CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, Negative Marking
CMAT Exam Pattern 2024 serves as the blueprint for the Common Management Admission Test, a national-level entrance exam in India for postgraduate management programs. The test’s layout and content, including the number of sections, types of questions, and scoring procedures, are described in the CMAT 2024 exam pattern. Candidates preparing for this difficult exam must be familiar with the pattern of the CMAT Exam.
CMAT Exam Pattern 2024 Highlights
Features |
Details |
Number of sections |
5 (Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship) |
Mode of examination |
Online |
Duration of exam |
3 hours |
Number of Shifts |
1 (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM) |
Number of questions |
100 |
Total Marks |
400 |
Number of answer choices |
5 |
CMAT Marking scheme |
+4 marks is awarded for every correct answer
-1 mark for is deducted for every incorrect answer |
Language of paper |
English |
CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Key Changes
The NTA has announced the following important changes in AICTE CMAT Exam Syllabus & Pattern 2024 since the CMAT 2021, and are important for the candidate to know so as to stay updated with the exam pattern and its related details:-
Sno. |
CMAT 2024 Exam |
CMAT 2021 Exam |
1. |
5 Section Exam with no choice |
Choice to appear in 4 or 5 section exam |
2. |
2 Shift Exam |
Single Shift Exam |
3. |
Compulsory 5th Section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Optional 5th Section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
4. |
CMAT Time Duration Reduced & Fixed to 3 Hours |
Option to attempt CMAT in Time duration of 3 hours or 3½ Hours |
5. |
Total Questions Reduced to 100 |
Total Questions were 125 (Option to attempt 100 or 125 questions) |
6. |
No additional time for 5th Section |
30 Minutes additional time for 5th section |
7. |
5th section Score counted for Percentile calculation to prepare merit list |
5th section Score Not counted for Percentile calculation to prepare merit list |
8. |
20 Questions in Each of the five Sections |
25 Questions in Each of the five Sections |
9. |
Candidates need not apply for the new course of Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Candidates had to apply for the new course of Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
10. |
Number of CMAT Test cities increased to 126 |
Number of CMAT exam cities were 109 |
CMAT 2024 Section-wise Exam Pattern
The Common Management Admission Test or the CMAT 2024 is a popular national-level entrance examination in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is designed to assess the aptitude of candidates in various key areas, including:
- Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Type of questions |
No. of questions |
Maximum Marks |
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
20 |
80 |
Logical Reasoning |
20 |
80 |
Language Comprehension |
20 |
80 |
General Awareness |
20 |
80 |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
20 |
80 |
Total |
100 |
400 |
The CMAT 2024 exam pattern is structured as a computer-based test (CBT) that spans a duration of 3 hours (180 minutes).The medium of the CMAT 2024 is English. Each question in the exam is worth 4 marks, and for each correct response, a candidate receives 4 marks. However, if a candidate’s response is incorrect, 1 mark is deducted from the total score. Questions that go unanswered or are unattempted will not receive any marks. Candidates are required to select a single option as the correct answer for each question.
Following the challenge process of the Answer Key, in instances where there are multiple correct options or a change in the key, marks will be awarded only to those candidates who initially answered it correctly based on the revised Answer Key. If a question is excluded due to a technical error, full marks will be granted to all candidates, regardless of whether they attempted the question or not.
CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern- Negative Marking
The CMAT 2024 Exam contains negative marking with 1 mark being deducted for every incorrect answer given by the candidate in the exam. On the other hand the candidate is awarded with 4 marks for every correct answer.
CMAT 2024 Syllabus
The following is the section-wise syllabus for CMAT 2024:-
Sections |
Topics |
1. Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation |
|
2. Logical Reasoning |
|
3. Language Comprehension |
|
4. General Awareness |
|
5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Innovation:-
Entrepreneurship:-
|
CMAT Paper Analysis: Difficulty Level & Good Attempts
The CMAT exam typically has moderate difficulty. The following conclusions about the difficulty level and the number of successful attempts may be drawn from the examination of the CMAT previous year paper for 2023:
Section |
Number Of Questions |
Good Attempts |
Difficulty Level |
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation |
25 |
20-22 |
Moderate |
Logical Reasoning |
25 |
22-23 |
Easy to Moderate |
Language Comprehension |
25 |
18-20 |
Easy |
General Awareness |
25 |
12-14 |
Difficult |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
25 |
15-17 |
Easy to Moderate |
Total |
125 |
87-90 |
Moderate |
CMAT Preparation Tips
- Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the CMAT exam pattern, including the number of sections, type of questions, and marking scheme. This will help you plan your preparation accordingly.
