CMAT Exam Analysis 2024: Download Previous Year Paper Analysis PDF here

Overview: NTA successfully conducted the first slot of CMAT exam 2024 on May 15, 2024, from 9 am to 12 pm. The second slot is scheduled from second slot from 3 pm to 6 pm. This blog provides you with a detailed CMAT exam analysis for 2024 incorporating feedback from students and insights from expert trainers.

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

Check: CMAT Exam Previous Year's Trend

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 Overview

Following are the few observations as per today's slot 1 and slot 2 CMAT 2024 exam analysis

• The CMAT 2024 exam followed the anticipated pattern and difficulty level, presenting no major surprises in the question paper.
• Well-prepared candidates found the overall paper to range from easy to moderate, confirming the importance of a thorough CMAT preparation strategy.
• The question paper may have seemed quite challenging to those who did not prepare extensively for the CMAT 2024.
• Particularly, the General Awareness section was notably tough, requiring a solid grasp of current events and general knowledge.
• It's important to note that extra sheets were readily available to candidates in the examination hall, allowing for ample space to work through calculations and note-taking.
• A crucial tip for candidates appearing for the second slot: remember to bring your own pen to the examination, as pens are not provided at the venue.
• Overall, the expected CMAT 2024 cut-off will be either same or slightly above than previous year.

CMAT Exam Particulars	CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 Highlights
CMAT Full Form	Common Management Aptitude Test (CAT)
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA) [was conducted by AICTE till 2019]
Mode of Exam	Conducted in CBT (Computer Based Test) mode
CMAT Exam Duration	180 minutes (3 hours)
CMAT Exam Timings	Slot 1- 9 am to 12 pm Slot 2- 3 pm to 6 pm
CMAT Exam Sections	Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension General Awareness Innovation & Entrepreneurship
No. of test cities	Over 110

Let's begin the CMAT previous paper analysis 2024 by overviewing the CMAT exam pattern and the number of questions asked in each section.

Learn More: Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Score 2024

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024- Slot 1 & 2

CMAT Exam Pattern Analysis: Section-wise Distribution in 2024

Section	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Level of Difficulty	Good Attempts
Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation	20	80	Moderate	16-17
Logical Reasoning	20	80	Easy	16-17
Language Comprehension	20	80	Easy	15
General Awareness	20	80	Moderate	12-13
Innovation & Entrepreneurship	20	80	Moderate	15-16
Total	100	400	Moderate	75-80

In Addition to the CMAT exam pattern analysis following are a couple of things to note:

• There were 5 sections, as usual, with 20 questions each.
• Each question carried 4 marks.
• A negative marking was (-)1 for each incorrect attempted response.
• CMAT total marks were as usual 400.

Find Out: CMAT Exam 2024 Exam Centres

CMAT 2024 Exam Analysis: Section-Wise Study 

The detailed CMAT analysis 2024 is divided into all 5 CMAT subjects

CMAT Exam Analysis for Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation

Following were the observations around the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation in slot 1 and slot 2 of CMAT 2024:

• The overall difficulty level of this section was moderate.
• A novel set of questions was introduced in slot 1 this year. It involved pairs of statements labelled statement 1 and statement 2, and candidates were required to respond with 'True' or 'False'.
• Notably, 15 questions in this section were easily manageable for most candidates.
• In slot 2, 35% of the questions were asked from Arithmetic section.
• In slot 2, 7 questions were easily doable and remaining 13 were at a moderate level.

Topics	No of Questions Asked in Slot 1	No of Questions Asked in Slot 2
Arithmetic -Time-speed-distance, -Simple Interest and Compound Interest -Ratio-Proportion, -Profit & Loss, -Average,  -Partnership	7	7
Data Interpretation	3 (1 set)	3 (1 set)
Algebra -Quadratic Equations -Quadratic Inequality	2	2
Number System -LCM -HCF -Surds	4	1
Modern Math -Probability -Permutation & Combination	2	3
Geometry and Mensuration	1	4

Good Attempts- 16-17 Questions
Accuracy Percentage- At least 80%

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 for Logical Reasoning

Following were the observations around the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation in slot 1 of CMAT 2024:

• The overall difficulty level of the section ranged from easy to moderate.
• There were 3-4 questions based on assumption and assertion, making this portion approachable for those well-prepared in critical reasoning.
• Notably, this was the first time no puzzles were included in the Logical Reasoning section during slot 1 of the exam.
• This shift in question type underscores a unique approach, potentially signaling changes in future examinations.
• In slot 2, questions were based on almost all the topics.

Topics	No of Questions Asked in Slot 1	No of Questions Asked in Slot 1
Directions Test	2	2
Clocks	1	1
Cubes	2	1
Series Completion	1	1
Counting Numbers of Triangles	1	1
Arrangement	1 (Linear)	1 (Seating)
Missing Figures	1	3
Puzzle	1	1
Coding Decoding	2	1
Analogy	2	1
Syllogisms	1	1
Critical Reasoning	6	6

Good Attempts- 16-17 Questions
Accuracy Percentage- At least 80% 

Read More: CMAT Exam 2024 Latest Paper Pattern

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 for Language Comprehension

Following were the observations around the Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation in slot 1 of CMAT 2024:

• In the 2024 CMAT exam, Slot 1 presented a moderate level of difficulty across sections.
• Notably, the Language Comprehension section emerged as a potential game-changer.
• This year, there was a significant emphasis on grammar, challenging candidates to demonstrate their mastery of complex grammatical rules.
• One unique element this year was the inclusion of a question on modern verbs, indicating a shift towards more contemporary language usage in the test.
• Additionally, for the first time, candidates were required to understand commonly used French terms, adding a new dimension to the section.
• The questions on analogies were particularly intriguing, testing candidates' ability to discern relationships between different concepts.
• Reading comprehension passages remained concise, allowing candidates to quickly assimilate information and respond to questions efficiently.

