The CMAT paper pattern has been revised twice by NTA in the last two years. In 2021, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was added as an optional paper and allotted an additional 30 minutes. Meanwhile, this section has been made mandatory by 2022.
The NTA reduced the number of questions in each section from 25 to 20. However, there will be a total of 100 questions, divided into five sections (each question will carry four marks).
According to the CMAT paper pattern, the CMAT 2024 exam will have five sections with no choice and two shifts. The CMAT exam time duration has been reduced to three hours. There is no additional time limit for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship section. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship section score is counted for percentile calculation to prepare the merit list.
Exam Pattern Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Sectional Time Limit | No |
| Nature of Questions | Objective Type (MCQs) |
| Number of Choices | Four Choices, out of which only one choice will be correct |
| Number of Sections | 5 |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 400 Marks |
| Marks Awarded | +4 for every correct answer |
| Negative Marking | -1 for every wrong answer |
| Medium | English Only |
Marking Scheme
| Particulars | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| For Every Correct Response | +4 |
| For Every Wrong Response | -1 |
| For Unattempted Question | 0 |
Section-wise Weightage
| Section | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 20 |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 |
| General Awareness | 20 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 |
Section-wise Marks
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 80 |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 80 |
| General Awareness | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 80 |
| Total | 400 |
Ways to Clear the 2024 CMAT
Advice and Planning - Those planning to take the CMAT in 2024 should create a workable and realistic plan. Given the moderate difficulty level of the CMAT, it is best to begin exam preparation six months in advance.
On the other hand, you ought to be ready for the CMAT sooner if you haven't studied math since class 10. You should begin preparing for the CMAT Language Comprehension exam early if your English comprehension is poor.