Updated on 30th January 2026 | 12:45 pm | #CMAT2027Exam
The Common Management Admission Test, or CMAT Exam, conducted by NTA, or the National Testing Agency, is another entrance exam for securing admission to top B-schools in India. The CMAT exam 2027 is expected to be conducted in January 2027, based on recent exam trends.
For the past few years, the CMAT exam has been conducted from April to May. However, in recent years, the exam timeline has shifted to January, and a similar schedule is expected for CMAT 2027 as well.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a government-organized, computer-based national-level MBA entrance exam for admission into various AICTE-approved management programs (MBA/PGDM) across India.
Previously conducted by AICTE, the National Testing Agency (NTA) now administers the test. NTA has made several changes to the CMAT exam syllabus and pattern over the past few years. With over 70,000+ annual applicants, CMAT offers a unique opportunity as it doesn't disqualify any test-takers based on their results.
The exam is accepted by more than 1500+ MBA colleges in India to select candidates for their MBA or PGDM programs. The difficulty level of the CMAT exam tends to be on the lower side compared to other exams like CAT, GMAT, and XAT. However, it is not to be underestimated.
The National Testing Agency, popularly known as NTA, is responsible for the conduction and execution of the CMAT 2027 exam. With the release of the CMAT 2027 notification, NTA will announce the complete schedule for the CMAT exam 2027.
Have a look at the tentative schedule of all the CMAT important dates released by NTA for your reference:
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CMAT 2027 Exam Dates |
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CMAT Exam Events |
CMAT 2027 Important Dates |
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CMAT 2027 Notification Release |
Second week of November 2026 |
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CMAT 2027 Registration Start Date |
Second week of December 2026 |
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CMAT 2027 Registration End Date |
First week of January 2027 |
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CMAT Form Correction Window Timeline |
First week of January 2027 |
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CMAT 2027 Exam City Slip Release Date |
Third week of January 2027 |
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CMAT Admit Card 2027 Release Date |
Third week of January 2027 |
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CMAT 2027 Exam Date |
Fourth week of January 2027 |
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CMAT Answer Key 2027 Release Date |
Fourth week of January 2027 |
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CMAT 2027 Result Declaration |
Second week of February 2027 |
The official CMAT notification will be released in the second/third week of November 2026, which will include all the important information, such as CMAT 2027 registration window dates, CMAT 2027 eligibility criteria, CMAT 2027 exam dates, CMAT syllabus 2027, CMAT exam fee, and more.
Based on the previous year's trends, it can be inferred that, according to the CMAT 2027 notification, the registration process for the exam will start in the third week of October 2026 and will conclude in the last week of November 2026 with the possibility of extending it further.
The CMAT 2027 exam is most likely to take place in the fourth week of January 2027 (expected). This exam is an important step towards gaining admission to the top colleges accepting CMAT scores in India.
Knowing about the exam before actually planning to take one is essential; thus all the CMAT aspirants must look into the exam details well in advance. Below mentioned are the key exam highlights and other important details for your reference:
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CMAT 2027 Exam Highlights |
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CMAT 2027 |
Key Highlights |
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CMAT Full Form |
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) |
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Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
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CMAT Official Website |
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Exam Level |
National |
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Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
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Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test |
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Exam Duration |
180 minutes or 3 hours |
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Exam Sections |
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CMAT Exam Pattern |
100 MCQs (20 questions in each section) |
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Exam Difficulty Level |
Easy to Moderate |
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Time Allotted |
180 minutes |
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Total Questions |
100 |
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CMAT Marking Scheme |
+4 marks for every correct answer -1 mark for each wrong answer |
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Language |
English |
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CMAT Exam Fees |
INR 2,500 (General category male) INR 1,250 (General category female/reserved category students) |
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No. of Test Cities |
124+ |
Aspirants must fulfill the following CMAT eligibility criteria to be allowed to sit for the CMAT 2027 exam:
The National Testing Agency is most likely to release the official CMAT notification in the second or third week of October 2026, which will contain information regarding the CMAT registration for the academic year 2027, expected to begin in the third week of October 2026.
