Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
If you are looking for CMAT preparation tips, it is also important to understand what the trend has been in previous years’ CMAT exam. Candidates who know the best CMAT preparation tips and trend analysis 2025 can easily ace the exam. In this article, we’ll understand what CMAT is, along with an analysis of the previous years’ exam pattern and weightage and CMAT tips and tricks to crack the exam.
The CMAT exam is accepted by many B schools, and hence it is important to score well in the exam.
Effective CMAT preparation tips and trend analysis will help candidates strategize their study sessions and they will not feel lost while preparing.
Trend analysis of previous CMAT exams will help candidates become fully aware of the exam pattern, types of questions, and weightage for different topics.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a computer-based national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA/PGDM courses. Till 2018, it was conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) every year as per the directions of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India. However, now it is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is conducted in a single sitting. The CMAT score is accepted by about 1,300 B-schools (government and private) in India. Some of the other details, important as part of CMAT exam tips are as follows –
EXAM NAME | Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) |
CONDUCTING BODY | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
FREQUENCY OF THE EXAM | Once a year |
MODE OF EXAM | Online - Computer Based Test (CBT) mode |
EXAM MEDIUM | English |
NUMBER OF SECTIONS |
|
QUESTION TYPE | Objective – MCQ format |
TOTAL QUESTIONS | 100 |
TOTAL MARKS | 400 |
SECTIONAL TIME LIMIT | NO |
DURATION OF EXAM | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF EXAM | Moderate to Difficult |
COURSE OFFERED | MBA/PGDM |
NO. OF TEST CITIES | 124 |
Quick link - What are the best books for the preparation for CMAT 2025?
Marking Scheme:
Each question carries 04 marks.
For each correct response, the candidate will get 04 marks.
For each incorrect response, there is a negative marking of 01.
Unanswered/unattempted questions will be given no marks.
The candidate needs to choose only one option as the correct answer
However, in case the answer key is challenged later and there are multiple correct options or some change in the key, only those candidates who have attempted it correctly as per the revised Answer key will be awarded marks.
In case a question is cancelled due to some technical error, full marks shall be given to all the candidates – even to those who have not attempted that specific question.
The following CMAT preparation tips and tricks will guide you in your preparation.
The most important thing is to thoroughly understand the exam – the CMAT syllabus, the pattern, the marking scheme, and the difficulty level. Familiarize yourself with everything.
You need to have a well devised study plan taking into account all that you know about the exam and also about your current knowledge level. A comprehensive action plan includes building conceptual clarity and getting adequate practice. Start with the topics that you find easy so that completing them will give you the confidence that you will be able to answer well in a certain section of the area and things are under control.
You must know what to study and what not to study. Your goal is not to get the sea of knowledge but to catch the fish of selection. Targeted study is the key. Therefore, study material is of paramount importance as part of CMAT preparation tips. Focus on quality, not on quantity. The Complete Reference Manual for CMAT by SK Sinha, S Satyanarayan, and JS Rana is generally considered the best choice for CMAT.
Besides, these are some useful books that will help you excel in CMAT 2025.
LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION –
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT - Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education)
Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis
Objective General English – SP Bakshi
QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES & DATA INTERPRETATION –
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT - Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education)
Quantitative Aptitude - Dr R S Aggarwal (S. Chand)
LOGICAL REASONING –
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT - Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education)
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT - Nishit K Sinha (Pearson)
GENERAL AWARENESS –
Lucent’s
Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review
Newspapers - The Hindu, Economic Times and Financial Express
INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP –
Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Peter F. Drucker
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management - by R Gopal
The more you practice, the better it is. Start with chapter-wise practice, gradually moving on to mock tests that emulate the real exam and cover the entire syllabus. The practice of CMAT Mock tests and sample papers is of utmost importance. They help you understand the level and types of questions that may be asked in the exam. They help you track your progress.
You need to be wary of it throughout your preparation and on the day of the exam. Do a time-bound practice every time. You can’t afford to waste time. During the exam, do not get stuck on difficult questions. If you can’t solve a particular question, move on to the next one and come back to it later, if time permits.
If your marks are dipping in the tests that you are practising from, you will know that something needs to be set right. Try to identify your weak areas. Therefore, it is necessary that you properly analyze your mock test results and learn from your mistakes.
Stay updated with current affairs and general knowledge for which newspapers are also a great source. The best ones, as discussed earlier, would be The Hindu, Economic Times and Financial Express.
You need to increase your speed and accuracy. Whenever you practice something, try to analyze it in order to see if there is a quicker approach to finding the solution. Work more and more to make your basics strong and work your way up. Once your fundamentals are clear, you will get the required accuracy. Aim for accuracy even if you have to sacrifice speed a little. Attempting questions in haste and making careless mistakes will harm your overall score. Strike a balance between accuracy and speed.
