Crack CMAT 2026.
Crack JBIMS Mumbai.
India's top MBA entrance for Maharashtra — JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA. Live two-way CMAT preparation by Abhishek Leela Pandey — Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and the unique Innovation & Entrepreneurship section. Plus 87 structured tests.
- Live two-way CMAT sessions
- All 5 sections — full coverage
- 12 Full Length CMAT Mocks
- 15 Sectional Tests
- 60 Area-wise Tests
- Post-test analysis every mock
- Recorded session access
Seats limited to 27 per cohort
View all plans ↓What is CMAT?
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes across 1,000+ AICTE-approved institutes in India. It is the primary gateway to top Maharashtra B-schools — JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA — which are among India's best value-for-money MBA colleges.
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, Permutation & Combination, Probability, and Data Interpretation. CMAT QT is easier than CAT QA — moderate difficulty with straightforward DI sets. Accuracy and speed are the key differentiators. Covers standard 10+2 level mathematics.
Syllogisms, blood relations, directions, coding-decoding, number series, arrangements, critical reasoning, and analogy. CMAT LR is more predictable than CAT DILR — standard question types repeat consistently. Pattern familiarity built through area-wise tests is the most effective preparation strategy.
Reading Comprehension passages, vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, idioms), grammar, fill in the blanks, and para-jumbles. CMAT Language is more straightforward than CAT VARC — passages are shorter and inference questions are less deceptive. Vocabulary depth is the key differentiator.
Current affairs, business awareness, static GK, economics, and Indian history. GA is often the differentiating section at the top of the percentile range — students with strong current affairs and business GK consistently outperform those who skip it. Requires sustained, structured monthly preparation.
The newest and most unique CMAT section — tests entrepreneurial thinking, startup ecosystems, innovation frameworks, business creativity, and design thinking. Not required by most colleges for their merit calculation — but JBIMS and a few top institutes do consider it. GRADSKOOL covers this as a dedicated module.
CMAT Eligibility Criteria
CMAT has one of the most open eligibility policies among MBA entrance exams — any graduate from a recognised university can apply.
A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university recognised by AICTE/UGC. No minimum percentage requirement to appear in CMAT — though individual colleges set their own academic cutoffs for admission.
Students in the final year of graduation are eligible to apply. Provisional admission is allowed — the degree must be completed before joining the MBA programme.
CMAT has no upper or lower age limit. Both fresh graduates and working professionals appear. Work experience is valued by JBIMS and SIMSREE during the GD-PI process but is not mandatory to apply.
CMAT is conducted once a year in January. There is no limit on the number of times you can appear — you can attempt it every year. Score is valid only for the current cycle, used for admission to programmes beginning that academic year.
CMAT registration fee is approximately ₹2,000 (General) and ₹1,000 (SC/ST/PwD). Registration is done through the NTA CMAT portal at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT. Maharashtra MMS/MBA colleges are applied to separately through the CET Cell, Maharashtra.
Not mandatory for appearing in CMAT. However, JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA value work experience during GD-PI. Maharashtra state domicile is required for Maharashtra MMS seats — non-Maharashtra students can apply for general seats.
CMAT Important Dates
CMAT is conducted once a year in January by NTA. Maharashtra colleges use the CET Cell process for admissions after CMAT results.
CMAT 2026 dates are tentative based on previous years. Official dates will be released by NTA at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT. Maharashtra domicile students must also register separately with CET Cell for MMS/MBA CAP rounds.
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT
CMAT scores are accepted by 1,000+ AICTE-approved colleges. The most targeted — especially the top Maharashtra colleges which are among India's best value-for-money MBA institutes.
Cutoffs below are typical shortlist percentiles for Maharashtra domicile candidates (All India seats have higher cutoffs). Maharashtra colleges use CET Cell centralised counselling — CMAT score directly determines seat allocation in most colleges. Top colleges also conduct GD-PI.
JBIMS average package from official 2024-25 placement reports. Cutoffs are indicative for Maharashtra domicile General category — All India seat cutoffs are considerably higher. JBIMS and SIMSREE fees are government-regulated and extremely competitive. Verify current figures on official college websites and CET Cell Maharashtra portal.
Course Curriculum
6 structured modules covering all 5 CMAT sections — with dedicated treatment for General Awareness and the unique Innovation & Entrepreneurship section.
