The CMAT 2026 examination was conducted on 25 January 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CMAT 2026 result has been released on 17 February 2026 along with the final answer key. The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a National level MBA entrance exam for admission to MBA, PGDM and other management programmes at over 1,000 AICTE-approved institutions, university departments, constituent colleges and affiliated colleges across India. Candidates can download their score cards from the official website at cmat.nta.nic.in. Here on aglasem.com, get all the latest information regarding CMAT 2026 result, final answer key, syllabus, exam pattern, and previous year question papers.
Latest: – CMAT 2026 result has been released on 17 February 2026. Get the link to download the score card here.
CMAT 2026
What is the CMAT Entrance Exam?
The CMAT stands for Common Management Admission Test. It is a National-level entrance exam organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA) once a year for admission to MBA, PGDM and other postgraduate management programmes in AICTE-approved institutions for the 2026-27 academic session. The exam was earlier conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) till 2018, and NTA has been conducting it since 2019. The 2026 cycle was held on 25 January 2026 in a single shift across 259 examination centres in 110 cities, with 53,453 candidates registered and 41,872 candidates appearing for the test.
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CMAT 2026 Exam Dates
The complete schedule of the Common Management Admission Test 2026, from notification release to result declaration, is provided below. The National Testing Agency is the official authority responsible for setting all key dates. Candidates should regularly visit cmat.nta.nic.in for any updates.
| Exam Event | Event Date |
|---|---|
| Release of CMAT 2026 notification | 17 Oct 2025 |
| Start of online application / registration | 17 Oct 2025 |
| Last date to submit application form | 24 Nov 2025 |
| Last date for fee payment | 25 Nov 2025 |
| Application form correction window | 26 – 28 Nov 2025 |
| Advance city intimation slip | 17 Jan 2026 |
| Release of CMAT admit card 2026 | 21 Jan 2026 |
| CMAT 2026 exam date | 25 Jan 2026 |
| Release of provisional answer key | 31 Jan 2026 |
| Last date to challenge provisional answer key | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Release of final answer key | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Declaration of CMAT 2026 result | 17 Feb 2026 |
Important Downloads and Official Links
Here you can find direct links to the latest notifications and official releases for the Common Management Admission Test, ensuring you stay updated.
- CMAT 2026 Information Brochure
- Release of Examination Schedule
- Correction in the particulars of the online Application Form
- Extension of last date for submission of Online Applications
- Official Website of CMAT (cmat.nta.nic.in)
- Official Website of NTA
CMAT 2026 Result Statistics
The National Testing Agency, through its official press release, has shared the participation statistics for the CMAT 2026 exam. A total of 53,453 candidates registered for the test, and 41,872 candidates actually appeared on exam day, registering a turnout of 78.33 percent. The exam was conducted in single shift mode at 259 centres across 110 cities, therefore no score normalisation was applied.
How to Check CMAT Result 2026
Once you are on the official portal, the following simple steps will help you download your score card.
- Visit the official website at cmat.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the CMAT-2026 Score Card link on the home page.
- Enter your application number, date of birth and security pin.
- Your score card will be displayed on the screen.
- Download and save the PDF for use during MBA/PGDM admission counselling.
For detailed step-by-step guidance, visit the CMAT result page.
CMAT 2026 Application Form
The application window for the Common Management Admission Test opened on 17 October 2025 and closed on 24 November 2025, with fee payment accepted till 25 November 2025. A correction window was made available between 26 and 28 November 2025 for candidates to edit their submitted details. Applications were submitted online through the official CMAT-NTA portal at cmat.nta.nic.in.
| Category | Application Fee (Boys) | Application Fee (Girls / Transgender) |
|---|---|---|
| General | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 1,250 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 1,250 | Rs. 1,250 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 625 | Rs. 625 |
| Outside India | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 5,000 |
CMAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To appear for the CMAT 2026 entrance exam, candidates must satisfy the following eligibility conditions as set by the National Testing Agency.
- Nationality: Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply.
- Academic qualification: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree of minimum three years’ duration in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Final-year students: Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree are also eligible to apply.
- Age limit: There is no upper age limit prescribed by NTA for appearing in CMAT 2026.
Exam Pattern
The Common Management Admission Test is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The pattern, marking scheme and section-wise distribution for the CMAT 2026 exam are as below.