- Create a Study Plan: Develop a study schedule that outlines what topics you’ll cover each day or week. Make sure to allocate sufficient time for each section of the exam.
- Study Material: Gather the necessary study materials, including textbooks, reference books, and online resources. You can also consider enrolling in a coaching program if you prefer structured guidance.
- Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation: Practice mathematical problems regularly. Focus on areas like algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Master the basics before moving on to more complex problems.
- Logical Reasoning: Enhance your logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Solve puzzles, practice critical reasoning, and work on strengthening your analytical abilities.
- Language Comprehension: Develop your vocabulary and reading skills. Read newspapers, magazines, and novels regularly to improve your comprehension and grammar. Practice reading comprehension and grammar exercises.
- General Awareness: Stay updated on current events, business news, and general knowledge. Read newspapers and magazines, and follow relevant news websites. Make use of current affairs apps and materials.
- Mock Tests: Take CMAT mock tests to simulate exam conditions. This helps you manage time, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and familiarize yourself with the format of the exam.
- Time Management: Efficiently manage your time during the exam. Learn to allocate time to each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Review and Analysis: After taking mock tests, analyze your performance. Focus on improving in areas where you struggle the most. Identify common mistakes and work on minimizing them.
Best Books for CMAT 2024 Preparation
The following is the list of some of the best books that a candidate would need for the CMAT 2024 Preparation:-
| Subject | Book Name | Author |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | RS Agarwal |
| Accredited Guide to Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha | |
| Logical Reasoning | A modern approach to logical reasoning | RS Agarwal |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit Sinha | |
| Language Comprehension | How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension? | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay |
| CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Gautam Puri | |
| General Awareness | General Knowledge | Disha Experts |
| Face To Face MAT With 19 Years | BS Sijwali | |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Manorama Year Book | Mammen Mathew |
| India Year Book | Rajiv Mehrishi |
Recommended Newspapers/Magazines for CMAT
The following are some recommended newspapers and magazines so as to ace the CMAT 2024:-
| Type | Papers |
| Newspapers | The Hindu |
| Business Standard | |
| The Indian Express | |
| Financial Express | |
| Economic Times | |
| Hindu Business Line | |
| Magazine | Business Today |
| Business World | |
| Manorama Year Book | |
| Competition Success Review | |
| Arihant GK | |
| Lucent’s GK |
CMAT Previous Year Papers
CMAT previous year question papers are valuable study resources for candidates preparing for the Common Management Admission Test. The CMAT Previous Year Papers can be found on the official website for NTA and can be accessed from there itself (https://www.nta.ac.in/Downloads).
These papers provide insights into the exam’s format, types of questions, and difficulty levels. By practicing with CMAT’s past question papers, candidates can enhance their exam readiness and improve their performance. It’s a recommended practice to include these papers as part of one’s preparation strategy to better understand the CMAT 2024 examination.
CMAT Exam Pattern 2024 FAQs
Q What are the sections in the CMAT 2024 exam?
Ans The CMAT 2024 exam typically includes sections on Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, and General Awareness.
Q How is the CMAT 2024 exam conducted?
Ans CMAT 2024 is a computer-based exam where candidates answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on a computer. The exam follows a fixed duration, and candidates must complete it within the allotted time.
Q What is the marking scheme in CMAT 2024?
Ans In CMAT 2024 , each correct answer is typically awarded four marks, and there is a deduction of one mark for each incorrect response. Unanswered questions receive no marks.
Q Are there any changes in the CMAT 2024 exam pattern each year?
Ans The CMAT 2024 exam pattern may undergo slight changes from year to year. It is essential for candidates to refer to the most recent official CMAT notification for the current exam pattern, including the number of questions, sections, and other details.
Conclusion
The CMAT 2024 or the Common Management Admission Test is a widely recognized entrance examination in India for admissions to various management programs. It is a computer-based test that is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CMAT 2024 Exam Pattern provides a comprehensive evaluation of candidates’ skills in areas such as quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general awareness. Understanding the CMAT 2024 exam pattern, scoring system, and question types is crucial for successful preparation.
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