Below is a step-by-step guide to help you fill out your CMAT application form hassle-free.
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CMAT 2027 Registration Process |
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Step |
Action |
Details |
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1 |
Visit the official CMAT website |
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2 |
Click on the "Registration" link |
Locate it on the homepage or under the "New Candidate Registration" section. |
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3 |
Create an account |
Enter your name, email address, and phone number to create a user account |
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4 |
Verify your email address |
Click on the verification link sent to your email to activate your account |
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5 |
Fill out the online application form |
Provide personal information, academic details, contact information, and choose exam cities |
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6 |
Upload required documents |
Scanned copy of passport-sized photograph, signature, and PwD certificate (if applicable) |
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7 |
Pay the application fee |
Online payment through net banking, credit card, or debit card |
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8 |
Submit the application form |
Review all information and click on the "Submit" button |
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9 |
Download confirmation page |
Save a copy of the confirmation page for future reference |
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10 |
Download admit card |
Access the admit card from the official CMAT website a few days before the exam |
The following documents are necessary to complete the CMAT 2027 registration process, including:
The CMAT application fee was revised in recent years, and based on current trends, the fee structure for CMAT 2027 is expected to remain the same as the previous year.
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Category |
Male (INR) |
Female (INR) |
Transgender |
|
General |
2500 |
1250 |
1250 |
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Gen-EWS/OBC (NCL)/SC/ ST/ PWD |
1250 |
1250 |
Check the validity of the debit/credit card and have it ready with you while logging on to the website to submit the application form. Enter the information very carefully to avoid any discrepancies and keep the proof of fee paid.
Fee can be paid using SBI/HDFC Bank through:
Important: Ensure that you go through the CMAT application form and verify that all the information you have filled is correct, as once the payment is made, no further changes can be made to the CMAT 2027 application form.
CMAT is a fast-paced entrance exam that assesses a candidate's skills in quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, English language comprehension, innovation and entrepreneurship and general knowledge.
The CMAT exam syllabus is not exactly defined, but based on the past year's trends, we have listed the important topics for each section for your reference:
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CMAT 2027 Syllabus |
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CMAT Sections |
Important Topics |
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Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Probability & Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Charts (Column, Bar, Pie), Tables, Graphs (Line & Area), Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency |
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Logical Reasoning |
Coding and Decoding, Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations, Series, Statement Conclusions, True/False Statements, Puzzles, Visual Reasoning, Calendars |
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Language Comprehension |
Para Jumble, Fill in the Blanks, Reading Comprehension, Idioms and Phrases, Grammar (Articles, Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Prepositions, Adjectives, Adverbs), Vocabulary, Language Usage and Rules |
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General Awareness |
Static GK (Geography, Polity, History), Current Affairs, Significant National and International Events, Business & Economics, Important Personalities, Awards, Sports |
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Government Initiatives in Entrepreneurship, Business and Corporate Affairs, New Investments and Schemes, Policies Related to Entrepreneurship, General Economy, Market and Business Environment |
It is important to understand the exam format in detail for a better understanding of the exam and to enhance your preparation. It is expected that the CMAT paper pattern will be same as that of 2026. The table given below shows the CMAT exam pattern in detail for your reference:
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CMAT Test Pattern 2027 |
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Section Component |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks for each section |
Total Time Duration |
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Language Comprehension |
20 |
80 |
180 Minutes |
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Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
20 |
80 |
|
|
Logical Reasoning |
20 |
80 |
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General Awareness |
20 |
80 |
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
20 |
80 |
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Total |
100 |
400 |
|
Below mentioned are some important points one must keep in mind regarding the CMAT 2027 Marking Scheme to calculate your estimated scores:
Note: The total composite score will be evaluated by totalling marks earned or deducted in each section.
