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CMAT vs NMAT
CMAT: 100 questions, 400 marks, 180 minutes. NMAT: 108 questions, 108 marks, 120 minutes. Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| CMAT 2027 | NMAT 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency | GMAC |
| Questions | 100 | 108 |
| Marks | 400 | 108 |
| Time | 180 min | 120 min |
| Seconds a question | 108 | 67 |
| Marking | +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one. | No negative marking. The real NMAT is computer-adaptive and reports a scaled score of 36–360. |
| Sections | Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning |
| Languages | English | English |
| Next exam | 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative) | 2 Nov – 20 Dec 2026; retakes until 17 Dec registration |
| Last cut-off (UR) | Not published | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 4 full (2 free) | 5 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- CMAT has negative marking and NMAT does not: guessing costs you in one and not the other.
- Speed: NMAT gives 67 seconds a question against 108 in CMAT. Practise NMAT with a stricter clock.
- Dates: CMAT 7 Feb 2027 per NTA's calendar; notification awaited (tentative); NMAT 2 Nov – 20 Dec 2026; retakes until 17 Dec registration. If they are weeks apart, prepare the shared sections first and the exam-specific ones in the last weeks before each.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for CMAT and NMAT together?
- Yes. Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, CMAT or NMAT?
- CMAT: +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one. NMAT: No negative marking. The real NMAT is computer-adaptive and reports a scaled score of 36–360.
- What are the age limits for CMAT and NMAT?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of National Testing Agency (website ) and GMAC (website ). Age-limit calculator · All comparisons