It is important to stay positive and confident but that doesn’t come in isolation. Prepare yourself well for the exam and do not postpone things. Keep ample time for revision. This way you get the feeling that you are in control of things and you automatically feel confident and positive. Keep your ultimate goal in mind and seek help from your peers if needed.
CMAT exam tips are not complete without discussing the strategies for each section.
Start with fundamental concepts in mathematics.
Solve more and more problems from topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation.
Try to find time-saving methods in everything you do. Make use of formulas and tricks to shorten the process. For instance,
2 articles were sold at Rs 2,400, one at 20% profit in case 1 and another one at a 20% loss in case 2.
Case 1:
Detailed Calculations
CP = {100/(100 + P%)} x SP
Therefore CP= {100/(100 + 20)} x 2,400 = 2,000
Profit = SP-CP = 2,400 - 2,000 = 400
Case 2:
CP = {100/(100 – L%)} x SP
Therefore CP= {100/(100 - 20)} x 2,400 = 3,000
Loss = CP-SP = 3,000 - 2,400 = 600
Net Loss = 600-400 = 200
Net Loss % = (200/(2000+3000)x 100 = 4%
"Or applying shortcut:"
Net % profit or loss will be: [m-n-(mn/100)]
= (20-20-(20x20)/100) = -4%. Negative means net loss of 4%
Make concise notes of important concepts, formulas and rules with example problems. Keep revising them. The notes should contain such brief information as you may revise just before the exam, like the following relations in data interpretation–
Value of sector = (Angel of sector/360°) x Total Value
Value of sector = (Percentage of sector/100) x Total Value
Familiarize yourself with the different types of questions that can be asked.
While solving a question, properly read all the information that is given and note the details in short.
As per the need, make diagrams, tables, charts and symbols on the basis of the details provided.
If a question is taking too long, leave it and move on to the next one. Come back to it later, if time permits.
Sometimes, you may think you have found the correct answer and mark it as your answer in a hurry without reading the other options carefully which may be more accurate.
Never jump to conclusions. An option may seem correct but it may be possible that there is a better option. So don’t mark your answer in a hurry. Take time to read all the options carefully.
Your rational thinking and analytical aptitude are put to the test. So, you need to work on sharpening your mind in general. For this, there are some effective and fun ways like brain teaser games, sudoku, chess, crosswords, and puzzles.
Do a lot of consistent reading from a variety of topics, the best source for which would be newspapers.
Reading comprehension and vocabulary go hand in hand. While reading anything, keep a notebook ready to note down the difficult words you come across. Find their meanings and note them along with a sample sentence so that you remember them for a longer time.
Also, learn vocabulary from a book. The best would be Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. Keep revising it or you’ll forget most of the things you learn.
Work on building your reading speed. The Pacer Method may help you. In this you trace the line you are reading with a pen or with your finger. This helps you focus only on the thing intended to be read.
Increasing your eye span works wonders. Eye span is the maximum number of words you can read in a single glance without changing your eye position.
For Para-jumbles, practise more and more. Start with shorter questions if you find them difficult. In the beginning, do not care about speed while practising. Accuracy is more important. Speed will come naturally with practice.
The entire grammar section needs to be done but the base has to be strong.
Pay special attention to the basics of tenses and identifying the different parts of speech. These two things help you a great deal even in more advanced questions.
One important thing that is often ignored for this section is that Fill in the Blanks can be based on anything. It is not a topic to be studied in itself but a way of asking the various things across the entire syllabus. We’ll understand this taking the following two examples,
The exam is difficult but with a disciplined preparation strategy, you will ___.
Bring it in
Bring it off
bring it forward
bring it up
Solution -
All of these are phrasal verbs having different meanings, according to which we’ll get to the correct answer.
BRING IN - to make or earn a particular amount of money
BRING OFF – to succeed in doing something difficult
BRING FORWARD –
to move something to an earlier date or time
suggest something for discussion
BRING UP –
raise a child
to mention a subject or start to talk about it
So, the correct answer would be BRING OFF.
(Meaning - The exam is difficult but with a disciplined preparation strategy, you will succeed.)
Now, going through the questions asked in the previous years, you may draw the conclusion that there was no question asked on phrasal verbs and there were one or two questions on fill in the blanks and you may leave the entire topic of phrasal verbs without realizing that it is very much a part of your syllabus and can be asked in any format.
Mohit’s parents were pleasantly surprised to see how ___ he had performed in the exam.
Good b. Well c. Poorly d. marvellous
Solution –
Option C is logically wrong as no parents would be pleasantly surprised to see their child performing poorly.
