The CMAT Exam Paper Pattern

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), a national MBA entrance exam conducted by AICTE, is held in January.

Paper Pattern for last conducted AICTE CMAT exam:

CMAT is a test of 180 minutes duration. There are four sections; Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension and General Awareness. The total number of questions was 100, with 25 questions in each section. Each correct answer is awarded 4 marks and there is 1 mark penalty for every wrong answer. Also, there was no sectional time limit. So, one can spend less time on strong areas and could devote more time on weak areas to boost their overall score.

Tips: Majority of the questions in Quantitative techniques and Logical Reasoning could have been solved by using options. In majority of the cases, options were very abstract and not relevant to the questions or could have been eliminated from the given condition.

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Section:

The Section is relatively easy and questions are asked from almost every module.

These were the topics on which questions were based in one of the slot and may not be the exact replica throughout all the slots.

Topics	No. of Questions
Number System – Last Digit, Algebraic Equation, HCF, LCM	6
Algebra – Linear Equation, Inequation	2
Percentage and Ratio – Successive Percentage Change, Alligation, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio, Mixture.	4
Geometry – Equilateral Triangle, Angle of Elevation, Coordinate Geometry, Area of Triangle	3
Modern Maths –Permutations & Combination, Probability, Time & Work, AP & GP, Set Theory	7
Data Interpretation	2
Data Sufficiency	1

One should focus on questions based on number properties, percentage and its application and time and work.

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 20+ questions with 90% accuracy.

Logical Reasoning:

In this section, there are individual questions unlike other entrance exams, where you find set based questions. The caselets are very lengthy. If one has read the question first and then the caselet, he could get answer by reading first few points and eliminating the options.

These were the topics on which questions were based in one of the slot and may not be the repeated throughout all the slots.

Topics	No. of Questions
Family Relationship	1
Linear Arrangement	2
Circular Arrangement	2
Matrix Arrangement	4
Groups and Conditionalities	6
Binary Logic	1
Data Sufficiency	1
Number Series	1
Conclusion	2
Course of Action	1
Assumption	2
Logical Set Theory	2

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 22+ questions with 85% accuracy.

Verbal Section:

This section tested more on reading skills as majority of the questions were inferential or based on reasoning, which ideally takes more time per question as compared to other management entrance exams. Presence of 12 RC questions could make a difference for some students if they are not well prepared.

Topics	No. of Questions
3 Reading Comphrension (250-400 words)	12
Paragraph Jumble	2
Paragraph Jumble	1
Fact –Inference – Judgment	2
Fill in the Blanks (cloze test)	4
Fill in the Blanks (single blank)	1
Analogy	1
Synonyms	1
Grammar	1

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 20+ questions with 80% accuracy.

General Knowledge:

This section is the differentiator for high scoring students. The focussed was more inclined towards Static GK which covered topics from History, Science, Politics, Astronomy, Author, Slogan, Economics etc. Current Affairs questions were based on Olympics, Oscar Award, Politics, Merger and Acquisition etc. If one would have read front page of the newspaper over last two years or focused on major events across the world then questions based on current affairs would have been a cake walk.

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 12+ questions with 90% accuracy.

All the best!!