CMAT Preparation 2025: How to Prepare for CMAT Exam? – (Tips, Tricks & Strategy)
CMAT, also known as Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), is an entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to select graduate candidates for admission to all management programs approved by the All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE). The exam preparation plan includes conceptual clarity and adequate practice.
Depending on the candidate’s progress with the exam syllabus, their CMAT preparation strategy should include long-term and short-term goals. Since CMAT is similar to XAT, CAT, and IIFT, it does not require the same degree of dedication and hard work if they have already taken those tests.
How to Prepare for CMAT Exam 2025?
CMAT is conducted in online mode for a duration of three hours at multiple exam centers across India. It is a speed-based entrance test in which candidates are tested based on their quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, data interpretation skills, English language comprehension, general knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The preparation for CMAT should focus on the below key points step by step:
Step 1: Check CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern & Sectional Composition
Step 2: Read the complete CMAT syllabus
Step 3: Plan and choose your CMAT preparation mode
Step 4: Take into account the CMAT Exam Preparation Time: An Important factor
Step 5: CMAT Exam Preparation material from IMS
Step 6: Important CMAT preparation tips to prepare in 6 months, 3 months, and 2 months that you can find on the IMS MBA Prep Youtube Channel.
Step 7: CMAT Preparation 2025 with mock tests
Listed below are a few more CMAT preparation tips to assist candidates in preparing for the exam thoroughly:
- Put in at least 2 hours a day of study to prepare for the CMAT exam.
- Choose the most difficult subject/area to begin with. It will be a lot easier if you master the skills required for the most challenging subject.
- Start with concept consolidation. Proceed to the next level by practising key concepts across a variety of questions.
- Be aware of the latest GK and management-related developments.
- A series of revisions and tests will improve your understanding and familiarity with the test.
- Work on improving your test-taking strategies.
- Understand the CMAT exam pattern
- Practice previous year’s papers, mock tests, and sample papers of CMAT
- Plan your exam-taking strategy based on your strengths, improve your weak areas, and revise key formulas.
The CMAT question paper did not undergo any significant changes, which makes preparing for the exam relatively straightforward. However, CMAT exam experts and former test takers agree that a well-defined preparation plan is essential for success.
CMAT Preparation – CMAT Exam Pattern
The CMAT 2025 preparation must take into account the new exam pattern. There will be 20 questions to attempt in each of the five sections of the CMAT 2025 exam. The maximum score for all five sections taken together is 400.
Following information tabulated below that will help you understand the CMAT 2025 exam pattern in detail:
| Section Component | No. of Questions | Total Marks for each section |
| 1. Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| 2. Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| 3. Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| 4. General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| 5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
| Time Limit | 180 Minutes |
Below are some of the key pointers that candidates should keep in mind regarding the CMAT 2025 exam:
- The paper contains a total of 100 questions
- All the questions are MCQ-type questions
- There are four marks assigned to each question in the paper
- For each incorrect attempt, a negative mark of one is deducted.
Latest changes in CMAT Exam Pattern
The National Testing Agency has revised the CMAT paper pattern in the last two years. The innovation and entrepreneurship section was added as an optional paper in the CMAT exam pattern in 2021, with an additional 30 minutes for this section. In the year 2022, the same section on innovation and entrepreneurship has been added as a compulsory section. The number of questions in each section was also reduced from 25 to 20 by NTA. This year there will be 100 questions in all, divided into 5 sections (each question carrying 4 marks).
CMAT Syllabus 2025
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) releases the CMAT Exam Syllabus on its official website. The CMAT Exam syllabus includes topics like quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, data interpretation, language comprehension, general awareness, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the aspirants preparing for the CMAT exam 2025 should be familiar with the detailed exam syllabus and the exam pattern. Click on this link for a detailed CMAT Syllabus 2025.
CMAT Mock Tests 2025
The mock test practice is an essential part of exam preparation, and it enables candidates to develop time management skills and discover ways to answer calculation-intensive questions efficiently and accurately. The main aim of solving a CMAT mock test is to know the latest test structure, pattern, and type of questions. However, through repeated practice, the candidates will become more proficient at reading long comprehension passages, identifying questions to attempt, recognizing the main points in a series of Logical Reasoning questions, understanding a Data Interpretation table, and performing mathematical calculations efficiently.
Key features of CMAT Mock Test 2025
1. Every CMAT practice test comes with detailed solutions and explanations.
2. Practice full-length mock tests designed by experts to help you succeed on the CMAT.
3. The CMAT test series can be solved on both PC and mobile phones, is based on the latest exam pattern, and covers the exam syllabus.
Free CMAT Mock Test 2025
The candidates are provided with a free mock test for CMAT 2025 to determine their preparation levels. Taking the free mock test will allow them to gauge their preparation for the target percentile.
