How to Prepare for CMAT 2025 Exam in 3 Months? Section Wise Tips & Strategy

Common Management Admission Test 2025 ( CMAT )

6 mins read15.4K Views5.9K Comments

Admit Card: 17 Jan '25

Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Nov 16, 2024 19:35 IST

A three-month CMAT 2025 preparation plan must be quick yet comprehensive. The CMAT 2025 exam will be held on January 25, 2025 so start now. Read this article to know how to prepare for CMAT exam in three months.

CMAT prep in  2 months

CMAT preparation in 3 months is very much possible. For those who appeared for other MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT or SNAP, three months are enough to prepare for CMAT. Those who will be appearing for CMAT 2025 exam only, can also prepare within three months, provided they have a perfect plan. CMAT 2025 exam will be held on January 25, 2025 so this is the right time to implement the 3-month CMAT preparation plan. By January, you'll also be free from CAT, XAT, SNAP and NMAT exams, so you will need to do only basic revision for CMAT

Explore colleges based on CMAT

Gurgaon
#11 NIRF
₹8.25 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Mumbai
#20 NIRF
₹9.5 L
Ranked in the top 50 by NIRF
Noida
#29 NIRF
₹6.4 L - 13.8 L
Ranked in the top 50 by NIRF
Jalandhar
#38 NIRF
₹8 L - 10 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Ghaziabad
#35 NIRF
NA
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Bangalore
#60 NIRF
₹4.8 L - 8.6 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Noida
#45 NIRF
₹14.75 L - 15.75 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Anand
#49 NIRF
₹13.6 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Dehradun
#59 NIRF
₹7.17 L
Ranked in the top 100 by NIRF
Kolkata
#56 NIRF
₹14 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
View allCollections

How to Prepare for CMAT 2025 in Three Months

To make an effective three-month CMAT 2025 preparation plan, knowing your strength and weakness is very important. Take a look at the CMAT syllabus 2025, go through the topics one by one and assess your knowledge of each one of them. In the English, Reasoning, Quant and General Awareness sections, you will find many topics that you may have had studied in school or would have prepared earlier for other MBA entrance exams. All you need is to brush up the knowledge.

Q:   How can I prepare for CMAT?

A:
To prepare for CMAT exam you need to do two things. Cover the exam syllabus and practice mock tests. After you decide to appear for CMAT the first thing you should do is check the CMAT syllabus. Make a list of topics that you are familiar with and topics that you have never studied before. Start with topics that you are unfamiliar with as those topics will take time. Move to easier topics after that. Do practice sample questions after completing each topic to know how to apply concepts to a problem. Once you have completed the CMAT syllabus, move to the next phase of preparation, I. e. practicing mock tests and sample questions. Dedicate about 40-45 days in practicing CMAT mock tests, to gain not only speed and accuracy but also control on the topics. You should also join online study groups to take help from mentors and peers in exam preparation. Doubt clearing sessions are very helpful in exam preparation. Also stick to CMAT books as recommended by experts. Some of the books you need to refer are: 1. The Complete Reference Manual for CMAT by SK Sinha, S Satyanarayan and JS Rana 2. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) 3. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis 4. High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin English 5. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education) 6. How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education). .

Q:   What is the difficulty level of CMAT exam?

A:
CMAT is one of the easier MBA entrance exams. Despite having an extra section, the overall difficulty level of CMAT exam is generally moderate. However, it has been seen previously that some questions in Logical Reasoning and General Awareness sections of CMAT turn out to be more difficult than questions of Quantitative Techniques, Language Comprehension and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. If a candidate can solve about 70-75 of the total questions with about 80 per cent accuracy in each section, they can score well in CMAT. The sectional difficulty in CMAT is as follows: 1. Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation: Moderate 2. Logical Reasoning: Easy to Moderate 3. Language Comprehension: Easy to Moderate 4. General Awareness: Moderate 5. Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Moderate For the latest exam pattern and difficulty level of CMAT click here: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cmat-exam-analysis.

Q:   If I am preparing for CAT, do I need to prepare separately for CMAT?

A:
If you are preparing for CAT your work is almost over for CMAT. I was also a student who prepared for CAT immediately after my graduation. The important things which you should look into while preparing for this exam are as follows: 1. Select one of the best coaching centers which offer quality education- TIME is one of the famous coaching centers for CAT. 2. Dedication- Be focused on the aim which you need to achieve. 3. Try to read Hindu newspaper editorial. Most of the passages which appear in CAT are from Hindu editorial. 4. Try to maximum number of online mock test. You will definitely clear CAT by doing the above. 5. Try to read as much as you can and make note of points. 6. Revision of each week topics is very important. 7. Mathematical ability questions will be little twisted try to do as faster as you can.