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum 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 | 400 |
- Total duration: 180 minutes (3 hours).
- Marking scheme: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted.
- Mode: Online, Computer Based Test (CBT).
- Medium: English only.
Admit Card
The hall ticket for the Common Management Admission Test was released on 21 January 2026 at cmat.nta.nic.in. Candidates downloaded the admit card by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The admit card contained the candidate’s roll number, exam centre address, reporting time, and exam day instructions. Full details and login link are on the CMAT Admit Card page.
Answer Key
NTA released the provisional answer key for the Common Management Admission Test on 31 January 2026 along with the question papers and recorded responses. Candidates were allowed to raise objections against the provisional answer key till 02 February 2026 by paying a fee per question. After reviewing the objections, NTA released the final answer key on 17 February 2026, on the basis of which the result was compiled. The complete download process is on the CMAT Answer Key page.
CMAT 2026 Syllabus
The Common Management Admission Test syllabus is divided into five sections, each carrying equal weightage. Important topics across the five sections include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation (Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation), syllogisms, blood relations, coding-decoding, puzzles (Logical Reasoning), reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary (Language Comprehension), current affairs, history, geography, polity (General Awareness), and innovation, entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem (Innovation and Entrepreneurship). The complete topic-wise syllabus along with the official PDF is on the CMAT Syllabus page.
Counselling and Admission
The NTA does not conduct centralised counselling for the Common Management Admission Test. Each participating MBA / PGDM institution announces its own cut off and selection procedure, which usually involves a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI), in addition to the CMAT 2026 score. Candidates must apply separately to each institute of their choice. Many top B-schools begin their selection process from early March onwards.
Participating Institutes
More than 1,000 AICTE-approved institutions, university departments, constituent colleges and affiliated colleges accept the CMAT 2026 score for admission to MBA, PGDM and equivalent two-year postgraduate management programmes. Popular institutes accepting CMAT scores include JBIMS Mumbai, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Goa Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, IFMR Graduate School of Business, Welingkar Institute, BIMTECH Greater Noida, IFIM Bangalore, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), and various university management departments.
CMAT Exam – An Overview
The key details about the Common Management Admission Test 2026 are summarised below.
| Exam Aspect | Aspect Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Exam | CMAT 2026 |
| Full Form | Common Management Admission Test |
| Exam Conducting Body | NTA |
| Full Name of Body | National Testing Agency |
| Level of Exam | National Level |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Total Questions / Marks | 100 MCQs / 400 marks |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, -1 for wrong |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Official Website of Exam | cmat.nta.nic.in |
| Courses Where Admission Is Through This Test | MBA, PGDM and other management programmes |
| Colleges / Universities Where Admission Is Through This Test | AICTE-approved institutions / University Departments / Constituent Colleges / Affiliated Colleges |
| Region of Exam | India |
| Type of Exam | MBA Entrance Exams |
CMAT 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Yes, NTA released the CMAT 2026 result on 17 February 2026 along with the final answer key. Candidates can download their score cards from cmat.nta.nic.in by logging in with their application number and date of birth.
Ans. The CMAT 2026 exam was conducted on 25 January 2026 in a single shift in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode at 259 examination centres across 110 cities in India.
Ans. The CMAT 2026 is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. NTA has been conducting CMAT since 2019; earlier it was conducted by AICTE.
Ans. The CMAT 2026 exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions across 5 sections – Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Each section has 20 questions of 4 marks each, totalling 400 marks, with a duration of 180 minutes and -1 negative marking for wrong answers.
Ans. Candidates must be Indian citizens holding a Bachelor’s degree of minimum three years’ duration in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply. There is no upper age limit.
Ans. According to NTA’s official press release, 53,453 candidates registered for CMAT 2026 and 41,872 candidates actually appeared in the examination, recording a turnout of 78.33 percent.
Ans. The CMAT 2026 score is valid for the academic session 2026-27 only. Candidates who wish to use the score for the next academic year must reappear for CMAT in the next cycle.
Ans. No, NTA does not conduct any centralised counselling for CMAT. Each participating MBA/PGDM institute announces its own cut off and selection process, which usually involves Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). Candidates must apply separately to each institute.
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