Options A and D are wrong for the same reason. PERFORMED is a verb. In the blank, we need a word that qualifies/describes the verb PERFORMED. So, here an adverb is needed because an adverb qualifies a verb. GOOD and MARVELLOUS are adjectives, therefore wrong. The correct answer is WELL which is an adverb.
The CMAT contains questions on Static GK as well as Current Affairs, with more weightage of questions on Static GK.
Even Static GK questions are often directly or indirectly related to some recent event.
Stay updated with the latest news through newspapers, magazines and online sources.
You will have to memorize a lot of things for which you may utilize mnemonic techniques. These techniques use associations to help you remember information. They are known to improve memory.
Writing helps you retain information so get in the habit of writing in order to learn.
Make concise self-help notes. Whatever chapter you do, make a summary of it in the form of one-liners or bullet points. These will help in revision as well.
Be thorough with the basics of entrepreneurship. Think of every question that can be formed on entrepreneurship.
Familiarize yourself with basic terminology, such as government schemes that provide funds to start-ups.
Stay aware of management-related developments.
Similar to General Awareness, make concise notes for memorizing and revising.
It is crucial as part of CMAT preparation tips that you are fully aware of the latest pattern of the exam. As discussed earlier, the paper will contain five sections/subjects - Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge and Innovation & Entrepreneurship having an equal number of questions and marks. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was first introduced in CMAT 2021. This was an optional section in CMAT 2021 and included 25 questions. However, in CMAT 2022, the section was made compulsory and it has since then included 20 questions. This section includes such topics as testing the entrepreneurial skills of the aspirants.
Making a study plan is the first step when you start preparing for an exam and that plan is made on the basis of a number of things including past trends. Here is a brief analysis of the difficulty level of past years’ CMAT examination.
Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Maximum Marks | Overall LOD |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy to moderate (QA- 15 and DI-5) |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
Total | 100 | 4 | 400 | Easy |
Section | Number of CMAT questions | Marks per question | Maximum marks | Overall difficulty level |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | Moderate to Difficult |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | Moderate |
General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | Tough |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 4 | 80 | Easy |
Total | 100 | 4 | 400 | Moderate |
As far as the topics asked are concerned, here is a list, section-wise :
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
QA – 15 questions
DI – 5 questions
Most questions on DI involved simple calculations
DI section contained questions from Pie charts and tables, partnership, geometry
The QA section was dominated by Arithmetic which contained 6 questions from these topics - Time-speed-distance, Ratio-Proportion, Profit & Loss, SICI, Average, Partnership.
2-3 were from algebra (quad equations, quad inequality)
5 questions on numbers (surds, HCF, LCM)
1 question on geometry (triangles)
1 question on modern maths (probability)
Most questions on QA were easy
Logical Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning – 12 questions
Directions - 1
Series Completion - 1
Counting the number of triangles and squares - 2
Linear Arrangements - 2
Family Tree - 3
Coding - 1
Verbal Reasoning – 8 questions
Syllogisms
strong/weak arguments
assertion-reason
analogy
odd one out
questions were easy to solve and not lengthy
General Awareness
Static GK - 16
Current Affairs - 4
Chemistry, Constitution of India
Static History
Dance form and state
Authors and books
National parks
Country and capital
GDP
Currency notes
Commonwealth games
Geography
Rivers
Inventions and inventors
Chief of naval staff
Most questions on Indian events
Fewer questions on international events
Medium difficulty
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Business and Entrepreneurship concepts – 16
Business GK - 4
Angel Investor
Atal Innovation Mission
Low-end disruptive innovations
FIIB venture capitals
Business goals
Urbanization
Family business and startup
Types of entrepreneurs etc
Nascent entrepreneur
Phases of funding
Reasons for failure
Medium difficulty
Language Comprehension
Reading comprehension passages – 5 (containing 70-100 words)
Vocabulary - 7
Synonym
Antonym
Fill in the blanks
Idiom
Match the following
Grammar - 7
Fill in the blanks
Identify the correct statement
Direct & Indirect speech
Question tag
Classify the sentence
Verbal reasoning – para-jumbles
Most questions were easy to solve
Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Maximum Marks | Good Attempts | Overall Level |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | 8-10 | Difficult |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 4 | 80 | 7-9 | Difficult |
Total | 100 | 4 | 400 | 63-70 |
Based on the difficulty levels across sections, as discussed above, we can expect the following in CMAT 2025 –
SECTION | DIFFICULTY LEVEL |
Language Comprehension | Easy |
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | Easy - Moderate |
Logical Reasoning | Easy |
General Awareness | Moderate |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Moderate |
Here's a 3-month study plan for the CMAT exam, divided by week and focusing on different sections of the syllabus:
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
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
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
Regarding CMAT tips and tricks, toppers and experts always advise aspirants to be consistent with their preparation. They advise aspirants to make their weaknesses their strengths and value time. Time can be a game changer. It is advised to work smartly and make a note of which topics are important and are repeatedly asked. Study them thoroughly. It doesn’t matter how poorly you have performed previously. Every exam is a new chapter – brings new challenges, new failures and most importantly new successes.