- Arithmetic — percentages, ratio, profit/loss, TSD, SI/CI
- Algebra — equations, progressions, functions
- Geometry, mensuration and number systems
- Permutation, Combination and Probability
- Data Interpretation — tables, bar charts, pie charts
- Syllogisms and logical deductions
- Blood relations, directions, clocks and calendars
- Coding-decoding and series
- Arrangements — linear, circular, scheduling
- Critical reasoning — arguments and conclusions
- Reading Comprehension — CMAT-style passage strategy
- Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, contextual usage
- Grammar — error identification, sentence correction
- Para-jumbles and fill in the blanks
- Idioms, one-word substitution, analogies
- Current affairs — monthly digest (business, economy, policy)
- Static GK — awards, appointments, summits, sports
- Indian history, geography and polity
- Business awareness — companies, brands, taglines
- International events and organisations
- Startup ecosystem — funding stages, unicorns, key terms
- Innovation frameworks — Design Thinking, Lean Startup
- Entrepreneurship concepts — pivoting, MVPs, scalability
- Business creativity and problem-solving
- JBIMS-specific I&E question patterns
- 12 full-length CMAT mocks — post-test analysis
- 15 sectional tests (QT, LR, Language, GA, I&E)
- 60 area-wise topic tests
- CET Cell counselling strategy — college selection
- JBIMS / SIMSREE GD-PI mock preparation
How GRADSKOOL CMAT Preparation Works
Two-way live class covering all 5 CMAT sections — with special focus on General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which require dedicated preparation beyond standard MBA prep.
60 area-wise tests targeting specific topic clusters — QT topics, LR patterns, vocabulary sets, GA themes, and I&E concepts. Weaknesses identified and fixed before they cost marks in the actual exam.
15 sectional tests followed by 12 full-length CMAT-pattern mocks. Each mock simulates actual CMAT — 3 hours, 100 questions, 5 sections, +4/−1 marking scheme.
Every mock followed by a detailed breakdown — section-wise accuracy, GA score improvement, I&E performance, and percentile mapping. Target: 99+%ile for SIMSREE / 99.9+ for JBIMS.
Pricing
Three plans — start with free tools, or join the live cohort with full mock access and optional interview preparation.
- Grammar Tool
- Vocabulary Builder
- RC Lexicon
- GK Tool
- Live sessions
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship module
- Full-length mocks
- Interview preparation
- Live two-way CMAT sessions with ALP
- Quantitative Techniques & DI
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CMAT-specific)
- 10 Full-Length CMAT Mocks
- Post-test analysis every mock
- JBIMS / SIMSREE Interview prep
- Everything in Live + Mocks
- GD-PI mock preparation
- Profile-based PI guidance
- JBIMS / SIMSREE competency mock
All prices exclusive of GST. Not sure which plan? WhatsApp us and we'll help you decide.
What Students Say
Grateful to have converted NMIMS Mumbai Core! A big thank you to ALP Sir and the entire team at GRADSKOOL for their constant guidance, mentorship, and belief in me throughout this journey. The support never felt transactional — it felt like everyone genuinely wanted you to succeed. The preparation, the mock sessions, the strategic clarity — all of it came together at exactly the right time. Couldn't have done it without your support.
Grateful to share that I have converted NMIMS Mumbai Core MBA. This milestone would not have been possible without the constant guidance and support of ALP Sir and the entire GRADSKOOL team. The Competency Test mock was absolutely fantastic, and the marathon sessions were intense and incredibly fruitful — they played a key role in strengthening my preparation right when it mattered most. Truly thankful for the mentorship and support throughout this journey.
GRADSKOOL really helped me improve my confidence, communication, and overall readiness for the NMIMS interview. In just one week I was able to get ready — that kind of rapid preparation is only possible with the right structure and the right people guiding you. The GD-PI sessions were sharp, focused, and built exactly around what NMIMS looks for. Highly recommend to anyone appearing for B-school interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is conducted by NTA for admission to AICTE-approved MBA programmes across India. Over 1,000 institutes accept CMAT scores, including JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE Mumbai, PUMBA Pune, GIM Goa and K.J. Somaiya. It is one of the most accessible routes to top Maharashtra B-schools.
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) section was added to CMAT in 2021 and carries 25 marks. It tests conceptual awareness of startup ecosystems, business models, government schemes and entrepreneurship frameworks. It is unique to CMAT — no other MBA exam has this section. GRADSKOOL covers it as a standalone module.
Yes — and CMAT preparation is significantly lighter than CAT. The QA, LR and VA content is largely the same. The only CMAT-specific additions are the I&E section and a slightly different difficulty calibration. Students in the GRADSKOOL CAT programme can add CMAT preparation with minimal additional effort.
JBIMS Mumbai typically requires 99.8+ percentile for General category candidates through CMAT. SIMSREE requires 99.5+, K.J. Somaiya requires 99+, and GIM Goa requires 95+. CMAT scores are used for Maharashtra state MBA admissions — the state merit list determines your college, not just your raw percentile.
GRADSKOOL's CMAT programme includes 12 full-length CMAT mocks and 15 sectional tests. Every mock is followed by post-test strategic analysis — time distribution, attempt vs accuracy, and section-level recommendations.
JBIMS uses the Maharashtra State CET Cell merit list for CMAT. Shortlisted candidates appear for a Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). JBIMS PI is known for being intellectually rigorous — current affairs, academic background and analytical ability are all tested. GRADSKOOL's PI WAT GD programme prepares you for this specifically.
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