (NTA).