Benefits of CMAT Mock Test
1. Manage your time constructively
Proper time management is the key to succeeding in any exam. Thus, by practicing multiple questions under time-bound circumstances, aspirants (candidates) can cover many topics in less time and achieve greater results.
2. Revision Strategies That Work
Proper revision will allow candidates to gain more clarity on topics, increase their confidence, and enable them to do well in the exam. Exam preparation requires regular revision of the syllabus. As a result, it requires complete focus, which the CMAT tests provide.
3. Retention of concepts
Practising the CMAT mock exam will enable candidates to retain concepts more effectively and longer test series regularly. By doing so, they will be able to recall any topic easily and feel more confident when taking a real exam.
4. Attempt more CMAT mock tests
The more CMAT mock tests one attempts, the better one will be at applying formulae and theorems.
5. Discover tricks and shortcuts
One way to solve CMAT questions faster is to practice regularly. By doing so, you can increase your speed and accuracy in solving the questions.
6. CMAT mock tests aid in understanding the actual exam pattern
The CMAT mock test helps candidates better understand the actual exam pattern, the topic-by-topic weighting of questions, and the types of questions asked last year.
7. Analyse weak and strong points
CMAT exam tests help candidates identify their weak and strong points.
FAQs on CMAT Preparation
1. Can I prepare for CMAT without coaching?
Yes, you can study for the CMAT yourself if you maintain a proper schedule and follow it strictly. Various free online resources are available for CMAT preparation.
2. When should I start preparing for CMAT?
You should invest at least 3-5 months in CMAT preparation. There are four main steps to achieving a good score on CMAT 2025.
1. Understand the CMAT exam pattern.
2. Develop strong conceptual clarity of the main topics of the CMAT syllabus.
3. Practice last year’s sample papers and mock tests of CMAT.
4. Work on revising key formulas, developing an exam-taking strategy that is based on strengths, and addressing weak areas.
3. Are sectional cut-off scores considered in CMAT?
CMAT does not usually have sectional cut-offs. Some participating institutes, however, establish a cut-off score for each section.
4. What is the purpose of the CMAT exam?
The CMAT is used for admission to MBA/PGDM programs offered by AICTE-affiliated institutions
5. Is CMAT easier than the CAT exam?
Yes. CMAT is much easier than CAT. It does not have a sectional time limit. Therefore, candidates will not be under any pressure to complete a given section within a specified period of time. The number of applicants taking the CMAT entrance exam is less than one lakh. As a result, it is easier to achieve a high percentile.
6. What is a good score in CMAT?
The top B-schools set the CMAT score cut-off between 95 and 99 percentiles. This is equivalent to 250-300 marks. Therefore, aiming for a score above 300 is essential for getting into a good institution. Furthermore, the aspirants will be able to achieve their desired score if they attempt 70 or more questions with high accuracy
7. How can I prepare for CMAT to get 100 percentile?
CMAT is an online computer-based test conducted by the National Testing Agency, India. If you plan to prepare for the CMAT exam, then you should put in 4 to 6 hours daily studying. Those scoring 345 to 350 marks will likely secure 100 percentile, and those scoring 285 to 340 marks will get 99 to 99.99 percentile. Solving 100 questions in three hours is very easy if you are accurate.
8. How difficult is CMAT exam preparation?
The CMAT preparation strategy, or how to prepare for the exam over the years, is based on two important factors: the CMAT test papers from the previous year and the anticipated CMAT exam Pattern. The fundamentals of CMAT question papers have not changed, so there is no need to struggle. According to experts and past toppers, the preparation for the CMAT exam should be clearly defined. CMAT preparation time is your preparation strategy.
9. What are the eligibility requirements for taking the CMAT?
The candidate should hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Candidates appearing for the final year of their Bachelor’s degree can also apply for CMAT 2025.
10. How to start CMAT preparation at home?
Aspirants can start CMAT preparation at home now without accepting any further.
Below are some tips to start CMAT preparation at home:
1. Browse through the revised CMAT exam pattern.
2. Read thoroughly the CMAT syllabus 2025.
3. Choose your strong and weak areas in all four sections.
4. Gather the best books and preparation materials for the CMAT exam.
5. Improve on weak areas and monitor improvement regularly.
6. Practice CMAT mock tests during your preparation for the CMAT 2025 and analyse each mock test.
7. To improve in the VARC section, read a variety of articles and novels, converse with your friends in English, and watch English television series and films.
8. The best way to learn new words is to write them down after reading at least five or six newspaper articles per day.
9. Practice data interpretation questions daily.
Conclusion
CMAT is conducted in online mode and is a speed-based entrance test in which candidates are tested on their data interpretation skills, quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, English language comprehension, etc. With this comprehensive guide, you can get a head start on your CMAT preparation.
