CMAT is a computer-based test (CBT) which is conducted once a year in the month of January. This year CMAT exam is being conducted on Jan 28, 2020.

While CMAT exam will be conducted on 28 Jan 2020, the results will be declared by 7 Feb 2020.

No, there is no age restriction for this examination.

The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Candidates appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s degree (10+2+3) whose result will be declared before commencement of admission for academic year 2020-21 can also apply for CMAT-2020 computer based test (CBT). The candidate must be a citizen of India.

The application fee charged for various categories of applicants is as given belowbr>

• General category (Male)-Rs 1600
• General category (Female)-Rs 1000
• OBC-NC,EWS (Male)-Rs 1000
• OBC-NC,EWS (Female)-Rs 1000
• SC/ST/DA(Male)-Rs 800
• SC/ST/DA (Female)-Rs 700
• Transgender-Rs 700

Duration - 180 minutes

• Type of Examination - Objective type
• Marking scheme- For each correct answer 4 marks are awarded, for each wrong answer 1 mark shall be deducted.

A National Merit Ranking (All India Rank) will be arrived based on the Score secured against Total Score. In case scores are same for more than one candidate, the ranking will be done on sectional scores considered in the order of: - Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness. Even then if two candidates have same scores then candidates having less negative responses in the paper will be given better rank. Even then if two candidates have same scores, then candidate with higher age will be given better rank.

Candidates MUST bring the following documents on the day of examination at the test centre.

1. Print copy of Admit Card downloaded from NTA’s website.
2. One passport size photograph (same as uploaded on the Online Application Form) should be taken for pasting on the specific space in the attendance sheet at Centre during CMAT Examination.
3. Any one of the authorized photo IDs (must be original, valid and non-expired) – PAN card/ Driving License/ Voter ID/ Passport/ Aadhaar Card (With photograph)/ Ration Card
4. PwD certificate issued by the authorized medical officer, if claiming the relaxation under PwD category

The candidates shall report at the Examination Centre two hours before the commencement of the examination so as to complete the frisking and registration formalities well before the time. Registration desk will be closed 60 minutes prior to the commencement of examination. Candidates shall not be permitted to enter in the Examination Center after 8:30 a.m. The candidates are advised to read the instructions on the admit card carefully and follow them during the conduct of the examination.

The section on language comprehension,comprises 25 questions, most of which have a bend towards Critical Reasoning,at varying levels of difficulty. So, it is best advised to revise concepts pertaining to Critical Reasoning(especially on identifying argument structure and argument elements, and inference based questions).

The Critical Reasoning questions have been part of the course for the CAT students. They can revise these concepts by working out questions from CRHO 1002001 to 1002005; these handouts will sharpen the skills of students in areas like Arguments, Conclusion and Inference , Assumptions and Strengthening and Weakening of Arguments. CRPE 1002001 and 02 and CRPT 1002001 and 02 will help the students revise the concepts .

The various elements of Reasoning like Strengthening ( or Weakening ) the Argument , Inferences , Conclusions, Flaws in an argument, Paradox, etc will need to be understood thoroughly to help the student tackle Logical reasoning questions (especially for identifying argument structure and argument elements, and for cracking inference-based questions).For the rest of the English Language part, it would be advisable for students to revise concepts pertaining to RC, Sentence correction, and Vocab based questions. Questions in these areas have been very doable, and effective revision would help students cash in on these questions. The RC passages in CMAT have been short (a paragraph usually)and quite easy to read. Students have time to read carefully and analyze the content, and must do so, since the choices are, sometimes, close.

There are approximately 9-10 passages,drawn from varied subjects such as social sciences,business, arts and humanities and current issues.

The student should focus on the following with respect to RC:

• Central idea and the supporting ideas in the given paragraph
• Tone of the author
• Recognising phrases, idioms,and figures of speech in reading practice.
• Summarising/ restating the paragraph/drawing conclusions
• Identifying missing data/ interpreting indirect information
• Seeing from the author's perspective

What is primarily required is an active participation in the reading of the text, which does not stop with just reading and understanding, but goes beyond the peripherals, and asks /answers questions that are related to the text . The student should be wary of underestimating the passage due to its short length or simple language,as the options, as mentioned earlier, are quite close.

For the section on Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, a good preparation for CAT should be more than sufficient, though it would be advisable for a student to focus more on areas like Co-ordinate Geometry, Trigonometry (Basically Heights & Distances), Statistics, Quadratic Equations, Progresions, Permutations & Combinations, Probability and Number System apart from topics mentioned in the basic study material.

For the section on logical reasoning one has to prepare on all the reasoning topics like linear arrangement, circular arrangement, selections , distribution puzzles, comparisons, binary logic, cubes, Venn diagrams, deductions, and connectives.The question pattern is slightly different from the CAT pattern. Unlike CAT here one would find individual questions on all the above topics. Sometimes data may not be sufficient to figure out the complete solution, but would be sufficient to answer the given question.

The other areas of reasoning including number series, coding and decoding, symbols and notations, blood relations, direction sense, input-output, calendars and clocks should also be prepared.

The CAT students have received the reasoning study material - SM 1002005 for puzzles (with solutions). SM 1002005 has two exercises for each of the topics in puzzles. The practice exercise book contains exercises for all the analytical puzzles. There was a thorough discussion on each of these kind of questions in Logic Basics - 1, 2, 3 and 4 (LRHO 1002001, 02, 03 and 04), and in LRPEs, LWHOs & LATs. SM1002007 provides practice exercises for topics - Number and Letter Series, Verbal Analogies, Coding and Decoding, Blood relations, Input/Output and non-verbal reasoning. There was a thorough discussion on each of these kinds of questions in Logic Basics classes (LRHO 1002001 to 04-Puzzles, 07-Series, analogies and Coding & Decoding, 08-Input/Output and non-verbal, 09 - Deductions, 11- Connectives and 12- Cubes), and in LRPEs, LWHOs & LATs. The questions ba Refer to exercises in SM1002017 for CR topics.

For preparation on General Awareness, in addition to reading newspapers regularly, it would be advisable for a student to prepare from the following sources:

Also, in the various issues of MBA Education & Careers magazine, focus on features like Business GK, Current Issues & Events, and Current Event Chronicle (this feature captures important tid-bits).

In addition to the above, please run through the GK Model Papers feature titled, Improve your GK.

Go through the GA Note (Study Material) booklet for stock GK (like history and geography). Also use the GAT papers, each with 50 questions.

Manorama & CSR Year Book - it helps in preparation for stock type questions

In Manorama Year Book and CSR, please focus on the following chapters.

1. Who is who
2. What is what
3. Science scan
4. Human body
5. Computers
6. Landmarks of history
7. The Universe

Finally, OMETs for CMAT are perhaps the best source for preparation. It comes very close to the actual CMAT entrance exam paper and one should give maximum importance to these question papers.