CMI previous year question papers (CMI entrance exam PYQs) from Chennai Mathematical Institute are here for every year from 2015 to 2026, 47 papers for BSc (Hons), MSc/PhD Mathematics, MSc/PhD Computer Science, MSc Data Science (from 2018) and PhD Physics (2015 and 2016), each with CMI’s solutions. Recent papers have a screening Part A of short or multiple-choice answers and a Part B of problems needing full solutions, so the 2022 to 2025 BSc papers and the 2026 MSc papers are the best guide to the CMI exam on 15 May 2027.
CMI Entrance Exam Previous Year Question Papers
Pick a year, then open the paper for your programme; the solutions file is listed with it.
Newest papersCMI Entrance Exam 2026 Question Paper
View 2026 papers3 papers
CMI Entrance Exam Question Papers by Year
| Year | Papers | Answer key | Pattern that year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMI Entrance Exam 2026 | 3 papers | Yes | View papers | |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2025 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · Part A 17 Q · 40 pts | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2024 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 40 + 80 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2023 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 3.5 h · 40 + 80 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2022 | 5 papers | Yes | BSc · 3.5 h · 40 + 80 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2021 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 3 h · 40 + 60 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2020 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 40 + 60 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2019 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 3 h · 40 + 60 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2018 | 5 papers | Yes | BSc · 40 + 85 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2017 | 3 papers | Yes | BSc · 40 + 85 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2016 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 40 + 84 points | View papers |
| CMI Entrance Exam 2015 | 4 papers | Yes | BSc · 44 + 81 points | View papers |
CMI Entrance Exam Paper at a Glance
| Format | Part A: short or multiple-choice answers (screening); Part B: problems with full written solutions |
|---|---|
| BSc / B.S. (Hons) paper | Part A 40 points, Part B 6 problems for 80 points (2022 to 2025); 3.5 hours in 2022 and 2023 |
| MSc/PhD Computer Science (2026) | 100 marks in 3 hours: 10 MCQs × 3, 3 long answers × 10, best 4 of 8 long answers × 10 |
| Marking | No negative marking in Part A of the 2025 BSc and 2026 MSc/PhD CS papers |
| Papers on this page | 2015 to 2026, 47 papers, all with solutions (2025 BSc: draft solutions) |
| Next exam | CMI Entrance Exam 2027: 15 May 2027, 2:00 PM. Application: March 2027 (expected) |
How the CMI BSc Paper Changed (2015–2026)
- 2015 to 2018: Part A of 10 or 11 short questions (40 points from 2016) and Part B of 81 to 85 points.
- 2019 to 2021: Part B was cut to 60 points in a 3-hour paper. From 2021, Part A answers were entered on a computer.
- 2022 onwards: 3.5 hours, with Part B back up to 6 problems for 80 points. Part B is graded only for candidates above a Part A cut (24 points or the top 400 in 2022).
- 2026: the undergraduate programme became a 4-year B.S. (Hons). Its first paper is not yet published by CMI, so use the 2022 to 2025 BSc papers.
How to Use CMI Previous Year Papers?
- Clear Part A first. Part B is marked only if your Part A score crosses the cut, so practise the 40-point Part A until you score well above 24 in about an hour.
- Write full proofs in Part B. Part B gives no credit without correct reasoning. Compare each of your answers line by line with CMI’s solutions file, not just the final number.
- Answer every Part A question. Recent Part A sections have no negative marking. In multiple-choice questions you score only if you pick all the correct options and no wrong one, so check each option on its own.
- Solve 2025 back to 2022 under 3.5 hours, because they share today’s 40 plus 80 point BSc layout. MSc candidates should start with the 2026 paper for their subject.
- Plan for 15 May 2027. About six and a half months remain, and the application opens around 1 March 2027. One paper a week with careful checking covers every year from 2015 before the exam.
CMI Entrance Exam Previous Year Question Papers FAQs
What is the pattern of the CMI BSc entrance paper?
In 2022 to 2025 it had Part A worth 40 points (short answers, typed on a computer in 2024 and 2025) and Part B with 6 problems for 80 points. The 2022 and 2023 papers allowed 3.5 hours.
Is there negative marking in the CMI entrance exam?
Part A of the 2025 BSc paper and of the 2026 MSc/PhD Computer Science paper had no negative marking. CMI does not announce the marking scheme in advance, so read the instructions on the paper.
Do the CMI papers have solutions?
Yes. Every paper from 2015 to 2026 has a solutions file. For the 2025 BSc paper, CMI published draft solutions.
Is the CMI 2026 B.S. (Hons) paper available?
Not yet. 2026 was the first entrance for the 4-year B.S. (Hons), and CMI has not published that paper. The 2026 MSc/PhD Mathematics, Computer Science and Data Science papers are here.
Which years have the MSc Data Science paper?
Every year from 2018 to 2026. 2018 also has CMI’s sample questions for the then new Data Science test.
Does CMI publish a cut off?
No. CMI does not publish cut offs or ranks, but the papers print the Part A screening marks, for example at most 20 of 40 in the 2025 MSc/PhD Mathematics paper.
Is the CMI 2025 question paper available?
Yes. All four papers from the 24 May 2025 exam are here with solutions: BSc (Hons), MSc/PhD Mathematics, MSc/PhD Computer Science and MSc Data Science. The BSc (Hons) solutions are CMI’s draft solutions.
When is the CMI Entrance Exam 2027?
CMI Entrance Exam 2027: 15 May 2027, 2:00 PM. Application: March 2027 (expected). See the CMI Entrance Exam 2027 page for every date.