CMAT 2024 aspirants have been working hard on various topics for past few months now. As the exam day closes in, you should know the common pitfalls to avoid. Steer clear of these pitfalls on CMAT 2024 exam day and do well.
By Mikin Shah
CMAT exam is considered one of the easier MBA entrance exams. It is conducted after CAT, XAT, IIFT and NMAT, which makes it even more manageable as the candidates already have the experience of other aptitude tests. However, if one doesn’t pay the right amount of attention, they may face unfavourable situation during the exam. One may get sweaty palms on seeing difficulty level of the questions. So, the important thing to do is, be confident and calm. Also, be aware of the exam process.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.CMAT is a MCQ based test having five sections, every section will have 20 questions, which means you need to prepare equally well for all five sections. To get good overall CMAT percentile, you need to solve equal number of questions in every section. Given the exam structure and difficulty level, candidates must solve 2/3rd of the total questions in every section.
Q: How can I prepare for CMAT?
Q: What is the difficulty level of CMAT exam?
Q: How to prepare for GK section of CMAT?
Hi, Below mentioned are some tips, which you can follow for CMAT General Awareness preparation:
- You can read general awareness topics
- For Static GK, read Manorama Year Book and other such GK books for competitive exams
- Read up about latest happenings around the world
- Take note of every event of politics, sports, economy, books, awards, titles, etc.
- To know the latest happenings, you should read English newspapers daily.
- Also, you can participate in similar group discussions along with some good news channels to keep yourself updated.
- GK is a memory based subject so you should start preparing for it towards the end of your CMAT preparation
- Start studying GK year books in the last one month before the CMAT exam to have ll the facts and figures fresh in memory.
Good luck.
The National Testing Agency or NTA will conduct CMAT 2024 on May 15, 2024. The final few days before CMAT exam is the right time to give preparations a final push.
By now, the candidates must have completed the CMAT syllabus, practiced enough number of CMAT mock tests and are comfortably placed viz. the topic revision routine. Right now what is worth paying attention to is knowing the common mistakes that candidates make in CMAT exam and how to avoid them.
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Mikin Shah, MBA expert shared with Shiksha a few common errors made by students in CMAT exam. He listed down eight pitfalls to steer clear of in CMAT exam:
8 Pitfalls to Avoid in CMAT 2024
- Not knowing the ideal number of attempts. This is like building a house without the blue-print. You must have a fair idea of the number of attempts you are going to target. CMAT has 100 questions, so you must target about 70-75 questions.
- Being too ambitious in terms of number of attempts. For CMAT, the rule is simple - WORSHIP ACCURACY. Any student attempting more than 70-75 questions is either a potential topper or a consummate disaster. So, don't try to solve all the questions.
- Do not fret about the GK section and try to over-prepare for it. It is the most random section and your score will reflect your ingrained reading habit and general awareness.
- Appearing for CMAT exam without adequate mock test practice. You must appear for at least 10 CMAT mock tests of varying difficulty levels. This will prepare you for all kinds of situation in the actual exam.
- Having a pre-decided absolute target score (say 200). The absolute scores would depend upon the difficulty level of the CMAT question paper. What matters is your ranking and not the score. So, make a target score after going through the paper once.
- Do not study too hard on the day before CMAT 2024. Go for revision of important topics only and sleep for at least seven to eight hours.
- Do not get put off by a bad start. CMAT is a three-hour exam and there are no restrictions in terms of sectional time limit or cut off scores. So, even if you have a less than ideal start, you can easily recover if you keep calm.
- Do not over-attempt in the CMAT Language Comprehension section - especially the critical reasoning questions. Fifteen good attempts in this section would do the trick for most of the students.
Read More:
- CMAT 2024: Exam Day Guidelines and Strategy to Crack the Test
- CMAT 2024: Last Minute Tips to Ace the Test
- CMAT Exam Day Checklist: Dos and Don'ts
- Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Score
About the Author
Mikin Shah is the co-founder and director of a popular educational institute which specialises in entrance exams, MBA tuitions and finance courses such as CFA.
Q: Can I prepare for CMAT in 6 months?
Yes, 6 months are a decent time duration to prepare for CMAT exam, if one does it with dedication and discipline. Candidates who have appeared for CMAT or any other MBA entrance exam before, will find 6 months more than enough to prepare for the exam. Those, who are appearing in CMAT for the first time, can also prepare in 6 months but they will have to give extra time to it. If you plan a CMAT preparation in six months, make a three stage plan. In the first stage, which will be of 3 months, complete the CMAT syllabus, in the second phase, which will be of 2 months, practice sample papers and mock tests. In the third stage, which will be of 1 months, do revision of important topics and gain control over all that you have studied before. Keep in mind to solve enough number of CMAT mock tests (30-35) for better preparation in short time. Read More: CMAT preparation in 6 months
Q: How can I prepare for CMAT to secure 100 percentile?
Common Management Admission Test is an online computer based test conducted by the National Testing Agency, India. It is a national-level admission test for facilitating institutions to select suitable students for admission in all management programmes approved by AICTE. According to the exam pattern, the CMAT syllabus for MBA admission is divided into five sections namely, Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. If you plan to prepare for CMAT exam, then you have to at least put in four to six hours daily into studying. 345 to 350 marks are expected to secure the 100 percentile and those securing in the range of 285 to 340 marks will obtain 99 to 99.99 percentile. CMAT merit list will include names of all the aspirants scoring CMAT score vs percentile from 0.005 to 100 percentile. Speed is not an issue at all as you have ample time available. Solving 100 questions in 3 hours is quite easy; hence time is not as important as accuracy is. I have slept for 20 to 40 minutes after completing test every year! The range of topics covered has become very important.
