CMAT 2020 Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme, Duration, Sections

Updated On - December 5th, 2019

Aanchal Thakur

Content Curator

For the last couple of years, the CMAT Exam Pattern has remained static and retained it’s structure. CMAT’s structure consists of 100 questions divided into 4 sections . CMAT 2020 has been scheduled to take place on January 28, 2020 in one single shift that will span 3 hours total. NTA, the exam conducting body of CMAT 2020, has declared that there will be no changes in CMAT 2020 Exam Pattern. CMAT 2020 is all set to test every candidate’s aptitude in various stratas i.e. Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, Language Comprehension, and Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation. 

Latest:CMAT 2020 Registration deadline has been extended till December 10, 2019.Check Here

CMAT 2020 Exam Pattern Updates 

• CMAT 2020 will be conducted in one single shift early in the morning. The morning shift will commence exactly at 9:30 am and end at 12:30 pm. Candidates should be aware that they have to reach the exam hall 2 hours prior to the onset of the exam, since entry will be denied after 8:30 am. 
• Previous CMAT Toppers such as Saras Suhane and Bhargav Desai advice future candidates to focus on general knowledge and current affairs throughout their preparation. They reinforce the belief that general knowledge embedded in school books  is imperative to scoring well in CMAT. Check  Topper Preparation Tips
• There is no restriction in terms of types of undergraduate degrees, thus candidates who have obtained a degree in any discipline or are in their final year are eligible for CMAT 2020 Check CMAT 2020 Eligibility Criteria
• If the answer key is challenged and more than one answer is found to be correct, then whoever has selected one of the correct options will recieve 4 marks. If you have selected an incorrect answer, then the answer will recieve minus 1 mark. Questions that remain unanswered once the exam has been collected will not be marked. 
• A sectional time limit will not be imposed on candidates who sit for CMAT 2020.
• Some of the top AICTE approved colleges that accept CMAT scores include JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes Institute of Management, and Goa Institute of Management Check CMAT Cutoff
• If a question is ignored or dropped, all candidates will be granted 4 marks, regardless of whether they have attempted the question or not. 

Read on to know more about CMAT Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme, Mock Test, Important Topics and Preparation Books.

CMAT 2020 Exam Pattern Key Highlights

• Candidates with low scores will not be disqualified in CMAT 2020 due to the fact that there is no centralized cutoff present to assess candidates. The cut-off specified by the college that one aims to gain admission into will be what determines the candidate’s qualification. Check Top Colleges that accept CMAT Score 
• Every candidate will be allocated a pen/pencil and a rough piece of paper which they will have to forfeit after the examination. 
• No test-taker will be allowed to leave the exam hall premises while the exam is in session. This also applies to candidates who have finished the exam early and wish to leave. 
• No breaks will be permitted during the examination, so candidates must be prepared accordingly.

Check CMAT Exam Cut off

Section-wise CMAT Exam Pattern

All sections in CMAT carry the same number of questions. Also, each section carries equal marks. Although candidates are allowed to switch between sections whenever they wish to do so, it is better if one switches to a new section only after they have completed the previous one. The section-wise details of the paper are given below:

Check CMAT Syllabus

CMAT Exam Pattern for QA/DI

• For this section, candidates must work on their speed and efficiency. Calculation is an essential factor when it comes to answering questions in this section.

• Questions in this section are usually single and are not based on sets.

• Arithmetic operations and Modern Math form an integral part of the section.

• Make sure that you are proficient at assessing data that is represented graphically i.e. in the form of bar graphs, pie charts, tables etc. This will be imperative in the exam, since candidates that are able to view minute differences in graphical data have a better chance of scoring well. ~q

• Candidates are advised to have good proficiency in solving the problems from topics such as Time and Distance, Geometry, Numbers, Profit and Loss, Simple equations and Time and Work.

Check More About CMAT QA/DI Section

CMAT Exam Pattern for Logical Reasoning

• In this section, most of the questions are generally from topics such as Puzzles, Statements and Conclusions, Cause and effect, Assumptions and Conclusions and missing term in the figure.

• Topics from arrangements (linear, seating, sequencing and arranging with conditions) are also asked. 

Check More About  CMAT Logical Reasoning Section

CMAT Exam Pattern for Language Comprehension

• Questions from para-jumbles, fill in the blanks, identification of word meaning by selecting correct synonym and antonym, idioms, sentence correction, identification of correct sentence, etc. are commonly asked in this section.

• Reading comprehension is an integral part of this section. It is advised that candidates read newspapers, novels, etc. to develop a reading habit and sharpen their verbal ability skills.

• The passages are of 500-600 words that are not too difficult. Also, there is no fixed rule on framing questions in RC. 

Check Details About CMAT Verbal Ability Section

CMAT Exam Pattern for General Awareness

• Questions in GK are divided into 3 parts- Conventional, Current and Business & Economics. 

• For this section, candidates are advised to be well updated with the current affairs, especially in the Business And Economics section.

