CMAT 2026 will be conducted in January 2026. With CMAT 2026 being just around the corner, candidates are gearing up for the final sprint in the CMAT preparation journey as the clock ticks down to the exam day it is natural to feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness. However, with strategic planning and focused effort, you can maximise your chances of success in the CMAT exam. This article shares some important last-minute preparation tips to help you tackle the CMAT 2026 with confidence.
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Our exam experts have created a list of important tips to get the candidates through the last-minute preparation phase. Implement these CMAT last-minute exam strategies and tips for achieving breakthrough performance in the upcoming CMAT 2026 exam.
Revise Key Concepts: Focus on reviewing the fundamentals of each concept and important formulas for the quantitative aptitude section. Do not try to learn any new concepts.
CMAT 2026 mock tests and practice papers: Attempt full-length CMAT mock tests and CMAT sample papers to simulate the exam environment. This will not only make you exam-ready but also improve your time management skills. After each mock test, analyse your performance for each section.
CMAT 2026 Section-wise strategy: Formulate a section-wise strategy based on your strengths and weaknesses. Allocate the required time wisely to each section, keeping in mind the number of questions and the difficulty level. Prioritise answering questions that you are more confident about to maximise your score.
CMAT 2026 Time Management: Implement time management strategies to ensure you do not miss out on questions from any section. Don’t spend too much time on one question.
Revise CMAT 2026 flashcards: Go through the flashcards containing important shortcuts, formulas, and concepts. Review these flashcards in the final days leading to the CMAT 2026 exam. It will help reinforce concepts and boost confidence.
CMAT 2026 Exam Day Essentials: Plan your exam day essentials. Do not forget to carry the CMAT admit card and a photo ID proof. Carry essentials mentioned by the exam conducting body. Arrive at the CMAT 2026 exam centre ahead of time to avoid any last-minute rush.
Stay calm and Confident: Stay calm and maintain a positive attitude throughout the CMAT 2026 exam. Staying stressed can negatively impact your performance. Meditate for a few minutes to achieve a calm state of mind and stay focused.
Keep yourself updated: Stay updated with the latest announcements and notifications related to the CMAT 2026 exam. Follow the NTA website and social media channels to stay updated.
Post-exam analysis: After the CMAT 2026 exam, spend some time to reflect on your performance. Look for areas where you could have performed better and where you did well. This will help you learn from your mistakes and improve your preparation strategy for future MBA entrance exams.
The candidates can refer to these important CMAT last-minute tips to ensure that they make the most out of the available time for CMAT 2026 preparation.
In the final hours before the CMAT exam, keep your study light and effective. Instead of diving into heavy study material, stick to concise notes you’ve already prepared. Revise essential topics like formulas, concepts, shortcuts, and strategies. Avoid starting new topics or attempting unfamiliar questions; this time is best spent consolidating your learning.
With 180 minutes to answer 100 questions, managing time is crucial. Focus on maintaining accuracy while attempting a reasonable number of questions across all sections to achieve balanced scores. For example, allocate limited time to memory-based sections like General Knowledge, aiming to complete it quickly with a few accurate answers. Keep an eye on the timer to avoid unnecessary time loss.
Reflecting on your performance in mock tests can be a game-changer. Identify mistakes made during practice and ensure you don’t repeat them in the actual exam. If you’ve taken CMAT before, use those past experiences to refine your approach and improve your score this time.
Having a solid plan for tackling the exam can make a significant difference. Approach sections you are most confident in first, ensuring maximum accuracy. Don’t get stuck on challenging questions—use your strengths to build momentum. A well-structured sequence for attempting sections can optimise your performance and help you manage time effectively.
Trying to memorize a lot of facts, dates, and names at the last minute won’t be helpful. Instead, revisit your notes on important topics like static General Knowledge and recent current affairs. This will keep you focused and better prepared for this section.
It’s important to have a clear target for how many questions you aim to solve in each section. With 20 questions per section, focus on accurate attempts rather than trying to answer everything. Aim for a balanced number of correct answers to maximize your score. Practising with previous question papers can give you a realistic sense of how to approach the test.
Ensure everything is ready well in advance to avoid stress on the day of the exam. Plan your travel to the test centre, and if possible, visit it the day before to ensure you know the location. Double-check that you have all necessary documents, including a printed admit card and a valid photo ID. Arrive early to avoid any last-minute rush.
With a clear understanding of the key topics for the CMAT 2026 examination, candidates can now focus on practice to enhance their preparation. Below are some essential CMAT resources, thoughtfully compiled by Careers360, to support candidates in achieving a well-rounded performance.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CMAT 2025: Mastering All Sections with 1000+ Expertly Crafted Questions and Detailed Answers | |
CMAT 2025 General Awareness Questions with Answers | |
CMAT 2024 Language Comprehension Questions with Solutions | |
CMAT 2025: 10 Free Mock Tests PDF with Detailed Solution | |
CMAT 2025: Innovation and Entrepreneurship: All Chapters with Sample Questions, with Syllabus |
Candidates can access and study a variety of CMAT question papers through the download links provided below.
CMAT Previous Year’s Question Papers | Download Link |
CMAT 2024 Slot 1 Question Paper | |
CMAT 2024 Slot 2 Question Paper | |
CMAT 2023 Question Paper | |
CMAT 2022 Question Paper with Answers | |
CMAT 2021 Slot 1 Question Paper with Answers | |
CMAT 2021 Slot 2 Question Paper with Answers | |
CMAT 2020 Question Paper with Answers |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Considering the vast syllabus and difficulty level of the CMAT exam, it is wise to say that a period of six to eight months should be sufficient for preparation. The time may be more or less depending upon your speed and source of preparation.
The candidate must focus on revising key concepts and formulas across all sections of the exam. Prioritize challenging topics and practice full-length as well as sectional mock tests to improve your time management skills.
At least three to four full-length CMAT mock tests should be attempted before the actual CMAT exam. It will give an estimate of the exam readiness and key focus areas that need attention before the exam.
Looking at the previous scoring pattern and cutoff trends for the CMAT exam, experts suggest that a percentile within the range of 90 to 99 can considered to be decent. The competition for top colleges is very high which makes a percentile in the given range essential.
On Question asked by student community
Yes, DSM DTU (Delhi Technological University, Department of Management Studies) does accept CMAT score for admission to its MBA programme. Many management institutes in India use CMAT as one of the valid entrance exams along with CAT, MAT, or GMAT, and DTU’s management department is among those that consider CMAT
Hello
You have scored 92 percentile in CMAT, which is a good score, and you have a higher chance of getting admission into a good college. But, if you're targeting only SVNIT Surat, then it's quite tough because SVNIT usually looks for a higher score for the PG course, like
Hello,
The link to the website of careers360, where the preferred colleges and percentiles are mentioned, is attached herewith. You can also get the details of colleges.
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/mba-colleges-accepting-80-90-percentile-in-cmat-exam
Thank you.
Hello
With an 80 percentile in CMAT, you can get admission in decent Tier-2 MBA colleges.
Good options include Jaipuria Institute, IMT Nagpur/Hyderabad, SDMIMD Mysore, and XIME.
Top IIMs are not possible, but these colleges offer reasonable placements and exposure.
Click on the link below to get access to all
Hello,
For a postgraduate management course (MBA/PGDM) at L.D. College, you will likely need to give the CMAT exam. As a final-year BCA student, you are eligible to appear for the exam. The registration for CMAT 2026 has already begun, and you must apply before the deadline to be eligible
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