Q: I have 82.12 %ile in CMAT 2023 but my GDPI didn't go well. Is there any chance to convert Welingkar's Rural Management course?
The journey towards securing admission to Welingkar's Rural Management course is an exciting and competitive one, where your potential and abilities are carefully assessed. While a good CMAT score holds significance, it is not the sole determining factor for admission. The selection process takes into account a holistic evaluation of various aspects of your profile.
The admission committee at Welingkar considers multiple factors, including your academic performance, entrance exam score, work experience, and performance in the selection rounds. This comprehensive approach ensures that the most deserving candidates are chosen to be part of this esteemed program.
Even if your CMAT score may not be in the top bracket, do not lose hope. Welingkar's Rural Management course values candidates who exhibit excellence in other selection rounds, such as the written test, group discussion, and personal interview. Your performance in these rounds, coupled with your overall profile, can leave a lasting impression on the admission committee and boost your chances of securing a seat.
Remember, the selection process is designed to identify individuals with the right blend of skills, knowledge, and a passion for rural management. Embrace this opportunity to showcase your abilities, highlight your experiences, and express your dedication towards making a meaningful impact in rural communities.
While waiting for the official announcement of the results, remain optimistic and continue honing your skills and knowledge in the field of rural management. Keep yourself updated with the latest developments and news from Welingkar, and be prepared to seize the opportunities that come your way.
Ultimately, the decision rests with the esteemed admission committee, who carefully assess each candidate's potential and suitability for the Rural Management course. Trust in your abilities, present your best self during the selection process, and believe that your hard work and dedication will shine through.
Wishing you the utmost success as you embark on this transformative journey towards a career in Rural Management at Welingkar. Embrace the challenges, display your unique strengths, and seize this opportunity to make a positive impact on rural communities. Your determination and passion will undoubtedly be recognised and rewarded.
Stay confident, focused, and motivated, knowing that your efforts will lead you towards a brighter future in the field of Rural Management.
Q: How can I master Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation topics of CMAT?
Q: If I am preparing for CAT, do I need to prepare separately for CMAT?
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research offers scholarships to PGDM/ MBA courses on the basis of CMAT rankings secured by the candidates. Check out the eligibility criteria and financial benefits through this scholarship below:
Scholarship on the basis of CMAT ranking:
| Rank between 10001 and 20000 | Scholarship amount INR 20,000 |
| Rank between 4001 and 10000 | Scholarship amount INR 25,000 |
| Rank between 1 and 4000 | Scholarship amount INR 30,000 |
K
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Hi,
Scoring a 99.99 percentile in CMAT is an excellent achievement, and it certainly boosts your chances of getting into top management colleges like JBIMS (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies). However, your 10th and 12th scores of 70% may be slightly below the average for some top-tier i
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Here are some CMAT colleges where graduates have reported average salaries exceeding 11 LPA:
1. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai: Known for its prestigious reputation, JBIMS offers an average placement package of around 28.02 LPA.
2. SIMSREE, Mumbai: This institute provi
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
MAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on January 25, 2025, almost four months ahead of previous years. The CMAT exam is usually held in March-April, but in 2023 and 2024, it was held in May. The last time CMAT was held in January was in the year 2019.
The NTA has announced registration dates via an offi
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Arihant MCA Entrances 2025
As per my opinion this book is best for MCA.
N
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 3 weeks ago
Top MBA colleges offering average CTCs above 12 LPA, with ST out-of-state reservations and accepting CMAT or XAT scores, include XLRI Jamshedpur (32 LPA, XAT), XIM Bhubaneswar (20 LPA, XAT), Great Lakes Institute of Management (15–17 LPA, CMAT/XAT), Goa Institute of Management (14–15 LPA, CMAT/XAT),
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
An 85 percentile in CMAT is considered a good score and can make you eligible for a PGDM scholarship at GIBS Business School. GIBS typically offers scholarships to students with strong academic records or good performance in entrance exams like CMAT. With an 85 percentile, you are likely to be consi
B
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, I can suggest colleges in Gujarat that accept CMAT score for admission to MBA
Colleges are :-
- Adani Institute of Infrastructure management
- Bk School of business management
- Amrut modi School of management
- Shanti Business School
- Indus University
- Graduate School of management studies
- Centre for manag
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
Depends on exam results, the CMAT cutoff for BLDEA's A S Patil College of Commerce changes depends on the admissions method. Two methods are available to candidates for admission: the Management Quota, which uses CMAT/KMAT scores, or the Government/Merit Quota, which uses CMAT scores through KEA cou
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
You can join BLDEA's A S Patil College of Commerce for MBA or PGDM programs even if you haven't taken the CMAT. The college also accepts other entrance exams like Karnataka PGCET and KMAT.
Admission Process:
- Students are primarily admitted based on merit through these exams, followed by a counseling p
S
Contributor-Level 9
What scholarships does GL Bajaj offer for PGDM/MBA based on CMAT rankings?