• Basic knowledge of Science, History, Inventions, Book authors and Indian politics will also help candidates to answer the questions in this section.

Important Note: During the exam, each candidate will be assigned a desktop, along with a rough sheet and pen. Once the exam is over, the rough sheet is to be left at the desk.

Check CMAT Preparation Tips

CMAT 2019 Section Wise Paper Analysis

• Questions and strategies for the current exam pattern are based on the analysis of previous exam papers. CMAT 2019 had a more challenging Quantitative section than CMAT 2018 did. The Data Interpretation section was also found to be more time consuming by the candidates. 
• Most of the sections contained questions that were rated moderate-difficult on the level of difficulty, while previous year questions were situated increasingly in the moderate zone. 
• Overall, the CMAT 2019 General Awareness section was rated as moderate by most participants since it included a health mix of questions based on both static and current GK.

Slot 1 Paper Analysis 

Slot 2 Paper Analysis

CMAT 2018 Section Wise Paper Analysis

CMAT 2017 Section Wise Paper Analysis 

CMAT 2020 Mock Test

Trial Test is available on the official website of NTA. This is to help candidates get accustomed to the online test and navigation functionality. Candidates are advised to go through CMAT Mock Test to acquaint themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.

Trial tests are beneficial and form an essential part of the candidate’s preparation for the exam. It allows a candidate to form a better understanding of the test.

Benefits of Taking a Trial Test

• Candidates get an idea about their speed and efficiency.

• It helps the candidates in better time management.

• It acquaints candidates with the navigation and layout of the test.

• A trial test may also help candidates to form an idea about their actual score in the test.

• It gives candidates the confidence to perform in the actual test.

Read CAT vs CMAT: A Comparative Analysis

CMAT 2020 Mock Test Preparation Material

There are many resources available for prospective candidates who wish to give CMAT 2020. Test takers can access a variety of practice test booklets and manuals available on the internet. The following table includes a curated list of the resoures that are bound to be highly advantageous to candidates during their CMAT preparation. Exam guides can be utilized by applicants who are just laying the groundwork, while the practice sets and solved papers will provide aid to those who are in the revision stage.

CMAT 2020 Important Topics

National Testing Agency (NTA) does not issue an official syllabus for the CMAT exam. Therefore, according to the topics and subjects presented in previous CMAT papers, we have amalgamated the topics that have either been highly prevalent in previous exams or carry a lot of weightage. Below are discussed important points regarding CMAT Syllabus:

• Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation is design is based on the 10+2 level Mathematics syllabus.

• Language Comprehension includes components of English Grammar and Vocabulary.

• There is no fixed syllabus for the Logical Reasoning and the General Awareness sections. However, candidates are advised to check the topics discussed below for these sections.

CMAT 2020 Section Wise Syllabus:

Important Topics for Quantative Techniques and Data Interpretation

• Time and Distance 
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Numbers 
• Percentages
• Profit/Loss
• Simple Equations
• Time and Work
• Ratios
• Quadratic Equations
• Bar Graph 
• Line Graph 
• Probability
• Averages, Mixtures and Allegations

Important Topics for Logical Reasoning

• Puzzles
• Statement and Conclusions
• Cause and Effect
• Assumptions and Conclusions
• Individual Questions in Puzzles
• Missing term in the figure
• Course of Action

Important Topics for Language Comprehension

• Para Jumbles
• Find Summary questions
• Identifying the correct statement
• Sentence Correction
• Reading Comprehension Passages 
• Usage of Grammar 
• Fill in the blanks 

Important Topics in General Awareness

• History
• Science in Everday Life
• Economy
• Personalities in News

CMAT Preparation Books 2020

Books are the most important aspect of exam preparation. Some of the books that candidates may refer to for the preparation of CMAT 2020 exam are given below. The students and experts most recommend these.

Best Resources for Current Affairs Preparation for CMAT 2020

NTA has not set a syllabus for current affairs or general knowledge. For many candidates, this is a reason for discontentment and confusion since they have no idea what they have to study from because the the contents of the syllabus are so vast. General Awareness questions are divided into two main subsects: Static GK and Current GK.

• Current GK includes questions that are based on economic and fiscal policies, country wise denominations, new scientific endeavours and world politics. On the other hand, Static GK mainly focuses on arts, culture and historical events.
• The following table delineates the resources that candidates can utilise to prepare their study material for the current affairs and general knowledge portion of CMAT 2020:

• A vital topic in general awareness is History. To prepare for history, candidates can use Manorama Year Book, Lucent’s GK and their 6^th , 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th standard books.
• For economic insight, the financial times, financial express, economic times, hindu business line, business world and business world are great resources. 
•  Candidates can brush up on their current affairs by studying Competition Success Review, Arihant GK, Wall Street Journal and by being subscribed to google updates. 
• Many editorials, news pieces and interviews of eminent personalities are published in newspapers such as The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Times of India. 

CMAT FAQs

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College