The CMAT admit card will be available on the CMAT-NTA website. Candidates can download their admit card using their login information. Here’s how to download the CMAT admit card 2027 from the NTA website:
CMAT 2027 will be held in more than 124 cities. When choosing test cities for your CMAT center, it's best to select your home city as your first choice or pick cities that are easy for you to reach from your home city. Below is a list of cities, along with their states and codes:
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CMAT Exam Center 2027 |
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State |
CMAT 2027 Test City |
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Andaman and Nicobar |
Port Blair |
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Andhra Pradesh |
Guntur |
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Tirupathi |
Kurnool |
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Vijayawada |
Nellore |
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Visakhapatnam |
Rajahmundry |
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Arunachal Pradesh |
Itanagar/Naharlagun |
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Assam |
Dibrugarh |
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Bhilai Nagar/Durg |
Guwahati |
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Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
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Muzaffarpur |
Darbhanga |
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Patna |
Gaya |
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Chandigarh |
Mohali |
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Delhi |
Raipur |
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Goa |
Panaji |
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Gujarat |
Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar |
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Jamnagar |
Anand |
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Mehsana |
Bhavnagar |
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Rajkot |
Bhuj |
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Surat |
Himatnagar |
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Vadodara |
Faridabad |
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Valsad/Vapi |
Gurugram |
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Haryana |
Ambala |
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Hamirpur |
Hissar |
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Himachal Pradesh |
Bilaspur |
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Srinagar |
Shimla |
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Jamshedpur |
Solan |
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J&K |
Jammu |
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Jharkhand |
Dhanbad |
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Bengaluru |
Ranchi |
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Karnataka |
Belagavi (Belgaum) |
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Kottayam |
Dharwad/Hubbali |
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Kozhikode |
Gulbarga |
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Thiruvananathapuram |
Mangaluru |
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Thrissur |
Mysuru |
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Gwalior |
Udupi/Manipal |
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Kerala |
Ernakulum |
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Ladakh |
Leh |
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Lakshwadeep |
Kavaratti |
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Madhya Pradesh |
Bhopal |
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Maharashtra |
Indore |
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Amravati |
Jabalpur |
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Aurangabad |
Sagar |
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Dhule |
Ahmednagar |
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Kolhapur |
Thane |
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Nashik |
Navi Mumbai |
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Pune |
Nagpur |
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Solapur |
Nanded |
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Manipur |
Imphal |
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Meghalaya |
Shillong |
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Mizoram |
Aizawl |
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Nagaland |
Dimapur |
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Berhanpur-Ganjam |
Kohima |
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Odisha |
Balasore |
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Siliguri |
Bhawanipatna/Kalahandi |
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Bhatinda |
Bhubaneswar |
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Ludhiana |
Jeypore/Koraput |
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Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib |
Sambalpur |
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Puducherry |
Puducherry |
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Punjab |
Amritsar |
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Rajasthan |
Jaipur |
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Sikar |
Jodhpur |
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Udaipur |
Kota |
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Tamil Nadu |
Chennai |
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Tiruchirappalli |
Coimbatore |
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Tirunelveli |
Madurai |
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Telangana |
Hyderabad |
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Aligarh |
Karimnagar |
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Allahabad/Prayagraj |
Warangal |
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Tripura |
Agartala |
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Uttar Pradesh |
Agra |
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Jhansi |
Bareilly |
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Kanpur |
Ghaziabad |
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Lucknow |
Gorakhpur |
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Noida/G Noida |
Meerut |
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Varanasi |
Moradabad |
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Uttarakhand |
Dehradun |
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Roorkee |
Haldwani |
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West Bengal |
Kolkata |
The CMAT 2027 answer key is expected to be released within 5 to 7 days after the exam, based on recent trends. Candidates will be able to download the answer key and their response sheet from the NTA website using their login details. The CMAT response sheet will show the answers to each question and the options that candidates selected, which will help them calculate their raw score. Here's how to download the CMAT answer key for 2027:
If candidates wish to challenge the official CMAT answer key, they will need to fill out an online form and provide supporting documents to back up their claims. If a challenge is found to be valid, the CMAT answer key will be updated. The final CMAT 2027 result and answer key will be prepared after reviewing the challenges received. The window for challenging the answer key will be open for 2 to 3 days, after which no objections will be accepted.