Topics	No of Questions Asked in Slot 1	No of Questions Asked in Slot 1
Reading Comprehension	1 Set- 3 Questions	1 Set- 3 Questions
Grammar- Incorrect Sentences, Direct & Indirect Speech, Fill-Ups, etc.	2	5
Cloze Test	3	2
Vocabulary- Idioms, Synonym, Antonym, Fill-Ups, Match the Following, etc.	7	9
Verbal Reasoning- Parah Jumbles	1	1
Analogy	1	3

Good Attempts- 15-16 Questions
Accuracy Percentage- At least 80%

Learn More: Check Your CMAT 2024 Results Here

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 for General Awareness

• The General Awareness section of the 2024 CMAT exam presented a higher difficulty level than in previous years.
• The questions spanned modern and ancient history, indicating a broad scope of topics.
• Notably, a question was posed on Anthology and Pedology, exploring interdisciplinary themes.
• Additionally, an intriguing question regarding the Panchayat Raj system was included, reflecting the importance of understanding civic structures.
• Furthermore, candidates faced a challenging 'match the column' exercise that required linking significant historical dates and testing their detailed knowledge of timelines.
• In slot 2, majority of the questions were from static GK indication the high importance of GK in MBA exams.

Additional Memory Based Questions for General Awareness

Slot 1 CMAT Exam Analysis for General Awareness

National Constitutional Day- Static Buddhism (Gautam Buddha related question)- Static Kathakali is from which day- Static Arrange the days in the correct order (National Hindi Day, National Teachers Day, National Youth Day, National Science Day)- Static Planets (Biggest planet, blue planet, hot planet, cold planet) 20 Asian Games will be held in which country in 2026- Current Affairs First Space tourist (World Record)- Static Lionel Messi which Country- Static Indus Valley Civilization (Statement-based question)- Static Panchayat system in India was started in which state- Static My Life book author- Static First foreigner to receive Bharat Ratna

Slot 2 CMAT Exam Analysis for General Awareness

Which of following is scalar quantity? Blue revolution: a remarkable increase in the production of fish and marine products Foundation day of different forces  Indian Army 15th Jan Indian Navy 4th Dec Indian Airforce 8th Oct Bismillah Khan instrument: Shenai Fat soluble/ water soluble vitamins: vitamins A, D, E, and K. Youngest pm in India: Rajiv Gandhi Vice president of India: Jagdeep Dhankar Ashoka's son? Chandragupta Maurya ASCII & COBOL Full Form: American Standard Code for information interchange, Common Business Oriented Language Indus valley civilization, use of bricks & copper DPSP- Which country  Jallianwala events Which among the following did not receive Bharat Ratna? Commonwealth 2022 Venue-  Rudyard Kipling- Jungle Book

Good Attempts- 12-13 Questions
Accuracy Percentage- At least 80%

Read More: CMAT Exam Eligibility Criteria

CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• In the 2024 CMAT, Slot 1 featured questions on Innovation that many found to be quite straightforward.
• Out of the entire section, 15-16 questions were easily manageable for those who well-prepared and covered CMAT exam syllabus.
• Staying updated with basic business news from newspapers proved beneficial for test-takers.
• Notably, one of the questions on Market Potential, which included four parameters, was a repeat from CMAT 2022, underscoring the importance of reviewing past papers.
• Additionally, the exam included a question on the Government of India's Startup India plan, highlighting the emphasis on current national initiatives.
• A question concerning the Entrepreneurship Development Programme was also featured, reflecting the test's focus on real-world business applications.

Memory Based Questions for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

1. Diffusion of innovation theory given by: Ans- EM Rogers
2. Entrepreneurship means 
3. 5 steps of design thinking

• Stage 1 Empathize
• Stage 2 Define
• Stage 3 Ideate
• Stage 4 Prototype 
• Stage 5 Test

1. Smile Loan: A personal loan specially designed for Indian residents to suit their short term personal financial needs like emergency expenses
2. Legal term for brand: trademark

Good Attempts- 12-13 Questions
Accuracy Percentage- At least 80%

CMAT 2024 Exam Analysis: Score VS Percentile

CMAT Percentile	CMAT score 2024 (expected)	CMAT score 2023	CMAT score 2022	CMAT score 2021
99.5	305	303	325	320
99	295	293	318	313
95	262	260	300	250
90	245	240	282	232
80	215	211	200	203
70	195	180	170	180

Read More: CMAT Exam Preparation Strategy

CMAT 2024 Exam Analysis: Expected Scores

College accepting CMAT score	Target Percentile Cutoff
JBIMS 2023 CMAT cutoff	99.99+
SIMSREE CMAT cutoff	99.96+
University of Pune- Department of Management Science CMAT cutoff	99.9+
NIBM Pune cutoff	90+
KJ Somaiya CMAT 2023 cutoff	98+
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai CMAT cutoff	95+
Welingkar Mumbai cutoff	95+
Xavier Institute of Social Science, Ranchi CMAT exam cutoff	90+

Check: CMAT Mock Exam 2025

Conclusion

This year's CMAT exam 2024 maintained a balance level of difficulty across all the 5 sections. We hope that this CMAT exam analysis for 2024 gives the aspirants a clear picture of how they should move ahead with their preferred choice of college and further the admission process.

Whether you are aiming for top-tier institutes or looking to score well to broaden your choices, understanding the dynamics of the exam after proper research can significantly bolster your preparation efforts.