CMAT Exam Analysis 2026: CMAT Slot 1 Analysis, Section-Wise Analysis, Question Types
CMAT 2026 is being conducted on Sunday, Jan 25, 2026 in two slots between 9 AM to 12 Noon (Slot 1) and 3.00 PM to 6.00 PM (Slot 2). You can read here, a complete CMAT exam analysis 2026 by IMS expert mentors as soon as the exam is over.
CMAT Test 2026 Overview: Sections, Questions, Maximum Marks
The structure of the test and estimates of good attempts are as follows:
| Section | No Of
Questions |
Marks per
Question |
Maximum Marks | Good Attempts | Overall LOD |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | 15-16 | Easy |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | 15-16 | Easy |
| General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | 10-11 | Medium |
| Innovation and
Entrepreneurship |
20 | 4 | 80 | 11-12 | Medium |
| Total | 100 | 400 | 70-75 |
- The test have no sectional timing.
- Incorrect responses invited negative marks (-)1 for each incorrect response
CMAT Marking Scheme 2026
Below mentioned are some important points one must keep in mind regarding the CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme to calculate your estimated scores:
- Each correct answer in CMAT 2026 is awarded 4 marks.
- 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect response.
- No negative marking applies to questions that are left unanswered.
- Understanding the CMAT exam pattern is a crucial first step in preparation.
- Regular practice and mock tests help strengthen concepts and improve performance.
Verdict of CMAT Exam Analysis 2026
Overall, the difficulty level of slot 1 of CMAT 2026 is expected to be similar to that of CMAT 2025 (morning slot). Keep checking this space for the live CMAT exam analysis 2026 Slot 1.
As is the case generally with CMAT, this time too, time can be a constraining factor.
Check Previous Year’s CMAT Exam Analysis: CMAT 2025 Analysis
Some of the questions in the five sections were sitters. However, some questions in both General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections were challenging. They could become the decisive questions and impact the overall percentile. Based on the feedback received from IMS candidates and experts, we expect the following cut-offs in CMAT 2025:
| Score | Percentile |
| 295 – 305 | 99.5+ |
| 275 – 285 | 99 |
| 255 – 265 | 95 |
| 235 – 245 | 90 |
| For B-School cut-offs, see Note ** at the end | |
Also read, CMAT Score vs Percentile, to predict your CMAT percentiles with college cutoffs.
Read more on CMAT Cut Offs 2025
CMAT Exam Sectional Analysis 2025
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation:
This section was relatively easy in terms of Level of Difficulty. Out of 20 questions in the section, 3 were on Data Interpretation and the remaining 17 were on Quantitative Technique. A set of 3 questions on Data Interpretation consisted of questions based on pie charts. These questions on Data Interpretation involved simple calculations.
The questions on Quantitative Techniques were dominated by questions on Arithmetic. Out of 17 questions on Quantitative Techniques, 10 questions were on Arithmetic, which included questions on Time-speed-distance, Ratio-Proportion, Profit & Loss, SICI, Allegations and Mixtures. There were 2 questions each of Modern Math, Numbers and Algebra, 1 question on Geometry. Most of the questions on Quantitative Technique were easy. Some questions involved True-False statements.
| Area | No of Questions | Details | |||
| Easy | Medium | Difficult | Total | ||
| Arithmetic | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | Time-speed-distance(3),Ratio-Proportion(, (2)Profit&Loss(2),SICI(1),Alligationand Mixtures(2) |
| Geometry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Triangles(1) |
| Modern Math | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Probability(2) |
| Numbers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Surds(1) and indices(1) |
| Algebra | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Quad equations(1), Linear equations(1) |
| Data Interpretation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 Pie charts (Set of 3 questions) |
Around 16 – 17 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
CMAT Logical Reasoning Analysis 2025:
Out of the 20 questions in this section, 14 were on Non-Verbal Reasoning and 6 questions were on Verbal Reasoning. All the questions were standalone questions and there were no set based questions.
The questions on Non-Verbal Reasoning were spread across different topics in Logical Reasoning such as Directions, Cubes, Counting the number of squares, Linear Arrangements, Family tree and clocks etc. The questions on Verbal Reasoning included questions such as Assertion Reason, Strong/Weak Argument, Assumption, and Conclusion.
The questions were not lengthy and many questions were straightforward and very easy to solve.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Directions | 1 |
| Cubes | 2 |
| Counting the number of squares | 1 |
| Linear Arrangement | 1 |
| Family tree | 1 |
| Clocks | 1 |
| Numerical Puzzle | 1 |
| Misc | 1 |
| Logical venn diagram | 1 |
| Set theory | 1 |
| Number Series | 1 |
| Analogy based sequence | 1 |
| Alpha numeric | 1 |
| Verbal Reasoning | |
| Assertion Reason; Strong/Weak Argument; Assumption; Conclusion, Word based Analogy and Odd one out | 6 |
Around 15-16 attempts in this section, with 80% accuracy, would be a good attempt.
CMAT Language Comprehension Analysis 2025:
The Language Comprehension Section consisted of 2 Reading Comprehension questions and 18 Non-RC questions. The passage was easy to read. The non-RC questions were easy as well.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Reading Comprehension – 1 Passage – 62 words
Topic: Shivaji capturing a fort |
2 |
| FIB, Replace underlined phrase, Passive voice, Cloze passage [3 blanks], Parajumbles, Jumbled sentence, Grammar (Compound Sentence, Articles, Noun-types), Sentence Correction, Miscellaneous | 18 |
Around 15-16 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
CMAT General Awareness Analysis 2025:
Out of the 20 General Awareness questions, all 20 were based on Static GK. The majority of questions were based on Indian events. Only a few questions were on international events. The questions were on science, sports, Indian constitution, history, India and its culture, among others. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
10 to 11 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Analysis 2025:
Out of the 20 questions, 19 were based on Business and Entrepreneurship concepts (Bootstrapping, Startup valuation, Fabian entrepreneur, Angel investment, Lean startup, Trademark, Feasibility analysis). 1 question was on Business GK. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
11 to 12 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
Approximate Cut-Off for CMAT Based colleges
The following B-School admissions (based on CMAT score) generally close at these percentiles:
MMS Programs – (All India Seats)
JBIMS – 99.99 percentile
Sydenham – 99.95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 99.94
Welingkar Institute Of Management- 99.9
PGDM Program
Great Lakes, Chennai – 90 + percentile + profile based
GOA Institute of Management – 95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 95 + percentile
IFMR – 85 + percentile
NIBM – 90 + percentile
Welingkar Institute Of Management – 70 + percentile (eligibility) + profile based
More about Top CMAT Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores
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