The CMAT 2027 results will be available online on the NTA-CMAT website. To download your CMAT scorecard, you will need to log in with your credentials. Here are the steps to download your CMAT 2027 scorecard and results:
The CMAT 2027 result and scorecard will include your personal information, exam scores, and percentile. Keep in mind that the scorecard can only be downloaded for a limited time, so make sure to get your results as soon as possible.
The CMAT exam cutoff is the minimum marks and rankings required for admission to the top B-schools accepting CMAT scores. After the GD-PI rounds, each B-school releases the specific CMAT cutoff based on different categories as the minimum marks criteria for gaining admission to the particular B-school. The table below shows the expected cutoff based on expert analysis of previous years.
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CMAT 2027 Cutoffs (Expected) |
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|
Colleges Accepting CMAT Score |
CMAT Cutoffs 2027 |
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JBIMS, Mumbai |
99.9+ |
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Goa Institute of Management |
95-99 |
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KJ Somaiya Institute of Management |
95-99 |
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SIMSREE, Mumbai |
99+ |
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Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai |
95-99 |
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University of Pune, Dept of Management Sciences |
95-99 |
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Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi |
95 |
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SOIL Institute of Management |
90 |
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Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai |
85 |
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Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management |
85 |
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IFIM, Bangalore |
85 |
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IFMR, Chennai |
85 |
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NIBM, Pune |
85 |
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NL Dalmia Institute of Management |
85 |
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NDIM, Delhi |
85 |
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Welingkar Institute of Management, Bangalore |
80 |
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IMT, Hyderabad |
80 |
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IMT, Nagpur |
80 |
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XISS, Ranchi |
80 |
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ITM, Navi Mumbai |
80 |
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Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida |
85 |
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Xavier Business School, Xavier University |
85 |
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Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon |
85 |
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BIMTECH, Greater Noida |
80 |
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XIME, Bangalore |
80 |
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ISBM, Pune |
80 |
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KIIT School of Management |
80 |
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IPE Hyderabad |
80 |
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IES's Management College and Research Centre |
80 |
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SIES College of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai |
80 |
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Woxsen University, Hyderabad |
70 |
The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the list of colleges accepting CMAT scores, which is also available on the official AICTE website. Around 1500+ MBA/PGDM colleges are expected to accept CMAT scores for MBA admission 2027.
Below mentioned are some of the top B-schools in India that accept CMAT scores for your reference:
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Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores |
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PUMBA Pune |
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GIM Goa |
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IMS Ghaziabad |
BIMTECH Greater Noida |
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Jaipuria School of Business |
GLIM Chennai/Gurgaon |
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other colleges accepting CMAT scores. Candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria and admission requirements of each college individually before applying.
The CMAT admission process includes a Group Discussion (GD) and a Personal Interview (PI). Many popular government and private colleges in India consider CMAT scores, each setting its own cut-off to shortlist candidates. Business schools will conduct their own GD/PI sessions to select students for their two-year full-time MBA and PGDM programs. In some schools, you may need to write an essay instead of participating in a Group Discussion.
The main steps in the CMAT 2027 admission process include:
It’s important to note that the National Testing Agency (NTA) does not have a role in the MBA admission process through CMAT. To take part in the admission rounds, candidates must fill out the application forms for their chosen colleges on time.
National Testing Agency
For technical support, reach out to the concerned authorities on weekdays between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
The CMAT 2027 exam is expected to be conducted in the fourth week of January 2027, based on recent exam trends. However, the exact exam date will be announced by NTA through the official CMAT notification.
Candidates who have completed a bachelor's degree in any discipline are eligible to apply for CMAT 2027. Final-year students whose results will be declared before the start of the academic session can also apply. There is no age limit to appear for the CMAT exam.
The CMAT 2027 registration process is expected to begin in October 2026. Candidates can apply online through the official NTA CMAT website once the notification is released.
A good score in CMAT 2027 depends on the target college. Generally, candidates scoring above the 90 percentile have higher chances of getting shortlisted by top MBA colleges, while 80-85 percentile can help secure admission to several reputed institutes.
Yes, the CMAT exam is generally considered easier to moderate in difficulty compared to CAT. However, competition is still high, and candidates need proper preparation to secure a good percentile in CMAT 2027.