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CMAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Books & Preparation Plan
CMAT Syllabus 2026: Candidates appearing in the CMAT 2026 can use the CMAT syllabus pdf specified by AICTE. What is the CMAT syllabus 2026? The CMAT syllabus for MBA is an essential resource to prepare for the CMAT exam. CMAT syllabus 2026 specifies the important topics from which questions are asked for the CMAT exam. CMAT 2026 syllabus pdf download will help to choose the right study materials and sample papers to prepare for CMAT exam. The difficulty level of the CMAT 2026 is expected to be moderate and the CMAT syllabus 2026 topics can be covered in 3 to 4 months of daily preparation.
This Story also Contains
- CMAT Syllabus 2026: Overview
- CMAT Exam Syllabus 2026 - Highlights
- CMAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise
- Section-Wise CMAT 2026 Syllabus
- CMAT Exam Pattern 2026
- Previous Year’s CMAT Analysis
- Best Books for CMAT 2026
- Previous Year Sample Paper
- CMAT Preparation Tips: CMAT preparation in 3 months
CMAT Syllabus 2026: Overview
The CMAT syllabus has five sections, namely, Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Candidates aspiring to take CMAT 2026 are advised to familiarise themselves with the CMAT syllabus in detail to kick-start their preparation. CMAT exam 2026 will be held tentatively in the last week of January 2026 in two shifts.
CMAT Exam Syllabus 2026 - Highlights
About the Exam | CMAT Syllabus Details |
CMAT Exam Date 2026 | Last week of January 2026 |
CMAT 2026 Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
CMAT Exam Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
Total no. of questions in CMAT exam 2026 | 100 questions |
Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
CMAT 2026 question paper language | English |
CMAT syllabus 2026 for MBA |
|
Marking Scheme of CMAT 2026 | (+) 4 Marks for every correct answer |
Negative Marking | Yes (-1) |
TITA Questions | No |
Also Read - Tips to Crack CMAT
CMAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise
Aspirants are often concerned with the question of what is the syllabus for CMAT 2026 and what are the important topics of CMAT 2026? Below given table provides the summarised syllabus topic-wise of the CMAT 2026.
Section-Wise CMAT 2026 Syllabus
CMAT Syllabus Section-Wise | Topics |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
|
Logical Reasoning |
|
Language Comprehension |
|
CMAT General Awareness and Current Affairs Syllabus |
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CMAT Exam Pattern 2026
As per the exam pattern of CMAT 2026, the paper will be conducted in an online medium, and the medium of the question paper will be English only. Check the table below to know the CMAT exam pattern.
Exam Pattern of CMAT 2026
Sections | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
Total | 100 | 400 |
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CMAT Marking Scheme
As per the marking scheme of CMAT 2026,
- For every correct answer, a candidate will be rewarded +4 marks
- For every incorrect answer, a -1 mark will be deducted.
- No marks will be given for unanswered/unattempted questions.
- In case a question is ignored or dropped all students will be given +4 for that question, irrespective of whether the candidate has attempted the question or not.
CMAT Logical Reasoning Questions with Answers
CMAT aspirants can download this eBook and practice questions to boost their score.
Download EBookPrevious Year’s CMAT Analysis
CMAT 2024 question paper, as well as the CMAT 2023 question paper, were moderately difficult. The CMAT 2022 exam was moderate. The CMAT 2022 question paper was slightly tougher than CMAT 2021 but overall was moderate. There was a slight surprise element in last year's CMAT question paper, particularly in the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation sections of CMAT 2022. The students were satisfied with the difficulty level for the CMAT 2022 exam.
Best Books for CMAT 2026
Since the NTA CMAT syllabus 2026 is equivalent to the CAT 2026 exam, the books for the latter will also do wonders for preparing for the former. The best books to cover CMAT exam syllabus are listed below.
Best Books for CMAT Quantitative Aptitude
Name of the CMAT Preparation Books | Author Name/ Publisher |
Quantitative Aptitude | Dr RS Aggarwal |
NCERT Mathematics Books for Standard 8, 9 and 10 | NCERT |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha (McGraw Hill Education) |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission Into IIMs | Sarvesh K Verma (Arihant) |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education) |
Best Books for CMAT Logical Reasoning
Name of the CMAT Preparation Books | Author Name/Publisher |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K Sinha (Pearson) |
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education) |
Best Books for CMAT Language Comprehension
Name of the CMAT Preparation Books | Author Name/Publisher |
Trishna’s Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT and Other MBA Examinations | TIME |
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Dr R S Aggarwal |
The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT | Nishit K Sinha |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education) |
Top MBA Entrance Exams
Apart from these books, you should read the complete reference manual for CMAT by SK Sinha, S Satyanarayan, and JS Rana.
Listed below are other useful books that one can read to improve the vocabulary and grammar section of the CMAT exam 2026 syllabus.
- A Communicative Grammar of English by Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik.
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.
- Wren & Martin English Grammar.
- Business English and Communication by John O E Clark.
- The Students’ Companion by Wilfred D Best.
- 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Norman Lewis.
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Best Books for CMAT General Awareness
Current affairs (CA) and general knowledge (GK) aspirants should subscribe to the following newspapers and magazines to strengthen their concepts.