Group study is something that has always helped students a great deal. The modern form of it is online study groups. Toppers and experts often highlight its importance in terms of staying updated with the latest news regarding the exam, doubt clearing and staying motivated as you are in contact with many others who are in the same situation as you are.
When you start your CMAT preparation after doing a comprehensive analysis of the syllabus and the pattern, stick to your study plan with dedication. Don’t be disheartened with hurdles in your way. Neither should you waste time in any way. Do rigorous practice in a disciplined way, strengthening your weaknesses. Learn from your mistakes. Stay updated with the help of the best quality study material and newspapers. Don’t underestimate the importance of sectional and mock tests as well as previous years’ questions.
Stay positive. Based on past trends, CMAT is not a tough exam. It is fairly moderate. Good quality study material, previous papers, and tests are readily available which you can make use of from the comfort of your home and pull off this exam.
Candidates preparing for the CMAT exam can use the PDFs to practice different types of questions and fine-tune their preparation.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level test. The CMAT score is accepted by over 1300 B-schools – all the AICTE-approved and affiliated colleges/ universities. After the result declaration of CMAT 2024 exam, all such colleges will release the cutoff and conduct the MBA admission process based on the CMAT score. Some of the top colleges accepting CMAT score in India are JBIMS, PUMBA, Great Lakes, K J Somaiya, GIM Goa, BIMTECH, etc.
No. The CMAT does not have a sectional time limit.
Yes. The paper consists of 5 sections with 20 questions each to be answered in a duration of 180 minutes. Each correct answer will fetch you 4 marks and for each wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
To apply for CMAT 2024, a candidate must have pursued a Bachelor’s degree from a University Grant Commission (UGC) recognised institution with at least 50 % marks in aggregate (45% for reserved category). Also, there is no age or attempt limit.
The syllabus of the two is similar but CMAT has two additional subjects – General Knowledge and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Go through the exam syllabus and collect study materials accordingly. Make a proper study plan that covers all the topics and includes time for revision and practice.
Revise all the basic concepts in quants, verbal ability, and reasoning.
Use resources like newspapers and online YT channels for current affairs and GK.
Practice questions from previous years’ papers and mock tests.
CMAT is a computer-based test with 100 questions and a duration of 3 hours. There are five sections: Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Hello aspirant,
One of the most important things to do when beginning a strategy exam preparation is to grasp the CMAT syllabus 2025. Candidates can make an efficient study plan that helps them cover every topic in detail by consulting the CMAT exam syllabus.
To know the detailed syllabus you can visit our website by clicking on the link given below.
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cmat-syllabus
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
An 80 percentile CMAT score is a decent score, but whether you can secure admission to IMS depends on several factors:
While an 80 percentile score increases your chances, it's essential to check the specific cut-offs for your desired IMS campus and program. Additionally, consider other factors like work experience, academic background, and GD/PI performance, as they might play a role in the final selection.
To improve your chances, research different IMS campuses, understand their admission process, and prepare well for the subsequent selection rounds.
hope this helps you!!
Hello student,
With a CMAT score of 70 percentile in the EWS category and being a Madhya Pradesh (MP) domicile, you may have a chance of getting into some Institutes of Management Studies (IMS) in MP, though admission can be competitive. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Previous Year Cutoffs:
In summary, while admission with a 70 percentile CMAT score can be competitive, your chances can improve due to your EWS category and MP domicile status.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hello student,
With a 72 percentile in CMAT, you have a chance at getting into some decent B-schools, though top-tier institutions might be a bit out of reach. Here’s a breakdown of what you can aim for:
1. Tier 2 & 3 Colleges:
Next Steps :
Though 72 percentile isn't in the top tier, with smart choices, you can still land a solid MBA seat!
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hello Dhara,
The
ACPC (Admission Committee for Professional Courses)
merit rank is determined based on a combination of your academic performance and entrance exam scores. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically works:
1. Components of Merit Calculation
:
In summary, your merit rank in ACPC will be a composite of your academic scores and CMAT performance, with a focus on your 12th and BCA marks as key components.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR
Ranked No. 1 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2024 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 81 LPA
India’s first Urban Multidisciplinary University | Case-based pedagogy
Last Date to Apply: 13th October 2024 | Ranked 21st by NIRF | NAAC A+ Accredited and Category 1 University by MHRD
Top Recruiters-Amazon, Microsoft, ITC, Marico, Mindtree & many more | Merit Scholarships available