Common Management Aptitude Test or CMAT is organised by NTA. It is one of the few tests in India on the basis of which, management colleges across the nation give admissions. Currently, more than 850 colleges participate in CMAT. In the previous year, more than 75,000 students participated in the test.

CMAT is designed for testing the skills of the candidates which they will use in their management careers. Hence, the test is designed in a specific manner and has been divided in relevant sections. In this article, you will get to know about the syllabus of CMAT and what topics are to be covered for it’s preparation, some suggested readings and FAQs.

CMAT Syllabus – Sections

CMAT is an MCQ-type test designed to measure the overall strength, knowledge and critical thinking abilities of the candidates. Hence, the exam is divided into 4 sections namely:

• Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
• Logical Reasoning
• Language Comprehension
• General Awareness
• Note: Each section will have 25 questions. Each question will carry 4 marks and for every incorrect answer 1 mark will be deducted. Hence, CMAT score is calculated out of 400 marks.

CMAT Syllabus – What topics will be asked under each section?

For each section, questions from the following topics will be asked:

To know if you are eligible for the exam, read CMAT eligibility here.

Sections	Topics
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	Tabulation, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Line Graph
	Probability
	Quadratic and linear equations
	Graph
	Simple Interest and Compound Interest
	Percentages
	Averages
	Geometry
	Profit and Loss
	Mensuration
	Ratios and Proportion
	Fraction and Decimals
	Work and Time
	Time-Speed-Distance
	Number Systems
	In-equations
	Alligation & Mixtures
	Partnership
	Algebra
	Permutations & Combinations
	Pipes and Cisterns
Logical Reasoning	Analytical Reasoning
	Cause and Effects
	Non-Verbal Reasoning
	Linear Arrangements
	Analogy Test
	Symbol Based Problems
	Statements Arguments
	Blood Relationship Tests
	Direction and Distance Test
	Statements and Conclusion
	Number Series
	Statements Assumptions
	Inferences
	Matrix Arrangements
	Ranking Tests
	Coding and Decoding
	Sequencing
Language Comprehension	English Grammar
	Paragraph Completion
	Sentence Improvement
	English Usage Errors
	Synonyms and Antonyms
	Reading Comprehension
	One-word Substitution
	Jumbled Para
	Idioms and Phrases
	Sentence Correction
General Awareness	Literature
	Current Affairs of National and International Economy
	History
	Sports News
	Science in everyday life
	Politics
	Geography
	Culture
	Economics
	Trade Awareness
	Personalities in News
	Indian Constitution

CMAT Syllabus – Suggested Reading for CMAT preparations

There are a number of books out there which cover the topics mentioned above. However, shuffling between those books and deciding on which preparation material to be used can be quite confusing. So, here we are giving a list of books and suggested reading material which over the years have proved to be the right choice for the students. 

Sections	Suggested Readings
Quantitative Aptitude	Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education), Sarvesh K Verma (Arihant), Abhijit Guha (Mc Graw Hill Education), NCERT, Dr RS Aggarwal
Logical Reasoning	Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education), Nishit K Sinha (Pearson)
Language Comprehension	Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill Education, Nishit K Sinha, Dr R S Aggarwal, TIME
Vocabulary and grammar	Wren & Martin English Grammar, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, Business English and Communication by John O E Clark
General Awareness	The Financial Times, Hindu Business Line, Business World, Competitive Success Review

How to prepare for CMAT and what is its difficulty level?

• The strategy to prepare for CMAT is similar as of any other management test. Students should consider taking each section individually and focusing more on the ones which feel weak to them, For eg if some student is strong in logical reasoning but lacks in communication skills, he/she should focus more on that particular section.
• An applicant must read as much as he/she can about current affairs and general awareness. This is not only crucial for clearing the test but also helps a lot in the personal interview round. Students should read daily newspapers and prominent social and political magazines.
• CMAT level of difficulty will be somewhere between easy to medium in comparison to the other management tests.
• Applicants should also join a mock test series to prepare for the examination. This is one of the most effective methods of improving your performance in the exam. Many publishers provide mock test series on the pattern of the real test. These mock tests help in preparing the student metally and test his/her knowledge as well. These mock tests also help students to learn how to manage time during the exam and how to approach the question paper.
• To cover all the topics, students must go through the suggested readings and should make a strong knowledge base. Other things to be covered are communication skills, personal motivation and drive, leadership skills, competitiveness and other such traits which are crucial for management.

CMAT Syllabus – FAQs

Q. What are the important topics for CMAT preparations?

For a competitive exam like CMAT, it is difficult to point out topics more important than others. However,  questions from algebra, time-speed-distance, geometry, graphs, analytical reasoning, linear arrangements, number series, matrix arrangements, blood relationship tests, reading comprehension, grammar, English usage errors, parajumbles, etc. are all considered important in the CMAT exam.

Q. Is there negative marking in CMAT?

Yes, for each wrong answer in CMAT, 1 mark will be deducted. On the other hand, for each correct answer, 4 marks will be awarded.

Q. Is the syllabus of CMAT the same as that of CAT?

Yes, the syllabus of CMAT is the same as that of CAT, except the GK section. There is no GK section in the Common Admission Test.

Q. How many marks in CMAT are good enough for getting admission at a good college?

22-23 marks in each section of CMAT with 85-90% correct answers is considered as a good attempt.