CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key Released: Exam Analysis, Expected Cut-Offs and Scorecard Download Details

Staff Writer: Upasana Sen

Last Updated: February 17, 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the CMAT 2026 final answer key on the official website of the exam. Candidates who appeared for the Common Management Admission Test can now download the official answer key, along with the question paper and revised question IDs, directly from the portal without any additional charges. The release of the final answer key marks an important step before the declaration of the CMAT 2026 results.

The CMAT 2026 examination was conducted on January 25, 2026, in a single shift, with no changes made to the exam pattern or overall structure compared to previous years. According to student feedback and exam analysis, the paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, allowing candidates to attempt a significant number of questions confidently.

CMAT 2026 Answer Key Process and Objections

The provisional answer key was released earlier on January 31, 2026, and candidates were given time until February 2, 2026, to raise objections against any discrepancies. Aspirants had to pay an objection fee of INR 200 per question while challenging answers. Following the review process, the NTA accepted several objections and released revised responses in the final answer key.

The final answer key will be used to calculate the scores for the upcoming result announcement. The NTA is also expected to issue an official notice soon regarding the CMAT 2026 result declaration and candidate data statistics.

CMAT 2026 Exam Difficulty and Good Attempts

The CMAT 2026 question paper consisted of 100 questions, distributed equally across five sections. Overall, the paper was considered approachable, with many candidates reporting that the test was manageable compared to previous years.

Section-wise analysis is as follows:

• Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation:
  20 questions | Good attempts: 16–17 | Difficulty: Moderate
• Logical Reasoning:
  20 questions | Good attempts: 16–17 | Difficulty: Easy
• Language Comprehension:
  20 questions | Good attempts: 16–17 | Difficulty: Easy
• General Awareness:
  20 questions | Good attempts: 11–12 | Difficulty: Moderate
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
  20 questions | Good attempts: 11–12 | Difficulty: Easy

Overall, candidates attempting around 70–75 questions with accuracy are expected to have strong chances of securing competitive percentiles.

CMAT 2026 Result and Scorecard Download Process

The CMAT 2026 result will include important details such as candidate information, photograph, exam details, sectional marks and overall score. Once released, candidates can download their scorecards by following these steps:

1. Visit the official CMAT website: https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
2. Click on the “CMAT-2026 Scorecard” tab
3. Enter application number, password and security pin
4. Submit the details to access the dashboard
5. Download and print the scorecard for future use

Candidates are advised to keep multiple printouts of the scorecard as it will be required during admission and counselling processes.

Expected CMAT 2026 Cut-Offs for Top MBA Colleges

Based on previous trends and current exam analysis, the expected cut-offs for leading institutes accepting CMAT scores are as follows:

• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS): 99.99 percentile
• SIMSREE: 99.97 percentile
• Goa Institute of Management: 99.85 percentile
• K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research: 99.20 percentile
• Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai: 99.06 percentile
• Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi: 95 percentile
• IFIM Business School, Bangalore: 85 percentile
• Asia-Pacific Institute of Management: 85 percentile
• Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida: 82 percentile
• BIMTECH, Greater Noida: 75 percentile
• BIT Mesra: 75 percentile
• XIME Bangalore: 75 percentile
• Christ University Institute of Management: 70 percentile

These cut-offs are indicative and may vary depending on candidate performance and seat availability.

What Candidates Should Do Next

With the release of the final answer key, candidates should estimate their probable scores and shortlist MBA colleges according to expected percentile outcomes. Since CMAT scores are accepted by a large number of management institutes across India, aspirants are encouraged to research admission timelines and prepare for subsequent selection rounds such as group discussions and personal interviews.

The overall easy-to-moderate level of the exam suggests that cut-offs at top institutes may remain high, making accuracy and score interpretation crucial for applicants.

Also Read: TANCET MBA Colleges for 90+ Percentile: Top Institutes, Cut-Off Trends and Admission Insights