The second step in making a three-month preparation plan is to get hold of CMAT books and study material. You can avail study material and books from either a coaching centre or collect them separately from online or offline sources.

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

XAT

LIVE
IRMASAT 2025 Last Date of Appl...

8 Jan '25

SNAP 2024 result announcement

8 Jan '25

XGMT registration

26 Aug '24 - 10 Jan '25

NMAT 2024 Registration Window ...

5 Jan '25 - 10 Jan '25

MICAT (II) registration process

25 Nov '24 - 11 Jan '25

MU BAAT 2025 Round 2 Registration

11 Dec '24 - 21 Jan '25

BET 2025 Round 2 Submission De...

21 Jan '25

SBEST Mock Test 2025

23 Jan '25

MAH CET 20245 registration process

25 Dec '24 - 25 Jan '25

Three-Month CMAT 2025 Exam Preparation Plan: Highlights

After collecting the study material, do the following to prepare for CMAT 2025 in three months:

  • The first one and a half month should be spent on covering the CMAT syllabus, the next one month in practising CMAT mock tests and the last 15 days in revision of important chapters
  • Join online study groups where you can interact with other candidates, experts and mentors. There you can discuss with each other problems and solutions, sums and theorems and learn tricks and shortcuts of solving calculation heavy problems.
  • Download MBA preparation apps on your phone for 24x7 assistance in studies. These apps offer extra study material, QnA platform, audio-visual guidance and other aides in exam preparation.
  • Understand the CMAT exam pattern 2025 thoroughly, as the key to perform well in any exam is to know how to handle a certain number of questions in a certain time-limit

Also Read:

CMAT dates 2025

CMAT registrations 2025

CMAT cut offs

Month-Wise Plan for CMAT Preparation 2025

Divide the three months in three phases for more organised preparatio and better output from the hard work put in. Given below is the month-wise plan to prepare for CMAT in three months:

CMAT Preparation Phases

Tasks

First 45 days

Completing the CMAT syllabus

Next 30 days

Practicing CMAT question papers and mock tests

Last 15 days

Revision and finalising exam strategy

Phase 1: Complete the CMAT Syllabus 2025

CMAT syllabus consists of various topics from the following subjects:

Start with the topic you find the toughest. Study it thoroughly and solve practice questions to understand the applications. If you were good at Maths in school, you might not face problems in the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation section. Brush up all the Algebraic formulae and Geometry theorems and go through Mensuration and other Arithmetic formulae.

Q:   How to prepare for GK section of CMAT?

A:

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.

Q:   Can I prepare for CMAT in 6 months?

A:

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?

A:

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?

A:

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 many questions should I solve to get a good score in CMAT?

A:
Since every section of CMAT has 20 questions in total, solving 15-18 questions in each section with 80 per cent accuracy is considered a good attempt in CMAT and it can ensure good percentile in the exam. In GK section, about 10-12 correct attempts will be enough. Out of 100 questions, candidates must try to solve about 70-75 questions to get 99 percentile. However, candidates must aim to solve higher number of questions with maximum accuracy and minimise on negative marking. To be able to achieve this target, candidates need to prepare for the CMAT in a dedicated and disciplined manner. The candidate must keep minimum three months aside for completing the CMAT syllabus as they have to study five subjects and their numerous topics. If they have appeared for CAT XAT and IIFT exam then they can complete the CMAT syllabus in one month too. However, it is advised that candidates spend at least three months on the CMAT syllabus for complete preparation.

To tackle the Reading Comprehension (RC) questions in CMAT Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability, develop the habit of reading business-related blogs, newspapers and current affair magazines. Work on your comprehension skills as sometimes RC passages can be data heavy or abstract in nature. Reading dense paragraphs in less time increases the chances of silly mistakes, so practice reading. For Verbal Ability strengthen your Grammar and practice sample questions.

Logical Reasoning section of the CMAT, like all other MBA entrance exams is logic based and all that matters in this section the deep understanding of patterns. So, be thorough with the formulae and practice a variety of logical reasoning sections.