Newspapers and Journals | |
Competition Success Review | The Hindu |
Financial Express | Management Compass Career Launcher |
Business World | Business Today |
Hindu Business Line | Wall Street Journal |
The Financial Times | Economic Times |
Best Books for CMAT Innovation & Entrepreneurship
This section is newly added from the last year onwards.
Name of the CMAT Preparation Books | Author Name/ Publisher |
The Innovator's Dilemma | Clayton M. Christensen |
Reinventing Organizations | Frederic Laloux & Ken Wilber |
How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie |
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Previous Year Sample Paper
Before appearing for CMAT 2026, it is important for candidates to analyze their preparation levels. To know one’s level of preparation, students must go through the sample paper of CMAT. Aspirants can download the CMAT sample papers of previous years through the links provided in the table below:
Previous Year Sample Papers of CMAT
2021 | |
2020 | |
2019 |
It is important for aspirants to practice through the CMAT sample papers because it gives an idea about the marking scheme and the types of questions that might be asked. In addition to that, it also helps students to gain speed and accuracy and lastly increases self-confidence.
CMAT Preparation Tips: CMAT preparation in 3 months
Here's a 3-month study plan for the CMAT exam, divided by week and focusing on different sections of the syllabus:
Month 1
Week 1-2: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
- Day 1-3: Tabulation, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Line Graph
- Day 4-6: Probability, Quadratic and Linear Equations
- Day 7: Practice problems
Week 3-4: Logical Reasoning
- Day 1-2: Analytical Reasoning, Cause and Effects
- Day 3-4: Non-Verbal Reasoning, Linear Arrangements
- Day 5-6: Analogy Test, Symbol Based Problems
- Day 7: Practice problems
Month 2
Week 5-6: Language Comprehension
- Day 1-2: English Grammar, Paragraph Completion
- Day 3-4: Sentence Improvement, English Usage Errors
- Day 5-6: Synonyms and Antonyms, Reading Comprehension
- Day 7: Practice problems
Week 7-8: General Awareness
- Day 1-2: Current Affairs of National and International Economy, Literature
- Day 3-4: History, Sports News
- Day 5-6: Science in Everyday Life, Politics
- Day 7: Practice questions and review
Month 3
Week 9-10: Revision of Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
- Day 1-2: Geometry, Profit and Loss, Mensuration
- Day 3-4: Ratios and Proportion, Fraction and Decimals
- Day 5-6: Work and Time, Time-Speed-Distance, Number Systems
- Day 7: Practice problems
Week 11: Revision of Logical Reasoning
- Day 1-2: Matrix Arrangements, Ranking Tests
- Day 3-4: Coding and Decoding, Sequencing
- Day 5-6: Statements Arguments, Blood Relationship Tests
- Day 7: Practice problems
Week 12: Revision of Language Comprehension and General Awareness
- Day 1-2: One-word Substitution, Jumbled Para, Idioms and Phrases
- Day 3-4: Sentence Correction, General Awareness Revision
- Day 5-6: Full-length practice tests
- Day 7: Review and final preparation
B-Schools Accepting CMAT Score - Location-Wise
CMAT Mock Test 2026
Mock tests are one of the best ways to prepare for the entrance exam. CMAT mock tests based on the latest CMAT 2026 exam syllabus will help you give your preparation an edge by assessing your weakness and strength. With mock tests, you will figure out where you need to focus more and where to focus less. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the CMAT mock test 2026 in online mode.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many questions will be asked from GK in CMAT 2026?
A:
CMAT 2026 will have 20 questions from General Knowledge. All questions will be in MCQ format. You will be given 5 options to choose the correct answer for each question.
Q: What is the weightage of each section in the CMAT exam 2026?
A:
There are 20 questions in each section of CMAT and there are +4 marks for each question. Therefore, the total marks of each section are 80 and the total marks of the CMAT examination are 400.
Q: Where can I get the complete syllabus of CMAT in PDF format?
A:
NTA CMAT syllabus PDF format 2026 can be downloaded from Careers360.
Q: In how many days can I cover the CMAT syllabus completely?
A:
The candidate should set aside at least three months to complete the NTA CMAT syllabus. However, if they appear for CAT and IIFT, they can complete the CMAT 2026 syllabus in a month.
Q: Does NTA provide specific topics that will be covered under CMAT 2026?
A:
No, NTA does not provide a detailed CMAT exam syllabus 2026. However, the paper will be divided into five sections namely.
- Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Q: Can I switch between sections while writing the CMAT exam 2026?
A:
Yes, candidates can switch between sections at any time.
Q: Is there any negative marking in CMAT?
A:
Yes, there is a negative marking on CMAT. For each incorrect answer, -1 marks will be deducted.
Q: Is the CMAT syllabus the same as that of CAT? Is CMAT easier than CAT?
A:
Yes, the NTA CMAT syllabus is similar to the CAT. But, there is no GK section in the CAT.
Q: How many questions do I need to solve to get good marks in CMAT?
A:
Solving 16 to 18 questions in each section with 85 per cent accuracy is considered a good effort, and this will ensure a good percentile in CMAT.
Q: Can I prepare for the CMAT exam from CAT books?
A:
Yes, CMAT candidates may refer to the books recommended by CAT for exam preparation; But they have to solve mock tests and sample questions specific to CMAT.
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