CMAT 2025: Last Minute Tips and Exam Strategy
Common Management Admission Test 2025 ( CMAT )
CMAT 2025 exam is a speed based test and a lot depends how you handle the pressure on exam day. It is critical to use all of 180 minutes judiciously so that you make maximum correct attempts for an optimum performance.
CMAT 2025 exam will be held on January 25, 2025 and it is time now for the final preparation. You need to be thorough with the CMAT dos and don'ts for exam day because at times not big but small mistakes that cost a lot. CMAT experts recommend that you should not study too much just before the exam. The important thing to do is free your mind from stress. Take a break so that you can perform with a relaxed mind in the CMAT exam. However, do not ignore the last few tasks. There are few things that can help candidates perform better in CMAT exam 2025. Take a look at some CMAT last minute tips below.
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Do not overload your brain before the CMAT exam with heavy notes. Do not start studying a new topic or try new questions at this time. Revise concepts, theorems, formulae, shortcuts and tricks from your notes prepared earlier. Assimilate all you have studied in last few months of CMAT preparation 2025.
Also Read: How to Prepare for CMAT 2025
Q: What is the latest CMAT exam pattern?
Q: What is the section wise weightage in CMAT?
Q: Which is the lengthiest section in CMAT?
2. Accuracy and time management
You have to keep a tab on the time while solving the CMAT exam paper. There are 100 questions in CMAT, to be attempted in 180 minutes. Even though, you don't have to solve all the questions, maintain a fair ratio of correct attempts in all the sections of CMAT exam to ensure good sectional as well as overall scores. A judicious approach towards the CMAT question paper and a perfect exam strategy can help accomplish the goal. For example, the GK section is memory based and 8-10 correct attempts will be enough so you will not need more than 10 minutes to solve it. Keep an eye on the onscreen timer.
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3. Learn from your mistakes
Those who are appearing for the first time in CMAT, must take a look at their performance in CMAT mock tests. Make sure not to repeat the mistakes of mock tests in the exam. Aspirants appearing in CMAT for the second time must recollect all the mistakes made earlier and make sure not to make the same errors this time. This is the chance to improve the score for admission to the desired B-school. Attempt a CMAT mock test at the same time as your CMAT 2025 slot to get an experience of working on a rigorous test which includes diverse subjects.
Check out free CMAT mock test by Shiksha
| CMAT_Mock_Test_1 | CMAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| CMAT_Mock_Test_2 | CMAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
4. Set a defined strategy
Do not get caught up in 'how to do it'. You must have a clear vision on how to attempt CMAT 2025 question paper. Finalise an exam strategy. Attempt your exam with that strategy. Focus on the questions you can solve with maximum accuracy. Do not spend too much time on questions that don't come to you naturally or select questions from your strong areas to solve. Focus on achieving sectional cut offs first and then capitalise on it if time permits. Also, save some time for revision before submitting the test.
Q: What is the CMAT marking scheme?
Q: Is there any negative marking in CMAT?
Yes, there is a negative marking in CMAT exam. For each wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted. For example, if a candidate attempts 18 questions from Logical Reasoning and gets 15 questions correct but 3 questions incorrect. Then the candidate's score for this section will be 15x4-3, i.e. 57. However, no marks will be deducted for unanswered questions.
Thus, candidates must choose only those questions to solve which they are sure of solving accurately. It is anyway not possible to solve all 100 questions, so candidates must weigh their options viz. Strength and weak areas and then choose questions carefully.
If candidates are not sure of answering a question correctly or it is taking too much time, then they should leave that questions and move to next as they also need to keep a tab on the time limit.
CMAT expert Mikin Shah suggests “have a clearly defined strategy and sequence of attempts. My recommendation is to go for GK, Verbal, Maths and Reasoning. The General Knowledge (GK) section can easily be tackled in 10 minutes and the Verbal section can be allotted a time of about 40 minutes. This would leave the candidates with two hours to solve the Maths and Reasoning sections.”
5. Do not mug up for GK
Mugging up facts, dates and names for General knowledge section a day before the exam is of no use. You won’t be able to retain the information for long. It’s better to revise notes made on static GK and current affairs.
6. Have a fair idea of number of attempts for each section
It is important for you to have a fair idea of number of minimum questions to be attempted in each section of CMAT. You have to devote a specific amount of time to each section to score well in the exam. CMAT 2024 will have 20 questions each in all five sections so the target should be 15-17 correct attempts. Practice: CMAT Question Papers of Previous Years
7. Sort everything well in advance
Surely, you don't want to commit any blunder on the CMAT exam day. Nothing can be worst than reaching your CMAT exam centre late. The entry gates will close 30 minutes before commencement of the exam. You will not get the entry if the gates have been closed already. Arrange transportation well in advance before the exam day. You can also visit the test centre a day before to see the location. Remember to get a print out of your CMAT 2025 admit card before the exam day. Also, remember to carry a photo ID such as Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving License, Ration Card, PAN Card, etc.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Hi Tulsi,
Ahmedabad offers several reputable MBA colleges that accept CMAT scores for admissions. Here are some top institutions to consider:
Shanti Business School (SBS): Known for its industry-oriented curriculum, SBS offers a range of management programs and accepts CMAT scores for MBA admissions
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 days ago
A score of 161 marks in CMAT 2025 Slot 1 is expected to correspond to a percentile of approximately 65%.
This percentile indicates that your performance is better than about 65% of the candidates who appeared for the exam.
M
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 3 days ago
Hello Khushi,
With a CMAT score of 161, you are likely to fall within the 55-60 percentile range. While this score may not meet the cutoff for top-tier MBA colleges, there are several reputable institutions where you can consider applying. Here are some options:
KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
Congratulations on securing 161 marks in CMAT 2025! IMI Kolkata typically sets its CMAT cutoff around the 70th percentile. While exact percentiles can vary each year, a score of 161 may place you near or slightly below this threshold. However, admissions decisions also consider factors like your aca
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, you may still apply for CMAT 2025. The exam permits candidates who have appeared in the final year of Bachelor's degree to apply if their respective colleges declare the results before the beginning of admissions for the academic year 2025-26 15. With a backlog and ATKT, also you can sit for an
P
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 6 days ago
CMAT exam is held in 2 shifts- 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm. Many candidates may not be in a habit of studying in the morning and many may not be in the habit of studying in the afternoon. So, candidates must try to practice one CMAT mock test during the same time as their test slot, in order to h
N
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, one can prepare for CMAT with mock tests only, if they are already familiar with the English, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, GK and Innovation & Entrepreneurship topics. Any candidate who has appeared for CMAT once can crack the exam with mock tests practice only. But those who are ap
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
No, as admission into Kashmir University MBA admission takes place through CMAT entrance exam, candidates cannot get into Kashmir University MBA without having a valid score in the CMAT entrance exam. To apply for CMAT entrance exam candidates have to pay an application fees through the NTA website
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) offers MBA admissions through multiple pathways:
CAT Score: The university primarily considers the Common Admission Test (CAT) scores for MBA admissions. Candidates with valid CAT scores are given preference during the counseling process.
CMAT Score:
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Several top colleges in India accept CMAT scores for MBA admissions. Some of the best ones are:
1. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai: Requires a CMAT score around 99.99%ile.
2. SIMSREE, Mumbai: Requires a CMAT score around 99.97%ile.
3. PUMBA, Pune: Requires a CMAT score
A
Contributor-Level 9