General Awareness should be the last part of your phase-I plan. Prepare static GK from Manorama Year Book and study Current Affairs by reading newspaper/watching news daily.

Also Read: CMAT 2024 preparation tips and tricks; how to ace the exam

Phase 2: Practice CMAT Question Papers and Mock Tests

CMAT preparation is incomplete without practicing sample questions and attempting mock tests. No amount of preparation viz. the CMAT syllabus will get you the desired result, if you haven’t practiced CMAT questions. Solving previous year’s CMAT question paper will not only help you understand the pattern of the exam, but also the trend of types of questions asked and their difficulty levels. Similarly, CMAT mock tests will prepare you for the actual exam. A CMAT mock test is a replica of the actual exam, so the more mock tests you attempt the better you get at handling the CMAT 2025 exam paper.

So, give yourself a month to solve all types of CMAT questions. And analyse your performance after each mock test. The motive of solving CMAT sample questions is to improve the performance. Listed below are benefits of practicing CMAT mock tests:

  • It will improve your speed and accuracy in solving the questions.
  • It will help you to assess your preparation level, your strengths & weakness and area of improvement.
  • It will help you to develop shortcuts and tricks of solving calculation heavy questions.
  • It will give you enough practice of application of formulae and theorems.
  • It will help you to develop the art of choosing the right question. Since, there is negative marking in CMAT, you can’t afford wrong selection of questions to attempt.
  • Practising previous year CMAT question papers will instill confidence in you, which is very important to perform in a speed based test.
  • Do not fret if you perform badly initially. Keep practicing and you will improve.

Shiksha CMAT Mock Test

Shiksha has prepared free CMAT mock test for candidates to take and see their preparation level. Click on the links below for Shiksha CMAT mock test and solutions.

CMAT_Mock_Test_1 CMAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
CMAT_Mock_Test_2 CMAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions

Phase 3: Revise all the CMAT Concepts and Formulae

The last 15 days of CMAT 2025 preparation should be spent in catching up with what was missed in the first phase. Go back to the topics, one by one. Revise them and assess which of them are still your pain points. Work on them. Go through all the formulae and theorems of Quant and Logical Reasoning. Revise GK and English Grammar.  

Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice

Our advice:

Every candidate is different from another. So, it is very important to understand yourself and make a preparation plan accordingly.

All the best!

Read More:

Check CMAT cut offs and predict calls from colleges accepting CMAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CMAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict CMAT Admission Calls
About the Author
author-image
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

5 Jan '25

XAT 2025 Exam

Jan '25

XAT 2025 response sheet releas...

8 Jan '25

SNAP 2024 result announcement

21 Dec '24

SNAP 2024 session 3

24 Dec '24 -

2 Mar '25

MAT 2024 Registration Process ...

24 Dec '24 -

9 Mar '25

MAT 2024 Registration Process ...

19 Dec '24

CAT 2024 result announcement

3 Dec '24 -

5 Dec '24

CAT 2024 answer key challenge

5 Jan '25 -

10 Jan '25

NMAT 2024 Scheduling Window (s...

5 Jan '25 -

10 Jan '25

NMAT 2024 Registration Window ...

Feb '25

IBSAT 2024 Selection Process (...

28 Dec '24 -

29 Dec '24

IBSAT 2024 Exam

25 Dec '24 -

25 Jan '25

MAH CET 20245 registration pro...

Mar '25

MAH MBA CET 2025

2 Feb '25

ATMA 2025: Last Date of Fee Pa...

4 Feb '25

ATMA 2025 Last date of applica...

17 Oct '24 -

5 Dec '24

IIFT 2025 registration and app...

Jan '25

IRMASAT 2025 Last Date of Appl...

Feb '25

IRMASAT Personal Interviews

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 5 hours ago

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 20000Scholarship amount INR 20,000
Rank between 4001 and 10000Scholarship amount INR 25,000
Rank between 1 and 4000Scholarship amount INR 30,000

K

Krishnendu Kumar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 5 days 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

...more

R

Rupesh Katariya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 5 days 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

...more

A

ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

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

...more

R

Ranjeeta Rai

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Arihant MCA Entrances 2025

As per my opinion this book is best for MCA.

N

Nitin prakash sonkar

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),

...more

59928193
Amit Saini

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

...more

B

Bhavani

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

...more

71271179
Sankalp Anand

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 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

...more

K

Kritika Kumari

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks 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

...more

S

Suyash Pandey

Contributor-Level 9